The shiny, light, modern decor give's off a pleasant warm feel as soon as you walk in. The food was as fresh as it was flavorful and we left talking about how good everything tasted. Our server Katrina was very pleasant and provided us with exceptional service. Had a wonderful time and can't wait to do it again.
(5)
Vakas S.
We have eaten here about five times and the entire menu does not disappoint. Great ambiance. The bar is well stocked. The crudo menu is our favorite.
(5)
Zuzana V.
This is a perfect spot all around. They went all out with the decor. I love the Vespa in the hall by the restrooms. On our visit sat at one of the bars and had wine and a speck pizza. Couldn't complain. The open kitchen is immaculate and entertaining to see all the action. The bar staff was very friendly and accommodating. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Shanae M.
My friend & I went last night. It was nice. Our first time there. The food was amazing I got the stuffed ravioli with butternut squash! Please get it soo worth it! The atmosphere was nothing less then great. I will be back again
(4)
EileenAndRockWithIt K.
I really love everything. I feel like I'm in Italy . The food is simple and inventive. The ingredients are wholesome and delicious. I love the appetizer with the ricotta and honey. The market place has wonderful food and you can order to go. I came during lunch and I had a wonderful time .
(5)
D T.
$16 lobster PLT (pancetta/lettuce/tomato) for brunch. That had to be over a pound of lobster meat. Delicious.
(5)
Davis P.
Overall score 3.5. The entrees were tremendous. If you don't waste time/money on apps or dessert and get a good waiter, this could easily be 5/5 overall. Americano could effectively be taken out of the name - I don't think I saw anything on the menu that wasn't Italian AND written in Italian. With no input, we decided on the "choose 5 meats and cheeses" (we probably would've been better off with a different appetizer) The cheese list was missing a few items because "it's made special for the restaurant". The plate came out looking great, but the accoutrements were unbalanced. The cheese (two small chunks of pecorino and two small chunks of hard Gouda) had fig, strawberry, grapes, and honey walnuts to pair with. The meat was just sitting there wanting some cheese. The prosciutto was terrific, the coppa and salame were only fine. Score - 2/5 The entrees were the highlight. Light, fluffy, tender gnocchi with a wonderful sauce plus a couple meatballs ($2/each) was enjoyed by two members of the party. The pasta and shrimp was a delightful mint, spice combo that delighted the palate. The pork shoulder special was absolutely perfect; cooked to perfection with plenty of broccoli rabe (even though it was supposed to come with Brussels sprouts) and fingerling potatoes. Score 5/5 The dessert was a mixed bag. Gelato was the dessert of choice, but one dessert was not as expected. Affogato - vanilla gelato, almond biscotti, blackberries. Yum! Call me uncultured, but if the dish is supposed to have espresso, it should be spelled out on the menu. It might be a delicacy in Italy, but the execution made it so a ball of gelato was floating around the glass - difficult to eat while melting the blackberries. Score 2/5 Service left much to be desired: The waiter Mark was attentive when we arrived 5:40 (gotta make it home for Murder She Wrote). He let us peruse the menu, but felt he didn't know what he was doing - seeming happy to have completed his introduction and rundown of two specials. Each course took longer to be served than the previous. Appetizer about 15 minutes. Dinner about 25 minutes. Dessert about 30 minutes. The bill might never have been brought. The entire table stared at our waiter and made eye contact. After 42 minutes of waiting, eventually, we asked someone else to "hook us up with the bill"...which took about 15 minutes. Score 1/5
(3)
Viet H.
I had a wonderful dining experience here last night. We had a group of 4 and no reservations but were seated promptly after arrival. We ordered the mussels which are a must, they had a very unique flavor, unlike the many other mussel dishes I have tried at other restaurants. The garganelli pasta was also a favorite at the table. I will have to come back and check out their brunch and lunch menus as well. I definitely recommend coming to this restaurant.
(4)
Erika L.
Went there with a girlfriend during the week and it was completely booked. Luckly there was open seats at the bar. The ambience in this place is wonderful and the customer service is excellent. Fully attentive staff even on a busy night. The food was delicious. We had the fennel sausage and margherita pizza. Both were soooo good. Perfect for date night or with a group of friends and big enough for big parties. I wouldn't think twice about coming here. Great Italian food and service for sure.
(4)
Cate H.
I hardly write reviews. After the take out experience I had just a few minutes ago, I couldn't wait to get home and write one. My husband and I walked across the street to pick up lunch. While a chicken salad sandwich could not be made to order, the premade option looked decent and I ordered one. My husband ordered a meatball sandwich and mashed potatoes. After waiting FIFTEEN minutes, with NO ONE in the restaurant, someone behind the counter finally grabbed a roll, put the meatballs on it and wrapped it up and gave it to us. The sandwich was literally made in 30 seconds. Why we had to wait 15 minutes was beyond me. At least one of the three employees behind the counter could have updated us on why it was taking so long, offered us some water, etc. But no. The only reason I'm leaving 3 stars was that the food was really good. Looking through all of the recent reviews, the food and ambiance aren't the problem. The service is. Please fix it! xo, Your neighbors who were really excited for you to open.
(3)
David C.
Great expectations, but ultimately a great disappointment. This new restaurant is visually stunning and the service was amiable and attentive. Unfortunately, the food seemed to be an afterthought. The dipping sauce provided with the bread was reminiscent of canned tomato soup. Salads had all of the right ingredients but were bland. The minestrone soup had a strange off-putting spice or herb flavor. The meat and fish dishes were overwhelmed by excessive amounts of cherry tomatoes, potatoes, and other plate-fillers. We would love to return here and support a local restaurant, but it is off the list until we see signs that the food has improved.
(2)
Jack B.
There's something attractive about a new place and this restaurant delivers. However, I have been there 3 times and the service is a 4 of 10 at best. I hope they get their act together soon. They could have the most incredible food in but it counts for nothing if the service is bad. A place can have decent food and if the service is excellent you always go back...
(3)
Zach H.
We are visiting from out of town, and were told to visit the restaurant. They were very accommodating without a reservation. The restaurant is staffed with a large number of people and it is a happening place. Everything is very fresh and all seem in great spirit within the restaurant.
(5)
Mary R.
Food was really amazing but I felt like the atmosphere was lacking. I cant really put a finger on it...The lighting was definitely too bright and the entrance was kinda odd... love the market aspect but not sure.....something was off.
(4)
B M.
Delicious and super nice staff! Our son has severe food allergies and they were great at offering solutions for and help with the menu. Service was very good and attentive and the restaurant itself is beautiful. The maccaroons are so tasty!
(5)
Ashe M.
All around amazing. The staff from the bar to the tables are attentive and welcoming. Chef is so talented and one of the coolest guys. All the food is fantastic. Try the ravioli and the Ventimiglia cocktail.
(5)
Cristina A.
The food is amazing, the kitchen gets the only star I'm given! The food presentation and flavor were beyond my expectations after waiting 20 min to be sitting w/ an advance reservation booked. The staff is definitely not well trained. They all look stressed, no smile, not happy. The manager is lost on management. I was sitting next to the kitchen and could see the amazing job they were doing. The Chef and kitchen staff were communicating to each other, having an eye contact w/ the customers once it should be the floor ppl's job. The runner was very efficient and nice. Our server was unhappy, a little rude when we asked her to recommend a dessert. This was her answer: take the Tiramisu or chocolate cake, or the Peach one, the other ones are not good ( I wish I were the restaurant owner at this moment ). Unfortunately, it was my 1st and last time there for dinner. The waiting room for 20 min, none of the girls or the manager stopped by to ask if we need anything from the bar or even to thank us for our p patience. Again, besides the kitchen, the staff needs to be trained!
(1)
Courtney C.
Love the decor and ambience! The dishes have all been great. The truffle cheese is to die for! Outdoor service was a bit lacking.
(5)
Lori B.
I was eager to try this new restaurant in the East Village. It exceeded my expectations. The atmosphere is great for a date night or a large party gathering. The food was delicious too! I will be going back soon.
(5)
Erin B.
Great experience. The restaurant is divided into different dinning experiences. From cured meats and cheeses to seafood and pizza, they have everything and it is all spectacular. I love that you can see into the kitchen, it gives a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere to a high end downtown experience. I highly recommend this place and can't wait to go back!
(5)
Torrey B.
Everything- the drinks, atmosphere, staff, food-was perfect. Recommend La Dolce Vita for a refreshingly fruity cocktail
(5)
Xtine B.
Came for dinner with a party of 4. Appetizers were OK, nothing to rave about. But entrees were delicious! Definitely worth coming here for the food and vibrant bar scene! I look forward to trying more on their menu.
(4)
David F.
Without a doubt, the best coffee downtown. Have been here several times for dinner too. You can't go wrong with the pastas, meat and cheese boards, crudo bar, really anything. Have yet to be disappointed! A must for anyone living or visiting downtown.
(5)
Jason K.
I had been waiting anxiously for this place to open. Love the wide open floor plan and overall layout of the restaurant. And they have a quick walk up bar for sandwiches and salads or you can sit down and order off the full menu. I came in for lunch and had the chicken panini and the cheese pizza. I liked the sandwich, the bread was great and the chicken and cheese inside blended well together. The pizza I wasn't a fan of. Didn't taste any better than any old pizza. But the panini was so good I'll come back and try their pasta sometime see how that stacks up
(3)
Pamela D.
This restaurant would have received 5 stars if not for the service. Our waiter, Marc, was fine at the beginning but when it started getting crowded he disappeared after our dessert order. When he did reappear he asked us if we'd like to order dessert....we had just finished dessert. He then disappeared again. We saw him chatting up other tables but I guess since we were on dessert he was done with us. We ended up having to flag down a non-server, and request our bill. Then he never came back to take our cards so we had to flag down another non-server to run our cards. This whole process took almost an hour and definitely soured all of our opinions on the restaurant. It also seems that once you order dessert they stop refilling your water glasses. On numerous occasions we tried to get our glasses refilled and never did. Another annoying issue with our waiter was he constantly corrected our pronunciation of the Italian words on the menu, and in a condescending manner. Thanks for the lesson but don't appreciate it. Terrible service aside, most of the food was delicious. If we go back though I think we would only order entrees. We got the pick 5 meat and cheese plate. They were out of options that were listed on the menu so that was a bit disappointing but we chose 3 meats and 2 cheeses, the size of the cheeses were ridiculously small compared to the meat portions. The dish overall was unbalanced and not worth the expense. The entrees were all very, very good. two of us had the gnocchi with sides of meatballs, ($2/meatball), the pasta was very fresh and the meatball had so much flavor. We also got the lobster broth pasta dish, which was a perfect blend of herbs, mint, and garlic and a nice kick of spice. Another spectacular dish we got was the pork belly special. This was perfectly seasoned and cooked. It came with broccoli rabe even though we were told it would come with brussel sprouts and fingerling potatoes, strange. We also got a side for the table of the broccoli rabe. Would not recommend this, it was soggy and loaded with whole garlic cloves, it looked more like spinach than broccoli. Dessert was ok. We got lemon and chocolate gelato, hard to screw up, and another dish, the Affogato, which we did not realize had a shot of espresso poured onto it, this made it very difficult to eat out of the strange glass it was served in. We took 2 bites and gave up on it. Overall, I will return and hope for better service, the food was really good so it's worth another shot.
(3)
Stanley M.
Best mussels I've ever had in my life! Check this place out.
(5)
Kellie S.
Can't say enough good things about this restaurant. I would say it was one of the best meals I have ever had. From the mussels, to the ricotta cheese with honey and figs, to the crab legs to the pomodoro soup, to the lobster risotto. Just wow. We sat at the bar and had wonderful service. Our barista was fabulous. (Feeling bad cause I can't remember her name ). Let me just say she has a friend who is from upstate NY where I'm from in case she reads this. . The restaurant is stunning to the eye. The lighting is spectacular. There are different areas to sit. We sat at the bar. Would live to sit in front of the pasta maker next time. I would recommend reservations if you are going. All I can say is WOW!!!
We came for brunch on Sunday - and made reservations ahead of time. We were promptly seated and then nothing... no one came over to even take our drink order for over 40 minutes! When someone finally came over, we asked what the daily pastry selections were and he said he didn't know so he would be back. That was the last we saw of him. We''ll never know what the pastry selections were. When our server FINALLY made his way over to us, we ordered as quickly as possible since we were starving by that time. The food was good, but it could have used some salt/pepper and you guessed it - no one was around to ask for it. When we finally flagged down our server, we gave him our cards without asking for the check bc we wanted to get out of there by then. It's unfortunate that a beautiful restaurant with seemingly good food would have such poor service. We would have ordered more drinks/food if they had given us the chance. It's their loss!
(2)
Alex M.
The spaghetti and meatballs are a little lackluster but the wine, dessert, and ambience are outstanding. This is a fantastic addition to the East Village.
(4)
Anthony B.
This restaurant is a must go. What makes a great place to eat: great tasting food, fun atmosphere, and awesome service , the Bottegga Americano has it all. We stopped by for the Sunday brunch and were all very satisfied with every plate. Very unique menu and a very impressive lay out . They have an amazing assortment of high quality, well prepared dishes to fit any taste. Treat yourself for sure. I will for sure return. Good job guys making your concept work. Good luck,
(5)
Rachel V.
We came Sunday night for a friends birthday - the decor , ambience , music I liked ... The specialty drinks could use more tasty creativity , I think they were mostly like " old man drinks" very hardcore . The la Dolce Vita was good though- The service was great our waiter was nice and helpful . The food came out in decent timing , however I ordered the ny strip steak medium well , I'm used to a little strip of pink and a little juiciness . The steak I got was well done and kind of dry . My friend ordered the gargenelli pasta dish with shrimp and a spicy lobster broth , but it ended up being too salty . The scallop dinner was cooked good . The spaghetti and meatballs plate was plain needed more flavor and the noodles tasted a little over cooked . The desert was ok - I forget what I had, but it was a chocolate pudding . I say it was ok because I think the presentation could have been nicer, it came out in a water glass . I might go back again to grab a drink maybe an appetizer . I hope they do well , they have a good idea and concept just need to work on the food a little .
(3)
tom c.
The decors are very nice and they have little Italian market within the restaurant. The market carries italian desert and pasta. We went there as a group of 4 and we were seated in one of community tables. Our server was OK, he was not very enthusiastic. The food is pricey but tastes good. It's a one time visit for me and not a repeat.
(3)
Howard F.
Great vibe from the moment you enter. Our waiter, Katrina, was professional, highly efficient, and extremely knowledgeable. Which is necessary because the menu is extremely inventive. Each dish at our table was memorable. Perfectly seared scallops with lemon risotto, lamb osso bucco, roasted lamb chops, & a baked branzino. And there is takeway for those who prefer to eat at home. Can't wait to come back.
(5)
Nicole S.
The food was amazing !! So much to choose from and the service was great... You really need to come an experience this for yourself .. The decor is beautiful and unexpected ...
(5)
Jen r.
All I can say is wow!!! The moment you walk in!!! It's just beautiful and the dining experience is amazing. We had reservations for 830 but ended up finding a spot at the bar! The staff was nice food was great !! This place is definitely a hit and wil do very well!! I had mussels which were awesome my husband had the ny strip and for dessert we had this chocolate dish. It was wonderful!! You definetly have to check this place out!! Very well worth it!!
(5)
Lisa L.
We went for New Year's day brunch and they were completely overwhelmed. The place was packed, which I get, but the place was not prepared at all. Staff should have been better prepared; the only positive was a really attentive bus guy and the manager was awesome. We felt bad for her running around making amends for the no food and bad service. She made it right, which was appreciative. No one had anywhere to go that day, so no big deal, but I would have expected more. I had the lobster sandwich which was really good. Some of the of food was cold and overall not a great experience. The place is gorgeous though and we'll be back to try dinner one night or lunch on a regular day. Husband had the breakfast calzone and it was the bomb, for sure, really tasty! Hopefully next holiday they'll get the stuff together.
(2)
Teedha P.
Gorgeous . Went for lunch with the man friend and we were not disappointed. Wonderful staff, beautiful plating, and delicious food at a reasonable price. We'll be back to try the dinner menu because I'm pretty sure they make their pasta in house
(5)
Eric T.
Bravo for Bottega. Hope they can keep up the great contemporary Italian American food and environment- we took a party of 12 and will all be back. I recommend valet parking too. The food was delicious and plates are well balanced. I want to go back on a date night soon.
(4)
Erlina R.
I have been waiting for months to try out Bottega Americano and finally had a chance to have dinner there with some girlfriends last night. We were not disappointed. Here's what we tried: light and airy gnocchi in a smokey tomato sauce, scallop crudo with "liquid" corn bread, gorgeous cheese plate with fresh figs, a chocolate budino with a crispy cookie on top and a peach "carpaccio" which was incredibly creative and delicious. My friends had wine while I had a cocktail (I can't remember the name) with watermelon and cucumber...perfect on a hot day like yesterday. All in all Bottega Americano was amazing and unlike anything else in San Diego. The experience is one-of-a-kind and a lot of fun. The seats at the bar and communal tables make it very lively and fun. Can't wait to go back and try out more dishes. The budino was so incredible that I'll probably stick to that as my go-to dessert.
(5)
Mitch M.
Cool place with homemade charcuterie. Enjoyed the yellowtail collar and the cheese plate.
(4)
Lauren S.
Okay I LOVE having this place right outside my door! The food is delicious! When it is busy, service is a little slow, as to be expected when they're full. But when it's a slower night the service is great! The ambience in the place is something downtown San Diego really was missing. Patio is dog friendly which is another plus.
(4)
Sameer V.
Awesome water/waiter service - the hostess service could have been better. However, everything we ate and all the recommendations were on point. The seasoned bread was awesome all on its own. We ate vegetarian family style (beet salad, agnolotti, mushroom pizza and their chocolate dessert). The salad & agnolotti were the clear highlights packed with layers of flavor. I would 100% eat here again. Great ambiance for groups!
(5)
Jose M.
Botterman Americano (AB) is following many downtown San Diego restaurants path, Open in a beautiful setting serving great food for top dollar, reservations become difficult to get and life is good for them. Roll forward many months later; reservations are more available, serve less than acceptable food for top dollar, heading toward being out of business. The Meal Once seated and your order is placed, complimentary bread is served (bread was stale), appetizers arrive (lobster risotto that was over sauced, over salted and under cooked), salad arrives overly dressed, now for the main course, NY Strip with a side of Brussels sprouts...steak was cold and not cooked, side veggies and brussel sprouts greasy and covered in sauce. The tip off to a bad meal is the speed in which your dishes arrive, fast usually equals bad...AB serves fast and with the speed of a diner, too bad AB can't match the quality of a diner. In total we spent just under $200 for 2 half sized martini's ($30), $50 for a bottle of wine (we had to make up for the small martini's), $110 for an appetizer, salad, one main course and a side dish...basically we split one meal. The food was horrible, but our dog was happy when we gave her the steak! Given the very poorly prepared food and related expense, put this restaurant on the bottom of the list. The good news for San Diego is there remains many great restaurants for equal or less money serving great food. I hope it is not too late for AB to wake up and fix their kitchen, if they do not, well, you AB will not last a year.
(2)
E T.
We were excited to try this relatively new restaurant because it looked so interesting on their website. We made reservations but when we arrived, there was some sort of event nearby and the valet wouldn't take our car. I went in to let the hostess know we would be coming shortly while my husband found a spot on his own. She was a bit abrupt-and not welcoming (which is what a hostess should be.) However we had a great experience after that. Our server was much more professional. He was knowledgeable and recommended some items. My husband and I enjoyed the salmon, my children enjoyed their calamari and steak. We all enjoyed the brussel sprouts also and found the beet salad delicious..The presentation of each dish is very nice and I loved looking around and the interesting decor and food preparation areas -there is a lot going on so It s not a quiet place --but the energy is positive. We will be back.
(4)
Becca C.
WOW! San Diego is so lucky to have this amazing place. A lot of thought went into this place and food. Everything I tried is great. The food.... the drinks... the staff are all so professional. Have been here three times. I feel like a regular. Everything is awesome. Love everything about it! Thank you for opening here in San Diego. This is a must try! beautiful place for beautiful people.
(5)
Nancy W.
Excellent. From the service to the decor, and most importantly the food, it was all excellent. Fresh pasta, perfect seasoning, interesting dishes - it was a very enjoyable experience. We will certainly return.
(5)
Bob P.
We have now been to BA 3 times giving ample opportunity to experience the service at this establishment. Have to say that attention to detail, responsiveness, knowledge are not at all present. Have to say that since there are so many great restaurants out there that ultimately have the same menu items and in most cases do it better, that if it comes down to service we would rather take our sometimes 4 nights out per week somewhere else.
(2)
Tim Y.
It's so beautiful when all the elements of a restaurant are well thought-out and come together in perfect harmony. The food was amazing, the service just as good (thank you Silvana, you are a credit to customer service!) simply put, Giuseppe Ciuffa and his crew "get" what a great restaurant should be - very rare these days...
(5)
Jennifer A.
Wish we had places like this all over San Diego. The different food counters and high quality food make it perfect for the casual diner who wants a beautiful atmosphere which is not fussy or pretentious. Had a pizza and amazing chopped salad and will be back soon to try to house made pasta.
(5)
Rae T.
So Delicious! Awesome atmosphere. Pizzas are to die and the meat and cheese board is a must try. YUM!!!
(5)
Geof B.
I've not been to a restaurant in a long time and had such a good combination of excellent food and excellent service! I am stoked to have found this place!
(5)
Samantha B.
I love coming to this restaurant. I've literally brought over all my immediate family and closest friends here. I love how they have the outdoor seating area set up with space heaters and comfy chairs. The inside restaurant is very nicely decorated making me feel like I'm in a super expensive fine dining restaurant. They have the best food here and I've eaten at a lot of Italian restaurants in the city. I still remember the moment when I tried the Linguini with Clam sauce. I was in absolute heaven! I thought my mom made it good, but this place makes it a thousand times better. Another favorite dish they make particularly well is Gnocchi di ricotta. The servers are really fast and they always come back to your table three or four times after you receive your food to fetch anything else you need. I like that, cause I hate having to tracker my waitress down. Every time I come actually, the owner always comes over to my table to make sure I'm enjoying myself. He knows me by name now and I really like that familiarity. This place is awesome! I can't wait to take my co-workers here if we ever eat dinner together.
(5)
Kristen C.
While the decor is light, bright & fun, the food is only ok, and the front of the house service leaves much to be desired. The cheese plate was good, our 2 pasta entrees were boring, and special, which we wanted to try so shared, was much better and we only ended up eating it. We first dined here (2 people) about a week or two after it opened. We came in around 5:30-6:00 for dinner and there were only a couple tables already seated. We asked for a 4-top by the window and were told by the hostess that those were reserved, so we settled for a 2-top. We were there for close to 2 1/2 hrs and in that time, only one of the "reserved" 4-tops were sat right before we left, by the manager, who put 2 people there. Why we were told we could not sit there is still a mystery. A friend and her husband stopped in for lunch around 12:30 on a Saturday and the place was basically empty, may 2 or 3 yanked already seated. The hostess told them it would be a few minutes before they could be seated, which confused them considering the mass availability of open tables, but they decided to wait. After 10 minutes, the husband checked again, even joking with the hostess asking if they'd forgotten about them, and they were still told it'd be a few minutes; after 30 MINUTES , they just left! This place has A LOT of work to do on their food and front service if it's goon to survive in downtown SD; SO many other better places to go.
(2)
Rita P.
The food was terrific and the servers very attentive. The seafood display was art. They are still working out some opening kinks, but delivered one of the best opening experiences we've had. Bravo!!
(5)
Calli A.
Ate lunch today. ok food. mediocre service. Nice decor. Worse part was the rude counter person who asked for a used container back to re-use for someone else. Yuck. Nothing special.
(3)
Bruce Y.
Great ambiance with great food, the menu is certainly innovative and not your usual Italian fair, some of the dishes could be better served (i.e. Duck past) but overall well presented.The wine list is decently priced. Service was spot on, our server Jena was a delight and enhanced the overall experience. A must try restaurant.
(5)
Dulce M.
I had the luxury to eat here yesterday for lunch. I was drooling the moment I walked in from the beautiful pastries and sides and the smell is just amazing! I was greeted but a decently nice hostess and led to the table where I waited for my girlfriend. I was approached by an uber nice server who welcomed me warmly and I immediately felt like this was going to be a great experience. I had the Lady of Eden tea which was just a flavorful black tea. Our server (I wish I caught his name because he was wonderful) took us through a journey explaining the menu and a few of his favorites. We ordered the butter lettuce salad which was so amazingly flavorful with the crunchy pine nut bread crumbs, egg, and the lettuce which was oh so tender. Then we had the Raviolia. Goat cheese and brown butter with sage...need I say more? I could do without the corn though but it was sooo yummo. The last entre was the fennel sausage pizza. So flavorful and from the cauliflower, more goat cheese, and kale and of course the sausage. I am so glad I work downtown but scared I will go broke from wanting to eat here everyday. I'm still on my food high. Although I wasn't a fan of the flourless chocolate cake (dry, a little hard and more bitter than sweet (think cardboard)), next time I will try more desserts! I'll be back for sure and I cannot wait to try the dinner. I just hope the quality of the service and food stay consistent.
(5)
Kevin M.
Came in here about a month ago. Damon was our bartender. He was awesome and very accommodating. He went over and above his duties to see if the kitchen would cook us a pizza (I want to say it was the four cheese or maybe the margherita but I can't remember). Thank you Damon and the kitchen for cooking us the delicious pizza right before closing down for the night! We enjoyed a few drinks and some delicious food. We unfortunately had the displeasure of witnessing some girls trying to get out of paying for their drinks and they made a big deal out of it saying, "Do you know who I am and who I know in this town?" and "We didn't order those drinks!" What a joke! Damon was a rockstar and handled it all with class. At some point our party was so tired of their group trying to act like Upper Class snobs - clearly who had no money - that were trying to lie about how many drinks they actually had and paid for and we overheard them in Spanish egging each other on to see what they could get away with. Clearly they underestimated the fact that someone else may know Spanish and could call them out on their tacky, Lower Class bull@&$! they were trying to pull. Damon handled it like he was part of Prestige Worldwide: a totally seasoned pro who has put up with this kind of situation before. Thanks Damon! Sorry about those annoying girls who obviously can't make their American Express payments without their newly divorced husbands' credit card accounts.
(5)
Karen H.
Don't remember the food, only that it's LOUD! Seriously, do something about it. Too bad really.
(2)
Alice H.
I have a Blog about fun in San Diego, and I devoted a whole post to this wonderful venue - from the marketplace to the gourmet deli to the restaurant. I found the decor spectacular and the layout great. My website is aliceswunderland.wordpre… to see more about it. We had lunch there having 3 choices all of which were delicious - each dish with it's own special twist.
(5)
Pam N.
Beautiful space, attentive but not intrusive service, delicious ravioli, and the best espresso I've had in a while. As good as it gets for downtown lunch Italian.
(5)
Thuy M.
Worse fine dine experience ever! We had a party of 20 people, so assuming that the 18% plus the $41 coordinating fee, you'll get a little bit of a special treatment, NOT!! Our waiter Adrian was okay at first then disappeared the entire night. Checked back on us once, then forgot our drinks, mixed up our foods, and the extra plates; that's all can be forgiven with a humble and apogetic attitude, but never once apologized and casually brushed it off. Drinks was okay but food were mediocre at best. Do not try the lamp dish, smells horrible and extremely mushy. Salmon was freshly. ..thawed out from frozen and chicken was the most okay dish. So all in a snap shot, service deserves a -1 star and food is 2 1/2. There's way better restaurants with much nicer ambiance and service like Urbana Cuccina or Prep Kitchen, don't waste your time and money plus a sour aftertaste in your mouth at the end of th night.
(2)
Jessica L.
Marketplace: Came in around 11:30am to check out the restaurant and grab some lunch. Ordered a chicken panini and a latte. The latte was bitter..... and the panini took 20 minutes to make, even though it looked pre-made and probably just needed to be heated in the panini press. I was told that it was slow because they had a lot of orders and only one person manning the panini press. Hmm....? When the panini finally came out I noticed that the bread was super hard on the outside and the inside was on the colder side. The bread was very difficult to bite through...I guess that's what happens when you use a thick baguette instead of a flatter bread. I do have to say that it was absolutely beautiful inside! Restaurant: Half order of oysters on the half shell--Delicious! They used two different types of oysters and they tasted very fresh. The service was good, very friendly! I was a little bit confused when they brought complimentary bread along with my dinner, instead of before. But maybe that was just a mistake. Hoping that they offer a discount to TJSL students.... I think more of us would come if we had a special perk because the food is much too expensive to afford often.
(4)
Sean S.
Wow. Spectacular food, very very attentive wait staff. Awesome drinks, great deserts. We sat by the pizza prep/oven and the chef came over to our table talked with us for 10 min. We chatted with the pizza guy also, nice people.
(5)
Bruce F.
After waiting a couple weeks for BA to work out the kinks, we ventured to the quickly transforming East Village to give BA a try. We were not disappointed. The Monday evening croud was fairly subdued and the restaurant was half full at 7:30 pm. The specialty cocktails were great, but the wine list is somewhat of a mystery--neither exclusively California or Italian--but a rather eclectic mix of both, but not a deep enough selection of either for my taste. We ordered the mussels and Margherita pizza for starters. Mussels were bathing in a delicious chorizo cream tomato broth--best I've ever had, but the mussels themselves were not very meaty for some reason. The pizza was ordinary and fine, but somewhat of a disappointment as the crust, cheese, and sauce were not distinctive in any stand-out way. Fresh, white, creamy buffalo mozzarella would have been nice. I couldn't help but notice the decorative cord wood stacked up like pillars throughout the restaurant, yet no wood-burning pizza oven--just an ordinary gas fired oven so common these days. The highlight for me was the rotisserie chicken. Perfect in every way, served with crispy fingerling potatoes. My guests enjoyed their fresh pasta dishes and whole Bronzino. The limoncello panacotta was excellent. Service was attentive, but could have been a little more so, especially at the start of the meal when we were waiting for a server to take drink orders. Otherwise, the service got rolling nicely and an overall excellent experience. I will be a repeat customer, although I am concerned that when BA is full of patrons, the high ceilings and hard surfaces may create an environment too loud for my taste. Meanwhile, I won't speculate--I will give it a try on a weekend and hear it for myself. Well done, BA!
(4)
Scott H.
Great upbeat restaurant, with excellent customer service, defined menu and spacious setting Food was great
tasty pastries, wide open spacing, trendy wall art including a freakin' Vespa outside of the bathroom? i love everything about this place. not to mention the food is terrific and the cocktails are delicious. day or night Bottega is a great place to spend some time on a brunch or dinner date with a few friends or someone special. the pizza, pastas, and breads make great food to converse over, as do the assortment of italian beers or craft drinks (my favorite is the Ventimiglia). excellent service and excellent aesthetics - another gem in downtown san diego. civilities.
(5)
Karina S.
Delicious! The food is great and the service is outstanding. Highly recommend their pizzas, and the Paccheri pasta. This place is great for brunch and groups.
(4)
Christy G.
Checked this place out on a Saturday afternoon after seeing all the good reviews. It's a huge place and I love the modern rustic decor - not original these days but they have done it really well here. We had the yellowtail crudo to start which was really good, although Cucina Urbana (which has a similar menu) does it better. We had a pizza (goats cheese and sausage) which was really fantastic and the lamb ragu pappardelle. They make the pasta in house but it was a little overcooked for my tastes, still good though. Even though I could barely move at this point the chocolate pudina tempted me into a dessert and that was awesome so I'm glad we did, although I probably put on 4 pounds just looking at it! Overall a great meal and actually on the cheaper side as far as these types of restaurant go. We will definitely be back. Oh and our server was great too! :)
Such wonderful ambiance where you will get a different experience depending on where you sit in the restaurant. Great food! Great wine! The potato gnocchi was amazing and a must try! Also the cheese board paired with wine is a great selection before your main course! Thank you for such a great experience and service :)
(5)
Don M.
Lunch today (Sat.). Not crowded, the two of us seated immediately. Next to a table with 8 adults, but ok, plenty of distance. Halfway through our meal they start setting up another large table on the other side of us, *very close*. Felt like we were in the way of all the chairs being carried over our heads, waiters moving tables, etc. Then they seat the group including a couple strollers and several small children. Suddenly a full-on "McDonalds" vibe. Well, except at McDonalds you aren't sitting quite so close to the other diners. (one chair at the new table could literally not be used, no room between it and our table.) Not the relaxing lunch we expected at such a nice-looking place. Plenty of empty tables throughout, would have been happy to move if they'd asked or offered before (or after!) setting up and seating the group. Pizza was decent, but the salad was bland. That and the fact that the staff had zero concern for a pleasant dining experience means we won't be back.
(1)
Anokina K.
Great service. Very good, quality food! The meat and cheese board was out of this world! My favorite thing about the place was the environment.
(4)
Alex T.
Honestly, I would probably give this 3.5 stars if I had the ability to do so. We arrived on a Saturday night and were sat on the patio. The restaurant is beautiful, if loud. The patio is better for having a conversation with your table companions. And you'll have plenty of time to chat, because the service here is leisurely, to say the least. My husband hadn't quite decided on his drink, and it was another 10 minutes before the server checked back. Our menu items were paced similarly. We ordered the burrata crostini, the crab cakes with artichokes, and the pizza with bacon and brussels sprouts. The burrata was delicious, and the portion was big enough for two people to have two samples each. The crab cake was smaller, but at least it was all crab. The fried artichokes and mustard were delightful. It had little mustard seeds that popped in your mouth like caviar. The pizza was a disappointment. Despite having bacon chunks and spicy Chile's on it, it was oddly flavorless. I think the problem was the crust, which had all the character of a female love interest in a Batman movie. The Dolce Vita cocktail was delicious, but gone in three gulps. At $12 each, I was too cheap to order multiplies. The $9 Julian cider was a great deal, though. The service was pleasant, but since it was busy, they didn't go the extra mile. The bussers were extremely attentive and polite. Hats off to the bussers. I would come here again, but probably stick to items that require more thought than pizza, like the specials or the entrees. 3.5 stars for food and service.
(4)
Jay D.
My date and I decided to check this place out after reading about it on Eater SD. It was busy, but we were seated quickly even though we didn't have reservations. After we sat down, it took a while before we were served the complimentary bread with balsalmic vinaigrette. That was a pre-cursor of things to come. Our calamari appetizer took about 20 minutes to arrive. It was good, but after waiting so long, almost anything would have tasted good. I ordered the Paccheri with mushrooms, bacon, peas, and truffle oil. My date had the Pappardelle with lamb and marinara. After waiting about 30 minutes, I inquired to the waiter, and within minutes, our food finally arrived. My dish was good, but very rich. I was only able to eat about half of it. My date enjoyed her dish. While the food was good, the long waits hampered what would have been a nice dining experience. Unless I had about 2+ hours to kill, I'd be hesitant to try this place again due to the long wait times.
(3)
John T.
Amazing atmosphere. Really open and nice decor. Tried some of the appetizers and drinks. Great drink and huge wine menu. The mozzarella and eggplant were delicious. The service is top notch too. If you haven't been yet, I highly recommend it.
(5)
Brannon B.
Lord of the flies. Literally fruit flies in the bottom of my friends drink. Just chilling there, dead in his Manhattan. We told the waiter. And then nothing happened. No apology. No management visit to the table. No replacement drink. Just nothing. So completely baffling. We paid the full bill, and my friend mentioned he would follow up the next day. I circled back today to ask him how it went, just curious to see if he ever got an apology, and still nothing. It seems management has promised to email or call him back, but nothing. NOTHING. It is too bad. All he was really looking for was acknowledgement and a decent apology.
(1)
Michael B.
We really liked all the gluten free options, since my girlfriend is gluten free. Sometimes its hard to find an italian spot that caters to her food requirements. The food was excellent. The reason I'm giving them 4 instead of 3 stars, is because of the ambiance. We were seated at a bar type of seating near the bar, next to some guys who were standing around drinking. We were there to eat, not to socialize at the bar. There was a table behind us that was REALLY drunk and loud. We could barely hear each other talk until they left, which was about half way through our meal. Next time I'm going to ask for a quieter table.
(4)
Jay C.
This place is unreal. I don't think East Village has another restaurant that comes even close to quality of food and atmosphere. It was so good the first time, I came back the next day for breakfast to make sure it wasn't just a fluke. It wasn't. You can tell the ingredients are quality and that the kitchen knows what it's doing. I have a feeling I will be here a lot. If you're in this part of San Diego you have to stop in.
(5)
Nicolas B.
Love this place !!! Not my first visit and certainly not my last. The service was as attentive as I wanted it to be; I was in no hurry and they were ready when I was without rushing us. Lobster risotto was tasty, without being unnecessarily rich, even for what it was and the side of broccolini with roasted garlic and chili oil created a delightful explosion of flavors. My wife enjoyed her salmon, my 5 friend enjoyed the Lamb Oso Bucco, as I have at least twice, and his girlfriends was tasty as well. The shrimp cocktail, olive plate, fried calamari, and beet salad set us up perfectly. Just a great dining experience at a restaurant that truly makes you feel welcomed and appreciated, from welcome to thank you.
(5)
Tika J.
A single tear dropped from my eye after eating their tomato bisque.
(5)
Dee P.
Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner, this place provides for every meal or snack you desire. This restaurant has definitely put East Village on the map. I've tried almost every appetizer, entree, pizza and soup they have to offer, and they were all delicious. I've come here for happy hour, just to get some coffee and work and even just to satisfy my sweet cravings at midnight.. The service has always been great. The chefs make it a point to walk around and ensure you love your food. To sum up my experience, it's like a delicious home cooked meal, at an upscale restaurant with the city atmosphere and VERY AFFORDABLE!
(5)
Tom G.
We went for the 4th time. The service was slow the first time we went back in January. They have definitely picked it up. Started with the Hummus which was better than most. Love the vibe and the Pappardelle with lamb sugo. My wife had the Salmon and it was cooked to perfection and not overdone like so many restaurants.
(5)
Logan M.
We came here with a gift certificate waiting for us which somehow got lost and they couldn't find it on file. We decided to eat anyway, and about 20 mins in the manager somehow found it. Our server was pleasant, seemed very scripted, sorta stiff and a little bored. I really like to get a sense of my servers because I was one for about 10 years and can see through the BS, but this guy never cracked! Got a few cocktails because we are friends with the Snake Oil guys and love to support. Cocktails were pretty good, albeit a little pricy and definitely tailored to non-cocktail lovers. We were happy to see the lovely gentian liqueur Suze in one of the cocktails (unfortunately a vodka base) but there was barely a whiff of it in the well-balanced but pedestrian cocktail. The other one had egg white which always catches my eye and it was well-made but still a bit pedestrian. We ordered a cheese plate and spaghetti and meatballs to split. We got a complimentary board with focaccia and a red sauce, focaccia was nice but the sauce was super sweet and I made a note of it by hoping it wasn't the sauce on the Spag&Balls.... We got our cheese/charcuterie plate, and the cheese portions were pretty small for a $28 plate. I was disappointed in the lack of soft cheeses available, which would have rounded out our selections nicely. The blue cheese was lovely. Accompaniments...not so much. There was a pile of things (honey dripping walnuts, fig jam, quince paste and raisins) on the side of the plate which were all sweet upon sweet and I found myself yearning for some mustard or cornichons to balance the speck and salami. When the pasta came out it was split for us which was not expected but appreciated. Weirdly it was garnished with parsley, not basil but...oh well. I ordered a glass of wine which was as expected. Alas, the sauce on the pasta was the same extremely sweet sauce I had tasted earlier...it was edible, but I really wanted some salt and chili flakes and I didn't feel welcomed by the staff to ask for it. Meatballs could have been either softer or more browned but I'm splitting hairs with that! As leftovers, the meatballs seemed a bit more tender but the sauce was somehow even sweeter after an addition of salt and chili flakes. Very strange and since I couldn't find any other reviews that mentioned this it may be an isolated incident. Staff was very efficient with bussing, sometimes too much so, but a simple "we're not done" was enough. Final bill was around $85 for 2 cocktails, one glass of wine, a cheese plate and a pasta dish. A bit high, but it's an impressive interior even though it's not warm or cozy. All in all, a pretty expensive place with a relatively cold environment, but could be a great place to hit up happy hour after work. If I'm around the hood I may try it again.
(3)
Dax Y.
Best part of my entire meal was the service. The entire team was on the ball that night and I appreciate their attention to detail. However, maybe the chefs can learn from the wait staff, or maybe it's just an issue with the exec chef because out of 5 different plates I tried, only one was to my liking. Maybe we ordered the wrong items. Maybe this place is well known for its pasta (which we didn't order). Maybe it was an off night. Before I give anymore stars I will need to try again. But I will say--the crudo here is very nice.
(3)
tammy b.
Gorgeous, open and modern interior with wonderful service and tasty fresh food. They have a nice wine selection and cool, informal seating. Would go back!
(4)
Pedro S.
This is my first review for this place as I was here for a friends birthday. I give it a 5 cause I'll be back and met all the requirements of a "woohoo!....." First thing walking in is I notice 3 cool bar areas you can sit at. Seems like a nice place to take a date, happy hour, etc. It's spacious, and the place looks really well designed. Let's get to the good stuff. The food and the service. nd blowing, but I like how they make their own in house pasta, dough, and bread (I think they make their own bread, not sure) I actually like the bread that comes before the meal, taste like quality to me. I had the osso buco? Shit was good, and I don't even like lamb that much. The kale, and whatever else was in there was delicious. I really enjoyed the tomatoes and wish there were more of them. The best part to me wasn't even the food, our server Jenna Hunter was an amazing server/hostess/entertainer. GIVE THAT WOMAN A RAISE! I would come back just because I know they hire people that take care of you. She was funny, very entertaining, and just "gets it". Can't wait to go back to try some more of their offerings. Pasta is probably next on the list
(5)
Kevin P.
Love the new BA, always yummy...always consistently good. Friendly service, creative menu items, delicious food in a fresh, and smartly decorated energetic atmosphere. Outside patio is a great place to dine streetside. I had the New York strip with wild mushrooms & fire roasted peppers which was excellent, served with complementary bread & smart wine pairings. If you're a red wine lover...try the Barbera Blend from Monferrato.
(5)
Mary K.
Very underwhelmed with the food. In fact, someone needs to work on the chefs or get some that know how to cook true Italian cuisine. The good: beautiful setting, service. Owner greeted us and took us to table, Great waitress and busboys. Everyone who served us talked about how great the food is and anything on the menu is excellent. The bad, unfortunately, is the food. Cannellini soup would have been great but was overloaded with rosemary. Hard to eat something that tasted like a pine forest. The gem salad had a drop of dressing. I hate overdressed salads but this was as close to no dressing as I've ever had. Pastas were highly recommended and absolutely awful because of the sauce. Pastas themselves were tasty and cooked perfectly though. Saffron pasta seafood fra diavolo: fresh seafood but hardly any on the plate. I can live with that but the sauce was barely spicy and was a mass of olive oil and butter. A heavy gut bomb,I could only eat the seafood. Octopus in lobster broth sounds light right? No! Plenty of nicely cooked octopus and properly cooked pasta in an extremely spicy, sauce filled with butter and olive oil. What the heck? Nothing on the description said very spicy and butter is not lobster broth. Again, couldn't eat it because of grease, spice and salt overload. Didn't want to risk a lousy dessert at this point and just paid (not cheap either) and left. Maybe the pizzas are good but not willing to pay that price to find out.
(2)
C R.
Sigh. All I can say is.... Wow. First of all the place and atmosphere is really nice, but the service of absolute shit through me off of the nice vibe I had walked into. My table of 4 including a baby were seated by a window by a nice hostess. The server assigned to us was apparently the bartender as well. First of all she should have left her attitude at home before coming to work today because she had a bad attitude that annoyed the hell out of me. As first time customers we obviously knew nothing about the menu and trusted the yelp community with a few dishes. She didn't give us a speech on the menu or any recommendations. When asked what she recommended all she had to say with her monotone voice was "everything's good". She had an attitude from the get go even though we were nice about it. She didn't offer us a high chair, we had to get up and look for one. When asked what kind of lemonade options they had, she was blunt in the fact that there was no other options other than "just lemonade". We just wanted to know if there was other flavors. Our new server that was given to us mid lunch was very helpful in asking questions for us since the previous server didn't tell us that everything on their lunch menu was basically not being served during lunch--which was very annoying. I feel as though he might have been annoyed by us but had the previous server been helpful, we wouldn't of had a hard time. Overall the food was good and we enjoyed it. I just wish I wouldn't have been so annoyed the entire time. There was a bit of a mix up with the bill at the end because of her lack of communication with the new server. She forgot to mention that she comp a drink for the birthday girl we were with after we returned a nasty drink back. We were gonna get charged dinner prices instead of lunch prices for items that were on a lunch menu that were apparently not being served during lunch hours. In the end I'm glad the problem got resolved. I was just hoping our first experience would be nice but maybe in the future it will be better if they hire nicer servers who know the menu and are patient with first timers. All in all nice decor does not make up for shit service.
(2)
Mayer D.
I came to Bottega Americano for Labor Day dinner. Beautiful place is huge inside and tall ceilings and great arrangements. They sat us quickly and anywhere we wanted. We say at the bar area viewing the kitchen and not a bad seat. We ordered the branzino and it came with head and all bone in. Not the way your supposed to serve that but ok they say it's classic Italian lol. All in all the food was good, drinks were yummy and id recommend it
(4)
Moonie S.
The space is beautiful. The staff is friendly. The ambiance is fantastic. The drinks are delicious. The food is sometimes amazing and at other time very salty. The level of salt in some of the dishes was insane.
(4)
Morgan S.
Beautiful setting! It's as if New York City has arrived to San Diego. We sat at the bar- La Dolce Vida cocktail was delicious and the freshly juiced watermelon in my drink just showed the attention to detail in crafting every drink. The pizzas are great- fresh dough and ingredients and I love the thin crust (similar pizza style as Basic Pizza). We tried a variety of meatballs- the pork didn't have a lot of flavor but the beef was good and the marinara sauce was authentic. The only reason I'm giving 4 stars is that I think that the staff needs to loosen up a bit and take the time to get to know their customers. It feels very "institutionalized" and I think the staff could warm up the place just by warming up to customers more. I'm looking forward to my next visit.
(4)
Tanya K.
I've eaten here a good handful of times now that the restaurant is a new spot and everyone suggests it for group dinners. I have to say, I'm not a big fan. I'd rather move my dinners over to Table No 10 or downtown classics like Bice. Don't know what I'm missing here. Food - I've tried a good amount of the vegetarian selection from pasta to soups to pizza. Nothing has really blown me away, and very few items have been good. There is a truffle infused cheese that once showed up on one of the large cheese plates put together for the table that is AMAZING. I LOVED it. Ambiance - A lot of people like the ambiance here. It's reminiscent of Bottega Louie in LA, except with multiple levels of seating. There's a good selection of higher bar tables and lower tables. I'm not a huge fan of the space. It seems like they tried to make the space a mix of warm and modern, but it comes off as sterile with some warm/natural elements. It's not cozy, nor is it stark. And it's at the far end of downtown in East Village. Quite a trek if you live in Little Italy or the Columbia district. Service - Good. I've only been here with very large groups and we've always been well accommodated.
(3)
Cindy M.
Really cool new spot downtown! Happy hour daily 3-6. Nice wine selection and great prices on meat and cheese boards, apps, and pizzas! The decor is awesome and Scott was a fabulous server! This place gets busy on the weekends fast so make a reservation. The desserts are awesome! Loved the tiramisu and pistachio truffles! Throughly enjoyed the steak & Gorgonzola pizza and the servers recommended meat & cheese plate! My drink choice is the La Dolce Vita or Scott's vodka special! Must try and u can pick up food here from their awesome marketplace!!
(4)
Elvin D.
Came here on a Saturday for happy hour which is daily 3-6pm which is pretty dope!! Drafts $5 wines $5 wells $6. All Pizzas $10 which is great since off regular menu $16-22. Food was delicious pizzas were on point good fresh ingredients and bacon was more like a ham. Had the mussels and sausage with white wine so bomb!!! If you don't try this your a FOOL! So damn good!! Also there's an outdoor patio good for kids and it's very spacious inside with many tables good for groups! And if you're in a rush there's a marketplace where you can order pre made food to go! I will definitely come back for dinner! I give this place 4.5 stars if I could!
(4)
Alicia O.
Love their muscles and meets & cheese board. I am a snob when it comes to this kind of places...BA has highest rating from me. Excellent mix of well thought flavors purposely mixed (or not) for the palate enjoyment. Service is great (once you pass the host who doesn't know much about client service), waitresses have been very attentive, good suggestions on wine and cheese (incl a 2 wine and 6 cheese tasting to decide what I wanted). They pace the delivery of food perfectly to my taste and ambiance is just for me. Their decor with black and white designs, dramatic large pic collage on the wall and marble counter tops is exquisite. Experience will largely change depending on where you sit in the large restaurant space. This is a 9.9 out of 10 for me. Hot spot in SD!
(5)
Logovo L.
Great, large open space. Excellent service, but whoa doggy, stay away from the salads. No, I'm serious, 90% of the food was quite good, but we had the Nicoise (to go) and the Rotisserie salads and they were overpriced and not tasty. But they made things right, so yes, considering the quality of everything else I'm coming back. Lovely meat and cheese plates, everyone loved their pizza and sandwiches, excellent wine and beer menu. Tip on parking for lunch: Go to Padres Parkade. $2 for 2 hours.
(4)
joyce p.
My husband and I went on the Saturday after Halloween, it was extremely busy. We had reservations at 930 but got out of our movie early and arrived at 830 they had nothing earlier so we sat at the bar. We were extremely lucky to have even gotten seats. We had a bunch of things starting with the buratta and speck I love speck and I loved this dish a great balance of the creamy cheesy buratta and the salty speck. We then had the salted fingerling potatoes with romesco sauce and a fried egg on top, this was perfect everything was creamier then it really should've been, amazing. Now my favorite dish was a wild mushroom dish with truffle, it was a perfect unami dish, loved loved it! On to the octopus and slab bacon dish with romesco, not my fave but the bacon.... well you can't go wrong with bacon on most anything, the octopus was was a tad overcooked, not enough to send back but enough to not fully enjoy it. My husband got a very good gnocchi with the same amazing burrata on the side, very creamy melt in your mouth goodness. Oh the drinks i had and highly recommend the la dolce vita very good balanced drink that can get you in trouble if you have more than 2, my hubby had the martini milano a good classic martini. Now to the dessert, we ordered 2 one with a honey cake a chocolate ganache and an ube-like gel thing (now if you know filipino food you know ube), this was not good. The ube for me was kind of neat to see at a restaurant in the gas lamp, the dessert chef was filipino cause I asked if it really was ube. The honey cake was like a hockey honey puck, dry and hard just about inedible but the other dessert made up for this one. The chocolate budino was out of this world, incredibly light in texture but topped with a great crunchy textural cookie like pebbles. It was so good I would order this in the marketplace by itself. The service at the bar was great, seemed a little rushed at times, but it was that day very busy, we were served and did not wait long it was well worth the trip there I would definitely go again and hopefully get a table this time.
(4)
Jacqueline M.
Bottega Americano has become our go-to place, especially on Fridays when we're done with work and ready to relax. Bar service is really great. Everyone at the bar is personable, friendly and helpful when it comes to recommending things on the menu. We tried all new things tonight and it was all really great. Ricotta with honey comb, fritti calamari and shrimp, New York strip and mussels and chorizo. My bf will not shut up about the steak. We've eaten our fair share of beef and for the price... This was good; great char and actually cooked how we ordered, medium rare. I can't tell you the last time we ordered a steak that cost under $30 and tasted like something from Mastro's or any great steakhouse. I personally loved the ricotta and honey comb and especially the mussels. The broth is super smokey and rich and delicious. Brandi recommended the moose bar, so over course we had to grab one from the marketplace to go on the way out. GOOD IDEA. Side note: the marketplace had so much more merch than the first time we went. Pizza doughs, fresh breads and sauces.
(5)
Courtney H.
Delicious! This space is a little unassuming sitting on a corner, but the inside is spacious and beautiful. There is a small market of Italian goods with a few chairs that make it feel welcoming (and nice if you're waiting for the rest of your party like I was). We had a reservation and were promptly seated near the open kitchen where you could easily see them preparing pizzas. To start, I ordered a moscato and we split a cheese plate. We had the taleggio, mortadella and pecorino which was accompanied with mustard, chutney, and crisps. You can build your own tray with the variety of selections they offer. Any time I eat Italian, I typically order the pappardelle dish offered, but I went for something new and ordered the paccheri (a thicker, rigatoni-type noodle) with truffle, pork, peas and mushrooms in a creamy, white sauce. I loved the dish and was surprised and happy that the peas held up in the richness of the dish. Many times peas almost seem like an afterthought addition, but this dish wouldn't seem the same to me without them. We requested bread, which comes with a generous portion and a tomato dipping sauce and for dessert, I ordered the affogato, a dessert I would like to end most of my meals. The food was incredible and I look forward to trying more. The service was also spot on. It felt like a true dining experience where we never felt rushed, but where were checked on to fill drinks and take orders. Also, the chef preparing the pizzas asked how we were enjoying our dishes. Again, the space is gorgeous, the food fantastic and the overall experience one I enjoyed.
(5)
Elaine R.
Molto bene! Custom insignia tile, wood stacks for columns, sleek marble-esk table tops created a very swanky environment for us to enjoy our food. The wait staff was super friendly and attentative. The mussels with garlic chorizo sauce will leave your tastebuds singing! Plus one of the best parts is to dip their toasted bread into the sauce for added palate satisfaction. We also had their shrimp pasta which lacked some flavored so we added the leftover chorizo sauce to it and it took it up a notch. We just didn't stop there we couldn't leave without trying their desserts. The gelato was eccellente! It tasted just like the ones I've had in Rome. When in Rome...
(4)
Thuong T.
This is a really nice restaurant thats great for italian food and drinks. They have short tables and tall tables and bar-like seating. They have a small section of display cases where you can also order dessert. They have pastas, anti-pastas, appetizers, pizzas, and shared plates for two. The customer service is on point. FOOD: Steamed Mussels $16 (chorizo, white wine, garlic-herb butter, calabrian chilies, grilles bread) The mussels were fresh. The sauce was subtle. Didn't like the sausages or the bread. The bread had like a stale breadstick kind of texture. I would much prefer the thin crispier kind of bread that usually comes with a mussel dish. Pappardelle $20 (braised lamb sugo, pecorino) This dish is simple but delicious. Tender lamb meat with a good sauce. Prosciutto $18 (broccolini, roasted garlic, tomato, mozzarella, crescenza cheese, calabrian chiles) I loved the idea of prosciutto on pizza. It was good but nothing too unique about the flavors. Pistachio pesto $16 (taleggio cheese, mozzarella, radicchio peaches, red onion, truffle honey) This was my favorite dish of the night. Who would've known that peaches with cheese and truffle honey could be SO AMAZING together on a pizza? Highly recommended. Overall, food looks great and tastes good. Definitely recommend the pizzas.
(4)
Steven K.
Service was very good and the food was great too! Was not a huge fan of their appetizers, the figs felt like something was missing. However the tomatoe like dip they give you for bread was awesome. This place allowed me to scratch that italian food itch for sure. I also got the Pacherri which was really good, rich, creamy and heavy. The real star was the Sage Ravioli, wow! Also rich and heavy but super tasty. The also have a full bar which was a huge plus! Also got the pistachio pesto pizza with onions, pears, goat cheese and truffle honey. It was a very different kind of pizza, sweet and savory. Our server messed up the order and was super sweet about it, she gave us the prosciutto pizza and comped it when she realized we orders the pistachio pesto, so we got a whole free pizza to take home!
(3)
Melissa A.
Happy to find this hidden gem in East Village! This place is located on a corner right next to a law school. I loved sitting in the patio. Nice spot for date night! Service was friendly & welcoming. We ordered Oysters, Pappardelle, & Paccheri. The Pappardelle had braised lamb in a tomato sauce & pecorino cheese. The Paccheri had a truffle cream sauce, pork, mushrooms, & peas. Both entrees left our bellies full & happy! Pappardelle satisfied my carb cravings & the lamb was a perfect complement. My husband ordered the Paccheri & the truffle cream sauce was delicious, but we both agreed the pork was a little much & he didn't finish it. Oysters were a nice starter (when is it not?!) & went well with the recommended wine, Prosecco. They only had 1 type of oyster available, which is the Hood Canal Oyster. I recommend getting the Bottega Blend, which is a white wine. I love buttery, slightly sweet wines. Heads up! Dog friendly & they offer valet parking.
(4)
Maria C.
We came in with another couple for dinner, and we were promptly seated at our table. We were offered comped bread and red sauce while we perused the menu. Drinks were $12 a pop and I ordered the Trevi Fountain (Aperol/prosecco/club soda/orange/seasonal fruit). Our server arrived with drinks and we ordered the following as appys to share and our main entrees: -Di stefano barrata ($15) -Whole Branzino ($30) -Gnocchi ($18) -Lamb Osso bucco ($30) -Salted caramel budino Everything we had was very good. My entree was the whole branzino. I really have a whole fish to myself with skin and head, but decided to try a healthier dinner option. Had I known it had so many bones, I would have opted to get a skirt steak or a pasta dish. The branzino was tender and meaty. Good flavor with lots of lemon. The lamb was delicious. I had a piece of the osso bucco and it was tender with good flavors. I really enjoyed the Gnocchi as well. The barrata cheese topped on the pasta was a perfect pairing. The ambiance is simply beautiful. Elegant, modern and contemporary. Even the bathrooms are nice! There's a little to-go area when you walk in, which is nice if you want to grab and go. There are some yummy desserts you can pick up as well. I did pick up some macaroons to take home and they were yummy!!! I would definitely come back again and try more of their menu items. Great addition to downtown SD!
(4)
Kat M.
I celebrated my birthday here this past Saturday with the help of Ally (the kind lady who answered the phone), Sara (Sales Manager), and Todd (our waiter). The reason why I decided to celebrate here was because I went to happy hour with some co-workers a few months back and our waiter (forgive me, I forgot his name, but he is super nice and well versed in the selections on the menu-- I also saw him working at the bar this past weekend) helped create a very memorable experience. The food and wine selection was great and because of his hospitality, I knew I would return. Ally kept in touch with me by securing the reservation and connected me with Sara when I asked if we could have a fixed menu. I gave Sara a budget and she was able to create a menu for our party on such short notice. In addition, the food was great. We had charcuterie boards, salads, pizzas, and ended up ordering a few bottles of wine that night. They even brought out a complimentary cannoli with a candle so my guests could sing, "Happy Birthday!" Everything was delicious. Not to mention the ambience was beautiful and lively. With downtown having a variety of dining options, it's all about the experience. Because of the people, food, ambience and oh... did I mention reasonable prices??-- I know that I will be a returning customer. We all had a great time! Thanks, you guys! :-)
(5)
Mimi T.
A group of us came here for a business lunch. They were able to accommodate a large group without a lot of notice. The food fell short of my expectation. I had the seafood special for the day--Prawns with kale and black rice. The dish was on the oily side. My colleagues shared the same sentiments about their dishes. Perhaps it is better to come here for dinner?
(3)
John T.
A little pricey but excellent food and service. Fun to watch the food being prepared at the various stations. Dog friendly outdoor dining.
(5)
Anita T.
A decent restaurant, reminded me of Bottega Louie in Los Angeles because their interior look so much alike! My friends and I ordered a Salumeria with prosciutto, finocchiona, and a kind of cheese I totally forgot what the name was! The prosciutto was very delicious. It is very tender and soft, and the seasoning is just perfect, salty just at the right level. The cheese was also amazing. It is so rich and creamy and is definitely comparable to the cheese I had when I was living in Europe. However, the finocchiona was very average compared to the other two, and I really don't have a lot to say about it. The bread on the platter was also very well-baked and the three different little jams and dipping sauces for the bread on the side were also all very impressive and unique. All of us enjoyed the Salumeria very much. For the main dish, as a lamb lover, the lamb pappardelle was a no-brainer. The lamb was very tender and I enjoyed the protein itself very much. However, I do have one complaint is that the marinara sauce was a little too heavy and salty. In addition, I felt like the sauce was unoriginal. The only thing that made it different from other marinara sauce was the lamb. But honestly, I thought the combination of the two wasn't very harmonious. It was kind of like forcing the taste of the lamb to go into the sauce when those two just don't fit together. One of my friend got the mussels, and as a picky eater, he didn't enjoy it a quite lot. He thought the sauce could be a little more heavy, and the bread served with the mussels should've been the bread we had for the Salumeria. My other friend got the spaghetti meatball, and that dish turned out to be delicious. Although it is something so simple, the meatball was refined and every part of the meatball was heated perfectly. I was really debating between giving this place 3 or 4 stars. Despite the delicious Salumeria, the lamb pappardelle still did not impress me a whole lot. However, the ambience and interior decoration made my dinning experience very pleasant, so I'm going to go with 4. I look forward to come back again and try out their brunch and hopefully give them another star that I'm sure they deserve!
(4)
Zildheam D.
First time visit and hopefully one of many, many, many more. Friday night reservations, beautiful large open area, opened kitchen, small market at the front of the restaurant and delicious food. The yellowtail crudo is extremely tiny, if you are greedy like myself - order your own instead of sharing -its that delicious! Alaskan cod was plated beautifully and served to perfection. Katy took excellent care of us and Jeff is such an asset to this place. My minor wish is that they hire a hostess who matches the positive and welcoming vibe from everyone else. Don't let that deter you, everyone can have a bad day and so what if she ignored us for a long time, the food and service besides that is amazing and I highly recommend reservations!
(5)
Lo R.
What an amazing eating experience. This is a great place to eat, drink, coffee, deli sandwich, dinner, lunch. All of it! This place has amazing coffee drinks and Danishes that will make any one happy. This place has a night life that has a really fun atmosphere. Drinks are always on point and the servers are refreshingly witty. Iv been here a few times for lunch also and the menu is changing and stays delightfully delicious. Great place!
(5)
David G.
Size matters; Bottega Americano is proof of that. Seriously, this place is huge, large, grand -- a far cry from the quainter Italian spots in Little Italy and South Park, and more reminiscent of over-the-top Italian-American spectacles like Eataly in NYC or Giada in Vegas. Bottega Americano is right at home in the East Village, where brand-spanking-new condo towers make the neighborhood feel more and more upscale with every passing week. This isn't a bad thing, mind you -- just a warning. If you expect cozy ambiance while whispering sweet nothings to your S.O. in subdued lighting, go somewhere else. If you want to celebrate Italian-style, then Bottega Americano is for you. You have your choice of places to celebrate, too. There's a fancy gourmet market, a deli/prepared-foods area with both sweet and savory foods available for take-out, a sprawling dining room, and an equally spacious bar, filled with pretty people downing happy hour vino like the end of the world was nigh. Naturally, that's where I decided to sit. Happy hour at Bottega Americano is actually quite awesome. After seating ourselves, the friendly bartendress was quickly out with $5 IPA beers and Chardonnay glasses. Can't go wrong with those. For snacks, we opted for the eggplant caponata and a pistachio pesto pizza. The eggplant caponata was tasty, but too salty for my taste. The pistachio pesto pizza was much better, and I especially liked the creative addition of peaches on top -- definitely an original twist. After happy hour was over and our tab was paid, we decided to make a detour to the dessert case and grab a French macaron and hazelnut truffle to go. They weren't the freshest, but still a nice sweet treat on the way out. Nice job, Bottega Americano. Even though I'm normally skeptical of oversized restaurants with a lot of flash, consider me your newest fan. :-)
(4)
Lux S.
Nestled in the heart of east village what a delightful establishment this place is. It is beautiful and wondrous to set eyes on, even in the day. A lady friend and I came for lunch. They do "executive" lunches for $20. We opted for the tuna panini and the steamed mussels. The tuna panini was awesome. It came with a small side salad. The tuna was great, it wasn't as chopped as you would find in a canned tuna and I think there was egg in the sandwich which complemented the dish well. We were on the hunt for some amazing mussels and yes, we found them! Although I didn't figure I would favor too much of a red sauce it was actually quite addicting. The mussels are on the smaller size but do not lack quality at all. They were tasty, cleaned and prepared well. This dish you must order, I promise. Our server whose name I've either forgotten or never got was just ok. He checked on us maybe about once. He took a while to process our cards and said the system went down. After checking my bank statement I noticed there was a charge that was definitely not our bill and a charge that was, so I charged twice. He did void it but it would've been nice to know that mishap... There is also a cute market you may shop from! And even though we shared we were completely satisfied and astounded at how good everything was. First impression knocked both of us out of the park. Thank you, Bottega Americano!
(5)
Kelly O.
Great dinner! The lamb pappardelle ($20) was everyone's favorite. The lamb was so tender and the dish was well seasoned--not too salty. Delicious. We also got the fennel sausage pizza ($16) with cauliflower panna, goat cheese, mozzarella, roasted tomatoes, kale. I still don't know what panna is, but the pizza exceed expectations. The goat cheese was delicious, the tomatoes added a sweetness...even the kale was crispy and so good. I would order it again--or come back during happy hour when pizzas are $10 (I think?) The atmosphere is awesome. It's huge and classy and feels the most like a NYC restaurant out of anywhere I've been in SD. Not super hipstery, either. There are several different areas, a cafe area, a little market, and the big dining area and more. Loooved it. For dessert we got a couple macaroons. The pistachio was far superior to the chocolate. Just a small thing. :)
(5)
K C.
I really like this place, but today, it missed the mark for me. Make sure you point out the specific dessert you want because I was eyeing the cheesecakes for awhile before I decided to buy one. I noticed that they had two older ones at the bottom of the display next to a birthday cake. When I got home... what a disappointment. The cashier had boxed one of the older cheesecakes. I wouldn't have been so upset if it tasted alright, but this one tasted old and the consistency was like cheese (I posted a pic). I've gotten their cheesecakes before and they were light and "fluffy" and I was really surprised by the quality of this one. It should have been tossed if they didn't want it on display with the other ones and they had it hiding at the bottom of the display. Super disappointed that I spent $7 on days old cheesecake.
(1)
Lisa W.
I'm not sure if this part of the Bottegas in Socal (like LA's Bottega Louie) but it kind of have the same concept. The place is huge! Even for a huge place some of the seating was oddly place. Our table was so tightly closed to another table and there was no room to move the chair or what not. Our server was knowledgable but pretty slow. He wasn't the greatest but it wasn't a bad experience. It was hard to get his attention. But when we did he was great. The night was pretty busy though. We still had a good time. Food items: -Oysters: delicious buttery oysters! -Charcuterie board (Prosciutto, salami, and soppressata with cheese like Brie): you get to choose 4 items. The deli meats were good. Nice and fresh -Lamb osso del buco: The meat literally fell off the bone. There was a crunchy-ness on the top over polenta and some kale. I love the kale that was sitting beneath it soaking all the delicious flavor at the bottom. -Lamb pappardelle: the lamb was a bit dry but the pappardelle with the lamb gave it good flavor. Desserts: we were in a hurry and wasn't able to get dessert but there will be a next time as I want to try their mussels and dessert! One thing though, I booked through open table and somehow the hostess messed up and put me as a "no show." As you know it's a bad stats to get a no show on open table and potentially kicked out. I got the email from open table and was a bit frustrated, but I called and I don't know who I spoke with but she was very sweet to work it out with me! I can tell they care about their customers! They were able to put me as cancel and told me to make another one so I can the points. I like resolutions to problems! Especially working together.
(4)
Christina R.
Solid! 2 skinny girls with big appetites cleared half a dozen oysters, ricotta with honeycomb and 6 servings of crostini, lamb pappardelle, a fennel sausage pizza, and a house bread board with a bowl of marinara. The portions were generous and brought pre-divided to the table for 2. Finding meter parking was a pain- but valet is optional for $7ish. Service was excellent. On to the Food: Oysters- luscious, petite, served with a red wine vinegar mignonette, and cocktail sauce Ricotta with honeycomb- huge segments of velvety comb in an enormous bowl of local di Stefani ranch ricotta. They didn't flinch when we asked for the third order of crostini. Lamb Papardelle- so good! Perfectly al dente pasta, wildly flavorful marinara, delicious lamb- not at all gamey, though I like it that way too. Just a tad bit on the overdone side. All in all, I wiped the dish clean with the house Rosemary bread. Fennel sausage pizza- wow- surprisingly good- I normally don't care for fennel or even sausage on my pizza but this was very well-crafted. Delicious crust- not too sweet and perfect for dipping in the marinara. Fennel flavor can be too overpowering when it's not roasted enough, but this was. Absolutely no room for dessert this time, but will probably be back to sample these and the crudos at happy hour.
(5)
Cherry L.
Came to San Diego for vday weekend and we made reservations for dinner here. I must say this became one of my favorite restaurants! The ambiance reminded me of Bottega Louie in LA soso much! I told our server if she's ever heard of bottega louie in LA and she said that a lot of customers had told them that this place looks like it so I guess I'm not the only one lol. It's super cute and bright inside and they also have outside seating with heated lamps. It's kind of like a better and fancier version of Bottega Louie, although I loveeee my Louie! We had the chorizo steamed mussels, oysters, scallops, and halibut with a bottle of wine and EVERYTHING was delightful and distinctive! All of the tastes just went so well together and I was eating every dish til the very last piece including the sauce and sides/fillers! They're also inexpensive and extremely affordable for such high quality food! I will definitely be back here when I'm visiting SD again!
(5)
Anna E.
Everything was good, but nothing really blew me away. The meat and cheese board had some tasty treats, but again, nothing earth shattering. The ricotta with honey was tasty, but just a tad bland. We sat at the bar for happy hour and the server was great. Happy hour specials were decent and the space is beautiful.
(3)
Adriana F.
Such a wonderful atmosphere. The patio is very relaxing. I loved that I can bring my dog here!! Pet friendly place. The server is fantastic. Great knowledge of the menu and had very good recommendations. Adrian is a wonderful server and took care of us. He was very prompt and friendly. The mussels are extremely good. I would come here every week! Great place to be and friendly staff.
(5)
Jocelyn A.
The stylish decor earns a solid 5-stars, but I didn't find the food or the service to be on the same level. We ordered the ricotta and honeycomb from the "for the table" menu. It was absolutely delicious, but nothing else from that section of the menu sounded at all interesting to our group. The portion size for the ricotta was fairly generous (minus the fact that it only came with four crostini), but I saw a few other items come out of the kitchen and "for the table" seems to mean "for a table of two". Next we shared the brussel sprout and slab bacon pizza. The bacon had a nice smokey flavor, but it wasn't crispy at all and was more reminiscent of ham. Truthfully, I thought the whole pizza could have used a little more crisp to it. The brussel sprouts made the whole thing pretty soggy. The sauce and crust were fine, but nothing special. We also ordered a few pastas to share. The duck ragu fuzi and the lamb pappardelle were beautiful in presentation, but lacking in flavor. Both were served room temperature, and felt like they had been sitting too long before delivery. They serve bread upon request, and it too was unremarkable. The dipping sauce was good, but both it and the bread were served cold when they would have been better warm. The waitstaff is young, and seemed inexperienced. We got there early in the evening, and the hostess was sitting in the bar area with her shoes off - an off-putting way to start! Our server was kind, and fairly knowledgeable about the menu, but he left us hanging on a number of occasions. Overall, I would say that the stunning decor does not make up for the lackluster fare. I would suggest stopping into the cafe section instead, you can still marvel at the beauty of the place, without having to pay the high prices for dinner.
(3)
Pete T.
When you first walk in your sights will gaze of the atmosphere sparkling lights hanging from the ceiling and then you'll a warm welcome from the hostess servers and bartenders The bar is lively with a great happy or five dollar drafts and five dollar house wines. Special prices for appetizers which all have been delicious and well portioned I Can easily recommend Bottega Americano as the unique casual atmosphere for any of your intimate occasions you wish to share with your loved ones
(5)
Christine T.
Bottega Americano is a fantastic place for dinner. We were in town for the day and decided to dine here. Though we walked in with no reservations on a Saturday night, we were able to grab 4 seats at the bar. Saved us an hour of waiting. We ordered a number of things but what stood out were the scallops, fennel sausage pizza, meat & cheese board, and also the cocktails! I love the ambiance and decor of this restaurant. The kitchen is open so you can see all the excitement of the backhouse and they also have a marketplace near the entrance. Solid. Will definitely be back.
(5)
Mac W.
Great brunch! I randomly stumbled upon this place one day walking to a friend's condo and decided I would check out their brunch even though it is known as an Italian restaurant. They have a little marketplace inside the restaurant if you want to buy pastries, cakes, salads, or sandwiches to go. They also sell some of their own rubs. We are outside on the patio since it was a pretty nice day. The service was a little slow but our waitress gave excellent recommendations. All of the brunch items range from $9 for bacon and eggs up to $16 for pasta. We ordered the breakfast calzone, French toast, steak and eggs, bacon and eggs, and the lamb pasta dish. You can order a bottle of champagne and a cafe of juice (OJ, tangerine, or grapefruit) for $35 or a single mimosa will run you $10. Everything was super tasty and the portions were pretty big. The breakfast calzone is AMAZING. Our server recommended the French toast and said it sells out often. It is also pretty tasty! I will definitely be back for brunch and look forward to trying the dinner menu soon. For a party of 5 our bill was $140 and that included brunch along with 2 bottles of champagne so not a bad deal for brunch downtown.
(4)
Veronica E.
my GF who lives in east village wanted to catch up and suggested this place - so glad she did! I love reviewing places based on the over all experience so here it goes... AMBIANCE: LOVE. you can tell its not their first rodeo designing. all white- counter tops, floors, walls - with brass lamp fixtures.... just an overall 'clean' look that is appealing. We ate at the pasta bar so we didnt have to wait for a table - yes it was busy on a Wednesday, like it was a friday night... PACKED! FOOD: hands down the best MUSSELS i've had around town! The Filipino in me wanted white rice to eat with the thick broth and not waste the tastiness. it came with a full amount of med sized muscles and two pieces of toast a top. i had the DUCK rigatoni which was okay - portions were on the smaller side but very savory. I felt like there should be more flavor in the sauce but the past was made in house, very al dente. My friend had the BUTTER LETTUCE with grilled shimp, tasty! i think i'd rather have this, came with 4 shrimp and a soft boiled egg. We shared dessert... not very impressed but presentation was great! Cant wait to come back and try drinks and a few more items! PRICE: def 12-17$ per plate, some appetizers were less SERVICE: our waiter was very sweet and made sure we enjoyed everything. He was good about checking in and changing our order last min. PARKING: street parking in the neighborhood! ***Please excuse any typos or grammatical errors as this was done on my iPhone**
(4)
Erica T.
This is my favorite restaurant downtown. We live in East Village and I can't believe we didn't check it out sooner. We are making up for it though. Loved it so much the first time that we went back again that same week. The mussels are amazing! All the lamb dishes are tasty. Everything we have tried has been great. We look forward to brining our puppy there to eat on the patio so he can enjoy one of their doggie treats while we have dinner. Love everything here!
(5)
Sylvia S.
I highly recommend this place...if you're looking for an innovative design concept along with totally lackluster customer service! What a buzz-kill. We checked in for our 1:15 pm brunch reservation, only to be completely ignored for the next 20 minutes. (I mean seriously ignored, looked straight through, brushed by, totally and utterly ignored.) Finally got the huffy bartenders attention, while our waitress continued to punch her one and only table's order into the computer, to request a little water. She took our drink order, then turned around and promptly began to pick up teeny, tiny pieces of microscopic trash from the floor...I kept waiting for the hidden cameras to pop out and tell me that I was on some sort of hidden camera show. After 20 minutes of nothing, we high-tailed it out of there and practically ran to our faithful standby, Cafe Chloe, where we received the the most crazy-delightful service that is their hallmark...not to mention the most delicious brunch in San Diego. Cafe Chloe never, ever disappoints! I'm sorry Cafe Chloe...I'll never stray again!!
(1)
Malcolm J.
Nice decor, much bigger and brighter than it appears from the outside. Definitely go inside and check it out. Really good service, Brandi was personable and attentive with a good sense of humor. Breakfast Calzone ($14): Cool idea. Never had one before but I liked it. Good sized portion, it ended up being enough for 2 so we didn't order anything else. I would order this again.
(4)
Janel P.
Fantastic place for dinner. The menu changes so don't get excited over the photos or recommended items bc it might not be there. However, I had salmon and it was the best I've ever had. Portions are generous and worth every penny.
(5)
Brad B.
This place has been on my radar for quite a while now, and I finally stopped in last Sunday for a long overdue drink. We plopped down at the bar and I simply sat there looking around and taking it all in. There's a giant pizza oven, an iced seafood bar, a small market up front, a patio with a vespa, windows with a view of the trolley rolling by and towering pillars decorated with unfinished firewood - absolutely beautiful. Now, I can't speak for the food but will most definitely be coming back sometime soon for happy hour at the very least. Our bartender gave us all the details and the $10.00 pizzas sound like the perfect reason to return. On the other hand, I am able to speak for the cocktails. I ordered a variation of a pisco sour, which was similar enough to Peru's signature drink but different enough to be considered unique to Bottega. It was prepared perfectly and presented in glass dressed with a small wedge of pineapple. Yum! This drink is a total summer sipper and I can see myself spending many, many hours on the patio with one of these in my hand... pinky out!
(5)
Jamie E.
Beautiful interior, I was worried when my friends choose Italian. I was pleasantly surprised by the many options for someone who is not an Italian food pasta eater. They were very accommodating to my food allergies. Probably the best salmon I have ever had in a restaurant, delicious salads and veggie sides from the cold bar.
(5)
Cody S.
I've REALLY wanted to try this place for 6 months now. I've even recommended it to friends based off of word of mouth alone. This week was finally the week. After perusing the menu online, my husband and I headed in for lunch. The interior is awesome. You immediately walk into a display case of incredible looking desserts, and then glance left to see stunning wooden floors with tile pathways, log adorned pillars, a magnificent bar that stretches to the ceiling, and lots of natural light. I was immediately happy I chose to come here. So what happened? First off, the menu wasn't the same. I had wanted pasta but the price of gnocchi was $20 instead of the $15 listed on their website, where as the meatball panini my husband wanted wasn't listed at all. Our waiter explained they have seasonal menus. Fair, but why would a price shoot up? I made my peace and settled on ordering a chicken panini instead while they agreed to make my husband's sandwich (score!). However, things got worse. Our sandwiches arrived and looked tasty. That is until I bit into mine. The meat on the inside was ICE COLD. Not just normal refrigerator cold, but like it had been sitting in ice. I understand it's hard to grill a sandwich all the way through but this was as if they took 2 pieces of toast and stuck frozen meat on it. I tried to eat a few bites but couldn't keep going and mentioned it to my server. He took it back explaining he would bring a new one out shortly. So I waited. And waited. And waited. Now it was 15 minutes later and there was still no panini or status update on it. My husband, who had been trying to eat his meal as slowly as possible, was now finishing the last remnants of his sandwich. I was getting really frustrated by the lack of communication. The waiter was finally walking by and I had to flag him down and tell him to get my sandwich to go. No apology, just an "Ok." Suddenly a waitress spilled ice water from the next table all over my leg and the ground. It was really no big deal but she apologized profusely. Then the manager came over and apologized. That's when it hit me. These people were more apologetic over water getting spilled than getting my order right. It took until this point before the manager acknowledged me, despite the fact that I saw our waiter discussing the panini with her earlier. They ended up comping my sandwich but the damage was done. I'm sure if I were to come another day I might have a different experience. But now I don't want to. When I finally ate the sandwich in the parking lot of Trader Joes (I'm classy like that), it wasn't very good. The quality of meat was there but whatever the sauce was tasted like cream cheese and it was smothered in so much of it that I felt like I had consumed a vat of oil by the time I finished. Between that and the prices ($20 for pasta at lunch?), I'm kind of over it. Too bad Bottega Americano, I had such high aspirations for you.
(2)
Lexie A.
I would've gave them an extra star but I made reservation at least a week in advance for my significant others birthday. As soon as I checked in they told me that they were cleaning the area which was fine but I was seated at the bar..... I didn't know that if I made reservations in advanced I'd get seated at the bar instead of the table, where waitress and bus boys would constantly bump into my seat numerous times while I'm eating... Maybe when you make a reservation in advance, make sure you ask for a table. Food was good and my waitress was a sweetheart. I loved the cheese platter but you could've given more jam. Oysters and mussels were really good which I recommend.. Thank you for the birthday Cannoli but I don't think I'd recommend this place..
(2)
Barney C.
Location: 4/5 Bottega Americano is pretty new to the neighborhood. I would consider it being in East Village rather than Downtown. That's good for me though because it's in walking distance. It's pretty close to the trolley station for those that are fans of mass transportation but then again, it's pretty close to the trolley station, for those that aren't fans of somewhat sketchy characters. The library down the block also lends to there being more than average sketchy characters. I have no issues and feel pretty safe. There's always security around too. Atmosphere / Ambiance: 4/5 First thing i noticed about the restaurant was that it was bright due to the lighting and white walls / accents. This doesn't boast well if you're trying to do the whole dim lit / candle light romantic thing but the establishment is fancy enough to impress a date. The seating varies with high top counters and standard tables and the crowd has a more of a middle-aged to older family and/or friends get together feel. This is not a bar or gastropub by any sense. Don't go in there with torn jeans or a jersey. Sorry sports fans. There's only one television in the restaurant. There are some cool rustic elements that help the vibe like columns encircled by stacked wood and funky lighting decor. Cleanliness: 5/5 As I mentioned above, this joint is bright. Like sterile operating room bright. It would be easy to spot any cleanliness issues with the amount of light in there, and I found no evidence of dirty or grim. It's pretty pristine. Service: 5/5 My server was legit. Prompt, friendly and attentive. Perfect amount of time was allotted for drinks then dinner selections. She took her time to explain the layout of the restaurant as it relates to the menu (5 different kitchens to match the 5 sections of the menu, top of menu = smaller plates, bottom of the menu = larger plates / entrees). She wasn't pushy with the specials and desserts either. I'm a fan of the her / the service. Food: 5/5 Amazingly delicious. The average entree course was around $25 but it was well worth it. The flavors were great, the food was cooked well and the portions were large enough for my huge appetite. I kinda get irritated when I shell out a lot of money for a child sized meal; personal preference. We ordered the NY Strip Steak (nice & large) and the Scallops (4 large ones). Both tasted delicious. There's a pretty large selection of meats and cheeses but I didn't venture down that culinary path. Looked like it was a great for sharing among a larger group though. Conclusion: Definitely try out this place. It's located far enough from the Gaslamp to avoid the masses and foot traffic, but the location is not inconvenient. The food is awesome as well. It's pretty fancy, but worth the cost. Good for date night? Sure, if you're not trying to set the "mood" ... it's better for a "I want to make sure you look good under bright lights but also what to show you I can be fancy" date. Taking your folks here would be a good look too. K. Tis all. Enjoy & Bon Appetit.
(4)
Angela A.
Everything was delicious. We enjoyed appetizers including minestrone soup topped with cheese and meatballs with delicious marinara sauce and fresh parsley. Service was excellent. Chef and owner were both welcoming and delightful. Will definitely dine here again soon. Similar to Louis Bottega in DTLA.
(5)
Chris S.
Bottega Americano 5 stars- ambiance and food quality 4 stars- service The food is amazing here. I would definitely recommend the beef carpaccio it was a good size portion and had a good flavor. The lamb rack is probably the best lamb I have ever had. It is a Colorado lamb which was not as gamey as a Australian lamb. In addition to the amazing taste it was also huge. The picture is actually the dish in half because it is just to big to eat by yourself. The fingerling potatoes and creamed spinach was amazing. The lamb au jus was phenomenal and added a lot of moisture to the dish. The tiramisu was also great and was a good sized portion for the cost. The only bad thing was that the service was lacking. As a person who works in a restaurant I know when the server is bad or is just busy. The server only took our order and only came back after we waved her down. No checking in and seeing what else can be done. If I could give 4.5 stars I would but overall this is a excellent place for some great food and ambiance.
(4)
Vianney C.
Ambiance: This place has a very nice decor and ambiance. There are a lot of people on a Friday or Saturday night. It's a place to got to for drinks and maybe some appetizers Service: Out waitress was really nice, unfortunately I can't remember her name but she recommended a couple of dishes and entrees. Food & drinks: The only drink I had other than red wine was called "la dolce vita" which was okay. But the food was not good at all. Unfortunately the fiz rabbit pasta had the weirdest and strongest taste, something I wouldn't try again. The meatballs and strawberry pasta were the best we tried all night.
(2)
David A.
I've come here several times, love the pizza, fresh pasta and variety of fresh appetizers. Reasonably priced, and convenient for Padres
(5)
Kat G.
One of my favorite new spots in SD! Clean adorable ambiance, unique dining style, and the food is ridiculous. I've only been here 3x so far but have had a great time each experience trying new seasonal selections each time. I love the changing menu & freshness of the ingredients. Keep up the great work Bottega Americano, can't wait to come back!
(5)
Sara G.
This place was freaking yummy! I went with 3 other friends so we got an assortment of food and shared. The, Fennel Sausage Pizza was exceptional! My only recommendation would be the chairs were a little uncomfortable and scrunched close together with other tables.
(4)
Jennifer J.
This place is solid. I've never eaten anything bad here. My family really enjoyed their visit when we went as a group as well, and my dog was allowed on the patio. I was a little annoyed that they were out of the Gluten Free beer (my favorite beer and also the only kind I can drink). This place has been consistently spot on.
(4)
Jeb H.
My girlfriend took me to Bottega Americano for my birthday, and it sure was a treat! This is an unusual restaurant in that it also sells retail items during the day. Upon walking in the door, I immediately noticed how large and roomy the place is, and also how busy it was on a Tuesday night. I also really like the rustic decor! A couple of cocktails got us off to a good start, and settled in to peruse the menu. We opted to try the meat and cheese board from the salumeria, and it was delightful. I appreciate how you can choose not only how many items you want, but also the specific meats and cheeses it will contain. We opted for the speck with a soft and a medium cheese. It was served with numerous slices of toasted baguettes and a lovely fruit medley that included strawberries, figs, nuts, and honey. I haven't had speck before, but it was...ahem...specktacular, and I enjoyed mixing and matching different items on the plate. We also split a Scallop Risotto that was also excellent! The scallops were gigantic, and the risotto was rich and creamy with melted cheese. Our server was fantastic! She was very knowledgeable about both the food and drink menu, and offered suggestions on what to pair together for our meat and cheese board. Great food, tasty drinks, excellent service, and a cool and stylish atmosphere all combine to ensure that we will be returning soon!
(5)
Monika C.
Great food but slow service. (Granted we came here the second week that they opened and they might have been working out some kinks.) We sat at the crudo bar and got to watch the chefs preparing a variety of foods from crudo to pasta. The food was great and for that I would give it 5 stars, but the service was pretty slow and our dinner somehow ended up lasting 2 1/2 hours. Good thing we were sitting at the crudo bar which kept us entertained or the time in between dishes would have been miserable. This is probably the best Italian food I have ever had and this will definitely become a restaurant in our local rotation.
(4)
Allyson L.
I live this place! We stopped here for Sunday happy hour. We were only going to get one drink but ended up with several rounds and food too. The design and decorations are amazing, very trendy! There weren't many people in there at the time so we sat right at the bar. Our bartender was very helpful and knowledgable. We were having trouble picking out cheeses for the cheese plate, so he told is a little about each one and what he recommended. We ended up with that and their artisan bruschetta. Everything was so tasty! I can't wait to come back here! It would be a great spot for specials occasions or even before a Padres game!
(4)
linda y.
Came here for a Mother's Day late lunch at around 2pm. Thought it was pretty ordinary, nothing really stood out to me in particular. The decor was nice, had a young/hip vibe to it. Me and my boyfriend both ordered dishes that the waiter highly recommended [I got the breakfast calzone and BF got the Artichoke Benedict]. Both dishes were yummy, but nothing particularly memorable. We thought the artichoke benedict was better than the calzone though. It can get pretty loud, so if you are sitting at a rectangular table with more than 4 people, it's difficult to talk to/hear someone on the opposite side. They do validate parking.
Definitely loved the smoked ricotta pizza suggested by the waiter as a light repast. He went off on the wine suggestion - it was too dry for that night. Desserts are exqusitely made and the only complaint taking off 1 star is the small portion size. The most beautiful decor- hanging lanterns of various shapes changing as we move through the restaurant, the vespa scooters in red and black, photos covering the walls, chopped wood pillars and high ceilings, bar-like view kitchen, and an equally large bar make it a good experience for parties of all sizes and requirements. Even the trip to the restroom was interesting! They have a large display case showing off their sweets for the night. Romantic dinner for two? Check. Large office group having a discussion? Check. Senior friends meeting to gossip? Check. Family meeting? Check. They have you covered. I had a pleasant chat with one of the managers. Cons: I felt they have lesser options for vegetarians. A must visit.
(4)
Rahul H.
Came back for dinner. Started with the three cheese plate, which was pretty good but not on the Bice level. Paired it with a great bottle of Sangiovese. Followed that up with the yellowtail crudo, which was fantastic. It was surrounded by a sauce that resembled cucumber ranch along with deconstructed key lime pie bits. Girlfriend went with the garganelli pasta with lobster broth and shrimp for her main. She enjoyed the fresh made pasta and sauce. I went with the broccoli rabe mozzarella Calabrian chilies pizza. It was standard but came with only one chili for some reason. Service was great for how packed the place was. And I mean packed not only because every seat in the house was taken but also how close the tables were. That was a bit much. Otherwise we loved it and are excited to come back. Definitely a place to gain some lbs.
(4)
Heather s.
I'm very torn as I write this review. Our experience left much to be desired, but I'm bumping it up a star as it has so much potential... I'll have to give it another chance after they've had time to iron out the kinks. Headed there for a late lunch on one of its first days open, 9/1/14. The space is well designed and has been compared to Eataly in NYC (IMHO, like a distant runt cousin, really). As you enter, there's a counter to order take-out and a tiny store area. The rest is seating, with five advertised "bar" countertops or dining tables. We arrived a little after 1pm and were told there was a 20 minute wait for a table for 4 (strange considering how it was more than half empty). But we settled ourselves at the bar bar and ordered some drinks. The tab was easily transferred to our table once seated. Unfortunately the whole dining experience took us THREE hours in a more than half empty place - because it took so long to get us our drinks and food. DRINKS : Considering it was only their 2nd day open, they were out of a lot of items on their drink/wine menu. Poor form for a restaurant opening of this caliber. FOOD 4 stars overall: Excellent and the only real reason I can give this place an overall 3 stars from our experience as a whole. - SALUMERIA 5 for $25 (5 stars) : Choose your own meats and/or cheeses. Don't remember what we had but each selection was rich and delicious! - MUSSELS $13 (5 stars) : An amazing chorizo, white wine, garlic-herb butter sauce. In fact, probably THE best mussels dish I've ever had anywhere. Perfectly grilled toast and they brought us more to soak up every last drop of the scrumptious sauce. - RAVIOLI $18 (4 stars) : Filled with goat cheese and corn, with a brown butter sage sauce. The ravioli was perfectly hand made and cooked al dente. An interesting dish, best for a sweet tooth! I loved it, but could only eat half as it was so rich. Tasted like dessert! - GARGANELLI $18 (3 stars) : Again, perfect hand made pasta cooked perfectly al dente. Unfortunately, the shrimp was just mediocre and the spicy lobster broth was a under flavored. SERVICE : Sloooooooooooow - our waiter would disappear for long lengths of time. He did, however, acknowledge the ridiculous wait times (probably about 30-45 minutes) for each food course and even gave us all a glass of wine on the house as we were waiting. After we left the restaurant, we walked by our waiter who was having a smoke outside. He shook his head at us, looked depressed, and apologized again. Couldn't blame him for the delays caused by the kitchen though.... I did note they were horribly understaffed, even despite being half empty. PARKING : Street. Or walk, as we did from downtown.
(3)
Teresa N.
Decent Italian food (seat down or to-go), has a mini Italian grocery store, modern trendy decor inside, patio seating, good service, reasonable price For appetizers we had Di Stefano Ricotta, Honey Comb, Olive Crostini. Really delicious app to start with, but ricotta has a relatively mild taste, make sure you enjoy this before other other dishes . Second app we had was the mussels, with some savory chile sauce (it wasn't spicy) for the grilled bread, the sauce was really addictive! Entree we had the Ravioli and Garganelli... they were both good but we all liked the ravioli more. The ravioli with the corn, goat cheese, and kale were very flavorful. Especially the kale, tasted like they cooked it with meat or something. Garganelli a egg based pasta, the dish was cooked with spicy lobster broth which I didn't find spicy at all, 4 jumbo shrimps, pretty big but not every flavorful, garlic and mint. I think the dish was just okay, more on the bland side. Very nice place, will definitely come back.
(4)
Randi A.
This is my second time to actually dine in here- I can't describe how delicious both dining experiences were. I am completely hooked on the eggplant caponata. We ordered it our first time here and it was so good I came back later during the week to order some to go from the cold case. It was the perfect combination of sweet and savory, and on the toast- I could eat that all day long. I wish I had some right now. Recently we went for brunch- boyfriend ordered the frittata which was lovely, fluffy, light and fresh with arugula, pesto, and sundried tomato on top. I ordered the Paccheri pasta which was UNBELIEVABLE. Have you ever legitimately been sad about a meal being over? Because that's how I felt after the last bite. Homemade Pappardelle pasta, delectable mushrooms, guanciale, and peas in a delicious cream sauce topped with a fried egg is the best pasta dish I have ever tasted in my life. I was afraid it would be really heavy because of the cream sauce for so early in the day but it was surprisingly not. And the fried egg gave just the right amount of added richness without being overly so. They also have a great cocktail menu if you are into that sort of thing. I can't recall what I had but it included vermouth and oranges. Delightful. Can't wait to come back!
(5)
Courtney O.
Trendy. Romantic. Perfect. Brought my boyfriend here for his birthday and we had such a delicious and wonderful experience. We came on a Thursday night and were able to find street parking a block away from the restaurant. They do offer valet. The restaurant was very busy, but we had made a reservation on OpenTable and were seated right away. In honor of his birthday, we, of course, ordered a bottle of wine. The Chianti was $33 for the bottle. Great deal for a delicious Italian wine. We started with the cheese platter. Our server recommended the boschetto cheese. Once he told us it had truffle oil in it, we were sold. EAT THIS CHEESE. It's unbelievable. We also tried the Robiola tre latti, a nice soft cheese blend that spread perfectly over the crostini. We also ordered the soppressata, a spiced salami. For dinner, my boyfriend and I shared the lamb pappardelle and the Fennel Sausage pizza. My boyfriend was particularly obsessed with the fennel sausage pizza calling it "the best pizza I've ever eaten." This pizza has kale on it, which originally made us laugh. But, the kale crisped up and added the perfect flavor combination in conjunction with the tomato and fennel sausage. It was so delicious. The pappardelle was my personal favorite. The lamb was bursting with flavor. For dessert, the restaurant served us a complimentary pistachio cannoli! Yum! Overall, our experience was wonderful and perfect for a romantic birthday celebration. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was comfortable yet lively. We will definitely be back.
(5)
Jamie J.
THE CUTEST!! I only ordered from the cafe like spot- but bottega americana is probably the prettiest place I went so far in 2015. I am a HUGE fan. Can not wait to go back for dinner. Love the location as well!
(4)
Nette B.
Came here for dinner and I love the ambiance. Call ahead and make reservations or there's communal tables. We sat on the high tops closer to the bar along the window and oh my you can see strange people passing by but great for people watching. he he... Server: I forgot her name but she was very nice and attentive. She explained the menu very well. **HH available 3-6pm daily Food: Mussels with chorizo, white wine, garlic-herb butter, calabrian chilies and grilled bread. OH MY GAWD! The BEST Mussels I've ever had. The chorizo goes so well with the mussels and sauce... ya the sauce. I had to order some extra bread. Paccheri, english peas, wild mushrooms, truffle panna and pork guanciale. I absolutely loved this dish. Roasted pork shoulder with brussel sprouts, caramelized onions, white bean puree and smoky jus. I was not a fan of this dish but the pork was very soft. I will definitely return as much as I can especially to have more mussels.
(4)
M D.
I came in with big expectations! I thought they served breakfast which I was wrong about. They only do on Sunday's. The server was very sweet, and maybe I ordered badly, but my Tomato Bisque was too thick, filling and herb heavy. The blue cheese was a nice touch, but maybe they could tone down the calories (tomato bisque doesn't need cream). My soup came with a bread stick which was the heaviest bread stick ever made. It must have been deep fried and dunked in butter. Less is more and they don't seem to live by that here. I'll definitely give them another shot, but was not impressed at all this time around. As I was leaving, I got the sense that a lot of their business comes from the nearby Law School, and local businesses. It definitely wouldn't be my first pick for a casual lunch with friends.
(3)
Fausto C.
Trendy. Fancy. Awesome decor, super big, service is always impeccable. Go to see and be seen. Food is great. Great location. Great DATE night place. Portions are just right. A bit expensive but worth it. Parking is difficult like in all of downtown SD. I highly recommend it.
(5)
Crystal B.
Love love love Bottega Americano! What a beautiful and well executed plan this restaurant is! If ONLY it was open when I actually when to TJSL, but alas it opened as soon as I graduated! Anyway the decor is very cozy and gorgeous, it's such a special place to walk into! I was there from day 1 of construction so I must say I was super excited to see what came of this place, and all my visits since it opened have all been wonderful. Ive been countless times just for coffee and snacks or to go lunch for my office. All the salads in the case are amazing, except for some reason I'm not crazy about chopped salads but that's a personal preference, I do adore the butter lettuce salad though! It's great to also be able to put a protein on top for a few extra dollars. Also all the mini desserts are amazing, especially the truffles. The drinks at the counter are also realllllllly good, and they do offer almond milk! I love the chai latte (I always get a 2 shot dirty chai) because their mix is sugar free and more spicy than anything. The Miel is also yummy with honey! As for the restaurant itself, I always like to sit at the glass stations and watch the food being made. I've tried lots of diff stuff on menu but always have to get an order of the ricotta cheese/honey and at least one pizza. All in all I ADORE Bottega Americano for the fabulous food and ambience!
(5)
Robin S.
I wanted to give it 2 stars, as an attempt to counteract the chorus of poodles out there yapping about how great this place is, but this is what I'd rate it if I had no expectations. Sadly, though, based on the reviews, we went with high hopes and were sorely disappointed, mainly because of: 1. The layout of the room is weird and disjointed. Even when empty, it looks messy. The designer was trying to go for "a look". It just didn't work. There were four of us and we got stuck sitting at a high table around one of those weird lincoln-log looking pillars (see picture) and we were constantly trying to reposition ourselves so we could talk to each other around the post and pass the food around. It was uncomfortable and distracting.. My advice for them is LOSE THE BIG UGLY POSTS! 2. The food was such a disappointment. Brussel Sprouts weren't roasted enough (they are the easiest thing to make ... just roast the HELL out of them, get lots of caramelization, and they turn out fabulous). Sprouts are all the rage this year, and most every place in town is doing a pretty good job. But this was the worst I've had in SD. The pizzas have interesting toppings, but the crust was really "meh". If I didn't know better, I'd say that they par-cook it, or even worse, it's some kind of frozen product. The sad thing is that it isn't but it tastes that way! Scallops were very good quality, but again, undercooked and missing caramelization. Overall, it was if someone back in the kitchen is afraid of using enough heat. If I go to an Italian restaurant, I expect my food to taste roasted, not poached! 3. I was hoping that being on the east side of the East Village, the crowd would be chill, more like a South or North Park vibe. But sadly, the night we were there, the bar at Bottega was filled with convention-going engineers who were sent there by their hotel concierge. The majority of the bar was wearing their convention badges, and were "on the make" bigtime. We entertained ourselves by watching them check out, en-mass, every woman that walked into the bar. I felt like I was at Cafe Japengo, circa-1988. I'm a big fan of Eataly in NYC and appreciate that they are trying to provide the same type of "one stop for the best of each thing" in our little town. (Omg, just thinking about that porcini prime rib panini there ... I'm completely jonesing for it. Must. Get. To. NYC. Soon.) (Digression ...) But sadly, the person that said this is Eataly's Sad Runt Cousin, hit the nail on the head. The two plusses were a short but interesting wine list (Yay to them for including a a Lambrusco secco and other cool bottles from "not the usual suspects"). Also, our server was really good, made sure our glasses weren't ever empty, and even acknowledged that the food came out in a weird progression (another cut on the kitchen, which has an attitude of "we'll just send it out when we feel like it, not when it makes sense for your dining experience") If I'm stuck going back there, I'll probably just get cheese and charcuterie. And go at an hour when it's not so crowded so we can sit at one of their few normal tables.
(3)
Gracie L.
Alright, let's just cut to the chase with this place: food- tasted good! Service- excellent. Seating arrangements- odd. Prices- fair /high. Ambiance- magical. Portion sizes- SMALL! I'd like to give more stars to Bottega because their food truly tasted good and the chef even came out to see how we were enjoying our meal. But the portions are small....especially for the price. Our bill was at $100 when a second entree had to be ordered just to fill that "hungry spot" in the belly. The Duck Ragu with Fuzi is absolutely delicious, costs $18, and is WAY too small to be called an entree. My party of two also enjoyed the meat & cheese board, featuring pecorino, prosciutto and robiola, and another entree of pappardelle with braised lamb (mouth watering and scrumptios!) We sat at the Meat & Cheese bar where the gals offered great advice with pairing and even gave us a sample to help make our decisions. They were great! If only that entree was bigger, especially for the price, I'd be a happier camper! Strike one Bottega, let's see if our next visit is a home run.
(3)
Leslie B.
Happy Hour Review: I went to Bottega Americano for the first time recently...and had a wonderful time at happy hour. My friend and I arrived about 5:30 on a Friday afternoon...happy hour goes until 6:00. The place is open and beautifully decorated. it is not just a restaurant, but also a market and bakery. I am hoping to try the pastel macarons that I saw on my way in. We sat down at the bar, and had a lot of choices to make. They have some great deals on house wines, and "For the table" appetizers, as well as the "Salumeria" boards. Happy hour has way better prices. We chose the eggplant and red pepper spreads. We also chose a plate of salami and cheese, that came beautifully displayed with fig spread, candied walnuts and a couple other accoutrements. I recommend the truffled cheese (I cannot remember the exact type of cheese). They also have complimentary warm, soft bread served with a creamy tomato sauce (but you have to ask for it). To top it off, we had two carafes of the house cab....and though we were really pushing it, we were able to get it all for the happy hour price! I look forward to returning....for happy hour, dinner, and shopping!
(5)
Jeff R.
Great food, great service, great atmosphere. Would highly recommend this restaurant. All three of us loved our food (1 Gluten Free). Will definitely be dining here again the next time we are in town.
(5)
Rogelio K.
Had brunch. Everything was good. Will be a go to spot for brunch next weekend. And the hot sauce and ketchup was house made and really tasty. Will not let you down.
(5)
BeBe D.
Highlights: Great Waiting Staff + Ambiance. The steak with roasted peppers was divine + the Noord Hollander Cheese + Chorizo meat was delicious. Lowlights: The gnocchi (the sauce) had as much personality as a boring date. The concept + design is the same as DTLA's Bottega Louie. I'm also confused by the name, Bottega Americano... shouldn't it be Bottega Italiano?
(4)
Juliana P.
Came here for the first time for a Valentine's Day meal. The place was fairly packed and from what I've heard is meant to be a riff on Eataly in NYC. I absolutely love Eataly, but this is definitely a sit down place and not standing/roaming as much as the former. Therefore, there is less of the European vibe but I appreciated being able to order from one of their five kitchens at once. Not sure how you'd do as a party of three here since there are few four tops and two top tables, rather this is better for a big group or a couple at a bar. I really liked sitting at one of the kitchen counters and watching the chefs do their thing--I watched Steve make our carpaccio and then got to eat it right away. But, I digress, since what's really important is the food. I'm always on the lookout in San Diego for good Italian food and this had a lot of NYC quality with what I think is a decent price. I decided to forgo the Valentines pre fixe though because the price didn't really make sense--you could pretty easily find three delicious courses on the menu for under $55, so unless you were really keen on one of the special items it seemed unnecessary. However, my boyfriend did get the oysters, lobster ravioli, and the chocolate dessert (name escaping me). The oyster dish included six oysters of two varieties from their raw bar with two sauces--this seems to be regularly on the menu and for good reason. From peeping into the kitchen, I saw a lot of these go out. The lobster ravioli was actually mushroom ravioli with lobster chunks on top in a vanilla/brown buttery sauce. This sounded strange, and at times confused the hell out of my taste buds, but was so delicious I kept stealing bites. I'm not sure if the name of the dish is spot on but the flavors were. His dessert we split which I highly recommend with wine and would order again. My only gripe is that they have a lovely dessert counter but none of it is on the menu. The other desserts weren't that appealing to me, but then as I walk out I see a big case of mini cheese cakes, macaroons, etc. This should be offered for dessert too! For my food, as I said I started with the carpaccio. I think it was one of the best I've ever had. The horseradish cream really kicked it up a notch and cut the acidity of the arugula salad. If you want bread, you have to request it. I'm actually fine with this because 1. It's not an extra charge and 2. Aside from special occasions, I try to avoid wolfing down the bread basket, and for a place that has several gluten free options, I think it's smart not to waste the bread by setting it out as a default. The sauce it was served with I think should be warmed up, or the need to set out oil/vinegar and dishes. For my main, I had the lobster risotto. It's not an enormous dish but was definitely enough for me. Initially I was going to ask for more cheese, but it was cheesy and salty enough. They did a great job cooking the rice of the risotto and I wish I had some leftovers right about now. Our waitress Katie took great care of us with a good wine recommendation and we will definitely be going back! (I really want one of the charcuterie boards next time!)
(5)
Anastacia W.
I came here for brunch with a few friends on Saturday. At first when I was driving to it, I was a little unsure because of the neighborhood. It was so cute inside! I love the atmosphere, perfect vibe for a group of friends. They have a lot of high tables. When the weather is nice, they have outdoor seating. There's a bakery in the front with delicious desserts. The food and prices are good for what you get. Would definitely recommend meeting a group of friends or co workers here for a casual dining experience!
(4)
Shanel S.
Wow! A five star experience all around. I don't think they missed any points here. When asking me what my favorite restaurants in San Diego are, this will be one on my list for sure. I called around 6pm on a Friday night to make a last minute reservation. I believe Laura answered and assisted me. She explained that they were very busy and would try to accommodate the 7:30 reservation I requested. She told me 8:15 was the earliest, but if we arrived earlier, we could sit at any community tables and order tapas and drinks until our table was ready. Also, if anyone else didn't show for their reservation, then she could seat us sooner. It was kind to suggest. We got there at 7:55 and were seated immediately with no issue at all. Once seated, we were greeted and waited on by Megan. I suggest her to anyone dining here. She knew the menu very well and was patient with us when it came to ordering. We started off with charcuterie. They have the option of three items for $15 or five items for $25. We went with three and got the duck prosciutto (by far the best I have ever had), chorizo "salami" and gorgonzola cheese. The best way to start! It was like a preview of the other amazing things to come. The meat and cheese was accompanied by crostini's, dates, hazelnut spread and some sort of fig jam. All so good. Megan was even kind enough to bring us more crostini's and even brought us homemade focaccia bread with tomato sauce without us even asking. Both were delicious! The warm bread and cold sauce complemented each other so well. For dinner, Itzel R. had their margherita pizza and shared a spicy pasta with Chris W. (I don't remember the exact name of the pasta). Both were fantastic! The pizza had a soft center and perfectly chewy crust. Perfect ratio of cheese, sauce and basil. For my dinner, I had the pappardelle that had braised lamb in it. Unreal! The pasta was al dente. Comparable to Bencotto and maybe even better. Sshh because I still like Bencotto. The chunks of lamb were huge and plentiful (that's what she said!). To finish, we shared a tiramisu and an affogato. The affogato had some sort of candied pecans or walnuts that I could easily eat by the handful. The tiramisu was too delicious for words. Everything was seriously just the best and if you're hungry, the food comes out quickly. Nothing takes too long or comes out too soon. I also have to pay note towards Vince, our bus boy, I guess you would say. He kept our waters full even though we had a pitcher on the table and cleared plates accordingly. We never felt rushed even though they were packed. Great for date night and the noise level was perfect for carrying a conversation.
(5)
Katina K.
Edit 4/1/15: Todd is an amazing server! Friendly, attentive, and helpful on what to order! Have come here a few times now for breakfast, brunch, and dinner to go and have been extremely happy with the service and my food. For brunch I ordered the chicken sandwich (I forget the specific name of it), pizza, and the Italian breakfast. If you like bread, cheese, and salami then the Italian breakfast is for you. It was so yummy!! The sandwich was off the hook too, the chicken was not dry at all and all the ingredients were perfect. The other night I called in a to go pizza and they told me 10 minutes! So quick. I ordered the bacon slab pizza that has Brussels sprouts on it and it was one of the best pizza's I have had in awhile. I also ordered some things from the market place like a salad and the oven roasted cauliflower that were really good. I suggest ordering a pizza during happy hour (3-6pm) because they are only $10! The restaurant inside is awesome. All of the lame reviews about pillars blocking everything and disorganization need to just leave! I actually think it's a pretty beautiful looking restaurant inside. Super clean. Very open space. The service when I was there was a little slow but it was busy and early in the morning so there wasn't a lot of staff, they were apologetic and I understood so it wasn't a big deal!
(5)
Kimberly S.
I've been here twice, and loved it both times. Terrific service, terrific food, great atmosphere, good location. The scallops are great, as is the osso buco. Love their cocktails as well.
(5)
Seven T.
Good stuff! Fresh pasta! Happy Hour! Not really my scene though! Yea, imma fan, perhaps ill return for some happy hour eats, but i dont feel that im 'fine' enough, for this, dining. My dockers are still at the cleaners cuz i got a little pasta sauce on em!
(4)
Carol L.
We came for dinner and definitely had the 'eyes bigger than the stomach' syndrome. Too much looks good on that menu! What a beautiful interior! I started with their Galileo drink (rum). It was delicious! We started with their smashed avocado bruschetta. The focaccia was devine and the topping was so fresh that every bite burst with clean flavor. They accidentally served us a meat/cheese platter. It was small and we had never been there before so we thought it was a standard thing (it wasn't), but it was delicious. The cheeses and meats were paired with some pepper jelly and fig. I had their strawberry salad and it, too, was fresh and yummy. By the time my entree arrived, I was no longer hungry. I thought the dish was ok, but I was disappointed I didn't select a pasta or pizza dish (since that is what they are known for). My dining partner did have the lamb pappardelle and devoured it. Would definitely return. Oh and the bathroom is beautiful!
(4)
emma c.
Outdoor patio Beautiful interior Open from breakfast til dinner Allows dogs on patio (water bowl is provided) Properly portioned meals Good beer, cocktail, & mimosa options DESSERT Friendly service Now check it out! Only downside is parking. It's in downtown, you know what to expect! Perfect date or meet the parents type place. It's beautifully different and wonderful.
(5)
Phil A.
Wow, not even sure where to start for this review. We went for brunch and had an amazing meal and drinks. To start, they have their own tomato juice they make for Bloody Mary's and they are fantastic. Flavorful, spicy, and with a thin slice of bacon to top. The mimosas are made very well and they don't use the normal cheap (Cooks) champagne. I had the Chicken Milanese and my girlfriend had the French Toast. The Milanese has an amazing espresso gravy topping off two large pieces of perfectly cooked chicken and browned on a large buttermilk biscuit. The biscuits are heated and have the perfect golden-brown tops and it's the best biscuits and gravy around topped with tasty chicken. The French toast came out topped with fresh berries, smothered in a taste bud assaulting caramel sauce. Great food all around and the service is just as good, routinely checking on us through out an increasingly busier brunch. For the price of just about $50, we both had large, excellent servings and two great drinks. We will be going back as soon as we're not longer full!
(5)
Itzel R.
WOW! This place is a must if you're looking for good Italian food. This is for sure one of my favorite restaurants. This would be my third time coming back and won't be my last. Everything about this place is great, the staff is super nice and helpful if you don't know what to order and they help you choose and give you options. Megan was my server last time and I must say she was super nice and helpful. I took my friend Shanel S. for the first time and she had no idea what to order since everything seemed so good. Megan was nice enough to help with suggestions. The service is quick too so we didn't have to wait long for our food which was great since we were starving. Their chorizo "salami" and gorgonzola cheese is amazing that we got on our meat and cheese board. For dinner we had a margherita pizza and shared a spicy pasta and the pappardelle that had braised lamb. The pappardelle was delicious and I was constantly sneaking bites of it from Shanel S. Lastly, for dessert, we had a yummy tiramisu and it is by far one of the best. Normally I'm a crème brulee girl, but the tiramisu beats it by a long stretch.
(5)
Cory S.
Great food, social and lively atmosphere and a good selection of drinks. One drink was brought to the table with bugs however, noticed after taking a drink. Leadership at levels up to the sales manager was entirely absent and careless, promising responses or follow through that were utter lip service. Other reviews tell me this isn't the first time service at Bottega was lacking. Crickets and the like seem a trend from this establishment...
(1)
Angela B.
Everything from the food, drinks, wine, service, decor and atmosphere are all amazing! Loved that the vegetables that came with my fish were crisp and not overcooked. I could actually taste the flavor of the fish and veggies without being overpowered with added flavor.
(5)
Allison J.
Had they not thrown away my meal when I went to the bathroom, I may have had to give them 5 stars. I went away to the restroom and asked my husband what happened to my meal. He assumed they took it to box it as they didn't even ask if I was done. But when we asked where was my meal, they said they didn't see it anywhere and offered to comp a dessert item. Honestly that didn't suffice but I'm not a complainer so I said that was fine. Besides this, everything else was superb. Service was excellent and we were a large party. We occupied the whole patio which was nice and accomodating. Drinks were excellent. We got there early for our reservation so we also had a chance to try out a few small samplings in their front dessert case. The pistachio truffle was well worth $1.50. One of the best truffles I've had. Mini macarons for $1. Food was excellent, well priced and large portions. Highlights: salt and pepper calamari, pork shoulder, papardelle. Pizza was also good and I'm glad we added salame for an additional $5. Dessert presentation was beautiful and also delicious the espresso in the affogato was bold, but not to overwhelming. The Budino was velvety.
The first time I came here was for happy hour with a group of friends. I asked for a table for 4. The hostess escorted me to the bar and said it was bar seating only. There were not any spots open so I asked for a table. She advised that happy hour was only at the bar. I said that's fine, but I have a group coming and we would like a table instead. She proceeded to tell me that all the tables were reserved. The place was empty. At the same time, my friends were arriving. I informed them that all the tables were apparently reserved so we left and went to Cowboy Star instead who had a fabulous happy hour. We checked open table after we moved locations to see if the place was really all reserved at 4:30 during the week. Open table confirmed there were multiple open reservations every 15 minutes. Very disappointed! I decided to give this place another try since the reviews were very good and maybe the hostess that day just misunderstood what I was requesting. The second trip in was excellent. We went to brunch on Mother's Day with a group of friends. I had the Pappardelle which was excellent. We all shared bites with each other and everyone agreed that the Pappardelle was their favorite.
(4)
Johnny W.
Ate here once with my dad right when it opened and it was decent. Ate here again with a group and it was fine again. Nothing outwardly special about the cuisine in my humble opinion. It's a beautiful space so hats off to the owner for that. And I like how they're stretching the gentrification in East Village more and more towards the east of the neighborhood. My issue is that I think there's too many better places that are doing this sort of thing in San Diego for me to go rushing back anytime soon. Oh - and speaking of owner. . . Everyone thinks they're an "owner" here. So that's a little corny. Either you own the place outright and the buck stops with you - or you don't. In this case, everyone seems to "own" the place. A little confusing. . . Oh - and they do the "we have a 30-45 minute wait" thing when you roll up with no reservation and there are LITERALLY dozens of empty tables in front of you. Am I the only person who fricken CAN'T STAND THAT!?!? So you're dispatched to a highball table and you finish your meal with still several of those exact tables you coveted sitting vacant. Oh well. . .
(3)
Jay D.
First of all this place is huge, plenty of seating and it's beautiful decorated. You can tell a lot of time and effort when into building and laying this place out. From the fresh coffee to the varied mimosas all the way down to the thick cut bacon and chicken Milanese this place is very well executed. They've only been open a few months but they definitely seem to be firing on all cylinders. They have so much different types of food here you really can't go wrong. Oysters, French press coffee, meatball subs, Italian groceries... You name it. We had the chicken Milanese and the French toast for brunch and it was very good. I think we just found a new favorite local spot for everything!
This place was my daughter's pick for her recent birthday Sunday brunch. We had a pretty large party of 14 people, but with a reservation we were promptly seated at a large table. As far as I remember there was only one small mix up where a side order was delivered to the wrong person and they decided to just sit it in the middle of the table. I only partially fault the server for that but a fresh side was brought out without any hassle once we figured out what happened. Ooops. No big deal. Now, this motley crew of a family I have, is about as picky as it comes, yet no one complained. There was some of everything ordered from breakfast items, to pizzas, cheese boards, etc and it was all good. The large, high ceiling, open room seemed to help the mood a bit - not that I'm calling my family grumpy or anything. The only thing that I wasn't a big fan of was the French Toast. It tasted fine, but it seemed more like Bread Pudding than French Toast to me. It's their take on it and I like bread pudding, so no points deducted there. Price wise, it was a little spendy but it wasn't too bad overall considering what it is.
(5)
Joey C.
Never have I seen such dedication to customer satisfaction! Never. The manager greeted us at the door and had us seated immediately. The table bussers in black were floating table to table, keeping the water glasses filled. Our waiter handed us a bowl of complimentary churro samples while we waited for our food and, at one point, just as I had taken the last swallow of my coffee, from my peripheral vision I saw him change direction and I thought, "There's no way he saw me just finish my coffee and now he's running over there to bring more." But that's exactly what happened! Shortly after brunch was delivered, my wife noticed something amiss with my plate. I'll hold back precisely what it was because as soon as I informed the waiter of the issue he grabbed up my plate, apologized profusely, and ran back to the kitchen to have them prepare an entirely new order. In less than 5 minutes I had a brand new plate of food with further apology and and my bacon shaped like a heart :-P Furthermore, the manager removed the entire cost of my order from the bill just to make amends. Given the ambiance and the way the staff fussed over me, I felt like a VIP eating in a Gordon Ramsey five start restaurant! I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Stina M.
Amazing!! Took a random trip through scary down town just for this place and sooooo glad we did! The food was absolutely amazing. The waiter, Alonzo I think... He was so polite with big smiles. I had a prosciutto panini that was simply mouth watering. Hummus that had a decadent flavor and my boyfriend had a calzone that was gigantic. He finished it because it was so good!! The ambiance is beautiful but it was packed so it was chatty loud. Lunch rush. The price isn't bad. Worth it. You get what you pay for and this was well worth it!! I will go back for more!!!
(5)
Adrian R.
Really great, fun and awesome place to spend sometime with your SO or group over some good eats. From the warm greeting as we walked in, to the attentive and kind staff that will explain the menu this 'must-try' should be on your list. Lots of people were eating the Pizza but we had a craving of Pasta. We started with some meats and cheese, then had the Spaghetti & Meatballs and finished with the Upside Down Banana Cake. Worth the trip and will definitely be back.
(5)
Carmen V.
No reservation needed, even though was packed. Went there to celebrate the birthday of a friend and honestly, we were in a rush, otherwise I would have suggested another place, but it was a novelty for me and wanted to try and my friend was ok with that. We did not need reservation, true, but we had to have our dinner at the bar, which was not the most comfortable situation (I like tables:) but it was nice to see the trolley passing by, adding that hint of red needed in the dark nights of East Village. The concept of Bottega Americano is pretty cool: different areas, like shopping for gourmet Italian food (salamis, olives, pastries, etc), the area for seafood, the pizza oven in action, the bar, a nice terrace outside with the cute Vespa at the door. The Italian black and white vintage posters...all that very nice...but somehow this looks to me like a Costco versus a small charming boutique. I like small and personalized and I did not find that at Bottega. Too big, too crowded and too noisy. TV with American sports on kills the Italianizing factor. Specially when you are seating at the bar trying to have a conversation while tasting and not so tasty mushroom pizza and with so much noise in the background. The food was ok for us, the best those warm olives offering diverse variety in shape, colors and flavors. For dessert we had something too sweet, too intense and chocolatey-caramel that I would not recommend unless you want to visit the dentist the next day. I will try again next time in San Diego but in a different time, not for dinner and when is so crowded.
(3)
Sarah B.
Bottega Americana looked cool when it opened, with its unique dining concept and extravagant interior. However, looks can be deceptive. I live downtown and I have been to Bottega Americana two times for dinner, all of the times were mediocre in terms of food, although the servers are friendly and helpful. The hostess and management is a different story. The two times I went for dinner on weeknights we waited for 10 minutes to be seated, only to be seated at the least desirable table in the restaurant even though it was 80% empty. Anyways, I thought I would try this place for lunch on a Saturday. We walked in at 2:45pm, and on the website it says that the dining room is open until 3pm. We were told that the dining room was closed and the only place to sit was the bar, where all the tables were dirty. The hostess did not offer to clean the tables or give us menus, so we sat at a normal table in the "dining area" that was literally right next to the bar. The hostess rudely came up to us and told us that we could not sit there, but only at the bar. Again, all the tables for two at the bar were dirty. On top of that, there were probably at least 15 parties still dining in the dining room. We didn't feel like arguing with her, so we just left, which she did not seem to mind at all. We proceeded to head to Water Grill further down Island Ave, which offered a terrific lunch with memorable service. I recommend staying away from Bottega Americano. It is overpriced and the experience has never been memorable, and this time it was terrible. There are other Italian restaurants downtown that offer terrific food and service, such as Cucina Urban and Piacare Mio in South Park (my personal favorite). I will not be returning, which is a shame because I live right down the street. If Bottega Americano cannot retain local costumers such as myself due to their continual poor service and mediocre overpriced food, this restaurant will not be around in the long-term.
(1)
Criselle O.
Came here supposedly for lunch but didn't realize they only serve brunch here on the weekends ): I was bummed because I really wanted to try the mussels! Oh well, I guess I have to make another trip some other time. Anyway, when you walk up to the front it looks like a little boring but once you step foot into Bottega Americano it's like a dream. The space is seriously gigantic! One of the biggest eateries in DT in my opinion. I love whoever designed this place because it's amazing!! Ok, so I wasn't prepared for brunch so I didn't really know what to order so I just ordered the usual at other places which was the albacore salad. I was really disappointed because the albacore was cooked all the way which was kind of weird. In photos it looked like ahi so yeah. . . it was just alright. My boyfriend got this breakfast sampler. We were thinking it would be a plate of crazy things to make you full but nope.. all it was were pieces of prosciutto, cheese, bread, and "mixed fruit" meaning prunes and something else mixed together. If we wanted to order a cheese board then we would've ordered that. ha. That thing cost $16. Totally not worth it. The only thing I liked was the budino. I'm kind of disappointed with this place but maybe on my next visit, I'll change my mind.
(3)
Alicen R.
Brunch was so good! My blood orange mimosa was pretty snazzy too! Mark was our server and he was so awesome...One of the best servers I've ever encountered! He gave great recommendations, was extremely attentive and was super enthusiastic when helping me decide on my many menu options. We shared an Italian Breakfast (cheese/meat/fruit platter) with bacon & eggs and a breakfast calzone. The breakfast calzone was freakin' HUGE. Totally could be ordered to split. The cheese platter was excellent, as were my eggs. Now let's chat about the bacon... I am a bacon lover. I grew up in Europe so I'm used to European slab bacon, however the bacon I got today was mostly fat and I left half of it. I don't think I've ever left bacon on a plate. Ever! But still, everything else was great and I dig this place. Will def be back to try those Lemon/Ricotta crepes!
(4)
Feiychoy S.
Such a wonderful little spot!! I came for brunch with my sisters on a Sunday afternoon. We had made reservations but it didn't look too busy in the restaurant. We were seated immediately however it did take quite awhile for someone to greet us at the table. There seemed to be only 2 or 3 servers on the floor. We ordered mimosas for the table and several entrees to share. We were disappointed in the fact that this place was known for fresh pasta but only had one pasta dish on the menu:( We did however order it and it was magnificent! We also ordered a pizza and the lobster sandwich. Everything was extremely satisfying but we had to order dessert from their case. At such reasonable prices it was impossible to pass up. The apple Bundt cake was so yummy!!! We also got a chocolate brownie cake that was really rich and also the cheesecake. I think next time I want to come for dinner and try the amazing selection of meats and cheeses along with the pasta dishes.
(4)
Brandon V.
It really is amazing what they did with an old storage space next to the lobby of the law school. A multi-million dollar renovation and you now have a really cool designed restaurant. There is a small store when you enter and you can pick up a wide variety of items, coffee, tea, deserts, salads, etc. There is a really cool wood burning pizza oven in the middle of the restaurant too. I've only been twice but the food was outstanding. If here definitely get the mussels I'm not sure what's in the broth but it's addictive. The manicotti included three manicotti's with sausage and the lobster risotto had several huge pieces of lobster. There is a large selection of liquor and wine to choose from and the martinis were very good. They started a brunch last weekend but I was unable to make it , however the menu looked excellent. The patio is pet friendly and they have doggy cannoli for $2 apiece. All the employees were great with my dog; bringing out water, treats and he received tons of attention. I was however surprised by one of the owners (Greg) came over after we've already paid, had to go bag, and obviously leaving in a few minutes....he didn't seem pleased my dog was there and said he needs to seat the table next to me where my dog sitting. This was 6 p.m on a Saturday and 10 other more desirable tables were open on the patio. He didn't ask how our meal was or anything....just looked at us and my dog and said he needs to seat the table and walked off. Just odd. I'll still be back but will bring more dogs with me next time.
(4)
Jen H.
3.5/5 stars Fairly new restaurant--a quaint, beautifully decorated venue. The bathroom even have monogram tiles! We came here on Saturday for brunch. Ordered: 1) Mimosa: 3/5 typical but good ratio of the prosecco 2) Italian breakfast: 4/5 I liked this dish. Note, it comes with a peroni shandy, aka sweet beer/cider, so I was drinking my peroni and drinking my Mimosa--classy :) I didn't enjoy my peroni b/c it was too sweet for my taste buds. 3) Power Frittata: 3/5 good option if you want to stay healthy and watch calories Their mustard was delicious. You can find this at the marketplace, in the front. I can't remember if it was fig mustard, but it was a blend of something delicious. Very subtle taste.
(4)
Caroline A.
I went here in early August while in San Diego for work. Basically, this place is like a San Diego version of Eataly on a much smaller scale. They have a small, gourmet food boutique, a takeaway section and a sprawling restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. The decor is simple and nice, but not someplace you would want to go for a special occasion. The food was good, but average as far as Italian goes. Cucina Urbana is better. We had the oysters which were good, the arugula salad which had too much dressing and I got the pasta with lamb ragu which was okay. The service was surprisingly excellent, the woman who waited on us was much better than what you typically find in San Diego. Worth a visit to check it off your list, but not a place to repeat.
(3)
Alvaro E.
I was straight blown away. I came with a group of six and we made sure to order different things to try as much flavors to try. I ordered the mussels and the sauce in it was amazing. Dip it with the bread it came with--ahh. Then I ordered the chocolate custard dessert, by far probably their best dessert! The dark chocolate custard is the perfect component to make the dessert not too sweet, but paired with the brown butter crumble and cinnamon whipped cream--the amalgamation is just perfect. Then-- THEN THE TRUFFLE CHEESE. OH THE TRUFFLE CHEESE. I understand that truffle itself is kind of like a cheating ingredient because no matter what it always tastes the best, but because of that reason I kept a small square of cheese on hand. After everything I ate, I kept the cheese all the way til the end so I can savour it. Aside from the food: I love the ambiance is pretty nice. Fancy, but dont fret too much over it. You'll still be served just as well as anyone else. Which I will get to, as the customer service was on point. They get to your table water at hand and pouring you a refill at every half mark. They make sure your meal and experience was great. I couldn't figure out what my friends ordered, but the lamb they ordered was delicious. As a guy who doesnt quite like lamb, I enjoyed it as it was sweeter than earthy and gamey. The shrimp had this minty flavor that just was sensational in the sauce it was in. Big portion of shrimp too. And the garlic was sweet roasted! The truffle pasta was to die for. I mentioned the weakness I have over truffles, but the sauce was creamy and flavourful. The pasta itself was aldente. Well done!! Then there was the mushroom pizza with sweet onions and it was pretty good. But definitely nothing short of flavour all around. I am definitely returning!!!
We have eaten lunch and dinner here and it is beyond Excellent! We live Downtown but on the other side so it's a little far to walk but we are now hooked! Everything from cheese and meat appetizer, salads, entrees ( chicken, lamb, pappardelle), desserts are so fresh. My husband had the lamb and he thought it was the best he has ever had. They have so many different stations where food is home made! We took our Granddaughter (13) and for her coming from the burbs she was in awe as to how fun, high energy and very cool it was!
(5)
Robyn S.
Absolutely delicious food. For an appetizer, I had the Smashed avocado bruschetta. For the entree, we had the Pappardelle, which is this yummy fresh pasta and braised lambed. Perfectly seasoned and the portion size is good for the price. We also had the halibut. Flakey and delicious. I was really liking the interior. It had a home kitchen feel yet it was fine dining at the same time. I had no complaints. My party had a wonderful night.
(5)
Ernesto C.
Based on our very bad evening at Bottega Americano, I became very curious how others viewed this restaurant. After reading many of the reviews, it seems like there is one bit of consistent feedback - Poor Service - overall, I could not agree more.... Last night was 'one star' for decent food ( not Rome but A-ok for the west coast ) and 'one star' for modern city ambiance and lovely decor ( reminiscent of other food establishments my wife and I have frequented in the great cities of London, NYC, Chicago, Hong Kong, Melbourne & Sydney and many others ). 1+1 = 2. Before we went here, our expectation was actually for better math in the order of 4 to 5. PROBLEM #1 - POOR SERVICE - the rudest server I have encountered in San Diego and for that matter, in at least the last 10+ years, ruined our evening with a bad attitude, completely lost in this trade and pretty much MIA most of the evening. We also moved here from the other "MIA" - Miami - and this fellow would fit in perfectly in Miami - USA Capital of Rude People & Bad Service. I had that horrible feeling I was in a mediocre Miami restaurant again. Our displeasure at Bottega Americano was so great, that I seeked out someone from Management and Sara Kincaid - Catering & Sales Manager was nearby. She was very polite, very gracious, heard me out and insisted I send an e-mail to restaurant management. I did follow through and also enjoined the General Manager, Greg Van de Velde. To my surprise, I never heard back from either one of them and it appears it may have all fallen on deaf ears. C'est la vie. As I said to Greg and Sara, " we are typically very generous with our gratuities, when service is at par with expectations and then some. You can only surmise how utterly poor / rude the service was, for us to leave $NIL. This is also completely unprecedented..." PROBLEM #2 VERRRY SLOOOOOWWW - if other great food halls can get right, with the same buzz and patron traffic, Bottega Americano has to get it right. Especially at the price point food and wine resides. The waits between courses were agony. Perhaps this was a function of the poor server assigned to our party or ...? There is a feeling of organised chaos in the place .... Uhmm, not a good thing and Gordon Ramsey would not approve. SILVER LINING - MAYBE.. I would love to go back and have a wonderful experience but time must pass, as there are many other better & established places to discover in SD ( albeit, not as trendy and more down to earth than this newcomer restaurant ). I think many basic and fundamental kinks need to be sorted out pronto. The place seems to have great potential and must be careful not to burn at liftoff. This objective review comes from true lovers of restaurants and food & wine. Management, take note - this restaurant should merit 4-5 start and not 2.
(2)
Sean W.
This is the best Italian food I've had in San Diego since Buonissimo 2 in Hillcrest burned down. It's also probably the only good Italian restaurant in San Diego right now.
(4)
David S.
I've been here about 3 or 4 times, and each was great. The first time we got sandwiches to go for a picnic at the marina. Awesome. The second we had food and drinks. Very nice. The third was wine and cheese. The happy hour was wonderful and the atmosphere spot on. The bartender forgot our wine at the other end at one point, but made up for it when I reminded them with a little discount. Overall, this is the perfect spot for and time of day in East Village and really speaks to what the neighborhood has become.
(5)
Patricia M.
Went there last night for dinner. Friday night and Halloween and we had no reservation but to our surprise we got seated right away. The hostess was extremely friendly and attentive. Our server came to the table quick, and she was fine except for the fact she spent the night flirting with my boyfriend!!!! Not gonna tell her name but she had big feather earrings. It was so bizarre that even him felt uncomfortable and mentioned that to me. I've never seen something like this before so it was actually amusing. He's a hot piece of ass, yeah yeah but come on, you REALLY don't need to come to out table 356 times full of smiles at him. Luckily I'm not a crazy jealous woman and thought it was funny how clueless she was. Moving on to the food... Their wine list is great and we had the mozzarella "balls" for appetizer, nothing extraordinary. I had the pappardelle with lamb (mainly because on Monday I had it somewhere else and wanted to compare...) and it was just ok. There was something missing on the flavor and I'm year to find out what it is. Not much cheese either and I missed that. My man got the margherita pizza with salami and here's the catch: the pizza came with no tomato. We both looked at each other like "doesn't margherita pizzas have tomatoes?". I had to google to make sure and yeah. We told the flirty server and she took it out to "add tomatoes". We looked at the menu and the description said "tomatoes" and when she brought the pizza back she said "chef said the "tomato" in the menu stands for "tomato sauce". ?!?!?! Ooohh, excuse our ignorance then. They added a bunch of cold baby tomatoes cut in half of the pizza and voila; a new kind of margherita pizza was born! Lol It tasted good but those cold cherry tomatoes on top... Oh my. Overall our night was fine. We might be back, we might not. The food didn't impress us much and the service..well, it was entertaining. Get your own, sister, get your own.
(3)
Mar E.
This was a wonderful find on a recent trip to San Diego. We went there for dinner before a baseball game at Petco and really enjoyed it. We sat at the bar and were served by Brandy , who was very helpful in her suggestions. I had the duck prosciutto and lamb pasta. Both were wonderful! Go early because the place is very popular.
(4)
Rika L.
4 stars for the decor. 2 stars for food and service. The space is really open, well lit and layout is well designed. A great place to grab lunch and a casual dinner. The tables are nice and roomy. Service was slow. We didn't get to order until 30 minutes after being seated and that was with 3 tables dining in. It got busier towards the end so let it go. We ordered some macaroons from the bakery and the bakery told us to tell our server so she could just add onto our tab, but we couldn't track her down. When we asked for our bill, she was like 20 feet away and I just made the sign for "check" and she didn't come close enough. By the time she dropped off the check, it was so quick, we couldn't tell her. So we just decided to go back up to the bakery to pay for the macaroons. Now onto the food, we weekend lunch there. We thought they would have brunch by now, but it doesn't start until Nov 1. Macaroons: They all tasted the same. It didn't have much flavor but I liked how they priced them $1 and made them smaller so we can try all of them. Garganelli with Jumbo Shrimp: It looked so delicious when it came out and the shrimps were jumbo. One bite and it was soooo salty and sour. More salty. We couldn't finish the pasta because it was so salty, left half of it. I couldn't let the jumbo shrimp go to waste, but how can you go wrong with such fresh shrimps. Chopped Salad: it had everything in it. I think it was a leftover salad. Each bite was different. Too chopped. Grilled Mary's farm chicken panini: this was good. The sauce in the panini was really good. We upgraded to truffle fries for $4, but it wasn't worth it. They were shoestring fries but really fine shoestring. I never had such small fries.
(3)
Carlos P.
After all the hype about his being one of the hottest new restaurant openings in SD we came here on a Friday night and it was pretty full. It seems to be a trendy place right now. Possibly a good place to bring a date as far as decor and everything. . All the food to go options looked pretty good but I came here for a sit down dinner. The service was extremely slow. EXTREMELY. Very annoying. It even took a half hour just to ask for the check alone and then another 20 for them to bring it. Definitely did not enjoy waiting so much in between each dish especially since we ordered everything at the start. The complimentary bread would have been good if it was warm. Had chopped salad with added shrimp, good. We had to try the Meatballs since we were at an Italian place, they were ok I guess nothing special. Salmon tartar was.... 'strange' is the best word to describe it...wouldn't recommend We both were pretty hungry so we decided to try the Seafood dish for 2 (Grigliata de pesce mista) but in reality it would have been nice if it was for 1. Taste wise It was good. Still hungry we even ordered the Lamb Chops as we heard they were From California lamb, and they were only alright, but definitely better than the lamb at Queenstown Pub. The worst part wasn't the mediocre food it was definitely the long wait to get our food (for example how does the main course come ready after a superlong wait before the salad?), and just the constant waiting all night. It was mission impossible to get our waiter maybe because we sat outside. Advice would be to sit inside for possible faster/better service but it's very loud so on a date outside would be the spot for ' romantic ' effect. Don't know what else to say about you, Bottega Americano.
(2)
Margaret D.
My friend and I were running some errands in the morning in East Village. When we were walking back to the car I noticed Bottega Americano and remember reading about this restaurant in a magazine. I really wanted to come and eat here for dinner so my friend and I poked out head in the door. In the front there is a counter where they serve coffee, desserts and Breakfast items. The restaurant is a large, beautiful, open space with fabulous interior. They were just setting up for lunch, so my friend and I opted to try a Veggie Croissant and a Latte. The price is what I would pay for the same thing at Starbucks but the quality was far superior. They had some high tables, a couch inside and a patio to choose from. Our drinks and breakfast was brought right to us and it was nice at hot. My croissant was just perfect. I will be back to have an actual meal here.
(4)
M. G. H.
So. Good. Delicious food. Great service. Excellent wine selection. My spouse and I have been here twice, once by ourselves and once with an out of town houseguest, and we were so happy (and full!) both times.
(5)
Kauveh S.
The Yellowtail crudo is too die for. The white sauce they incorporate into it is amazing. We also had once again a great salumeria platter to start with. Sorry juniper and ivy Bottega is my new favorite spot. The service is just perfect and Greg could be the best Host in town. Keep up the great work. Chris Sohaey
(5)
Mike H.
My wife and I and two friends dined here on March 13th. The restaurant has a great ambiance, and most of the waiting staff is great. First complaint I had was the front staff seating us were not very friendly, and did not seem to know what was going on. Despite having reservations, and at an early time, we were standing around for 20 minutes, when we saw open tables. Anyhow, my main complaint was the dish my wife ordered. Which was the octopus pasta. The pasta was extremely salty. I tasted some, as did our friends. And we all agreed. We had mentioned this to our waitress, and she said she would tell the chef. However, she did not come back. Albeit, my wife did not finish her dish, and rather just shared some of mine, as we thought the waitress would come back to offer to replace the dish. Well she came back with the bill after all was said and done, and never mentioned anything about replacing the dish, or removing the dish from the bill. Which was surprising to us. Anyhow, my wife left hungry, and we actually had to pick up some fast food on the way home to just fill her stomach. All in all, not the greatest first experience, especially after the amount of money we spent on dinner, plenty of drinks and appetizers. The rest of the food was pretty good.
(2)
Natasha C.
A few weeks ago I was in Chicago for my best friend's wedding, and in case you're wondering, I did, in fact, download and purposefully watch My Best Friend's Wedding on my flight there. But that's neither here nor there. The point of me telling you the two aforementioned facts, is that I happened to stop by Eataly while I was in the Windy City. I loved the concept - a single location that boasts 23 eateries. It's large and in charge, and reminds me of afternoons spent in Italy this past summer. But this post isn't about Eataly. It's about a new restaurant, located at Park & Island, in the burgeoning Downtown East Village neighborhood of San Diego. Bottega Americano is getting some rave reviews about town lately, so naturally I had to check it out as soon as possible. The restaurant and marketplace is impressive. The space is beautifully decorated, offering five interactive food bars, as well as a market for those that only have a few minutes to grab something to go. The menu combines classic Italian dishes with fresh ingredients and innovation of Modern California. I stopped by for lunch yesterday and noshed on some freshly cooked pasta, as I cursed the fact that I had to go back to work, otherwise I would have totally tried one of the Snake Oil cocktails, always a treat. My lunch mates opted for the paninis, which had good flavor, but were served cold. Overall a good experience. Like I said, I can't wait to come back after work hours.. Enjoy an adult beverage and some apps. The restaurant is new, and the staff is still working out some kinks. Our waiter spaced our apps and entrees a little too much, so we ended up waiting over 40 minutes for our main course (a little long during the lunch hour break, sans a cocktail).
(3)
Nancy S.
We had lunch here today and it was just great. The menu is extremely creative. We split the corn and goat cheese ravioli and it was excellent. We also loved the peach carpaccio dessert. It has such interesting flavors - peaches, pistachios, marscapone - yum yum yum. I'd like to come back and try some more dishes.
(5)
Hamid F.
I dined here last Thursday, May 7, '15 for dinner with my fiance. We didn't have a reservation but were promptly seated at a counter. The chef and wait staff were very professional & kind, willing to engage their customers in conversation and take the time to answer questions by demonstrating and providing historical insight to their recipes and food. I've lived in San Diego for over 16 years and have dined at just about every fine dining establishment in San Diego County. Bottega Americano really stands out for me. To have such a highly trained staff willing to engage the customer really makes an otherwise pleasant dining experience that much more enjoyable. For this reason, I feel Bottega Americano is one of the most understated restaurants in San Diego. I look forward to returning very soon!
(4)
Todd S.
Have had one breakfast, one lunch, and one dinner here. I highly recommend all three. Great atmosphere and very good food. It helps that it is two blocks from my condo.
(4)
Mike N.
I'll start by saying this isn't a review of the sit-down restaurant, it's of the "to-go marketplace".. which, from the name, you would think would be a quick-service experience, especially since the food is already made and sitting in the glass counter. You'd think that, by paying $9 for a panini that's supposed to come with chicken inside, it would be at least a decent portion included. And you'd also think that, you would not be waiting for 20 minutes for food that should more or less be "grab-n-go." You'd be wrong. As mentioned, I ordered a panini with chicken (can't recall the menu name), which was brought out after (not exaggerating) 20 minutes. However, my friend still had to wait for her meatball panini, which took another 5-7 minutes. That means we've now been waiting for almost 30 minutes for 2 marketplace items. At that rate, we might as well have just gotten a table. That's just unacceptable. When we finally were able to eat them, we weren't impressed. Mine was much smaller looking than the one on display. As for the meatballs, my friend said they were bland and tasteless, and I think they flat out forgot to put any chicken in my panini. It was full of vegetables, and very, very greasy. Hopefully the sit-down section is better, since the marketplace items were overpriced and underwhelming.
(2)
Jack M.
A great new Italian eatery located in the heart of East Village which is sure to provided great eats and fine wines for the years to come. On this first visit, I had the opportunity to enjoy a board of Di Stefano Burrata with speck, fig mostarda, aged balsamic and crostini for $12 and their gas and white pizza oak baked pizza with Mission figs, quattro formaggi, arugula, speck, shallot marmellata, saba for $14; both which had me turning my head with excitement. The Di Stefano Burrata was outstanding and came breathtakingly presented on a board with the burrata and speck nestled together as if a match that was made in heaven ( yelp.com/biz_photos/bott… ). The burrata was silky and smooth, mildly flavored, and went very well with the fig marmellata and bitter arugula ( yelp.com/biz_photos/bott… ). The speck had nice salty flavor with just enough fat to add a richness on the palate. This was indeed a treat to eat paired with crostini ( yelp.com/biz_photos/bott… ). The pizza was terrific, not to mention quite the handsome looking pie ( yelp.com/biz_photos/bott… ). All the ingredients sang well together, but what had me turning my head and looking over at the 800 degrees oven, ( yelp.com/biz_photos/bott… ) thinking to myself, "it's the magic oven." The crust was light and airy, but with just enough chewy texture to perform like a playground in the mouth ( yelp.com/biz_photos/bott… ). The peppery and bitter arugula, the nutty shaved reggiano, to the smoky cured Italian ham, the Speck, balanced well against the slightly sweet mission figs ( yelp.com/biz_photos/bott… ).The four cheesed, the gorgonzola, Fontina, mozzarella, and reggiano were all well melted and tasted great, but that Italian Saba and figs and their sweetness, somehow brought the pizza together nicely ( yelp.com/biz_photos/bott… ). Well done. The place is beautiful and provides and open environment. Service was good, perhaps not as refined as it should or will be in the near future, because I had to ask several times for my check with plenty of time between. However, the kitchen staff and chefs were great with a communicative and sincere personalities and willing to share and discuss their form of art ( yelp.com/biz_photos/bott… ).
(4)
Banu K.
oh my where do i start? i have wanted to try this place out since reading an article about it. the whole experience from start to finish really amazing. we went for dinner on the 2nd day it was open to the public. i knew that early openings were a little rusty usually. but didn't expect it to blow me away. all the way from the amazing food, to the ambience to the delightful servers as well as chefs, OMG. parking: on the street which wasn't hard to find at 8:00, but on a monday. there is a valet service too. ambience: what a entrance. you immediately see the gorgeous hanging lights and the open space. such great lighting, nice and airy, lighted but still intimate. there are many pockets of tables, and really amazing, random tables throughout the restaurant. i loved that you could sit at one of many 'stations' whether it be the pasta area, the salumeria, the pizza oven area, or the bar. not to mention they had tables open to the whole area. the community tables were huge, and really not packed like some of the community tables out there. you still had some privacy even though you were seated together, which was a nice change. service: katie was pretty amazing. we knew her from another restaurant, and she was definitely seasoned and knowledgeable. made great suggestions from the specials to wine, which were spot-on. cocktails: i opted for my fave, espresso martini, which i ask to make a certain simple way, and the 2 bartenders did not disappoint. btw, it was refreshing to see just female bartenders tonight, mixing and serving all night. my friend ordered one of the craft cocktails, which was ok, i think the mescal in it was a little too pungent. but they brought him an unbelievable margerita on the rocks, which was very nice. appetizers: we started off with the salumeria: duck prosciutto, mortadella, and the cheese was the casatica. all amazing choices, really enjoyed the fig jam and crostini served with it. looked beautiful, check out my pics. we also had the Carrots / turnips / sweet onion / crescenza cheese. they cooked/roasted the carrots and turnips just beautifully, and really was a favorite savory taste all night for me. meal: my friend had the Roast del giorno which was a succulent pork loin, in a chimichurri sauce, served with squash i believe, and a delish sauce almost sweet/savory that it was stewed in. it was a special, and really was a treat. i had the mussels. they were served in a butter garlic tomato based broth and served with chorizo. as mussels to me are usually always salty, i thought the chorizo made it too salty in addition, but really enjoyed eating it separately. dessert: we both had an espresso/coffee, and the budino. wow, what a great chocolate crumble on top, that katie said wasn't even bread based. so simple, creamy, delish. it had a carmel drizzle around it that was amazing. i am very impressed. i will admit that i haven't found another great restaurant as my to go place since the cucinas, but think i may have found another great place to take my friends, family, guests. it was a nice treat to talk to the sous chef jeremy oursland, who talked about his great kitchen, and all the fun toys that were back there. we saw Chef Dave working endlessly side by side with his crew in the open space, that was nice to see. we ended the night by buying some fig spread that was used on the salumeria platter we got, and can't wait to use it on french bread for breakfast! i am in love, and will be back for sure, very soon. thanks katie, chef dave, and the team!
(5)
Jennifer R.
Wow! A beautiful restaurant, great service, and terrific food. Typically soft openings are a little rough since they are working out the kinks but our experience tonight was great and there weren't any hiccups along the way. We split a butter lettuce salad and the waiter was nice enough to split the plate for us. The presentation was beautiful! The flavors were simple but delicious. We also ordered the puttanesca pizza which had amazing crust and a fresh flavor. For dessert we went out on a limb and ordered the peach carpaccio. Such a light and refreshing dessert that is not overly sweet. We're already planning our next trip and recommending Bottega Americano to everyone.
(5)
Stephany L.
Very small portions for the price, probably not best to come very hungry or looking to for a big meal. Pizza seemed to be the best value but as I said before the other dishes we ordered were really small for the price and most of the friends I went with were still hungry after. Also, you should definitely should reserve way ahead of time (like at least a day) for larger parties. They seem to fill up with reservations really quickly on the weekend.
Came here for lunch with some of my foodie friends. This place is definitely must come back to kinda place. Love the decor and the open airy feeling. Staff was very friendly and attentive. You can sit down and order or they have a walk up counter service. I ordered the fresh pasta of the day with the pork stew (sorry I can't remember the exact name of the dish). Oh my it was sooooooo good and very hearty. We all sampled one another's dishes. Everything people got was yummy. My only complaint was the complimentary bread they brought out. Way too salty for my palette. Some of my other friends didn't mind. I wanna come back here again and try their dinner and drinks.
(5)
Erin L.
Alright, two dining experiences later, 5 stars. Way to work out those kinks! Their pasta, by far, is the best I've had in San Diego. I said it. Family of four, all four were excellent, including the spaghetti and meatballs, cioppino, octopus bucatini, and I forget what I had...but it was all really, really good! My parents don't eat out much, but they said this was the best pasta they've ever had! Their bread is always fresh and delicious, and you seriously have to try the duck prosciutto. Love it!
(5)
Jeanie S.
Wow! This has been one of the worth meals I've ever had in my life from start to finish. The execution was horrific! The chef should be embarrassed. Meatballs were hard and dry and lacked flavor. The brown avocado toast was on soggy focaccia bread and was screaming for salt. The garlic spaghetti had a chance but the raw garlic was old and super pungent. Another fail. Then the pizza oh boy- margarita is the simplest of all and a go to for testing the water- well this was over sauced and missing the mozzarella. It had some cheap processed blend. The dough had no salt and was delivered soggy. Yet another fail! Cancelled the last two dishes to afraid to even try them. The tea was cold and the pistachio gelato was hard and looked like coffee. Omg The room was packed and had good reviews/ the service was on point and she felt bad about the poor quality food. Good design! Worst execution ever! Cherry on top was the chef walking around the dining room, might was to go taste the food.
Excellent food, wonderful service and beautiful atmosphere! We enjoyed the rotisserie chicken salad, the butter lettuce salad and the mussels. For dessert we got the chocolate mousse cake, a cannoli, and a chocolate macaron. It was all delicious and the service was perfect. We will be back!
(5)
Billy K.
Awesome spot. Great dinners- amazing brunch. The layout is an open concept. I've been coming here every weekend since they opened. Great staff and great eats.
(5)
Taylor G.
Between the three of us, we had two 3-star and one 5 star review for the food. As for the service, 2 star, 3 star, and 2.5 stars... Cocktails were watery and over-shaken. Not sure if ice issue or staff issue. Our reserved table was not ready upon arrival. They tried to permanently seat us at the bar 10 minutes later. We asked for a table where we could all hear each other / face each other and waited another 10 minutes. As noted to the reservationist, we were doing a goodbye dinner and wanted to be able to talk. Our server was earnest but green. His support staff was silent and stiff and it felt like we were being rushed through our courses. Plates were snatched without being asked if we were finished. I normally don't comment on table layout, but for such a large space, the restaurant seemed extremely jumbled and hard to navigate. When being seated, leaving, or using the restroom, the tables seemed awkwardly arranged. There were not many clear paths. I felt like I was disrupting other tables when moving. Overall I felt like the staff did not "read" our table well and the service suffered because of it. For a restaurant that seems to be competing with Cucina Urbana, it's lacking a lot of the finer points of service and ambiance.
(3)
Glen H.
Sit by the pizza guy, he's awesome and very entertaining. Staff is really nice and professional. Oh and the food is the bomb!
(5)
Alina B.
Love the ambiance, very lively. Must try the beet salad & yellow tail appetizer. Great service to match the amazing food.
(5)
Bill P.
Really good East Village eatery with a trendy, hip-industrial flair. Food was a delight as was our knowledgeable, competent, ultra-friendly waiter. I thought the butternut squash raviolis were a little under-filled, but otherwise a great experience. The house sauce that comes with the bread is amazing and addictive. A "must try"! Wasn't digging the $16 for a Don Julio shot, but ah well, San Diego downtown tries SO HARD to be L.A. What is one to do? :-)
(4)
Mel C.
Please bring back the steak and eggs!!! I traveled all the way back from Seattle to experience them again and was distraught to hear they were no longer on the menu. Going to try the braised pork shoulder hash, stay tuned...and our server, Megan, is awesome!!
(5)
Cynthia W.
Brunch is awesome, I've had the lobster PLT and the Italian breakfast here. Delicious!
(5)
Jeremiah C.
Wife and I went here for brunch this morning... Great new restaurant! Several savory brunch plates and cocktails that had an Italian-American influence. We were impressed and enjoyed everything we ordered, surprisingly even by the organic coffee. Ambience was unpretentious, comfortable and welcoming with an open-kitchen, almost family-style feel. They also had several types of specialty "bars" (oyster/crudo, salami/cheese, etc) that seem fun to try out in addition to traditional alcohol bar. We really like the decor and entire layout. -Very family friendly, which we enjoyed. Great mix of customers, even young children/families, but the restaurant seems to attract professional, responsible parents who don't allow their kids to run around like crazy. There was a dedicated take out deli-type counter which is also a wonderful idea. We actually enjoyed our food so much that we also ordered takeout on our way out for my parents who were babysitting for us. Service seemed excellent (it was our server's first day and so we cut him a lot of slack. He was a nice guy and told us up front that it was his first day. We actually really appreciated that do we knew what to expect.) Prices are very reasonable (~$14/plate, $8/cocktail). The food quality, presentation, and overall experience is actually much better than what you'd pay or expect to pay for brunch at many other restaurants in downtown, let alone similar dining establishments around San Diego. We were already planning our return to Bottega Americano before we were finished eating. Try it out!
(5)
Jeffrey B.
One of the most inspiring concepts in all San Diego. The space is simply stunning and adds to a lovely experience. The staff are professionals. It feels like a small Eataly from NYC. Not all of our guests loved dinner. I expect that quality will improve as the restaurant matures. San Diego's East Village finally grows up with this one.
(4)
L. M.
This place is great! Cheese platter and chopped salad were delicious. I ordered the ravioli (so rich and flavorful even without any sauce on it - theres garnish on it and goat cheese) and my boyfriend got the manicotti and also loved. Can't wait to return and try more menu options! We were STUFFED. Drink menu looked nice as well although I just got wine. Nice bar area too!
(5)
Holly D.
I cant wait to go back! Amazing ambiance, fantastic service by a sommelier who made our experience epic with the perfect suggestions. We just ended up having him order half of our experience for us. A BIG "O" for our taste buds. We met several of the owners and the chef who came by to say hello and chat. I am so excited to see East Village growing with class and quality all around. A big thank you to BA. We WILL see you soon!
I'll always give this place 4 stars because of the food, waitstaff, bussers, and ambience. I live in the east village, and the corner they chose looks historic, and downright beautiful. But, I brought my friend here for his birthday dinner, we both brought our Boxers, and the owner, Greg, was extremely disrespectful. We sat on the patio, which is supposed to be pet-friendly. We had an early dinner at about 5:30. His dog, and my dog were seated on the cushions next to me, with about 14 tables open outside. We had our to go bag on the table next to us, and two empty drinks. We were leaving, and then Greg came over, stood over me, the female, and in an intimidating fashion that they have to seat the table next to us. I don't get intimidated, I'm a Texan, and am tough. I've dealt with misogyny. But, to have a guy hovering over me, ignoring the man sitting at the table, and trying to intimidate the female is ridiculous. He was disrespectful. If he had told us dogs were not allowed on the seats, done. I would've put them back on the ground. No issue. He was rude, to be rude. I don't get that. Don't open a restaurant with a dog-friendly patio, and be hateful to pet owners. You live in SAN DIEGO! Being rude to dogs is sacrilege! I live three blocks away, and wanted this to be my spot for friends coming in. I feel a little uncomfortable going back. I like my dog. It's still really pretty, and good food, even if there is a douchey owner.
(4)
Lynn Z.
Love the service ! Love the food ! Love the concept ! One of the best ! Happy hour is fantastic !
(5)
Mindy N.
This place is sensational. We were able to make a reservation and had a nice table for our table of three. We started out with a meet and cheese board - every selection was quite tasty down to the persimmon and fig spread. Their gluten-free (gf) options are quite extensive with many dishes including pastas and pizzas. We ordered the Pappardelle with braised lamb, Lobster truffle risotto and the Stuffed butternut squash Ravioli with goat cheese on top. Every dish was perfectly flavored, it's hard to pick a favorite. We shared the Juana de Sol Malbec it was perfect. Our server was really great, he knew the menu and dishes really well to answer any questions we had and was always there when needed. The price wasn't bad for the quality and portions, really decent. We'll absolutely be back!
(5)
Kaitlyn C.
The food is top notch, from the appetizers (I recommend the yellow tail and mussels), to the main course (lamb oso bucco was out of this world), to our extremely light and not at all over filling dessert. Not only was the atmosphere both clean and homey (which can be hard to achieve both of those feelings at once), but the service was fantastic. Our waitress (Jenna, I believe) was on the ball, other kitchen staff were there to help quickly if we needed any thing. The experience over all was fantastic and this is a place I would happily go again! Recommended to anyone! Great food, great service, and great atmosphere!
(5)
Joaquin P.
I thought Cucina Urbana was IT for italian food, until I stepped foot into Bottega Americana. Amazing food!, from appetizer, to main dish and dessert...also service was impecable. Great atmosphere and lots of people. Move on Cucina, Bottega is my new italian favorite...I will be back... Definetly!
(5)
Harry C.
Very clearly modeled on Eataly in Manhattan, the food here is as good or better. We arrived at the height of the busy time and still got very prompt service. Indeed, at least 3 servers ask if anyone had taken our drink order. (One had.) One complaint; our entree's came while we were still eating our appetizer. We mentioned this and the server immediately took responsibility, indicating she had put it in ahead of a very large table order so it wouldn't be too delayed. The quality of our food was wonderful. We split an orders of the mussels and the burrata cheese and proscuitto. We each got a pasta entree. I ordered the mushroom and Italian ham. It was great but, being rich, was too much after the appetizers. Like most restaurants these days, the noise level is pretty high. We would return again and recommend it to friends.
(4)
Justin W.
After several visits and simply loving this new neighborhood gem so damn much, I decided to break my silence and write my first 'yelp'. The setting is lively and fun. Open Air with expansive seating options. The Lounge is a cool setting for drinks and cocktails where you can take it all in. There are several floor dining options throughout the room for intimate dinners of parties of 2 or 4. For a large group, there is no better seat than the Pizza Oven table. probably one of the coolest tables I've ever seen. - call early to book it for your large group. The food is interactive and comes from several stations. The cheese n charcuterie come from its own area, as does the fresh raw seafood, and pastry - each complete with their own bar style seating where you can pull up to the action and watch it all happen while you dine. - if you are just popping in for a quick dessert and the dessert station bar seats are free... grab them! Besides having a cool concept, the kitchen is really well organized and the food is amazing. I have tried several different cheese n charcuterie boards and they are always fresh, unique and of the highest quality. The Beet Salad is fantastic and artfully plated, as well we loved their beef carpaccio. My favorite go-to starter has to be the burrata with speck and aged balsamic. A classic dish, done so very well. great with some crisp dry white wine to start your dinner. for some share bites you can't go wrong with the Octopus salad, the steamed mussels or some fresh oysters for your table to share. The wine! very reasonably priced great Italian selections. I was thrilled to find a reasonably priced Sangiovese and a great Barbera by the glass on their list. Cocktails are refreshing and on brand. the bartenders and friendly and engaging, so don't shy away from the bar seats if a food station countertop is unavailable. The entrees were magnificent. I have had their lamb both ways - as the papperdelle and as the osso bucco. both magnificent. As well I've tried their gnocchi (soft pillows made of air...) and their very healthy Salmon entree. - all to die for. A great neighborhood addition with to go food! If I lived in the East Village I'd be eating 2 meals a day there in some fashion. As it is, I will make the 4 block walk for dinner, drinks, and or lunch as often as possible. great gem. Looking forward to trying their brunch menu they just launched on the weekend.
(5)
Kelly D.
Beautiful place with really good food that had interesting modifications to staple Italian dishes. The wine list was decent but mostly Italian wines for choices by the glass. Many Californian choices too, but only by the bottle. We went with another couple and shared the duck prosciutto (very tasty) cheese, and salami plate as an appetizer, the carpaccio (excellent), octopus, scallops on risotto (superb), spaghetti with meatballs (very savory with slight sweetness that was perfect), potato fingerlings with the egg, and broccolini. All the food was fantastic (5 stars). However our server was not that attentive. He forgot our wine order several times, didn't check up on us, and seemed a little distracted. In fact, his apprentice was much better. Thus, service was 3 stars. The chef came and talked to us as he was making rounds, which was nice. Valet is $7.
(4)
J F.
Food done right. Fresh, handmade, made in-house, seasonal ingredients combined with high culinary standards. Excellent customer service, especially the manager, Corrie. She makes sure her customers are happy and keep coming back! The baristas are awesome as well and make delicious americanos. Ambience is excellent for any occasion. Located adjacent to Thomas Jefferson School of Law, so it may be a great place to meet future lawyers!
(5)
Chris M.
This place is pretty awesome! The concept is cool and fresh. This venue has multiple stations that prepare a list of dishes that all seem to taste delicious. My girlfriend and I sampled something from every station and we weren't let down. Aside from having great food, the staff should be held in the same high regard. They were all attentive, professional, polite and personal. This was truly a great night all around. It also helped my San Diego Chargers beat the 49ers that night too. I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Melodie C.
Adding this to the rotation of favorite dinner spots. Open, slightly modern looking dining environment with a mix of common tables and 4 tops. We went on a Friday night with no reservations but were seated immediately. Service was perfect - attentive and genuine without being overbearing. We ordered the lamb pappardelle and octopus bucatini, both of which were fantastic. It's a challenge to find octopus that isn't overcooked and rubbery but this dish was overflowing with well seasoned, delicious chunks of it. On a side note - they make one hell of a blue cheese olive martini. Sold!
(5)
ed w.
Interesting spot. Dined on a Wed evening prior to end of Happy Hr (6pm). Made reservations but not needed for this time slot. Lots of street parking. Valet optional. Staff was courteous. Place can get loud. Our table of five ordered several appetizers based on prior reviews. Tuna and Burrata were ok. Octopus and Mussels was good. Meat/cheese board portions were kinda small. The butternut squash soup was tasty. Entire party enjoyed our main courses. Rib eye, Lamb shank, Ravioli, Paccheri and yes, the Spaghetti & meatballs. Overall, would return again. Happy hr lounge looks like a lively spot for a quick bite and refreshments and 50% off too!
(3)
Mikey F.
After a horrific experience at Double Standard, I was frantically in search of an incredible experience to make up for it. I called Bottega Americano right before closing on a Saturday night, and was informed that if I hurried on over, they'd have a table just for me, no RSVP needed. SCORE. I walked over, and the hosts and waitresses were ALL SO BEAUTIFUL AND NICE!!!! Omg!!!!! It was like they were pretty Italian Disney princesses. I was shocked they let me get a table with no RSVP, because the place was PACKED. It's a huge place, but every table was taken and packed with large groups. In spite of how packed it was, I was not at all overwhelmed; the place gives off a very cozy, perfect-for-the-holidays vibe. The only thing missing is Mariah Carey Christmas music! All the patrons were dressed like they were ready to go see The Nutcracker! The food was amazing!!!! I couldn't at all understand what the names on the menu say, so I had to ask them to translate for me. I ended up with an amazing Italian seafood dish. It had lots of Italian noodles, shrimps, scallops, calamari and mussels (and from what I hear, they rotate the seafood in the dish so sometimes it includes salmon?!!). All of it was fantastic. Even the bread and dip before the food was great. I will be honest that the water vase ran out halfway through my meal and no one came to refill it. In fact, the waitress didn't even bring me my check. But I'm perfectly fine with that. No waitress = no tip necessary. Thanks to the lack of waitress, I saved more money than I would have at the Dollar Tree and still got a 5 star dining experience! SCORE.
(5)
L S.
After overcoming 3 broken parking meters I almost gave up. So so so glad I didn't. The food here was so riduoisly delicious and the staff was so friendly and welcoming it was one of the best dining experiences in a long time. The lunch menu is extremely reasonable and in line with San Diego's up and coming farm to table venues. I ordered the *Ravioli / butternut squash / goat cheese / brown butter / sage / braised cavolo nero* It was filled with layers of goodness, each bite better than the last. They serve fresh hot focaccia with a cold creamy tomato dip on request. Erick was my server and he was wonderful. The young man making fresh dough at the pizza oven was very engaging and It felt like I was sitting in a good friend's kitchen. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. I can't wait to go back and share with friends!
(5)
Erica O.
I really wanted to like this place but unfortunately most of the food was just average. - Charcuterie & Cheese Board (had a great fig jam accompaniment) - Saffron Tagliolini (fishy and lacked depth of flavor though the noodles weren't bad) - Pork Shoulder (dry, not bad but not great) - Broccolini (fine) - Budino (tasty) Though the food wasn't fantastic, the service was excellent. Our server was extremely attentive and helped me navigate the menu considering my nut allergy. I'm not sure I will be back anytime soon but may give it another try one of these days.
(3)
Mary C.
WOW! This place is a must try. This is my first time here for dinner with the love of my life and we were wowed! The Pacchetti pasta was to die for- guanciale, peas, truffle cream- delish!!!
(5)
Margot S.
LOVE Bottega Americano! Their brunch is fantastic and they use unique quality ingredients. Everything I've ever had (especially their specials) has been fantastic! Everyone I bring here loves it too! Kudos to the friendly staff and innovative chef.
(5)
Dung N.
I was contemplating on doing restaurant week or trying out this place to celebrate our 26 month anniversary. I'm so glad that we went here! I had an amazing dining experience at this restaurant. From start to finish, every bite was almost perfection! The space is gorgeous and very spacious. We couldn't find parking, so we used their valet service for $7. We actually entered their market place, not knowing that their was another entrance for the restaurant LOL. I already saw a video of this place before they opened and couldn't wait to dine here. I love their open kitchen concept! I explored all the areas and the staff was very warm and inviting. I had the yellowtail crudo and my bf got the mussels witch chorizo. The sauce for the mussels was the best I've ever tasted. They gave us a spoon and extra bread to finish every last drop. The yellowtail was fresh and had a pretty presentation. Then he ordered the ravioli, which was filled with goat cheese and corn. The ravioli was perfectly hand made and cooked al dente. Unfortunately, it didn't come with any meat. I love meat. I had the garganelli with shrimp- it was okay...I'm not sure why the pasta in this dish was not made in-house. You can definitely tell the difference!! I liked the big pieces of shrimp though...Since we sat in front of the pizza oven, we got to see all the action! It was nice to have this "private" area all to ourselves. The pizza guy let me taste the speck and arugula...so good!! I even got a complimentary mini pizza on the house. It was so cute!! Even our server was jelly that she never had one made for her LOL. The pizza was delicious by the way. For dessert, we ordered the chocolate budino and the limoncello panna cotta. Both were beautifully presented and I enjoyed them a lot!! Service was impeccable and the entire staff was very welcoming and helpful. We even got to take a picture on the owner's Vespa!! It was funny that my outfit matched their logo. HAHAHAHA....Can't wait to go back!
(4)
Allan H.
The food was solid, not outstanding but solid. Though, the ambiance was terrible here. It was loud as heck and if you want to have dinner with anyone and not yell to have a conversation. This isn't the place to go. The server I had was not good at all, borderline rude. SHE talked down to her co-workers and just had a arrogance about her that was noticeable and ugly. So if you wanna try the food which is average at best to see if you have a better go of it than I did, go for it. I hope you have a way way better time then I.
(2)
Ellen D.
This is a fascinating venue! I walked away from the library to find a quick bite and found this extraordinarily inviting take-out/full-service restaurant/food oriented gift store. The take-out display offered many unique salads, cauliflower with yummy sweet red onion and raisins in sweetened, but not sweet vinaigrette, pasta, grain and others, including a visually exciting albacore. I chose cauliflower (great choice) and a Chicken Parmagiana fillet. $8.00 Delicious! I'll be heading back to peruse the gift shop and seated dining. Thank you Bottga Americano for upscaling my lunch hour, yum!
(4)
Barbara L.
I love this place! I brought my boyfriend here for a late dinner on his birthday. We had an 8:45pm reservation and the place was hopping on a Tuesday night. The dining room started to clear out while we ate our dinner. The space is very large and sound bounces off hard surfaces which can make it loud during a busy dinner hour. We enjoyed two cocktails; I prefer La Dolce Vita which is very refreshing and not too sweet, on a hot evening. We shared a meat and cheese board from the salumeria and our server was helpful in recommending items. There are MANY meats and cheeses to choose from and I liked that I could choose what I wanted versus being told what I was getting. We had a great speck paired with two cheeses, a soft and a soft-to-medium cheese. Sorry, I don't remember the names, but they were delish! We shared the scallops and risotto main course and the server/kitchen kindly put our order into two bowls. The scallops were beautifully seared and the risotto was yummy and creamy (and came home to be eaten the next day). Pssst. . . . I have a confession to make . . . I wanted to bring my boyfriend here because I'd already been here twice without him and felt a little guilty. From previous visits, I can recommend the manicotti, the sausage fennel pizza, and the caponata as a starter. The dessert to have, and I cannot find the name, is this chocolate-pot-de-creme-thingy with other flavors chunked on top. It is SOOOO very good! On my next visit, I'd love to try more items from the salumeria while sipping some red wine.
(5)
Carrie c.
The bright fresh feel of this place was perfect for a casual lunch. The ravioli with squash, goat cheese, and spinach was very tasty. The boudini (sp?) Was a very tasty dessert as well and the coffee was excellent! They have a great deli style cafe where you can buy some prepped foods, like farro salad, Italian sausage, and desserts. Everything looked so good. In this area of the restaurant you will also find some great gifts, including some greeting cards, slate cheese boards, and a line of seasonings, sauces, and treats that would make a great addition to a gift basket or your own pantry. I would highly suggest adding this to your Yelp Bookmarks list!
(5)
Mauricio S.
Good service. Good food. Good portion. Good price. Came for happy hour and came out happy indeed
(5)
Shanah C.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this place!! Authentic Italian atmosphere! Cafe / restaurant with full bar, handmade pasta, cheese bar. Oh, and let's not forget the bakery area with lots of yummy desserts! Ordered the spaghetti & meatballs. If requested, bread is brought to the table with a delicious dipping sauce. Lots of treats to take home (cheeses, chocolates, Italian pastries) Can't wait to come back!!
(5)
Brian P.
We tried this restaurant for the very first time to celebrate our anniversary. Wow!! I can't say enough about our experience. It exceeded our expectations in nearly every aspect, starting with the decor, energy and the ambiance. The open kitchen concept, wood lined pillars, communal tables and marketplace all made for a warm & inviting experience. The staff was awesome!! Everyone, including the waitress, runners & bus boys were very attentive and friendly. The prices were very reasonable for such a beautiful concept restaurant. I had the Lamb Osso Buco. Loved every bite!!! It was tender, flavorful and more than enough food. We didn't order any sides other than what came with our meals and it was plenty. My girlfriend had the Scallops with Lemon Risotto. The scallops (4 large) were cooked to perfection and very flavorful. The Lemon Risotto was also really good and cooked perfectly. We had noted in our OpenTable reservation that it was our anniversary in hopes that we could land a great table. Not only did they give us a nice private 2-top but they surprised us at the end of our dinner with an anniversary cannoli complete with a small candle and a congratulations! What a great touch on a great evening. We can't wait to go back soon!! Highly, highly recommend it!!!
(5)
Ashley P.
This place was fantastic! If you are trying to find amazing Italian food, this is the place in the San Diego! I had the gnocchi and it was the best gnocchi I have ever had, the plate was licked clean! The chocolate budino for dessert was also very good and was pretty rich. They also have a nice selection of desserts in their deli area as you walk in the restaurant. Only complaints (the reason for 4, not 5 stars) are location, very difficult to find parking so if you have a reservation come in advance to find a spot, plate sizes were a bit small. I had read other reviews saying they were small, however I was completely full at the end of my meal, i couldn't finish my dessert. The best part is you get full, but not stuffed, so you leave feeling good.
(4)
Anna L.
It's a safe bet. If you're going to meet up with a friend, go here. If you're going to have a nice dinner date, go here. If you're a man and you're wondering where all the girls are, go here. Most of the dishes are solid. My favorite by far is the roasted tomato gnocchi. I would recommend getting the lamb pappardelle, the New York Steak, and the Bone Marrow (if they have it on special). I would definitely skip the Yellowtail crudo and the Scallop main dish. The green goddess dressing is a little heavy and the scallops that we had weren't fresh.
(4)
Alejandra A.
My classmates and I visited this restaurant as a field trip (Culinary students) today. I had a great experience , i loved the tour inside the kitchen and everything was delicious.
It's a gorgeous, chic space. I love the different sections, bar, charcuterie, market, coffee, chef's table, pizza bar. It's an amazing design. We had a very long night here. Our waitress was super slow. We had to actually get up several times to flag her down or let our busboy know we needed her. The manager seemed nice but was not expediting at all. He was not supervising or checking on his waitstaff. He never came over once. The waitress seemed embarrassed but never even bought us coffee for the problems we had. Won't come back for a long time, even though our food was all pretty good. The pizza is kind of generic, though. They need to do a more classic Neapolitan. Go check it out for a drink, first and see what you think. Great bar. That's what I have to say.
(3)
Sarah K.
I read about this restaurant opening on Eater and was excited to try it when I visited San Diego. The restaurant had only been open for a few days and I understand that kinks need to be worked out, but my friend and I had a terribly sub-par experience. When we arrived and gave our name for the reservation, the hostess said "you wanna sit at the food bar?" and I replied "well we want to eat dinner, are there any other options?" she didn't reply and just led us to two seats awkwardly positioned in front of the pizza oven and next to the pass that was noisy and bustling, not to mention the seats are totally the wrong height for the bar. We moved and sat nearby overlooking the salad prep area, where we watched flies crawl over the bowl of guanciale all night. Once we finally ordered, my friend and I had to go through five drinks before we came to one that they weren't out of. We had the burrata appetizer and noticed they forgot the figs and it doesn't make sense to give four hunks of cheese and only three slices of bread (math is hard apparently.) We had our meals and they were fine, nothing to go crazy over. I wanted to go to Bottega Americano because many people had described it like Eataly in New York. Let's put that comparison to bed and not insult Eataly any further. Finally downtown San Diego is a dump, don't understand why they'd invest all the money to put the restaurant in the middle of the gentrified wasteland.
(1)
Jeffrey W.
This place is boss! Ravioli is hands down one of the best I've had ever. I love Italian places that make theIr own pasta. The mussels are a must! We didn't save enough room for dessert. We came hungry and left in dining induced coma
(4)
Brian H.
At first glance, Bottega Americano has the makings to be a fantastic restaurant. The concept is largely reminiscent of Eataly in NYC. In terms of execution, however, Bottega Americano has a ways to go. Our group of eight was seated at the "Pizza Bar," which turned out to be a giant table that could've easily sat fifteen plus people. You wouldn't think this would be a big deal, but as it turns out we could barely hold a conversation because the table was so large. In addition, some of the lighting (specifically, the fixtures on the ceilings) were very harsh and more suited to a hospital lobby rather than a restaurant. My suggestion: replace the high-top tables with smaller, more intimate ones that can still accommodate larger groups, and replace the ceiling lights with softer bulbs.(Note - Searsucker does a great job with soft-lighting in that sort of industrial space) Aside from some of the aesthetic nitpickery, however, the service and food were very good. The servers seemed like they were still getting a feel for the restaurant (which had only been open for 3 weeks), but they still managed to be attentive and friendly. We ordered a bunch of appetizers, pizzas, and pasta dishes. Everyone seemed to agree that the food was fresh and on point. Bottom line - once Bottega Americano does some fine tuning, it will surely become a San Diego staple.
(4)
Lulus N.
We came for dinner after the Padres game and unfortunately we had terrible service. It took 20 minutes to get a server and as I write this review we have waited 45 minutes for our food and it still has not arrived.
(2)
Danella S.
The food was delicious. Almost delicious enough to forget that even with a reservation, we still had to wait a bit for a table, but it was worth it. I'm also considering that we were a party of about 10 people. It was fortunate that we had a large party. So we were able to sample an assortment of appetizers. Of the many apps we tried, the mussels stood out for it's delicious flavorful sauce. We also ordered the gnocchi as an appetizer which was delicious as well. I had the scallop risotto and my boyfriend had the lamb pappardelle, which we shared with each other, to make the most of the experience. The scallops on my risotto were an impressive size and perfectly cooked. Flavor was rich, but balanced. The lamb on the pappardelle was tender, and overall was a tasty hearty dish. Already making plans of coming back!
(4)
Christina M.
Loved this spot! Bottega Americano totally reminded me of Eataly, which is a great thing. Ten of us went to celebrate a birthday and the waitress was so patient and attentive to us. The food was full of flavor. So delicious and fresh. The only qualm was having to wait for our reservation due to a too small table being reserved for our large group. All in all we had a wonderful time, enjoyed the food, the atmosphere, and shopping for goodies! Will definitely be going back soon!
(4)
Diana R.
Love it! It's a very casual and classy place to go by either yourself, on a date, or with friends. Service was excellent! I will definitely be coming back.
(5)
Michael P.
Okay, for one of the first times in my life, I am at a loss to describe the culinary experience I had at the soft opening of this fabulous place last night. Started out with a platter of oysters and shrimp cocktail. They make the cocktail sauce from scratch, of course, and it goes perfectly with the seafood. Next was a small plate of burrata cheese, speck (an air-cured, lightly smoked ham like prosciutto), fig mostarda, topped with aged balsamic and served with their toasted crostini. This was absolutely amazing, a great combination of flavors. Main course was garganelli pasta (little rolled up tubes which they make in-house like all their pastas) with jumbo shrimp, with roasted garlic cloves and topped with a spicy lobster broth (see photo). It was perfectly al dente, and the sauce was full bodied without being heavy with cream like so many Italian places. Enjoyed a fabulous brunello red wine and shared some fantastic desserts, with the peach carpaccio being my personal favorite as I am not a sweet tooth. The decor of the restaurant is absolutely stunning, a modern urban rendering of an Italian marketplace...but it feels intimate even executed in 8,000 square feet...and the energy in the place is electric. Service was friendly and efficient especially considering that they were not open to the public at this point. I can't wait to come back, and in fact have a reservation for this coming Saturday. Unbelievable night!
(5)
Rubyjane A.
What can I say about this place? The portions are small but the food as a lot of flavor. The drinks aren't that great. It doesn't taste as good as it was described. I had gone here for a girls night out and we are pretty bummed that it wasn't that great. Don't get me wrong the atmosphere the ambience was great. But the food portions and the drinks weren't that great. We even asked the waiter to take back the drinks and make something new but it still didn't taste good. And it's in the pricey side. Let's just say that you'll still be hungry after you leave. Maybe eat before coming. Or maybe I should try it one more time but I don't know if I want to waste my money.
(3)
Alec L.
This local neighborhood restaurant is a really great spot and we've been there 5 times since opening. So I figured it's deserving of a yelp review from this guy. Synopsis: It's very European in style, which means great food, great social ambiance and a great experience. Venue: The place itself, both the marketplace and the dining area (Inside and out) are high class without being pretentious. Very inviting design. For dinner and late night, customers dress up and generally are a well dressed crowd, which is refreshing to see. Food: The food is DELICIOUS. They have a lot of options, which is the idea behind Bottega. Eat a variety of Italian cuisine items, from a fresh seafood bar (oysters!) to a meat station (prosciutto, speck, chicken, etc) to a pasta bar (handmade pasta!). Oh and wood fired pizza to boot. Any food we've tried, breakfast and coffee at 7am, Panini's, pizza or pasta, have been delicious. Classic Italian flavors an ingredients. Couldn't ask for more for a quick trip back to the flavors of Italia! Ambiance: The ambiance is great. It is very European, meaning stay a while and enjoy your meal. Come with your friends and family and enjoy wine and good company while trying different things from the menu. It is very conducive to that style of dining. Whether it be takeout or dine it, the staff has always been warm and accommodating as well. Just don't expect fast food, that is not the style and go to bucca de bepo if you want that. In summary, we're excited this place is around the block. While not the cheapest, we don't want it to be. The food and environment deserve to charge a little more, and the customer deserves a dining experience like Bottega offers. So sit back, enjoy your company and enjoy Bottega. We certainly have and hope everyone gets a chance to.
(5)
Elizabeth M.
Bartenders are great. Decor is unique. Love the drinks and wine list. Went here for a friend's birthday and love the new addition to east village. It's businesses like this that are regentrifying downtown. A+
(5)
John Kevin M.
The East Village got a gem with this one. Quite and secluded, BA is simply amazing. I had their mushroom truffle pasta with peas (sorry I forgot the name) but it was mouthwatering. The sauce was rich and mingled along with the peas and fried pork great, the pasta was cooked perfectly and helped absorb all the cream from the pasta. The service was A1. Waters filled halfway all the way through my party of 6s meal, the staff gave us knowledgeable wine pairings with our food and the wait staff wasn't too overly eager, they gave us enough space to look through the menu properly to figure out what we really want. Atmosphere and dress code-- classy, but it is San Diego. Button up and slacks or Shorts and a shirt will do fine.
(5)
Amy L.
Great new place that just opened a couple months ago. My boyfriend took me here for our Anniversary and it was great. Good place to come back for groups! We ordered the burrata + speck which was delicious and so fresh. Definitely good for 1-2 people to share. Definitely recommend the pappardelle with braised lamb. The pappardelle noodles are huge and delicious, very filling. I'd compare this dish to the popular pappardelle dish at Cucina Urbana, however, I found THIS to be better and so fresh. I also recommend the Garganelli with Spicy lobster broth & jumbo shrimp. The shrimp were HUGE and cooked perfectly. The pasta and sauce was delicious. Not very spicy and mild on the lobster broth flavor but still all the flavoring was delicious. The mint added a nice twist to the flavor which I really enjoyed. The staff was very attentive and friendly and overall had a really nice experience here and will definitely be back!
(4)
Mary H.
Great Restaurant! Great vibe! Superior Service. Can't wait to go back! Pizza was delicious! The bartender made the BEST martini too!
(5)
Ben H.
Cute and good selection. However, just doesn't take care of the little things! Cannoli were bland as they added no lemon or orange zest! I appreciate having less sugar than most American desserts but you still need the flavor from somewhere! Coffee was decent but didn't really have any flavor to remember. I wasn't expecting a bland bucket of cappuccino at a delicatessen like this! I will try pizza/pasta next time and hope for the best!
(3)
Daniela M.
The place is loud but we really enjoyed the meal. We had a fantastic Cabernet but I forget the name. My husband had a delicious Pizza figgs and I ordered an even more delicious raviolis. Also the entrances were good, the hummus and olives were tasty, perfect size and went out very quick. I personally did not like the bananaa desert but I liked the one with peaches. The service was very nice and the decoration very nice too.
(4)
Stephanie T.
Great service!! Sat outdoors in the patio on a sunny day. We got the Italian breakfast and the Breakfast Calzone to share with a carafe of prosecco mimosas. Huge portions (especially the calzone) for decent prices (around $15-16 a plate). We left stuffed and happy.
(5)
Juan F.
Great service. Great food. It's popular. Make reservations. It's loud, so don't plan on a quiet evening.
(5)
Stephanie G.
This place is amazing! The decor is really what drew me to this place, I love the modern rustic look. But, besides the decor of the place the food was great. I had their rossotto, (which from what I gather changes daily) I loved it! I highly recommend people coming in and trying out this place! I hope to come back soon.
(5)
matt b.
I just had the best lunch that I can remember having. Today I received a blast e-mail from Bottega Americano (I'm on their e-mail distribution list) discussing a new "Executive Lunch" deal...an eat fast for a great price offering ($20 which was a steal I thought!). I thought it was a smart idea because I had noticed on previous visits to Bottega for lunch that it could sometimes take over an hour. So, on a whim, I went today. As I was solo I took a seat at the bar. I just absolutely love being in that space. It's cool, high end while casual and very comfortable, and just a good vibe to me. The bartender's name was Josh. Very in touch with the menu and professional. He walked me through the new Executive Lunch deal. It was basically a choice from a selection of five soups or salads and another choice from a selection of five entrees. And then there was the Ribeye entree special which I selected along with the Farmers Market Salad. To my surprise, the salad arrived with chef Dave Warner in tow who could not have been more friendly and gracious. We spoke briefly and he asked if I needed anything, and when I said some salt for my salad (which looked like it literally just came from the farm) he ran off and came back with a little vessel of coarse kosher salt which he said would work particularly well in the salad (which it did). Just as I was finishing my 10 out of 10 salad (which was actually pretty sizable) a small sample bowl of the tomato bisque arrived - it was on the house unsolicited from Josh who noticed my debate between the soup and salad. Very classy move which struck me well. And the bisque was spot on too. The Ribeye arrived cooked to perfection (medium rare+). The normal steak special would have come with roasted fingerling potatoes prepared with gorgonzola cheese, but I asked Josh if they could accommodate some vegetables instead. He said "of course." What I got was awesome! It was a bed of somewhat finely chopped pea pods and kale mixed with fresh shaved corn shaved. And the decent sized ribeye was placed on top. It was unbelievably good. The whole experience was an A+ and I was in and out in less than 40 minutes. On my way out I noticed that they had substantially beefed up their grab and go cafe section (meatloaf, chicken parm, mini pizzas, more vegetable and salad offering along with their normal chicken, salmon and panini offerings. I LOVE Bottega Americano and will definitely keep coming back.
(5)
B Q.
Stopped in last week for lunch with my Mom. I had never heard of the place. We were downtown and did a quick search. This place was right around the corner so we gave it a shot. The food was very nice, and our server was exceptional. They sell many of the things on the menu in pre-packaged containers in their "market". There was a tomato spread that came on our appetizer plate which we could not get enough of. Looking forward to coming back here for dinner sometime.
(4)
Alan C.
Wow, holy moly, jeepers creepers!! This place is f###ing awesome. From the meats and cheeses and eggplant appetizers to the chopped salad....the mussels with cured chorizo was massive home run. And then, the desert! The Dark Chocolate Budino put the prior dinner to shame, it was ridic!!! Highly and emphatically recommend!!!
(5)
Patrick D.
Great atmosphere. Fresh pasta, pizza and seafood. Outstanding service
(5)
Tish L.
This place has some of the best customer service ive exeperienced in a longgggggg time! Came here for my bday with a party of 10. We were running late but they were really cool about it. Then we got ther and had some issues with a party member being a little partied out and getting sick so he had to leave. They were genuinely caring and accommodating. Our party tried several drinks and i had the moscow mule with gin that the server recommened was super delicious. I didnt eat much but why i had of the mussels and lobster risotto all tasted good. Ive had a frien bring me some of their macarons and loved them. Definitely a good spot to check out.
(5)
Gene L.
Food was good, but the service was incredibly slow. It took our waitress about 40 minutes to figure out the check. Water wasn't consistently filled. Atmosphere felt very artificial like the Truman Show.
I am so in love with this place! I live next door and I have been every single day since they've opened for coffee or lunch. The panini s are amazing, especially the prosciutto one! I ordered to go today and even the togo bags are adorable. The whole place from the time you walk in is gorgeous. The decor is perfect! The cold brew coffee is also amazing, I've been getting that every morning with soy milk. The iced green tea is really, really refreshing. I can't wait to go back tomorrow for more coffee :)
(5)
Mike D.
Meatball sandwhich is just wonderful. It was light on sauce, so I got some on the side. Perfect Also the Lamb Pappardelle might have been even better. Eat here.
(5)
Carlos R.
This is a great place for brunch. The food is amazing, the venue is bright and open with great sound supression. In other words its not as noisy as most places of the same size. Katrina was our server and she was great but they seemed to over work her. She was one of only three servers so they were a bit slow but definately worth the wait.
(4)
Ben X.
Finally managed to find myself at Bottega Americano. I've heard quite a bit about this place, and was quite excited to compare it to other Italian restaurants in San Diego, thinking that this one would stack up to be the new go-to. The place itself is pretty cool. I like the industrial mixed with a touch of elegance in the decor, and they have some neat vespas hanging around. The set up is very interesting - with the four kitchens and all, although I don't think it actually makes a difference in terms of you getting the food. Starting off with the Ricotta w/ Honeycomb, I was thinking of how it would stack up to the same dish (give or take), at Davanti Enoteca. Verdict.... Davanti Enoteca is better. The ricotta here is a little too defatted, and the honeycomb portion a little too sparse. I liked the microgreens, but the ricotta really needed to be a touch less watery. Moving onto the calamari - the calamari, of course, was mostly rings, so the gremolata fell right through it. The marinara on the side was a bit smokey - a little strange, actually - it overpowered the delicate squid (which was tasty, although fried to a little bit of powdery texture). Nevertheless, I thought it was a sizeable serving, and the crispy lemon was a great touch. Now for the bucatini... well, let's just say, if you're not a fan of very strong flavors, I suggest getting another pasta. I read previous reviews saying the pastas were on the bland side, but this one was very, very salty. Also had a bitter finish to it, and a bit of an acrid taste from the octopus (which may have been braised in its own ink?). I thought it sounded great on paper, but... I took one bite and I couldn't stand it. Had to send this one back. Lastly, the pistachio and truffle honey pizza. The oil from the pesto had seeped through the crust, leaving a wet bottom so there was no nice crisp to it. I was influenced a bit by Cucina Urbana's Fig & Gorgonzola to pick this one, and I have to say I like theirs better. While they have similar crusts, this one ended up soggy, and the truffle honey was overpowering - all the toppings became texture only, and the flavor of the cheese was lost. Our server though, I believe his name was Bryan, was very friendly and professional about everything, and removed the bucatini from the bill. +1 for him! Ultimately, I don't think I'll be coming back. I had heard a lot of hype about this place, but it fell short in a lot of ways. Many people were ordering the salumeria boards, so that might be the way to go. I think there's better Italian in San Diego.
(3)
Christopher J.
As good as it gets. Great addition to downtown and the East Village. Try EVERYTHING!
(5)
Samantha G.
Ok maybe 4th times the charm..dinner Friday night, busy busy..hostess desk finally got their act together. More importantly, service was impeccable..tried the ricotta cheese appetizer, dinner - gnocchi with side of cauliflower. Only area really needs some other options is dessert ended up ordering side of gelato..have tried their other desserts and really not impressed even though italian restaurant..hoping to see some other options soon!
(4)
Jennifer M.
This is now my 3rd time at Bottega--once in the dining room, and twice at the marketplace. I will try to give it some slack since it did just open some few odd weeks ago, but Bottega Americano is simply this: a great concept with amazing food and horrible service. I take that place: dysfunctional marketplace service. (I cannot group my dining room experience with this since my server was polite and definitely knew what he was doing.) As far as the marketplace is concerned, when the food is pre-made and sitting and waiting for you to enjoy, it should not take an additional 20 minutes to get it after ordering. It just shouldn't. I understand they're still getting their systems in place and training people, but the employees seemed completely out of their element and overwhelmed with making a simple cup of coffee. Let alone asking them to heat up the chicken breast (since it was sitting in the fridge all morning), or asking them to substitute the salad's dressing...it really shouldn't be THAT complicated. But for whatever reason, the simplest things there are the most difficult for them. The food really is delicious, though. If you're willing to wait a bit and see a few morons in their element--then definitely go. The food is worth it. Just make sure if you're going to the marketplace, you still have time to kill.
(3)
Fran R.
Just an amazing place. The food was incredible, the service excellent, and the decor and atmosphere were vibrant. Last night was my first time at this restaurant. It was in a nondescript area of town on the outskirts of East Village next to the TJ School of Law. When we walked in, I immediately loved the decor. It looks like a giant kitchen and you've been invited to dine with the chef. I loved it. It's Comic Con and we didn't have a reservation, but the hostess said she could get as "counter-top" seating. Within about 15 minutes, we were sat at a counter where the sous chefs were preparing meat and cheese plates. One of them, I missed her name, she was so friendly and welcoming. She obviously took pride in her work. Our server was equally friendly and helpful. We started with a meat and cheese sampler and avocado bruschetta. All delicious. Then we had the "special" which was lobster risotto. Ridiculous. This was so good and they did not skimp on the lobster. From beginning to end, I was so impressed with this place and really impressed at the service and quality on such a high volume night.
(5)
Max T.
Definitely a must see in the San Diego East Village. First of all the service. We were helped by a guy named River who was absolutely stellar and made our experience that much more enjoyable. Second the ambiance. With a different, modern feel it's a great place to have a fun conversation with a bunch of friends. The cocktails were different and delicious. Finally the food. Too long to go into details but in a nutshell don't miss the duck prosciutto, the truffle salami and the reserve cheese as appetizers. For your main dish I recommend any of the pizzas but you have to order the Osso bucco! Simply the best I ever had. Altogether it's a great, refreshing newcomer to the San Diego food scene. Definitely here to stay. Enjoy!
(5)
Deborah W.
Really enjoyed the cocktail and wine menu as well as the interactive areas of the restaurant. Interior design is very appealing but it is really loud. Wild mushroom pizza very good:) will come back:)
(5)
Ryan T.
Was very excited to try out this new restaurant (based on the reviews), and ended up going for an anniversary dinner with the wife. Maybe my expectations were unfairly high, or I just had an unrealistic standard with my last 2 amazing dining out experiences (Comun and Catania). Overall, this was a pretty disappointing experience. The decor and design were both very hip and intriguing; however, the layout was strange and seemed more crowded than it should be given the space. We were at a 4-top near the back and there was little room between the outermost seat and the patrons seated at the lower bar area. the table also seemed too long, there was a lot of empty space between myself and my wife on the other side. The service was mixed.... Our waiter was very nice and pleasant when he attended to us, but there were large chunks of time when we were waiting to place our order, waiting on drinks, etc.... it was not quite long enough to make a direct complaint, but it definitely made for a considerably longer dining experience than expected. this was 7pm on a Wednesday, so it wasn't exactly a packed house. He also got a drink order wrong (Eel River porter in the bottle instead of Blazing World on draft), but i didn't want to have to wait any more time to get it fixed. The food quality was mixed as well. The arancini were decent but starchy ($11), and the strawberry salad ($13) and yellowtail crudo ($17) were probably the highlights. the entrees, however, fell well short.... we ordered the two "most popular items" on the menu- scallops ($31) and osso bucco ($30). The osso bucco was quite dry and the accompanying kale and polenta were overly salty and cold, i had a hard time finishing it..... the scallops had a rubbery consistency and an overwhelming "fishy" aroma (the leftovers stunk so bad on the way home, i made my wife throw it out)..... finally, we gambled on the recommended dessert which was a fancy chocolate pudding in a water glass; it was decent but nothing to get very excited over..... the quality fell well short of the cost..... i don't mind spending close to $200 for a special dinner, but i want to be satisfied (if not ecstatic) when it's over. i don't think i've paid so much for a subpar meal in quite a long time, i just wanted to get out of there at the end. perhaps we ordered the wrong things here, maybe the salumeria, pasta, and pizza (or other entrees) are better bets. given our experience, i doubt we'll return, especially given the number of amazing newer (and classic) restaurants in the downtown area.
(2)
Renee B.
I love this place! The pastas are amazing.. I love the ambiance... Great selection. I've been twice in one week and we plan to make this our regular spot for a fancy little dinner. We've had the goat cheese ravioli, spaghetti & meatballs, spicy lobster & shrimp pasta - all were insane. Highly recommend!
(5)
Amanda M.
Amazing ambiance! I love the motos everywhere that remind me of Milano! The high tables, the counter tables, the ceiling decor, and the market! Are we really in San Diego?! Amazing food! I had the papparadelle and lamb, and the broccolini side. My friend had a fish dish. 3 glasses of wine, 2 martinis, and a espresso martini later...I was a happy girl. I only rate it 4 stars because I think the wine and some of the dishes are too overpriced. I am fine with an amazing meal, but this isn't NYC or Saint Tropez...so maybe bring the price down a bit on some of the options to keep the local clientele coming in nightly.
(4)
Khalifa G.
Was starving when my brother and I went in here last night and was not disappointed. The whole restaurant is very clean. I was amazed how well theyve maintained the cleanliness of the kitchen. Still looks brand new. Thats not easy to do. Especially with how big this place is. Service was wonderful as well. My glass was always full and I never even knew they were there to refill it. Food was coming out right on time and hot. Started with a hummus and the fennel sausage pizza. Top notch pizza at this place. Definately one of the best Ive ever had. From the dough to the quality ingredients they chose to use, everything went perfect together. The chef sent us out an avocado bruschetta as well that was amazing. Then after we demolished all of that we got the Lamb Pappardelle and the smoked gnocchi. Both amazing. And for the cherry on top I enjoyed a scoop of pistachio sorbet thats house made. Really enjoyed my dinner here and glad I finally got to try this place out. See yall again soon! Props to Chefs over at this place doing what they are doing. I can only hope to someday run a kitchen as efficiently as these guys seem to be. Its a day later and im still thinking about that pizza.....
(5)
Xan B.
I had very high hopes for this place. I wasn't expecting it to be Eatly in New York as some probably did when they heard about the concept. There's a medium sized deli case and some products for sale in coolers. Overall these looked good and seemed fairly priced. I went on a Thursday night and it was pretty busy. The restaurant space is awkward. The mix of high and low tables and shared and private tables feels too crowded and hard to navigate. I liked the copper lights but thought the wood pillars didn't fit in. The service was great. Attentive and friendly. Our server, Todd, was extremely nice and visited us just the right amount of times. The serving staff was all professional and had smiles on their faces. The three star review is for the food. Overall I would rate it as average to just above average- 6/10. The calamari was awful. Chewy with a batter that was grainy. It was supposed to come with fried lemon and we got one sad lemon round. The sauce was watery and not flavorful. We had a ricotta app. That was excellent. The best thing we ate. We also ordered pizza. The crust tasted store bought and didn't hold together well. The ingredients on the pizza were good but the sauce was bland and tasted like the same sauce from the calamari. We also ordered the special which was a pork roast. It was fatty and very under seasoned. The red sauce on this dish was again the problem. For an Italian place, I expect the red sauce to be good! I'll give this place another chance, but there are many excellent (cucina Urbana, bencotto, etc) Italian places with nice atmosphere in SD that I would go to first.
(3)
Kevin W.
Great ambiance & experience overall! Eric took great care of us as did anyone else we interacted with. Food was delicious - gnocchi melts in your mouth! We'll be back!
(5)
Jim B.
Pretty much what everyone else is commenting on. New place ****- Still has some kinks to work out. Food -***** All of our dishes were amazing. Quality of food was excellent. Wine List - *** The wine list didn't overwhelm us. Will bring a bottle next time. Ambiance - **** Wide open restaurant with lots of commotion going on . Fun to watch everything happening. Overall had a great time. The openness of restaurant does make it quite loud. The only thing I didn't like was the seating. We were sat at one of the counters watching the Seafood station. I eat to many dinners at counters while travelling for business and this kind of reminded me of that. Really don't want to spend alot of money to sit at a counter.
(4)
Izanami N.
If you'd like to impress someone, I would take them here. That's what my friend did and I had to say, I wish my experience here lasted both lunch and dinner. Very creative cocktail menu, beautiful designed entrees using fresh and local produce, clean and sparkling restaurant and I especially love the take away counter where you can pick up and enjoy your food at home. The sodas in the fridge are scrumptious! We tried 3! My friend took some pizza dough home and said her pizza was fantastic. They make their own pasta. Generous portion sizes and excellent service. After our macarons, I wanted nothing more than a coffee which I'm sure would've been fabulous there but I didn't have space in my stomach for anything else.
(5)
Vicki P.
Good not great. Nice place to share. food was well thought out and waiter explain them very well. Pizza was thin but not crispy.
(3)
Brian S.
Wow. Great food and drink. Will definitely be back. This is a place to order several plates and pass around family style. We had a group for their first public night. I probably would go 4 stars, but will give them a break on some of the small things. They have yet to establish par for the bar drinks. They didn't seem overly packed, but were out of ingredients for one of the signature drinks at 7:30pm. We had reservations for 6, but were going to be sat in a line at one of their bar tops (see tip above for family style sharing). We asked about siting outside since it was almost empty, but apparently that wasn't an option? Props to the hostess for getting us a table quickly. By the time we all got our drinks at the bar, a table was ready.
I was completely disappointed. First off the spacious floor plan has been filled in to accommodate more people. Trying getting to the bar. Once there I was given a menu. After sitting there five minutes I walked out. No one came by to see if I was ready to order. On top of that, there were empty seats all around (obviously those customers felt the same way and left). I live nearby and wanted to say hi to a new neighbor. Obviously they aren't too neighborly.
(1)
Kristina C.
We had a large party and miscounted by one and had no problem being accommodated. Todd was our server and he was everything you could ask for: knowledgeable, polite and friendly. Since we were a party of ten we all had different items off of the menu and everything was delicious. Definitely would come again. The only downside is the noise level is a little high to where I couldn't hear the other side of the table well. But it comes with the territory considering the height of the ceiling and industrial feel.
(5)
Q D.
I am in love with this place! Beautiful restaurant and such an amazing dinner experience. The pizzas remind me of going to Italy. The staff was welcoming and I am such a fan. The ambiance, the food, the drinks.... great start of the evening! I promise you, you will love it! People need to understand about their prices.... You're paying for quality and the dining experience... Look at the venue. It's amazing. So if you're a cheap ass and expect Olive Garden prices, don't try to front and then write them a bad review.
(5)
Salem L.
Two visits to Bottega so far and a great experience both times. The restaurant is beautiful and buzzing with energy with excellent service both times. The bar tender was awesome and knew the menu real well.we orderd the house cured salmon which was amazing with a mix of crispy potatoes ,an excellent dish.beef carpaccio was so beautifully presented and melt in your mouth tender. A mix of salumaria meats and cheese were so fresh and of the highest quality. Robust tasting warm olives. Spaghetti with meatballs. Very clean meat and delicious with the noodles cooked perfectly. Will definitely go again and again.what a nice addition to the san diego culinary scene.
(5)
Gerry H.
As a native New Yorkers, I have impeccably high, and specific, standards when it comes to Italian food. Bottega Americano managed to exceed even my high expectations. The design is very stylish, upscale, and welcoming - I would want to live there. We ordered a feast, and everything was delicious. From the burrata, to the fresh pasta, cocktails, and crusty bread - everything was truly as good as it gets! Their take away section also looked quite good. Macaroons for a dollar? Yes, please!
(5)
Claudia N.
I live across the street and I frequent this restaurant about twice a week and I'm not ashamed to say it! The food is spectacular and the service is always on point. I highly recommend starting with a meat and cheese board or a pizza for the table. The lamb pappardelle is to die for. And end with the cheesecake because you deserve it!
(5)
Joyce S.
It seems that Bottega Americano is modeled on Eataly, with a focus on Italian food and separate counters for the salumeria, cheese, pizza, etc. This would all be pretty neat if it operated in the same way as Eataly - sort of like a farmer's market where you order what you want from each stand. But Bottega is a restaurant. So who cares if your prosciutto comes from the salami counter and the pizza from another counter. It doesn't matter. You don't sit at the counter and order from that counter and the only way you know about the different counters is because of a long and kind of awkward speech your server gives about this. I believe they say something kind of ridiculous too like "at each corner of the restaurant we have different counters where different foods and culinary arts are performed"....LOL WUT. I literally started to laugh out loud when he said culinary arts imagining it must have been a joke. I was wrong. The server apologetically shrugged and continued the spiel. So to whoever makes the servers say this to new customers....it sounds really awkward and is incredibly longwinded and a little pretentious/ridiculous sounding. Plus again, who cares since you are not ordering at the counters. But the food is pretty good. I wanted to just leave it there but ok: Olives - black and green olives, marinated with olive oil, lemon peels and thin little strips of fennel. Really good. Fontina pizza with truffle oil and mushrooms - Really good. LOTS of fontina and lots of mushrooms and a good amount of truffle oil. Great crust too. Could use some herbs to liven it up, add an edge. I vote for thyme. Burrata salad with figs, prosciutto, and fig mostarda - EXCELLENT burrata and prosciutto. Comes with thinly sliced crostini, some arugula, drizzled with olive oil and a hint of balsamic. A really, really great iteration of a classic. Roast chicken with broccoli rabe and potato - Really good roasted chicken, broccoli rabe was not a hit with everyone (you have to chew a lot) and the potatoes were just ok. Mussels with chorizo and grilled bread - Pretty good. Really rich, creamy broth studded with fat chunks of chorizo. A very hearty plate of mussels. Stick with the more traditional Italian food and you will be rewarded. They have really good cured meats and cheese, will definitely get a meat and cheese platter next time. Service was good but soooo slow. Also took forever to get food and the table they reserved for our party of 3 was kind of a joke (one person would basically be sitting behind a pillar, 7 feet away from the rest of us) so had to wait to be re-sat. They are new so hopefully these issues will go away. Along with that silly speech.
(4)
Selen G.
We had a sunday brunch wlth the whole family there two days ago, because of the baseball game it was very hard to find a parking lot nearby but after we got inside, everything was perfect, the bakery was delicious, croque madame was exactly what I wanted and our 2,5 year old girl found good space to walk and explore. The interior design is very bright, chic and modern and as a fan I liked Audrey Hepburn photos on the walls of restroom. the service was quick and the waitress was friendly, I recommend this place for brunches.
(5)
Laurie B.
We went here yesterday (Saturday) for an early dinner at 5:00 pm, on the advice of a dear friend. Luckily for us there was a Happy Hour until 6:00 pm. We sat at the comfortable bar where the chairs were high and sturdy and the atmosphere was clean with a warm vibe. Lots of light and pleasantly not too loud - so that get this - we could actually hold a conversation! No ear plugs needed for this restaurant! :) I ordered the House Blend Chardonnay - amazing and only $5! Then we ordered the SALUMERIA with duck prosciutto, Mortadella al pistachio and three of the cheese choices. Delicious! (I prefer soft bread rather than the hard crostini, so I requested that and they were happy to oblige!). Then I ordered one of their specialty pizzas - the Fennel sausage / cauliflower panna / goat cheese / mozzarella / roasted tomatoes / kale. Only $10 at Happy Hour and enough to bring home. My hubby had the House Red Cabernet for $5 and the fabulous Roasted pork shoulder / brussel sprouts / caramelized onions / white bean puree / smoky jus. Another nice-sized portion that we brought home and will have today. His entree was not on Happy Hour pricing, but who cares, it was worth the $26. Finally, we had wonderful, kind, sincere bartenders/servers who took great care of us. We were made to feel comfortable and welcome. This restaurant is DEFINITELY on our favorites list! You must check it out!
(5)
Sarah B.
I've been wanting to try this place since reading about it in a Thrillist article that listed the top 11 restaurants in San Diego. Some of the Yelp reviews are not the best so I didn't really know what to expect. My initial reaction? I was in love with the place. A self admitted design nerd, I LOVE the decor. The clusters of modern chandeliers, the texture of the wooden posts, the large black & white photographs turned into wallpaper made this girl SWOON. It's visually stunning. And I'm so happy that the food was just as amazing as the decor. We had a group of 8, celebrating a friend's birthday. We started off with meats & cheeses, oyster and mussels. All FABULOUS. My hubby & I noticed the home made pasta hanging in the kitchen & we knew we had to order some for the entree. I chose the Maine lobster risotto & hubby got the spaghetti & meatballs. They were both utter perfection!! I sampled bites of the osso bucco, the lamb & 2 other pasta dishes. All fabulous as well! We also indulged in desserts as well. We got the banana cake, the coffee style dessert with hazelnuts & a chocolate mousse type cake with cookie crumbles. I can't remember the names but all were amazing! Our table was thoroughly impressed with the wine, food & service! It was a fantastic night! They had a party of 75 arrive at the same time as us & it didn't hinder our experience AT ALL. Talk about a well run establishment!
(5)
Tracie H.
The atmosphere in the place is eclectic. But very noisy so not necessarily the place to go if you want to carry on a conversation. The food was very tasty, except for the Brussels sprouts. We got four different entrees and all were very good. The drinks, on the other hand, were only so so. They do not know how to make a dirty martini even after I sent it back. Also failed on a coffee and Bailys. Don't know how you do that! Started out with a great, attentive waiter named Todd. Very friendly and all over it. But before our entees came, he had to leave and turned it over to Brian. Brian was checked out from the start and even when stopping by the table to pick something up, we couldn't get his attention. Took us forever to get the check. I will go back but won't order any drinks and will ask for a different waiter.
(3)
J C.
Excellent food! So why the 2 stars? Well, i get take out at least once a week here and most weeks twice and every single freaking time they get the order wrong! Tonight was my last straw. I refuse to keep paying for shit I didn't order or paying for shit that I ordered but they still screwed up somehow or forgot the salads or added cream sauce when asked for it on the side. It is not exactly cheap to eat here so get it together Bottega or hire someone with a higher IQ that can take a to go order correctly.
(2)
Osito S.
Great fennel sausage pizza and really good Oso Bucco main course....and our server was extremely personable and helpful when it came to recommending dishes.
(4)
Brandi H.
I went here with a group of girls to celebrate my birthday. I was super excited because San Diego Magazine voted this restaurant as one of the best new restaurants (this may have been the reader's vote, can't remember). I made reservations which they called to confirm which was nice. I had asked for outdoor seating. We got there and realized the patio was very removed from all the ambiance of the restaurant and there was one weak heater on. I was freezing (it's July) so we asked to be seated inside somewhere. This was met with a few huffs and sighs before they seated us at a bar top near the kitchen. I was still enjoying myself and we ordered a few drinks and the avocado bruschetta which was pretty good. I was excited that they had gluten free pasta available. I ordered the saffron shrimp pasta. I was told if it was gluten free, it wouldn't be saffron infused. I understand the gluten free choice won't be the best but if you proudly post it on your menu, wouldn't you only have it available in dishes that wouldn't change? The pasta came and it wasn't even cooked all the way. It was chewy and cold. My friend got the scallops and they were amazing! We didn't see a waiter very often. My friend came and ordered and they were able to get her meal out with ours which improved the experience. However, as we were preparing to leave, the host actually came over and asked if we were finished. I said yes and he responded with "well that's good because we could use the table". I will not return to this restaurant even though it is beautiful and I'm sure other choices on the menu are much better. I have never been pushed out of a restaurant ON MY BIRTHDAY. However, they wouldn't have known that because the waiter didn't engage with us at all even though we were dressed to the 9's. Very disappointing.
(3)
Kurtis T.
One of the most unique dining experiences in San Diego. The food and vino list were made for each other which shows thought was put into the menu.
(5)
Robert K.
The wife, some friends, and I checked this place out a few weeks ago. There were a lot of people enjoying themselves at this place. We got one of the hi-tops to sit at. Service was great as the servers were quite attentive. We ordered a meat/cheese plate for the table to share. I ordered the special and my wife had a salad and the mussels. The bartender made our cocktails well. I'll definitely come back as this is a great place for groups.
(4)
Chuck B.
This is a great place with outstanding service, cool vibe, fantastic wine list and an interesting menu. My wife and I along with a couple of friends had a wonderful meal. My only constructive feedback is around the complexity of the entrees. Each has no less than 6 or more ingredients making it a bit challenging to truly enjoy what you ordered. Point in case is the Spaghetti and meatballs perfection in a fantastic meat sauce.... For some reason it arrives with a glob of green pesto on top. The pesto itself is wonderful but out if place and unnecessary....so goes the entire menu. We'll definitely be back!
(4)
Audrie A.
Wow! This place is amazing!!! Great atmosphere, upscale casual dining and super pet friendly. The cuisine, well, it is out of this world. Bottega Americana has found a lifelong supporter in me.
(5)
Brooke S.
Delicious! Atmosphere is really cool, and the food lives up to the hype. The fresh bread and the marinara dip they give out is fantastic, and the pistachio pesto pizza had such refreshing flavors. It is expensive (downtown prices) but it's perfect for a night out on the town.
(5)
Jen W.
Been a couple times for brunch and really enjoy the open airy space and the brunch items. They are also kid friendly and even have a changing table in the bathroom, which is often hard to find at trendier restaurants. I have been accidentally over charged and have had nice, but not great service so I'm deducting a stat for those reasons. Otherwise I think this is a great concept and will be back.
(4)
Tulip B.
I'm torn with this review. My first time here was on a first date and it was a great venue for such, though a little loud. The staff was friendly and offered good wine recommendations. The order was not put in correctly and I got the mussels still with the chorizo in it. When I mentioned this to the staff who brought it out, they graciously took it back and brought out the corrected dish. Unfortunately, I wasn't as impressed with the food itself. The calamari was bland and the dipping sauces weren't much better and the Brussel sprouts were soggy with oil. I enjoyed the mussels, but I knew ahead of time that chorizo on them would be just too strange and unenjoyable for my palate. Glad I requested that modification and that they were willing to do so. The dessert was creative and quite delicious! Overall, it seems like a good place to go for wine and apps, but I wouldn't go for dinner again.
(2)
Ana R.
Loved this restaurant! It was suggested by some friends and decided to go on my birthday. I made reservations for lunch on a Wednesday (1:30pm) and had a wonderful time. This is what I ordered and recommend: zuppa del giorno, a delicious carrot soup. The mushroom pizza as an appetizer and the Garganelli with shrimp. The orders are well sized, so you won't end up hungry. Our waiter was helpful and friendly. The prices are right for the food. A must go to restaurant.
(5)
Caroline T.
Was very excited to try this place as there has been a lot of buzz about it. I came here around 5:00 and was initially disappointed. The restaurant felt cold, and as my dining companion mentioned, had a college cafeteria feel. We ordered the pizza with the fennel sausage cauliflower panna and have had better tasting pizza at Dominoes. We ordered a ricotta appetizer that was less than mediocre. However, their cannelloni bean soup was delicious. Not enough for me to come back though. I would rather just order dominoes and call it a day. Sorry Bottega!
(2)
John C.
Been here three times since it's opened up. Some of the best pasta I've ever had. Great wine selection and even better service. The restaurant has a great vibe to it and will do very well.
(5)
Beth B.
Friend took me here for a birthday dinner. Was super excited to try it out, especially after reading the early Yelp reviews. Although the atmosphere evokes swank without ostentation, that is the one of the few positive things I can say about the restaurant. (One reviewer said the place is cozy--not even close. Cozy evokes thoughts of warm, traditional spaces in rich hues. The design is urban modern, clean and sleek. That review, I believe is a plant as none of the comments matched my experience or experiences that occurred subsequent to the review.) Although we had reservations, the front staff treated us as if we we're putting them out. Initially gave us a table in a high traffic area, although there were plenty of open tables. We were eating early--around 6:30 on a Sunday night. Problem #1 We ordered a bottle of wine, which was not in stock, and so moved to our second option, a white for about $54 per bottle. We were served a lukewarm carafe of wine in an unmarked bottle. There was no indication from the menu that the wine was on "draft." The server explained that this wine was one of the draft wines and is kept at that temperature. I have never been served carafe wine at vintage prices. Problem #2 Our server asked what was wrong. We told her. When we voiced our displeasure at not having been informed that the wine was not actually a bottle and not actually labeled, our server copped an attitude. She couldn't understand why we took umbrage at paying $54 for unmarked wine. We told her the menu should indicate which wines are actually in bottles and which are not. More attitude. Problems #3 and 4 When we also mentioned that the wine was lukewarm. Again, we received attitude. That's the way the bar keeps it. Problem #5 We ordered starters with minor modifications. Olives on the side. No onions. None of the modifications had been made. Problem #6 No one stopped by to check on us so that we could let someone know about the errors. Problem #7 Our main courses we favorless and lack luster. In fact, I ate there less than a week ago and can't remember my meal. Problem #8 Dessert was good. Macaron and pannecotta. Both were worth a visit. But, that's all I can recommend.
(2)
Ali B.
hostess was very rude. made us wait when there were plenty of open tables. i dont know why she would treat us this way. we ordered the lamb chops, cooked medium, and they brought out a bloody undercooked chop. overall I was expecting a pleasant experience and what we received was far from it. definitely would not bring my wife back here.
(1)
Mike Y.
Great place. Awesome atmosphere, excellent service, and amazing food. Fun selection of cocktails and appetizers. I recommend the goat cheese ravioli. Didn't want to leave this place!
(4)
Mike B.
I have eaten here a few times since I work in downtown. The atmosphere is really cool and the food is good as well. It is a great place to have a dinner date night but some of their lunch items are a little over priced for what they are offering. I recommend people try to food and experience the vibe of Bottega.
(4)
Lexi's Dad D.
Sadly the third experience was a let down. Had lunch today and food was average and service was Bryan was not good; he rarely checked on us and we had to keep asking for refills. Won't be rushing back.
(2)
Eran O.
My girlfriend planned a surprise party for me and all of my close friends. She made a reservation and when we arrived we had to wait for our table for over a hour. We were not offered any drinks for the inconvenience. No communication regarding this after several times asking. Then when we finally sat down my girlfriend continuously asked for something to make everyone feel accommodated and to make her feel less embarrassed. Finally a server that wasn't even our server offered to give everyone a glass of champagne. When the server brought the champagne she brought it without pouring a glass for everyone she just put the bottle down and enough glasses for maybe half the table. Oh and I forgot to mention when we were sat there wasn't enough chairs for all of our reserved guests. We had to move tables ourselves because they were too unorganized to assist. When she brought our bottle of wine that we actually ordered she broke it all over myself and my girlfriend with very little apology. In the beginning we had arranged for separate checks for each family as some people drink alcohol and some do not, and at the end when receiving the bill, it was a very long check with everyone's drinks and food and they expected us to figure out who drank what etc. I was not going to let my girlfriend take the bill or others have to pay for what other people may have drank so I paid over 500 dollars when this was pre arranged via email on my BIRTHDAY. I will never go there again. The customer service and communication was extremely unacceptable and I will never go there again nor recommend this place to anyone, in fact I have nothing positive to say.
(1)
Joe W.
This is a review of their happy hour which is 4 to 6PM daily (7 days a week). Nice that the happy hour isn't just Monday to Friday. Fennel sausage pizza only $10 on happy hour. Regular $16. Not a large pizza but well made. Definitely a deal at $10.....would have been disappointed at $16. Draft beer (good selection) $5 on happy hour. The regular dinner prices seem high for the neighborhood and the casual atmosphere. If crowded the place would be noisy. Lots of visual stimulation. Doesn't seem like the place for a refined quiet dinner. More lunch hall.
(4)
Cindy M.
The pappardelle lamb sugo was amazing. The lamb was braised to perfection. The pasta didn't taste as fresh was other places. Perhaps it was too al dente, but the combination of the lamb and the sauce didn't put the dish to shame. I highly recommend this dish. I do have to say that for five star service "LA's Bestia" is a restaurant where u can savour the freshness in every bite of every dish with very similar atmosphere.
(4)
Lizzy B.
Had dinner there last night with my girlfriends, everything on the menu looked yummy. They have a raw bar, salumeria, wood-fired oven pizzas, pasta, and other delectable entrees. Lots of veggie options as well. I started with oysters on the half shell and opted for the mission figs / quattro formaggi / arugula / speck / shallot marmellata pizza. I also had bites of my friends' pastas (Garganelli / spicy lobster broth / jumbo shrimp / sweet garlic / and Paccheri / english peas / wild mushrooms / truffle panna / guanciale) and they were all DELICIOUS. They have fun craft cocktails and the desserts were also killer. Great ambiance, I will definitely be going back - many times.
(5)
Bob E.
Not much to say that hasn't already been said -- Bottega Americano has proved a great addition to the downtown area in a neighborhood that seems to have really embraced the place. Pro tip: if you're looking for a great way to try it out on the cheap, order 6 meatballs and baguette to go (maybe add a side salad) - makes for the best submarine sandwich in town!
(5)
Mark M.
This is not regarding the grab and go, but rather the restaurant. Terrible service. Waited for 10 minutes just to be sat (no one in the restaurant) and then 10 minutes just to get water. The staff was not friendly and to make things worse the manager (some woman) came over and was just plain rude. Definitely will not be returning to the restaurant portion of this place..
(1)
Nathalie B.
Love this new gem. Had amazing steak and eggs breakfast. Steak was korean ribs style and cooked perfectly. Potatoes were Krispy and ketsup and hot sauce were house made and delicious. Whole family loves their dishes. Sizes were plentiful and waiter was attentive. Wish I lived in SD!
(5)
Alex M.
This restaurant is easily one of my favorite restaurants in San Diego. The design is beautiful and the food is absolutely delicious!! You must try this place!
(5)
Sarah S.
I love this place! Love the inside interior, staffs, and ambience. Ordered cheese and meat platter. Got prosciutto san daniele, duck prosciutto, and salami al tartufo which pairs well with boschetto and noord Hollander cheese. Also recommend their bruschetta. The salmon topping is so fresh and smoky! Great place for girls night out!
(5)
Koorosh K.
The atmosphere is really cool with a very nice and well thought out layout but the food wasn't that great. We had one order of the salmon and one order of the scallops and it was okay. I would recommend it for a drink at the bar before you go out.
(3)
Louise B.
I am not one to leave a negative review but on Sunday when we went here for Fathers Day brunch I had the worst service experience of my life! I typically love Bottega Americano, this was my 3rd time there and wanted to take my dad there for a special experience but our waiter was the absolute worst! It started when we first made a drink order he was looking all around the room and did not even acknowledge us when we spoke. We also ordered an appetizer cheese platter (which was delicious). The appetizer came out pretty fast so not all of us had figured out what we wanted for brunch yet. When the waiter asked to take our menus we told him we wanted to keep them because we did not know what we wanted to order yet but THE WAITER PULLED THE MENUS OUR OF OUR HANDS and told us we could not keep them while there was food in front of us because the "eco-friendly people wouldn't want us to get our dirty hands out their paper menus" he then proceeded to put the menus on the empty table next to us. Never in my life have I had a waiter grab a menu out of my hand, what was even more appalling was watching him grab the menus out of my 60 year old parents hands. We were having cheese platter how messy did he think things were going to get? He continued to have a sour attitude the whole meal, we typically would of ordered dessert but needed to get away from our servers negative energy. Thankfully the food was delicious or fathers day would of been a total bust! ATTENTION MANAGEMENT you need to have a talk with the waiter that was working near the bar area on Fathers Day for the 2:30pm sitting.
(1)
Shannon D.
Started off with a delicious glass of Barbera wine. We ordered the Burrata, wild mushroom pizza, spaghetti and meatballs and ravioli. The burrata was to die for. Creamy and delicious. The prociutto served with it was a little smoky in flavor for my liking. They served it with a fig jam and apples. The fig jam was amazing with a smokey finish. The wild mushroom pizza was nothing special. I've had better flatbreads/pizzas. The spaghetti and meatballs was done very well. The spaghetti was cooked slightly al dente which is my preference for pasta. The ravioli in a sage butter sauce was Amazing with a capital A!! We got the pear Tartin desert which was weird and not what we expected. Service was good (my water glass practically never went empty and wine glasses were taken away promptly) but food took a long time to come out.
(4)
Carrie C.
I had heard all amazing things about this place, so I went in with high expectations and they were definitely met. The gluten free mushroom and truffle pizza was to die for- one of the best gluten free pizzas I have ever had. The steak was massive and very delicious. I also highly recommend the brussel sprouts as a side dish. The service was fantastic. Our waiter was very attentive and friendly. Although the location of the restaurant is a little strange, the inside and overall ambiance was wonderful. Great experience. I will definitely be back!
(5)
Caitlin B.
I am officially addicted to this place! I went for just for one latte and now I'm going pretty much every day. The cafe miel is my favorite. It's a blend of espresso, milk, cinnamon and honey. The dictator is my second favorite. It's a tea latte that's mimics a Carmel macchiato--so yummy! The paninis are delicious too. Just know it does take a little bit to get your drink or food. This isn't your quick 711 spot but I love it anyways!
(5)
Cass S.
We dined this past Saturday night and Bottega Americano did not disappoint. I read the reviews prior to our visit so I was prepared for bad service and good food. I wasn't prepared for GREAT food and equally GREAT service. We were seated at the pizza bar, by the main kitchen (I think this might be THE best place to sit because of it's proximity to the kitchen, you get top see everything!). Brian was our sever and he was very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. It did look like Brian had a lot of tables, but even when he wasn't around, a manager, 2 busers and one of the chefs checked in on us. I felt very catered too, in a way that reminded me of dining back east in Chicago or New York. In San Diego I feel this level of service is actually rare. I agree with people that it was loud, but I tend to expect that downtown so it didn't bother me at all. I will say it was quiet when we were sat at 7 but definitely on our way out at 9 was full and lively. The food: We started with the lobster bisque and the speck and burrata (fabulous) plate. I had the La Dolce Vita Cocktail (refreshing and light) and my hubby had the cab (I can't remember which one). For the main course I had the Lemon scallop risotto. It was very good, the scallops were perfect. I tend to like nuttier flavors when it comes to risotto so it wasn't my favorite but the execution was perfection. My husband had the lamb osso bucco. I don't like lamb and I don't like polenta. I could have eaten his entire plate of BOTH. I have never had polenta so creamy and delicious! Highly recommend but heavy so be wary if you are going somewhere after. We did not have, but we will next time the Kale and sausage pizza. The pizza guy probably made 20 of them while we were sitting there and they looked amazing! All in all a great dining experience. The service was exceptional. They did everything right for us.
(5)
Linda B.
Amazing culinary experience. Italian food and a seat at the pizza station with Andrea, it doesn't get any better if you're a foodie. We started with oysters and prosecco to get the pallet excited, then Andrea made us a steak pizza. It was hard to choose after watching pizza after delicious pizza being created by a true artisan from Roma. Finally the pasta, OMG the pasta was fantastic. Bucatini with braised octopus, my tastebuds we're working overtime. The server was knowledgeable and efficient, the food runners, Sous Chef, wait staff and Andrea were engaging and interested in us and our experience. I ended the night with a hazelnut truffle from the retail case, just couldn't resist one more tasting before walking out the door. Unforgettable evening, grazie mille!
(5)
Sandy G.
My husband and I came here for breakfast on Saturday and we were pleasantly surprised. The space is very beautifully decorated to look like a market. All the servers were very pleasant and efficient. I ordered the Baked French Toast which was absolutely delicious. My husband ordered the Prosciutto Panini which was also delicious. Even the iced coffee was delicious. What else can I say? We will definitely return and try this place for dinner!
(5)
Scott D.
Came here for brunch the other weekend, can't believe I haven't been here sooner! The highlight was definitely the food, we ordered a breakfast calzone and panini. Each on their own was probably enough food for us to share and tasted awesome. The breakfast potatoes that came along with them were great as well. Not sure if their ketchup is house-made, but it's definitely not Heinz. It's darker, richer and goes very nicely with the potatoes. We ordered some bloody marys with our meal and those were OK. I wouldn't recommend them, but there are plenty of other brunch drinks to choose from. It didn't seem abnormally busy while we were there, but the service was a bit slow. I don't think this was a problem with the wait staff (they all seemed to be working hard), they probably just could have used a few additional wait staff. Obviously, the restaurant its self is visually stunning (just check their website). It feels very comfortable despite the huge size and vaulted ceilings. I definitely will be back to take advantage of their happy hour. Their cheese + charcuterie selection, drink menu and dessert case all merit at least a second visit. One last thing, they do have quite a few large tables so this would be a great place if you have a sizeable group.
(4)
Kate F.
Love the vibe of this place. I feel as though I'm in NY or SF. It is very noisy. Service is friendly. Love the different stations, a new concept for me. Pizza was just ok, but pasta, cheese and Salami boards were great. Salads good too.
(5)
Immanuel O.
Great place! We have been trying to make it here for awhile and finally made it for Sunday brunch. The service was great, the frittata was nicely done and the coffee was amazing. Well definitely be coming back.
(4)
Delphine R.
You know it's an amazing place when you already planning a visit back while still there !!!!!! I love the restaurant itself, nice , bright , love the open concept and long tables for big groups . Perfect place for date night, for birthdays, for business. Yes it can get a little bit loud but that's part of the concept and charm of this place . We had reservations at 715pm but were early, we sat at the bar , enjoyed our glass of prosecco for a mere $7 , the bartender was very attentive , even if he knew we were just killing time . When reading reviews , people said the food took forever to come out, us was perfect and honestly , you here to enjoy it all, why trying to rush it. Now the food : we shared the burrata and speck and the chorizo , OMG BOTH TO DIE FOR . The burrata was so creamy . The mussels were perfect, the broth kinda spicy with the Calabrian chilies, the pieces of Spanish chorizo delightful , we asked for more bread and didn't waste any of the broth, and $13 ?!?!? Is a very good price . I was full after that , we did get the gnocchi, melt in your mouth and the special short rib , wow so good. No room for desert , what a bummer . I wanted to give out a shout out the sweet valet guy, young man, very polite . :)
(5)
Becca O.
Love this place, but it gets 4/5 stars because Cori's gone! That woman worked her butt off! The only time I saw her sitting was when she was actively interviewing potential staff. She was always attentive, asked how my day was going, and made the process in the lunch area so efficient. Get her back, Bottega!!
(4)
Kevin W.
Stopped in for lunch and had a coffee and a panini. The lady at the counter was very pleasant. My latte was so-so, but the panini was tasty! The space is beautiful but really bright. I think I can add this to my weekly lunch spots now.
(4)
Elisa T.
Cool atmosphere, great food - not too salty not too sweet. My husband and I came in for late night appetizers and dessert . Tried the ceci hummus, strawberry salad, minestrone soup and pear tarte. Very flavorful and fresh. There were actually people dressed up nice for change in SD. Will definitely be back.
(5)
angela t.
The setting is draw dropping "I'm in San Diego? Shut the front door!" Like Dean & Delucca's but California style. Great food, including killer coffee and desserts.
(5)
Ashley Y.
The atmosphere of this place was great. Cute place for a date night. Service wasn't too great and my food was kind of bland. However I do recommend the meat and cheese plate. Drinks were pretty good as well.
(3)
Chelsea G.
I went to go eat here tonight, after checking their website ( bottegaamericano.com ) to confirm they were open--since it's a monday at 10pm. Immediately on the home page it states cocktails and late night menu 10pm-close Sunday through Thursday. I thought, "great! they're open" However when I arrived the door was open, but the bartender said they were closed. When I told her the website says they are open now, she said "yeah we just close if no ones here"...but I'm here! feed me! That doesn't seem like the proper way to run a business...Needless to say, I was disappointed because next to having quality food, the most important qualities for a restaurant possess is to be accountable and reliable. Tonight Bottega, you disappointed.
(1)
Wendy L.
Not the best place to eat for younger families. While the food was decent, the fact that they had two high chairs for the entire restaurant really irked me. The hostess told us all of their high chairs were occupied by a large party and when we saw this "large party" leave, I counted all of two kids. My active toddler had to sit on my lap during the entire dinner. Needless to say, this did not make for the most enjoyable meal, good food or not. With a restaurant this size, one would expect more than 2 high chairs, but then again, maybe they don't really cater to families and I just chose the wrong place to bring my child. I will say that we were there less than a month after they opened, so perhaps it was something they figured out later, but that dining experience was memorable enough for me to want to write this warning for other parents of young kids.
(2)
Sara W.
Phenomenal food and atmosphere and service!
(5)
John B.
This is great food. Only place I have ever eaten, anywhere, where the waitperson says that we will love their water! Apparently, the staff likes the water at Bottega enough to take it home in bottles, rather than buy commercially available stuff. Nice bar. Tasty food from $8 up make the choices hard! Wish I was an investor/owner. Happy to eat and drink there!
(5)
Dat Doughnu T.
Takeout food is consistently delicious. Coffee & Tea drinks are very good. Staff at the coffee bar / to go register is very friendly.
(5)
Juliana F.
If I could give it less than a star, I would. My husband and I were very excited to try this place, we'd heard amazing things about the up and coming "Eataly" style restaurant opening in San Diego, so we gathered some our friends (some from out of town) to try out this new place. Let's start with the positive... - Great location - Beautiful space and decor On with the negative... We were greeted 15 mins after we arrived, while servers and other employees would just walk by us without asking if we needed anything. The place was not full at all, so there was no need to wait to be seated. We had three single families in our party, we arrived at lunch time and we were really hungry. When we finally ordered, our food took about 10-15 mins between each plate to be served. The first plate delivered was a pizza and it was burnt, when the last person in our party got their plate, we immediately got our check without even asking for it. Our friend's wife asked the server why our check had been brought if we had not asked for it, we were not done eating and we were not ready to leave. The server's answer was "Well I just thought you really wanted to leave because of your screaming children" WE THOUGHT WE WERE BEING PUNK'D!!! First of all, our children were not screaming. Second, why in the world would someone working in hospitality say something like that, why would anybody say something like that!!! We asked to speak to a manager, by the way, the owners were present and never cared to come to our table and ask what the problem was. They finally sent someone that we are sure was not the manager and all he said was "i'm really sorry, can i offer you some dessert?" we just asked for the check and when the a-hole server (Brian, was his name) brought it back, it was $50 more than the original check brought out the first time. We just payed, left no tip and were very disappointed, not to mention PISSED! On our way out, there was another family complaining about the same treatment, they were billed almost twice as much as it should be, the server had treated their children disrespectfully and the server had been quite rude to them. It's a shame that such a beautiful place that is brand new to the city and neighborhood would have this kind of service. I understand not all places are for children but it was a Sunday afternoon, the place is blocks from PETCO park and they made it very clear they are not kid-friendly. Such a shame. We will not be returning.
(1)
Zubin P.
Solid solid place. Went on a date night, and I had the Osso Bucco which was absolutely ridiculous. The ambiance was clean and bright. Not what you would expect for a late dinner. It was fine, but off. We ordered apps, drinks and entrees. Not one thing was bad. Really great place.
(5)
Cathy G.
Love the concept. Chopped salad was tasty and enough to share. Calzone a winner. Would go here often if I worked downtown.
(4)
Angelica B.
Delicious food, great service, and great cocktails. Went here for a holiday party of 6 and it was very easy to make a reservation. Thank you
(5)
Rachel A.
the food is good, but my family and I had an awful experience here with the HOSTESS! two female hostesses were extremely rude to us and LAUGHED in our face when we asked if we could sit at a table which we had a reservation for, 7 minutes early. after our 7 minutes in heaven, when we had ordered appetizers while we waited, neither hostess came to seat us for our table although we were directly behind their station. we watched both girls walk by us multiple times, completely avoiding eye contact and any acknowledgement. our waiter, Todd, was extremely kind and helpful. he answered all our questions and helped us order. outside of the hostesses, the restroom had no toilet paper. props to Todd, for being a great waiter and serving us the tasty food. no props to the hostesses, who's job it is to be nice to people and have some hospitality. might want to find a new field of work, ladies!
(3)
Megan S.
I have been wanting to check out this place since they opened and finally got the chance last night! The ambiance is beautiful right when you step through the doors. First of all, the service is incredible! Jenna H was our server, she is attentive, kind, and moves with grace. The food was delicious. I tried the scallops and they were cooked perfectly! My friends split the Grigliata di carne mista and they loved it. All of the items came out a la carte and looked beautiful, awesome presentation. When it came to dessert I was hesitant on if I wanted to get something so I politely declined. My friends ordered the pina colada bomb and it was divine, it even came with coconut snow, yum :) Jenna brought us their chocolate dessert complimentary because she said it is just too good not to try it! It was so kind of her and she was right, it is crazy good, we licked that dessert clean. It was a lovely meal and the excellent service topped off the evening. Thank you, we will definitely come back!
(5)
Douglas M.
I have been to Bottega about 35 times since it opened just a couple months ago. The food quality and ambience of this restaurant set a new standard for dining in San Diego. I enjoy this so much that I had a birthday party here with 35 of my closest friends. I definitely recommend this place!
(5)
Annie P.
I took my team here for dinner and it was fantastic. Everything they served was delicious! The service and ambience was amazing. The price was not outrageous, most expensive item on the menu was $28. There were 8 of us in our party and everyone loved their meal. Eat here, you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Del P.
Finally! San Diego can embrace the food hall movement with our newest addition, Bottega Americano. This restaurant and its concept is reminiscent of Eataly in NYC. This gorgeous space is not only a restaurant, but a gourmet market, wine and cocktail bar, imported coffee shop and so much more. When you first walk in, you enter the market area where you can buy local chocolates, truffle butter, honey, olive oils, preserves, pizza dough, fresh fruit, wrapped sandwiches, salads, coffees, teas, desserts, Italian treats, and even cookbooks. The interior of the restaurant is open with tall ceilings being held up with stunning piled wood columns. Tables are scattered throughout over clean white tiles, as well as community tables. The kitchen and prep areas are all wide open, so you can watch them make a beautiful charcuterie board from the Salumeria with amazing meats, cheeses and olives. A large pizza oven in the center, and a cold seafood bar on the other side with fresh made pasta hanging from the rafters. The wine and cocktail selection is expansive, and the atmosphere is energetic. We all had a delicious meal. and look forward to coming back again.
(5)
Lee B.
Molto Buono! I've eaten here twice - first time was perfection. The second time was pretty slow, but I know they are probably working out the kinks. It's absolutely gorgeous inside and the menu is fantastic. The homemade pasta is divine.
(5)
Vanessa B.
Great ambience and beautiful space. 4 diners, had the Chicken milanese, proscuitto panini, some pizza or other, and the special of the day (cod cioppino). Hostess was standoffish and didn't even ask if we had a reservation before saying we could go sit at the bar. (we did have a reservation). They also forgot the garlic fries with the panini, but that may have been a good thing! So one star there. Other than that, food was great, service was great, they could actually make a mojito, and it was a good place to meet friends (you can talk loudly), although the overall volume at lunch is not too crazy, like some other places. Prices are very reasonable for casual lunches (paninis are 9-10, pizzas are 13 or 14) if you want a real restaurant with a nice ambiance. I'd go back any time. Hostess needs to chill out though.
(4)
Elise L.
Wonderful, wonderful! Went last night with friends and it isnt officially open yet... But this place reminds me of New Yorks Eatly. Perfect date spot! They have gluten free pasta and an elaborate wine selection. What a great addition to the San Diego food scene!
(5)
Erica F.
Wow! Cool decor and great food. We had the shrimp and grits along with the cheese board. Could not decide which was best. To end our brunch we tried a few pastries which were good because they were not overload with sugar. The bloody mary was over priced. Total bill was about 66 bucks. A little pricey for brunch.
(5)
Kris D.
Absolutely disappointing! The service was horrible and when the food finally arrived it was cold. They never cleared the plates and fit the coffee wrong. Terrible experience.
(1)
Jan E.
There is simply nothing negative about this place. When a group of five diners orders individual meals plus appetizers, and every single item is a flavor euphoria, the restaurant is well-deserving of a five-star rating. The meatballs were like none I've tasted; my selection of saffron pasta with cioppino absolutely melted in my mouth. The massive cut of New York steak was cooked perfectly, and the octopus appetizer was a homerun. The wait staff was friendly and on-point. The interior design is a feast for the senses and the open layout of such a large space is spectacularly arranged. Can't wait to go back to sample more delicious goodness!
(5)
Amy U.
Such a fun place and a great dining experience! I came in for a working / social lunch and was immediately greeted by our server. I'm used to having good service, but I have to say that the service we received was above and beyond. Our server was Eric H. and he explained the specials, guided our selection and helped select the perfect bottle of wine to compliment our meal. The decor is fun, fresh and perfectly executed. I can't wait to return.
(5)
Danielle C.
The one extra star is for the food, it was yummy enough, HOWEVER, everything else was HORRIBLE! We had a large group, with a pre-set menu $45 each which included a meager cheese/fruit board, 3 boards for 16 people to share- not nearly enough- the appetizer was a joke. The main course was good, but the israreli couscous was soggy. Chicken and salmon-good. The worse part of my experience here was the service. Our server (who is receiving an auto-grat of 18%) had a bad attitude and his service was non-existant! I waited 30 minutes for 1 glass of wine, after asking 3 times. We were never checked on, asked if we needed anything, asked how anything was. This restaurant should be embarrassed at the show they put on last night. It was a birthday celebration that was a disaster for the hosts. The $45/meal was a gross overcharge for the food we received and the server deserved a 5% tip, not 18%. There was a 5% charge for making the reservation- ridiculous. There weren't' enough tables/chairs for everyone upon arrival, so this 5% reservation charge is a joke also. The decor is interesting, but all the marble makes it feel a bit cold. Maybe this place is ok for a date, but I STRONGLY recommend against hosting a large party here. They clearly can't handle it, plus the overcharge is appalling. At the end, the server couldn't bother to figure out who had what drink (not many people were even drinking here) so he just added it to the total and made everyone split it, so everyone's bill ended up $70 per person, and guests who didn't even drink had to pay the bill for the people who did. GET IT TOGETHER BOTTEGA AMERICANO- I WANT MY MONEY BACK.
(2)
J H.
Went to lunch for the first time and had trouble choosing what I wanted from the menu. Ended up with the Rotisserie Chicken Salad and was pleased with the results. The Focaccia bread with a cold tomato dipping sauce was excellent. The service was wonderful. Staff was quick, quiet and accomodating. A more-than-good experience overall.
(5)
Jessica T.
I have been back to here twice since my original review and I have to say they have worked out all the kinks they had when they initially first opened. Love the food and the service! We will be back!
(5)
Karla P.
Bravo! This place is fabulous! I don't give very many 5 stars because there is always room for improvement. In this case it's a strong 5! Amazed that Bottega has only been open a week or so and they have already worked out the kinks! I'm enamored with Bottega Americano's concept and the design of the space is just as inviting. This is much more than an Italian restaurant. It's like an indoor market place. If you want seafood, they have a raw bar. If you're craving pizza they have a wood/gas pizza oven and a counter so you can sit, enjoy a class of vino, & watch as they make it. Just want coffee and dessert? They have that area too! It's a nice day and you feel like dining al fresco? Yup there's a dog friendly patio. Want to hang out with a fabulous charcuterie board and a glass of wine? That's there too! I think you get the picture...there's a little bit of everything. Even a deli with fresh salads, paninis, and small market with items for you to take home to cook yourself. We sat in the main dining room area since it was our first time there and tried a little bit of everything. The pastas and sauces are fresh, the breads are baked in house, and they have a wide selection of wine and some very good Italian varietals. The service is attentive, we never had an empty glass of water or wine at our table. I'm already looking forward to my next visit. Plenty of community tables and little nooks to sit at and enjoy a fabulous dinner and bottle of wine.
(5)
Lindsay N.
I had high expectations of this place because I heard the same designers were involved as Eataly in Chicago (now I'm wondering if that was just a rumor). I expected it to be bigger with a bigger market but the "market" really just looked like a small gift shop comparable to a Starbucks. I had the carpaccio which was good and the Brussel sprouts with pancetta were very good. I'd have to say because of the okay atmosphere paired with decent Italian food and high prices, I Would probably not come back unless it was someone else's decision. It was okay.
(3)
Kristina S.
My husband and I finally made it here, and I am so glad we did! I can't think of one negative comment to make about this place. The decor is simple, stylish and comfy. Service was five star. I ordered the prosciutto panini and my husband ordered the meatball panini- both fresh and reasonably priced. I REALLY hope this is a restaurant that will stay many years in East Village.
(5)
Ed B.
atmosphere is delightful and bright, so many things to look at. Menu is well described and price to portion is excellent. I had the korean ribs and eggs and the taste is very well blended and the eggs truly compliments the ribs. This was a good rest experience, I highly recommend it, reservation is preferable.
(5)
Alicia L.
What a horrible way to start out a new year! This place was horrible :( We had reservations and were seated 15 minutes late yet the table we were seated at was open the entire time. I had to ask the hostess why we were not being seated otherwise we would still be waiting for a table. Took over an hour to get our food, which was not even hot when we got it. You want salt and pepper? You must be crazy... That is another 15 minutes. A refill on your coffee? That is another 10 min wait and that was for cold coffee...hot coffee was another 5 minutes. People behind us sent their food back because it was cold, the people to the left of us waited 15 minutes to have their order taken and another table was turned away by the hostess but they went outside and found a table on the open table app. Really? It took 2 hours for 2 of us to eat lunch because of the slow service. Terrible.
(1)
Gavin G.
First off keep in mind this restaurant is in a questionable part of town, so don't plan on a romantic stroll around town after dinner. My wife and I tried this and a homeless guy started following us, so we made a quick turn to our car. That being said, the restaurant itself is beautiful inside. The service was great. Our pizza took a while to get to us, but it was during the soft opening, so you have to expect some issues. The food was excellent and well priced. A surprise for me was the peach carpaccio dessert. It was unexpected and really delicious. I will be back and look forward to try the pasta.
(5)
james p.
Excellent,Had dinner here Sat night and it was awesome!!!Our server,cute little blonde,was very informative and knowledgeable about menu and wine list!!!!
(5)
Irma W.
VERY DISSAPOINTED!!!!! yesterday evening a group of my friends decided to do Happy hour here since one of my friends has been in here before for the deli part of the restaurant she has been wanting to try the restaurant part particularly happy hour. most of us arrived between 5-510 pm we wait in line to talk to the hostess who directs us to the bar area for happy hour, when we get to the bar the bartender told us the bar area has been reserved for a private event and to go back to the hostess who will be able to seat us at a table and still honor happy hour. the hostess talks to the manager who for one seemed annoyed and two looked at us like we didn't belong in such a nice establishment, there were 5 of us and she thought their were only two why she assumed that I'm not sure but when we told her there were 5 she rolled her eyes and took a deep breath and said it would be a moment she would try to find us a table....we waited at least 15 min with the staff ignoring us so we politely said thank you but we are going to leave as soon as we said that she said "WELL YOUR TABLE IS READY OUTSIDE" we said no thank you and walk out when we walked out we noticed the whole patio area was completely empty there was no reason for such a long wait....I will not be returning to this restaurant again which is very disappointing I was excited to try their food but no one should go into an establishment and feel like they don't belong!!!!! for all they knew I could have been a humble Billionaire!!!!!!
(1)
Lisa C.
Been here 5 times. Great food and a little different in a good way. good service, but slow. Everyone friendly but one busboy. I like the energy of the place. Some dishes a little on the salty side. They totally have the pastas down! Best ravioli I have had, I was making yummy sounds.
(5)
Mary B.
We had an amazing dining experience this weekend! We will be back!
I'm giving the restaurant four stars, but really it should be three. Let me start by saying the food we had was amazing! The best Italian food outside of Italy hands down! The service unfortunately was slow and inattentive. I'm not sure if it was because they have only been open a week or if they simply do not have enough staff on the floor. If the food was not as excellent as it was, I would not go back just on basis of the service. Nonetheless, it's their first week open and we'll go back again to see if they work out the staffing kinks.
(4)
D S.
Food is excellent. Craft drinks are very fresh! Awesome
(5)
Dan S.
Tully disappointing experience. Ordered NY strip steak. ~$30 dish. Unusually thick cut but 40% fat. The center was cold. Had no choice but to send it back. Instead of making the dish from scratch they just threw the remains of the steak on the grille and served it back to me including the bite that I spit!!! Garnish was great. Pinot Noir by the glass was unremarkable.
(1)
Tom H.
This place is fantastic. Very well done and has a wide variety of food: coffee, to go pastries and sandwiches, a solid menu and bar. We went for lunch with some co-workers and split pizza, salad, mussels (which were awesome), and some meats and cheeses. The service was excellent, food came out quick and it was all really enjoyable. A great place for lunch, dinner or just a drink.
(5)
Rex R.
WOW WOW WOW.. When you walk in, the decor and ambiance is impeccable. Then you get to the food. Truly amazing. The fresh ingredients set this restaurant apart. This will be on top of my list to work through the exciting menu. This is a must try whether it is a short walk of an hour drive. Try it......you will LOVE it!!
(5)
Lisa R.
It is with a heavy heart that I write this review. We live in the East Village and have been here several times. On all the previous occasions, we found that the food was amazing and the service was attentive and fast. We were so excited about this new place, that when we saw they were having a New Year's Day brunch, we convinced all of our friends who live outside the city, to come downtown to try our new favorite place. We made reservations over a week ago and it seemed that most people there had reservations. When we were seated, the hostess gave each person a wine list, but we soon noticed that we did not have a menu for food. We asked a staff person if we could get the food menu after waiting about 15 minutes and he never returned. After 20 minutes, the waiter came to take our order, but we informed him we didn't know what we were going to order, since we never received a food menu. We did order drinks at this time. The waiter returned 10 minutes later, with no drinks and 2 food menus for a party of 7. He told us they were "running low on menus". Needless to say, it took several minutes for all 7 of us to peruse the rather extensive 2 menus and decide what we were going to order. After being there for 45 minutes, we still did not have drinks and the waiter had not returned to take the order. We finally spoke to a manager, and our drinks arrived, but still no waiter. We spoke to a manager again after being there for 1 hour and 15 minutes and were finally able to get the waiter there to take our order. We then proceeded to wait another 45 minutes and still no food had arrived. We spoke to the manager a third time. She was apologetic and gave us more drinks, stating that they were short staffed. When our food finally arrived after being there 2 hours, much of the food was cold. 2 plates were served, then it was another 10 mintues for the rest of the plates and side dishes to arrive. One person did not get his side dish until 20 minutes after his meal. After the 2 hours involved waiting for the food, we decided not to complain that most of the food was cold to avoid being there any longer. The manager did take 20% off of our bill, which was nice. Unfortunately, none of my friends plan to return as this was a horrible first impression. Since it seemed most people had reservations, I am not sure why they did not plan ahead for the crowd. While I am sure everyone can have a bad day, it was not a great way to start the New Year here.
(2)
Daniel W.
great addition to my neighborhood! not exactly inexpensive but light years ahead of anything downtown imo. service was excellent and my sampler prosciutto,chese plate ended up being a full meal and very nicely served with a mint-caramel walnut-berry desert side. will be back for sure!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch, Dessert Parking : Valet, Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : 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.
Richard L.
The shiny, light, modern decor give's off a pleasant warm feel as soon as you walk in. The food was as fresh as it was flavorful and we left talking about how good everything tasted. Our server Katrina was very pleasant and provided us with exceptional service. Had a wonderful time and can't wait to do it again.
(5)Vakas S.
We have eaten here about five times and the entire menu does not disappoint. Great ambiance. The bar is well stocked. The crudo menu is our favorite.
(5)Zuzana V.
This is a perfect spot all around. They went all out with the decor. I love the Vespa in the hall by the restrooms. On our visit sat at one of the bars and had wine and a speck pizza. Couldn't complain. The open kitchen is immaculate and entertaining to see all the action. The bar staff was very friendly and accommodating. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Shanae M.
My friend & I went last night. It was nice. Our first time there. The food was amazing I got the stuffed ravioli with butternut squash! Please get it soo worth it! The atmosphere was nothing less then great. I will be back again
(4)EileenAndRockWithIt K.
I really love everything. I feel like I'm in Italy . The food is simple and inventive. The ingredients are wholesome and delicious. I love the appetizer with the ricotta and honey. The market place has wonderful food and you can order to go. I came during lunch and I had a wonderful time .
(5)D T.
$16 lobster PLT (pancetta/lettuce/tomato) for brunch. That had to be over a pound of lobster meat. Delicious.
(5)Davis P.
Overall score 3.5. The entrees were tremendous. If you don't waste time/money on apps or dessert and get a good waiter, this could easily be 5/5 overall. Americano could effectively be taken out of the name - I don't think I saw anything on the menu that wasn't Italian AND written in Italian. With no input, we decided on the "choose 5 meats and cheeses" (we probably would've been better off with a different appetizer) The cheese list was missing a few items because "it's made special for the restaurant". The plate came out looking great, but the accoutrements were unbalanced. The cheese (two small chunks of pecorino and two small chunks of hard Gouda) had fig, strawberry, grapes, and honey walnuts to pair with. The meat was just sitting there wanting some cheese. The prosciutto was terrific, the coppa and salame were only fine. Score - 2/5 The entrees were the highlight. Light, fluffy, tender gnocchi with a wonderful sauce plus a couple meatballs ($2/each) was enjoyed by two members of the party. The pasta and shrimp was a delightful mint, spice combo that delighted the palate. The pork shoulder special was absolutely perfect; cooked to perfection with plenty of broccoli rabe (even though it was supposed to come with Brussels sprouts) and fingerling potatoes. Score 5/5 The dessert was a mixed bag. Gelato was the dessert of choice, but one dessert was not as expected. Affogato - vanilla gelato, almond biscotti, blackberries. Yum! Call me uncultured, but if the dish is supposed to have espresso, it should be spelled out on the menu. It might be a delicacy in Italy, but the execution made it so a ball of gelato was floating around the glass - difficult to eat while melting the blackberries. Score 2/5 Service left much to be desired: The waiter Mark was attentive when we arrived 5:40 (gotta make it home for Murder She Wrote). He let us peruse the menu, but felt he didn't know what he was doing - seeming happy to have completed his introduction and rundown of two specials. Each course took longer to be served than the previous. Appetizer about 15 minutes. Dinner about 25 minutes. Dessert about 30 minutes. The bill might never have been brought. The entire table stared at our waiter and made eye contact. After 42 minutes of waiting, eventually, we asked someone else to "hook us up with the bill"...which took about 15 minutes. Score 1/5
(3)Viet H.
I had a wonderful dining experience here last night. We had a group of 4 and no reservations but were seated promptly after arrival. We ordered the mussels which are a must, they had a very unique flavor, unlike the many other mussel dishes I have tried at other restaurants. The garganelli pasta was also a favorite at the table. I will have to come back and check out their brunch and lunch menus as well. I definitely recommend coming to this restaurant.
(4)Erika L.
Went there with a girlfriend during the week and it was completely booked. Luckly there was open seats at the bar. The ambience in this place is wonderful and the customer service is excellent. Fully attentive staff even on a busy night. The food was delicious. We had the fennel sausage and margherita pizza. Both were soooo good. Perfect for date night or with a group of friends and big enough for big parties. I wouldn't think twice about coming here. Great Italian food and service for sure.
(4)Cate H.
I hardly write reviews. After the take out experience I had just a few minutes ago, I couldn't wait to get home and write one. My husband and I walked across the street to pick up lunch. While a chicken salad sandwich could not be made to order, the premade option looked decent and I ordered one. My husband ordered a meatball sandwich and mashed potatoes. After waiting FIFTEEN minutes, with NO ONE in the restaurant, someone behind the counter finally grabbed a roll, put the meatballs on it and wrapped it up and gave it to us. The sandwich was literally made in 30 seconds. Why we had to wait 15 minutes was beyond me. At least one of the three employees behind the counter could have updated us on why it was taking so long, offered us some water, etc. But no. The only reason I'm leaving 3 stars was that the food was really good. Looking through all of the recent reviews, the food and ambiance aren't the problem. The service is. Please fix it! xo, Your neighbors who were really excited for you to open.
(3)David C.
Great expectations, but ultimately a great disappointment. This new restaurant is visually stunning and the service was amiable and attentive. Unfortunately, the food seemed to be an afterthought. The dipping sauce provided with the bread was reminiscent of canned tomato soup. Salads had all of the right ingredients but were bland. The minestrone soup had a strange off-putting spice or herb flavor. The meat and fish dishes were overwhelmed by excessive amounts of cherry tomatoes, potatoes, and other plate-fillers. We would love to return here and support a local restaurant, but it is off the list until we see signs that the food has improved.
(2)Jack B.
There's something attractive about a new place and this restaurant delivers. However, I have been there 3 times and the service is a 4 of 10 at best. I hope they get their act together soon. They could have the most incredible food in but it counts for nothing if the service is bad. A place can have decent food and if the service is excellent you always go back...
(3)Zach H.
We are visiting from out of town, and were told to visit the restaurant. They were very accommodating without a reservation. The restaurant is staffed with a large number of people and it is a happening place. Everything is very fresh and all seem in great spirit within the restaurant.
(5)Mary R.
Food was really amazing but I felt like the atmosphere was lacking. I cant really put a finger on it...The lighting was definitely too bright and the entrance was kinda odd... love the market aspect but not sure.....something was off.
(4)B M.
Delicious and super nice staff! Our son has severe food allergies and they were great at offering solutions for and help with the menu. Service was very good and attentive and the restaurant itself is beautiful. The maccaroons are so tasty!
(5)Ashe M.
All around amazing. The staff from the bar to the tables are attentive and welcoming. Chef is so talented and one of the coolest guys. All the food is fantastic. Try the ravioli and the Ventimiglia cocktail.
(5)Cristina A.
The food is amazing, the kitchen gets the only star I'm given! The food presentation and flavor were beyond my expectations after waiting 20 min to be sitting w/ an advance reservation booked. The staff is definitely not well trained. They all look stressed, no smile, not happy. The manager is lost on management. I was sitting next to the kitchen and could see the amazing job they were doing. The Chef and kitchen staff were communicating to each other, having an eye contact w/ the customers once it should be the floor ppl's job. The runner was very efficient and nice. Our server was unhappy, a little rude when we asked her to recommend a dessert. This was her answer: take the Tiramisu or chocolate cake, or the Peach one, the other ones are not good ( I wish I were the restaurant owner at this moment ). Unfortunately, it was my 1st and last time there for dinner. The waiting room for 20 min, none of the girls or the manager stopped by to ask if we need anything from the bar or even to thank us for our p patience. Again, besides the kitchen, the staff needs to be trained!
(1)Courtney C.
Love the decor and ambience! The dishes have all been great. The truffle cheese is to die for! Outdoor service was a bit lacking.
(5)Lori B.
I was eager to try this new restaurant in the East Village. It exceeded my expectations. The atmosphere is great for a date night or a large party gathering. The food was delicious too! I will be going back soon.
(5)Erin B.
Great experience. The restaurant is divided into different dinning experiences. From cured meats and cheeses to seafood and pizza, they have everything and it is all spectacular. I love that you can see into the kitchen, it gives a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere to a high end downtown experience. I highly recommend this place and can't wait to go back!
(5)Torrey B.
Everything- the drinks, atmosphere, staff, food-was perfect. Recommend La Dolce Vita for a refreshingly fruity cocktail
(5)Xtine B.
Came for dinner with a party of 4. Appetizers were OK, nothing to rave about. But entrees were delicious! Definitely worth coming here for the food and vibrant bar scene! I look forward to trying more on their menu.
(4)David F.
Without a doubt, the best coffee downtown. Have been here several times for dinner too. You can't go wrong with the pastas, meat and cheese boards, crudo bar, really anything. Have yet to be disappointed! A must for anyone living or visiting downtown.
(5)Jason K.
I had been waiting anxiously for this place to open. Love the wide open floor plan and overall layout of the restaurant. And they have a quick walk up bar for sandwiches and salads or you can sit down and order off the full menu. I came in for lunch and had the chicken panini and the cheese pizza. I liked the sandwich, the bread was great and the chicken and cheese inside blended well together. The pizza I wasn't a fan of. Didn't taste any better than any old pizza. But the panini was so good I'll come back and try their pasta sometime see how that stacks up
(3)Pamela D.
This restaurant would have received 5 stars if not for the service. Our waiter, Marc, was fine at the beginning but when it started getting crowded he disappeared after our dessert order. When he did reappear he asked us if we'd like to order dessert....we had just finished dessert. He then disappeared again. We saw him chatting up other tables but I guess since we were on dessert he was done with us. We ended up having to flag down a non-server, and request our bill. Then he never came back to take our cards so we had to flag down another non-server to run our cards. This whole process took almost an hour and definitely soured all of our opinions on the restaurant. It also seems that once you order dessert they stop refilling your water glasses. On numerous occasions we tried to get our glasses refilled and never did. Another annoying issue with our waiter was he constantly corrected our pronunciation of the Italian words on the menu, and in a condescending manner. Thanks for the lesson but don't appreciate it. Terrible service aside, most of the food was delicious. If we go back though I think we would only order entrees. We got the pick 5 meat and cheese plate. They were out of options that were listed on the menu so that was a bit disappointing but we chose 3 meats and 2 cheeses, the size of the cheeses were ridiculously small compared to the meat portions. The dish overall was unbalanced and not worth the expense. The entrees were all very, very good. two of us had the gnocchi with sides of meatballs, ($2/meatball), the pasta was very fresh and the meatball had so much flavor. We also got the lobster broth pasta dish, which was a perfect blend of herbs, mint, and garlic and a nice kick of spice. Another spectacular dish we got was the pork belly special. This was perfectly seasoned and cooked. It came with broccoli rabe even though we were told it would come with brussel sprouts and fingerling potatoes, strange. We also got a side for the table of the broccoli rabe. Would not recommend this, it was soggy and loaded with whole garlic cloves, it looked more like spinach than broccoli. Dessert was ok. We got lemon and chocolate gelato, hard to screw up, and another dish, the Affogato, which we did not realize had a shot of espresso poured onto it, this made it very difficult to eat out of the strange glass it was served in. We took 2 bites and gave up on it. Overall, I will return and hope for better service, the food was really good so it's worth another shot.
(3)Stanley M.
Best mussels I've ever had in my life! Check this place out.
(5)Kellie S.
Can't say enough good things about this restaurant. I would say it was one of the best meals I have ever had. From the mussels, to the ricotta cheese with honey and figs, to the crab legs to the pomodoro soup, to the lobster risotto. Just wow. We sat at the bar and had wonderful service. Our barista was fabulous. (Feeling bad cause I can't remember her name ). Let me just say she has a friend who is from upstate NY where I'm from in case she reads this. . The restaurant is stunning to the eye. The lighting is spectacular. There are different areas to sit. We sat at the bar. Would live to sit in front of the pasta maker next time. I would recommend reservations if you are going. All I can say is WOW!!!
(5)Marie M.
This restaurant is located in a convenient place and brings some much needed atmosphere to the East Village area. I've only had the coffee, chips, and other café foods. I've heard from friends that the dinner menu is delicious and that the beer and wine selection is good as well. The coffee is the best around in my opinion. It is absolutely delicious and they seem to have a wide variety of flavors including some such as hazelnut and oregano. Great selection of specialty items that would make good gifts. Definitely stop by if not for a full dinner for a great cup of coffee and croissant!
(5)V. H.
We came for brunch on Sunday - and made reservations ahead of time. We were promptly seated and then nothing... no one came over to even take our drink order for over 40 minutes! When someone finally came over, we asked what the daily pastry selections were and he said he didn't know so he would be back. That was the last we saw of him. We''ll never know what the pastry selections were. When our server FINALLY made his way over to us, we ordered as quickly as possible since we were starving by that time. The food was good, but it could have used some salt/pepper and you guessed it - no one was around to ask for it. When we finally flagged down our server, we gave him our cards without asking for the check bc we wanted to get out of there by then. It's unfortunate that a beautiful restaurant with seemingly good food would have such poor service. We would have ordered more drinks/food if they had given us the chance. It's their loss!
(2)Alex M.
The spaghetti and meatballs are a little lackluster but the wine, dessert, and ambience are outstanding. This is a fantastic addition to the East Village.
(4)Anthony B.
This restaurant is a must go. What makes a great place to eat: great tasting food, fun atmosphere, and awesome service , the Bottegga Americano has it all. We stopped by for the Sunday brunch and were all very satisfied with every plate. Very unique menu and a very impressive lay out . They have an amazing assortment of high quality, well prepared dishes to fit any taste. Treat yourself for sure. I will for sure return. Good job guys making your concept work. Good luck,
(5)Rachel V.
We came Sunday night for a friends birthday - the decor , ambience , music I liked ... The specialty drinks could use more tasty creativity , I think they were mostly like " old man drinks" very hardcore . The la Dolce Vita was good though- The service was great our waiter was nice and helpful . The food came out in decent timing , however I ordered the ny strip steak medium well , I'm used to a little strip of pink and a little juiciness . The steak I got was well done and kind of dry . My friend ordered the gargenelli pasta dish with shrimp and a spicy lobster broth , but it ended up being too salty . The scallop dinner was cooked good . The spaghetti and meatballs plate was plain needed more flavor and the noodles tasted a little over cooked . The desert was ok - I forget what I had, but it was a chocolate pudding . I say it was ok because I think the presentation could have been nicer, it came out in a water glass . I might go back again to grab a drink maybe an appetizer . I hope they do well , they have a good idea and concept just need to work on the food a little .
(3)tom c.
The decors are very nice and they have little Italian market within the restaurant. The market carries italian desert and pasta. We went there as a group of 4 and we were seated in one of community tables. Our server was OK, he was not very enthusiastic. The food is pricey but tastes good. It's a one time visit for me and not a repeat.
(3)Howard F.
Great vibe from the moment you enter. Our waiter, Katrina, was professional, highly efficient, and extremely knowledgeable. Which is necessary because the menu is extremely inventive. Each dish at our table was memorable. Perfectly seared scallops with lemon risotto, lamb osso bucco, roasted lamb chops, & a baked branzino. And there is takeway for those who prefer to eat at home. Can't wait to come back.
(5)Nicole S.
The food was amazing !! So much to choose from and the service was great... You really need to come an experience this for yourself .. The decor is beautiful and unexpected ...
(5)Jen r.
All I can say is wow!!! The moment you walk in!!! It's just beautiful and the dining experience is amazing. We had reservations for 830 but ended up finding a spot at the bar! The staff was nice food was great !! This place is definitely a hit and wil do very well!! I had mussels which were awesome my husband had the ny strip and for dessert we had this chocolate dish. It was wonderful!! You definetly have to check this place out!! Very well worth it!!
(5)Lisa L.
We went for New Year's day brunch and they were completely overwhelmed. The place was packed, which I get, but the place was not prepared at all. Staff should have been better prepared; the only positive was a really attentive bus guy and the manager was awesome. We felt bad for her running around making amends for the no food and bad service. She made it right, which was appreciative. No one had anywhere to go that day, so no big deal, but I would have expected more. I had the lobster sandwich which was really good. Some of the of food was cold and overall not a great experience. The place is gorgeous though and we'll be back to try dinner one night or lunch on a regular day. Husband had the breakfast calzone and it was the bomb, for sure, really tasty! Hopefully next holiday they'll get the stuff together.
(2)Teedha P.
Gorgeous . Went for lunch with the man friend and we were not disappointed. Wonderful staff, beautiful plating, and delicious food at a reasonable price. We'll be back to try the dinner menu because I'm pretty sure they make their pasta in house
(5)Eric T.
Bravo for Bottega. Hope they can keep up the great contemporary Italian American food and environment- we took a party of 12 and will all be back. I recommend valet parking too. The food was delicious and plates are well balanced. I want to go back on a date night soon.
(4)Erlina R.
I have been waiting for months to try out Bottega Americano and finally had a chance to have dinner there with some girlfriends last night. We were not disappointed. Here's what we tried: light and airy gnocchi in a smokey tomato sauce, scallop crudo with "liquid" corn bread, gorgeous cheese plate with fresh figs, a chocolate budino with a crispy cookie on top and a peach "carpaccio" which was incredibly creative and delicious. My friends had wine while I had a cocktail (I can't remember the name) with watermelon and cucumber...perfect on a hot day like yesterday. All in all Bottega Americano was amazing and unlike anything else in San Diego. The experience is one-of-a-kind and a lot of fun. The seats at the bar and communal tables make it very lively and fun. Can't wait to go back and try out more dishes. The budino was so incredible that I'll probably stick to that as my go-to dessert.
(5)Mitch M.
Cool place with homemade charcuterie. Enjoyed the yellowtail collar and the cheese plate.
(4)Lauren S.
Okay I LOVE having this place right outside my door! The food is delicious! When it is busy, service is a little slow, as to be expected when they're full. But when it's a slower night the service is great! The ambience in the place is something downtown San Diego really was missing. Patio is dog friendly which is another plus.
(4)Sameer V.
Awesome water/waiter service - the hostess service could have been better. However, everything we ate and all the recommendations were on point. The seasoned bread was awesome all on its own. We ate vegetarian family style (beet salad, agnolotti, mushroom pizza and their chocolate dessert). The salad & agnolotti were the clear highlights packed with layers of flavor. I would 100% eat here again. Great ambiance for groups!
(5)Jose M.
Botterman Americano (AB) is following many downtown San Diego restaurants path, Open in a beautiful setting serving great food for top dollar, reservations become difficult to get and life is good for them. Roll forward many months later; reservations are more available, serve less than acceptable food for top dollar, heading toward being out of business. The Meal Once seated and your order is placed, complimentary bread is served (bread was stale), appetizers arrive (lobster risotto that was over sauced, over salted and under cooked), salad arrives overly dressed, now for the main course, NY Strip with a side of Brussels sprouts...steak was cold and not cooked, side veggies and brussel sprouts greasy and covered in sauce. The tip off to a bad meal is the speed in which your dishes arrive, fast usually equals bad...AB serves fast and with the speed of a diner, too bad AB can't match the quality of a diner. In total we spent just under $200 for 2 half sized martini's ($30), $50 for a bottle of wine (we had to make up for the small martini's), $110 for an appetizer, salad, one main course and a side dish...basically we split one meal. The food was horrible, but our dog was happy when we gave her the steak! Given the very poorly prepared food and related expense, put this restaurant on the bottom of the list. The good news for San Diego is there remains many great restaurants for equal or less money serving great food. I hope it is not too late for AB to wake up and fix their kitchen, if they do not, well, you AB will not last a year.
(2)E T.
We were excited to try this relatively new restaurant because it looked so interesting on their website. We made reservations but when we arrived, there was some sort of event nearby and the valet wouldn't take our car. I went in to let the hostess know we would be coming shortly while my husband found a spot on his own. She was a bit abrupt-and not welcoming (which is what a hostess should be.) However we had a great experience after that. Our server was much more professional. He was knowledgeable and recommended some items. My husband and I enjoyed the salmon, my children enjoyed their calamari and steak. We all enjoyed the brussel sprouts also and found the beet salad delicious..The presentation of each dish is very nice and I loved looking around and the interesting decor and food preparation areas -there is a lot going on so It s not a quiet place --but the energy is positive. We will be back.
(4)Becca C.
WOW! San Diego is so lucky to have this amazing place. A lot of thought went into this place and food. Everything I tried is great. The food.... the drinks... the staff are all so professional. Have been here three times. I feel like a regular. Everything is awesome. Love everything about it! Thank you for opening here in San Diego. This is a must try! beautiful place for beautiful people.
(5)Nancy W.
Excellent. From the service to the decor, and most importantly the food, it was all excellent. Fresh pasta, perfect seasoning, interesting dishes - it was a very enjoyable experience. We will certainly return.
(5)Bob P.
We have now been to BA 3 times giving ample opportunity to experience the service at this establishment. Have to say that attention to detail, responsiveness, knowledge are not at all present. Have to say that since there are so many great restaurants out there that ultimately have the same menu items and in most cases do it better, that if it comes down to service we would rather take our sometimes 4 nights out per week somewhere else.
(2)Tim Y.
It's so beautiful when all the elements of a restaurant are well thought-out and come together in perfect harmony. The food was amazing, the service just as good (thank you Silvana, you are a credit to customer service!) simply put, Giuseppe Ciuffa and his crew "get" what a great restaurant should be - very rare these days...
(5)Jennifer A.
Wish we had places like this all over San Diego. The different food counters and high quality food make it perfect for the casual diner who wants a beautiful atmosphere which is not fussy or pretentious. Had a pizza and amazing chopped salad and will be back soon to try to house made pasta.
(5)Rae T.
So Delicious! Awesome atmosphere. Pizzas are to die and the meat and cheese board is a must try. YUM!!!
(5)Geof B.
I've not been to a restaurant in a long time and had such a good combination of excellent food and excellent service! I am stoked to have found this place!
(5)Samantha B.
I love coming to this restaurant. I've literally brought over all my immediate family and closest friends here. I love how they have the outdoor seating area set up with space heaters and comfy chairs. The inside restaurant is very nicely decorated making me feel like I'm in a super expensive fine dining restaurant. They have the best food here and I've eaten at a lot of Italian restaurants in the city. I still remember the moment when I tried the Linguini with Clam sauce. I was in absolute heaven! I thought my mom made it good, but this place makes it a thousand times better. Another favorite dish they make particularly well is Gnocchi di ricotta. The servers are really fast and they always come back to your table three or four times after you receive your food to fetch anything else you need. I like that, cause I hate having to tracker my waitress down. Every time I come actually, the owner always comes over to my table to make sure I'm enjoying myself. He knows me by name now and I really like that familiarity. This place is awesome! I can't wait to take my co-workers here if we ever eat dinner together.
(5)Kristen C.
While the decor is light, bright & fun, the food is only ok, and the front of the house service leaves much to be desired. The cheese plate was good, our 2 pasta entrees were boring, and special, which we wanted to try so shared, was much better and we only ended up eating it. We first dined here (2 people) about a week or two after it opened. We came in around 5:30-6:00 for dinner and there were only a couple tables already seated. We asked for a 4-top by the window and were told by the hostess that those were reserved, so we settled for a 2-top. We were there for close to 2 1/2 hrs and in that time, only one of the "reserved" 4-tops were sat right before we left, by the manager, who put 2 people there. Why we were told we could not sit there is still a mystery. A friend and her husband stopped in for lunch around 12:30 on a Saturday and the place was basically empty, may 2 or 3 yanked already seated. The hostess told them it would be a few minutes before they could be seated, which confused them considering the mass availability of open tables, but they decided to wait. After 10 minutes, the husband checked again, even joking with the hostess asking if they'd forgotten about them, and they were still told it'd be a few minutes; after 30 MINUTES , they just left! This place has A LOT of work to do on their food and front service if it's goon to survive in downtown SD; SO many other better places to go.
(2)Rita P.
The food was terrific and the servers very attentive. The seafood display was art. They are still working out some opening kinks, but delivered one of the best opening experiences we've had. Bravo!!
(5)Calli A.
Ate lunch today. ok food. mediocre service. Nice decor. Worse part was the rude counter person who asked for a used container back to re-use for someone else. Yuck. Nothing special.
(3)Bruce Y.
Great ambiance with great food, the menu is certainly innovative and not your usual Italian fair, some of the dishes could be better served (i.e. Duck past) but overall well presented.The wine list is decently priced. Service was spot on, our server Jena was a delight and enhanced the overall experience. A must try restaurant.
(5)Dulce M.
I had the luxury to eat here yesterday for lunch. I was drooling the moment I walked in from the beautiful pastries and sides and the smell is just amazing! I was greeted but a decently nice hostess and led to the table where I waited for my girlfriend. I was approached by an uber nice server who welcomed me warmly and I immediately felt like this was going to be a great experience. I had the Lady of Eden tea which was just a flavorful black tea. Our server (I wish I caught his name because he was wonderful) took us through a journey explaining the menu and a few of his favorites. We ordered the butter lettuce salad which was so amazingly flavorful with the crunchy pine nut bread crumbs, egg, and the lettuce which was oh so tender. Then we had the Raviolia. Goat cheese and brown butter with sage...need I say more? I could do without the corn though but it was sooo yummo. The last entre was the fennel sausage pizza. So flavorful and from the cauliflower, more goat cheese, and kale and of course the sausage. I am so glad I work downtown but scared I will go broke from wanting to eat here everyday. I'm still on my food high. Although I wasn't a fan of the flourless chocolate cake (dry, a little hard and more bitter than sweet (think cardboard)), next time I will try more desserts! I'll be back for sure and I cannot wait to try the dinner. I just hope the quality of the service and food stay consistent.
(5)Kevin M.
Came in here about a month ago. Damon was our bartender. He was awesome and very accommodating. He went over and above his duties to see if the kitchen would cook us a pizza (I want to say it was the four cheese or maybe the margherita but I can't remember). Thank you Damon and the kitchen for cooking us the delicious pizza right before closing down for the night! We enjoyed a few drinks and some delicious food. We unfortunately had the displeasure of witnessing some girls trying to get out of paying for their drinks and they made a big deal out of it saying, "Do you know who I am and who I know in this town?" and "We didn't order those drinks!" What a joke! Damon was a rockstar and handled it all with class. At some point our party was so tired of their group trying to act like Upper Class snobs - clearly who had no money - that were trying to lie about how many drinks they actually had and paid for and we overheard them in Spanish egging each other on to see what they could get away with. Clearly they underestimated the fact that someone else may know Spanish and could call them out on their tacky, Lower Class bull@&$! they were trying to pull. Damon handled it like he was part of Prestige Worldwide: a totally seasoned pro who has put up with this kind of situation before. Thanks Damon! Sorry about those annoying girls who obviously can't make their American Express payments without their newly divorced husbands' credit card accounts.
(5)Karen H.
Don't remember the food, only that it's LOUD! Seriously, do something about it. Too bad really.
(2)Alice H.
I have a Blog about fun in San Diego, and I devoted a whole post to this wonderful venue - from the marketplace to the gourmet deli to the restaurant. I found the decor spectacular and the layout great. My website is aliceswunderland.wordpre… to see more about it. We had lunch there having 3 choices all of which were delicious - each dish with it's own special twist.
(5)Pam N.
Beautiful space, attentive but not intrusive service, delicious ravioli, and the best espresso I've had in a while. As good as it gets for downtown lunch Italian.
(5)Thuy M.
Worse fine dine experience ever! We had a party of 20 people, so assuming that the 18% plus the $41 coordinating fee, you'll get a little bit of a special treatment, NOT!! Our waiter Adrian was okay at first then disappeared the entire night. Checked back on us once, then forgot our drinks, mixed up our foods, and the extra plates; that's all can be forgiven with a humble and apogetic attitude, but never once apologized and casually brushed it off. Drinks was okay but food were mediocre at best. Do not try the lamp dish, smells horrible and extremely mushy. Salmon was freshly. ..thawed out from frozen and chicken was the most okay dish. So all in a snap shot, service deserves a -1 star and food is 2 1/2. There's way better restaurants with much nicer ambiance and service like Urbana Cuccina or Prep Kitchen, don't waste your time and money plus a sour aftertaste in your mouth at the end of th night.
(2)Jessica L.
Marketplace: Came in around 11:30am to check out the restaurant and grab some lunch. Ordered a chicken panini and a latte. The latte was bitter..... and the panini took 20 minutes to make, even though it looked pre-made and probably just needed to be heated in the panini press. I was told that it was slow because they had a lot of orders and only one person manning the panini press. Hmm....? When the panini finally came out I noticed that the bread was super hard on the outside and the inside was on the colder side. The bread was very difficult to bite through...I guess that's what happens when you use a thick baguette instead of a flatter bread. I do have to say that it was absolutely beautiful inside! Restaurant: Half order of oysters on the half shell--Delicious! They used two different types of oysters and they tasted very fresh. The service was good, very friendly! I was a little bit confused when they brought complimentary bread along with my dinner, instead of before. But maybe that was just a mistake. Hoping that they offer a discount to TJSL students.... I think more of us would come if we had a special perk because the food is much too expensive to afford often.
(4)Sean S.
Wow. Spectacular food, very very attentive wait staff. Awesome drinks, great deserts. We sat by the pizza prep/oven and the chef came over to our table talked with us for 10 min. We chatted with the pizza guy also, nice people.
(5)Bruce F.
After waiting a couple weeks for BA to work out the kinks, we ventured to the quickly transforming East Village to give BA a try. We were not disappointed. The Monday evening croud was fairly subdued and the restaurant was half full at 7:30 pm. The specialty cocktails were great, but the wine list is somewhat of a mystery--neither exclusively California or Italian--but a rather eclectic mix of both, but not a deep enough selection of either for my taste. We ordered the mussels and Margherita pizza for starters. Mussels were bathing in a delicious chorizo cream tomato broth--best I've ever had, but the mussels themselves were not very meaty for some reason. The pizza was ordinary and fine, but somewhat of a disappointment as the crust, cheese, and sauce were not distinctive in any stand-out way. Fresh, white, creamy buffalo mozzarella would have been nice. I couldn't help but notice the decorative cord wood stacked up like pillars throughout the restaurant, yet no wood-burning pizza oven--just an ordinary gas fired oven so common these days. The highlight for me was the rotisserie chicken. Perfect in every way, served with crispy fingerling potatoes. My guests enjoyed their fresh pasta dishes and whole Bronzino. The limoncello panacotta was excellent. Service was attentive, but could have been a little more so, especially at the start of the meal when we were waiting for a server to take drink orders. Otherwise, the service got rolling nicely and an overall excellent experience. I will be a repeat customer, although I am concerned that when BA is full of patrons, the high ceilings and hard surfaces may create an environment too loud for my taste. Meanwhile, I won't speculate--I will give it a try on a weekend and hear it for myself. Well done, BA!
(4)Scott H.
Great upbeat restaurant, with excellent customer service, defined menu and spacious setting Food was great
(4)Spoon G.
A beautiful space, lovely décor, high ceilings and a great vibe. Sit by the pizza oven if you can and chat with the chef, they use real Italian flour for their pizza dough and authentic Italian ingredients. Love the pizzas, pasta, cheese board and they have an excellent selection of wines. One of my favorite spots in the neighborhood.
(5)Joy M.
tasty pastries, wide open spacing, trendy wall art including a freakin' Vespa outside of the bathroom? i love everything about this place. not to mention the food is terrific and the cocktails are delicious. day or night Bottega is a great place to spend some time on a brunch or dinner date with a few friends or someone special. the pizza, pastas, and breads make great food to converse over, as do the assortment of italian beers or craft drinks (my favorite is the Ventimiglia). excellent service and excellent aesthetics - another gem in downtown san diego. civilities.
(5)Karina S.
Delicious! The food is great and the service is outstanding. Highly recommend their pizzas, and the Paccheri pasta. This place is great for brunch and groups.
(4)Christy G.
Checked this place out on a Saturday afternoon after seeing all the good reviews. It's a huge place and I love the modern rustic decor - not original these days but they have done it really well here. We had the yellowtail crudo to start which was really good, although Cucina Urbana (which has a similar menu) does it better. We had a pizza (goats cheese and sausage) which was really fantastic and the lamb ragu pappardelle. They make the pasta in house but it was a little overcooked for my tastes, still good though. Even though I could barely move at this point the chocolate pudina tempted me into a dessert and that was awesome so I'm glad we did, although I probably put on 4 pounds just looking at it! Overall a great meal and actually on the cheaper side as far as these types of restaurant go. We will definitely be back. Oh and our server was great too! :)
(5)David A.
Had a lunch meeting with a business associate in Bottega Americano today. The restaurant has a nice décor. The waiter was nice and friendly and the service was good. The beat salad was awful because the roasted yellow cherry tomatoes were dipped in oil then placed on a grill which tasted like gasoline because of the smell of the oil which had dripped on the flames. I wonder if the chef or the owner ever notice that or they have dead taste buds. Then we tried the chicken dish which was like eating a leather shoe, not that you would ever want to eat one. The rest of the menu has nothing worthwhile to order. It was served over a tomato sauce which tasted like a shrimp cocktail sauce, a complete mismatch of taste. Again either the chef or the owner ......you get the point. Therefore because of the bad food I have to give it a one star.
(1)Deanna N.
Such wonderful ambiance where you will get a different experience depending on where you sit in the restaurant. Great food! Great wine! The potato gnocchi was amazing and a must try! Also the cheese board paired with wine is a great selection before your main course! Thank you for such a great experience and service :)
(5)Don M.
Lunch today (Sat.). Not crowded, the two of us seated immediately. Next to a table with 8 adults, but ok, plenty of distance. Halfway through our meal they start setting up another large table on the other side of us, *very close*. Felt like we were in the way of all the chairs being carried over our heads, waiters moving tables, etc. Then they seat the group including a couple strollers and several small children. Suddenly a full-on "McDonalds" vibe. Well, except at McDonalds you aren't sitting quite so close to the other diners. (one chair at the new table could literally not be used, no room between it and our table.) Not the relaxing lunch we expected at such a nice-looking place. Plenty of empty tables throughout, would have been happy to move if they'd asked or offered before (or after!) setting up and seating the group. Pizza was decent, but the salad was bland. That and the fact that the staff had zero concern for a pleasant dining experience means we won't be back.
(1)Anokina K.
Great service. Very good, quality food! The meat and cheese board was out of this world! My favorite thing about the place was the environment.
(4)Alex T.
Honestly, I would probably give this 3.5 stars if I had the ability to do so. We arrived on a Saturday night and were sat on the patio. The restaurant is beautiful, if loud. The patio is better for having a conversation with your table companions. And you'll have plenty of time to chat, because the service here is leisurely, to say the least. My husband hadn't quite decided on his drink, and it was another 10 minutes before the server checked back. Our menu items were paced similarly. We ordered the burrata crostini, the crab cakes with artichokes, and the pizza with bacon and brussels sprouts. The burrata was delicious, and the portion was big enough for two people to have two samples each. The crab cake was smaller, but at least it was all crab. The fried artichokes and mustard were delightful. It had little mustard seeds that popped in your mouth like caviar. The pizza was a disappointment. Despite having bacon chunks and spicy Chile's on it, it was oddly flavorless. I think the problem was the crust, which had all the character of a female love interest in a Batman movie. The Dolce Vita cocktail was delicious, but gone in three gulps. At $12 each, I was too cheap to order multiplies. The $9 Julian cider was a great deal, though. The service was pleasant, but since it was busy, they didn't go the extra mile. The bussers were extremely attentive and polite. Hats off to the bussers. I would come here again, but probably stick to items that require more thought than pizza, like the specials or the entrees. 3.5 stars for food and service.
(4)Jay D.
My date and I decided to check this place out after reading about it on Eater SD. It was busy, but we were seated quickly even though we didn't have reservations. After we sat down, it took a while before we were served the complimentary bread with balsalmic vinaigrette. That was a pre-cursor of things to come. Our calamari appetizer took about 20 minutes to arrive. It was good, but after waiting so long, almost anything would have tasted good. I ordered the Paccheri with mushrooms, bacon, peas, and truffle oil. My date had the Pappardelle with lamb and marinara. After waiting about 30 minutes, I inquired to the waiter, and within minutes, our food finally arrived. My dish was good, but very rich. I was only able to eat about half of it. My date enjoyed her dish. While the food was good, the long waits hampered what would have been a nice dining experience. Unless I had about 2+ hours to kill, I'd be hesitant to try this place again due to the long wait times.
(3)John T.
Amazing atmosphere. Really open and nice decor. Tried some of the appetizers and drinks. Great drink and huge wine menu. The mozzarella and eggplant were delicious. The service is top notch too. If you haven't been yet, I highly recommend it.
(5)Brannon B.
Lord of the flies. Literally fruit flies in the bottom of my friends drink. Just chilling there, dead in his Manhattan. We told the waiter. And then nothing happened. No apology. No management visit to the table. No replacement drink. Just nothing. So completely baffling. We paid the full bill, and my friend mentioned he would follow up the next day. I circled back today to ask him how it went, just curious to see if he ever got an apology, and still nothing. It seems management has promised to email or call him back, but nothing. NOTHING. It is too bad. All he was really looking for was acknowledgement and a decent apology.
(1)Michael B.
We really liked all the gluten free options, since my girlfriend is gluten free. Sometimes its hard to find an italian spot that caters to her food requirements. The food was excellent. The reason I'm giving them 4 instead of 3 stars, is because of the ambiance. We were seated at a bar type of seating near the bar, next to some guys who were standing around drinking. We were there to eat, not to socialize at the bar. There was a table behind us that was REALLY drunk and loud. We could barely hear each other talk until they left, which was about half way through our meal. Next time I'm going to ask for a quieter table.
(4)Jay C.
This place is unreal. I don't think East Village has another restaurant that comes even close to quality of food and atmosphere. It was so good the first time, I came back the next day for breakfast to make sure it wasn't just a fluke. It wasn't. You can tell the ingredients are quality and that the kitchen knows what it's doing. I have a feeling I will be here a lot. If you're in this part of San Diego you have to stop in.
(5)Nicolas B.
Love this place !!! Not my first visit and certainly not my last. The service was as attentive as I wanted it to be; I was in no hurry and they were ready when I was without rushing us. Lobster risotto was tasty, without being unnecessarily rich, even for what it was and the side of broccolini with roasted garlic and chili oil created a delightful explosion of flavors. My wife enjoyed her salmon, my 5 friend enjoyed the Lamb Oso Bucco, as I have at least twice, and his girlfriends was tasty as well. The shrimp cocktail, olive plate, fried calamari, and beet salad set us up perfectly. Just a great dining experience at a restaurant that truly makes you feel welcomed and appreciated, from welcome to thank you.
(5)Tika J.
A single tear dropped from my eye after eating their tomato bisque.
(5)Dee P.
Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner, this place provides for every meal or snack you desire. This restaurant has definitely put East Village on the map. I've tried almost every appetizer, entree, pizza and soup they have to offer, and they were all delicious. I've come here for happy hour, just to get some coffee and work and even just to satisfy my sweet cravings at midnight.. The service has always been great. The chefs make it a point to walk around and ensure you love your food. To sum up my experience, it's like a delicious home cooked meal, at an upscale restaurant with the city atmosphere and VERY AFFORDABLE!
(5)Tom G.
We went for the 4th time. The service was slow the first time we went back in January. They have definitely picked it up. Started with the Hummus which was better than most. Love the vibe and the Pappardelle with lamb sugo. My wife had the Salmon and it was cooked to perfection and not overdone like so many restaurants.
(5)Logan M.
We came here with a gift certificate waiting for us which somehow got lost and they couldn't find it on file. We decided to eat anyway, and about 20 mins in the manager somehow found it. Our server was pleasant, seemed very scripted, sorta stiff and a little bored. I really like to get a sense of my servers because I was one for about 10 years and can see through the BS, but this guy never cracked! Got a few cocktails because we are friends with the Snake Oil guys and love to support. Cocktails were pretty good, albeit a little pricy and definitely tailored to non-cocktail lovers. We were happy to see the lovely gentian liqueur Suze in one of the cocktails (unfortunately a vodka base) but there was barely a whiff of it in the well-balanced but pedestrian cocktail. The other one had egg white which always catches my eye and it was well-made but still a bit pedestrian. We ordered a cheese plate and spaghetti and meatballs to split. We got a complimentary board with focaccia and a red sauce, focaccia was nice but the sauce was super sweet and I made a note of it by hoping it wasn't the sauce on the Spag&Balls.... We got our cheese/charcuterie plate, and the cheese portions were pretty small for a $28 plate. I was disappointed in the lack of soft cheeses available, which would have rounded out our selections nicely. The blue cheese was lovely. Accompaniments...not so much. There was a pile of things (honey dripping walnuts, fig jam, quince paste and raisins) on the side of the plate which were all sweet upon sweet and I found myself yearning for some mustard or cornichons to balance the speck and salami. When the pasta came out it was split for us which was not expected but appreciated. Weirdly it was garnished with parsley, not basil but...oh well. I ordered a glass of wine which was as expected. Alas, the sauce on the pasta was the same extremely sweet sauce I had tasted earlier...it was edible, but I really wanted some salt and chili flakes and I didn't feel welcomed by the staff to ask for it. Meatballs could have been either softer or more browned but I'm splitting hairs with that! As leftovers, the meatballs seemed a bit more tender but the sauce was somehow even sweeter after an addition of salt and chili flakes. Very strange and since I couldn't find any other reviews that mentioned this it may be an isolated incident. Staff was very efficient with bussing, sometimes too much so, but a simple "we're not done" was enough. Final bill was around $85 for 2 cocktails, one glass of wine, a cheese plate and a pasta dish. A bit high, but it's an impressive interior even though it's not warm or cozy. All in all, a pretty expensive place with a relatively cold environment, but could be a great place to hit up happy hour after work. If I'm around the hood I may try it again.
(3)Dax Y.
Best part of my entire meal was the service. The entire team was on the ball that night and I appreciate their attention to detail. However, maybe the chefs can learn from the wait staff, or maybe it's just an issue with the exec chef because out of 5 different plates I tried, only one was to my liking. Maybe we ordered the wrong items. Maybe this place is well known for its pasta (which we didn't order). Maybe it was an off night. Before I give anymore stars I will need to try again. But I will say--the crudo here is very nice.
(3)tammy b.
Gorgeous, open and modern interior with wonderful service and tasty fresh food. They have a nice wine selection and cool, informal seating. Would go back!
(4)Pedro S.
This is my first review for this place as I was here for a friends birthday. I give it a 5 cause I'll be back and met all the requirements of a "woohoo!....." First thing walking in is I notice 3 cool bar areas you can sit at. Seems like a nice place to take a date, happy hour, etc. It's spacious, and the place looks really well designed. Let's get to the good stuff. The food and the service. nd blowing, but I like how they make their own in house pasta, dough, and bread (I think they make their own bread, not sure) I actually like the bread that comes before the meal, taste like quality to me. I had the osso buco? Shit was good, and I don't even like lamb that much. The kale, and whatever else was in there was delicious. I really enjoyed the tomatoes and wish there were more of them. The best part to me wasn't even the food, our server Jenna Hunter was an amazing server/hostess/entertainer. GIVE THAT WOMAN A RAISE! I would come back just because I know they hire people that take care of you. She was funny, very entertaining, and just "gets it". Can't wait to go back to try some more of their offerings. Pasta is probably next on the list
(5)Kevin P.
Love the new BA, always yummy...always consistently good. Friendly service, creative menu items, delicious food in a fresh, and smartly decorated energetic atmosphere. Outside patio is a great place to dine streetside. I had the New York strip with wild mushrooms & fire roasted peppers which was excellent, served with complementary bread & smart wine pairings. If you're a red wine lover...try the Barbera Blend from Monferrato.
(5)Mary K.
Very underwhelmed with the food. In fact, someone needs to work on the chefs or get some that know how to cook true Italian cuisine. The good: beautiful setting, service. Owner greeted us and took us to table, Great waitress and busboys. Everyone who served us talked about how great the food is and anything on the menu is excellent. The bad, unfortunately, is the food. Cannellini soup would have been great but was overloaded with rosemary. Hard to eat something that tasted like a pine forest. The gem salad had a drop of dressing. I hate overdressed salads but this was as close to no dressing as I've ever had. Pastas were highly recommended and absolutely awful because of the sauce. Pastas themselves were tasty and cooked perfectly though. Saffron pasta seafood fra diavolo: fresh seafood but hardly any on the plate. I can live with that but the sauce was barely spicy and was a mass of olive oil and butter. A heavy gut bomb,I could only eat the seafood. Octopus in lobster broth sounds light right? No! Plenty of nicely cooked octopus and properly cooked pasta in an extremely spicy, sauce filled with butter and olive oil. What the heck? Nothing on the description said very spicy and butter is not lobster broth. Again, couldn't eat it because of grease, spice and salt overload. Didn't want to risk a lousy dessert at this point and just paid (not cheap either) and left. Maybe the pizzas are good but not willing to pay that price to find out.
(2)C R.
Sigh. All I can say is.... Wow. First of all the place and atmosphere is really nice, but the service of absolute shit through me off of the nice vibe I had walked into. My table of 4 including a baby were seated by a window by a nice hostess. The server assigned to us was apparently the bartender as well. First of all she should have left her attitude at home before coming to work today because she had a bad attitude that annoyed the hell out of me. As first time customers we obviously knew nothing about the menu and trusted the yelp community with a few dishes. She didn't give us a speech on the menu or any recommendations. When asked what she recommended all she had to say with her monotone voice was "everything's good". She had an attitude from the get go even though we were nice about it. She didn't offer us a high chair, we had to get up and look for one. When asked what kind of lemonade options they had, she was blunt in the fact that there was no other options other than "just lemonade". We just wanted to know if there was other flavors. Our new server that was given to us mid lunch was very helpful in asking questions for us since the previous server didn't tell us that everything on their lunch menu was basically not being served during lunch--which was very annoying. I feel as though he might have been annoyed by us but had the previous server been helpful, we wouldn't of had a hard time. Overall the food was good and we enjoyed it. I just wish I wouldn't have been so annoyed the entire time. There was a bit of a mix up with the bill at the end because of her lack of communication with the new server. She forgot to mention that she comp a drink for the birthday girl we were with after we returned a nasty drink back. We were gonna get charged dinner prices instead of lunch prices for items that were on a lunch menu that were apparently not being served during lunch hours. In the end I'm glad the problem got resolved. I was just hoping our first experience would be nice but maybe in the future it will be better if they hire nicer servers who know the menu and are patient with first timers. All in all nice decor does not make up for shit service.
(2)Mayer D.
I came to Bottega Americano for Labor Day dinner. Beautiful place is huge inside and tall ceilings and great arrangements. They sat us quickly and anywhere we wanted. We say at the bar area viewing the kitchen and not a bad seat. We ordered the branzino and it came with head and all bone in. Not the way your supposed to serve that but ok they say it's classic Italian lol. All in all the food was good, drinks were yummy and id recommend it
(4)Moonie S.
The space is beautiful. The staff is friendly. The ambiance is fantastic. The drinks are delicious. The food is sometimes amazing and at other time very salty. The level of salt in some of the dishes was insane.
(4)Morgan S.
Beautiful setting! It's as if New York City has arrived to San Diego. We sat at the bar- La Dolce Vida cocktail was delicious and the freshly juiced watermelon in my drink just showed the attention to detail in crafting every drink. The pizzas are great- fresh dough and ingredients and I love the thin crust (similar pizza style as Basic Pizza). We tried a variety of meatballs- the pork didn't have a lot of flavor but the beef was good and the marinara sauce was authentic. The only reason I'm giving 4 stars is that I think that the staff needs to loosen up a bit and take the time to get to know their customers. It feels very "institutionalized" and I think the staff could warm up the place just by warming up to customers more. I'm looking forward to my next visit.
(4)Tanya K.
I've eaten here a good handful of times now that the restaurant is a new spot and everyone suggests it for group dinners. I have to say, I'm not a big fan. I'd rather move my dinners over to Table No 10 or downtown classics like Bice. Don't know what I'm missing here. Food - I've tried a good amount of the vegetarian selection from pasta to soups to pizza. Nothing has really blown me away, and very few items have been good. There is a truffle infused cheese that once showed up on one of the large cheese plates put together for the table that is AMAZING. I LOVED it. Ambiance - A lot of people like the ambiance here. It's reminiscent of Bottega Louie in LA, except with multiple levels of seating. There's a good selection of higher bar tables and lower tables. I'm not a huge fan of the space. It seems like they tried to make the space a mix of warm and modern, but it comes off as sterile with some warm/natural elements. It's not cozy, nor is it stark. And it's at the far end of downtown in East Village. Quite a trek if you live in Little Italy or the Columbia district. Service - Good. I've only been here with very large groups and we've always been well accommodated.
(3)Cindy M.
Really cool new spot downtown! Happy hour daily 3-6. Nice wine selection and great prices on meat and cheese boards, apps, and pizzas! The decor is awesome and Scott was a fabulous server! This place gets busy on the weekends fast so make a reservation. The desserts are awesome! Loved the tiramisu and pistachio truffles! Throughly enjoyed the steak & Gorgonzola pizza and the servers recommended meat & cheese plate! My drink choice is the La Dolce Vita or Scott's vodka special! Must try and u can pick up food here from their awesome marketplace!!
(4)Elvin D.
Came here on a Saturday for happy hour which is daily 3-6pm which is pretty dope!! Drafts $5 wines $5 wells $6. All Pizzas $10 which is great since off regular menu $16-22. Food was delicious pizzas were on point good fresh ingredients and bacon was more like a ham. Had the mussels and sausage with white wine so bomb!!! If you don't try this your a FOOL! So damn good!! Also there's an outdoor patio good for kids and it's very spacious inside with many tables good for groups! And if you're in a rush there's a marketplace where you can order pre made food to go! I will definitely come back for dinner! I give this place 4.5 stars if I could!
(4)Alicia O.
Love their muscles and meets & cheese board. I am a snob when it comes to this kind of places...BA has highest rating from me. Excellent mix of well thought flavors purposely mixed (or not) for the palate enjoyment. Service is great (once you pass the host who doesn't know much about client service), waitresses have been very attentive, good suggestions on wine and cheese (incl a 2 wine and 6 cheese tasting to decide what I wanted). They pace the delivery of food perfectly to my taste and ambiance is just for me. Their decor with black and white designs, dramatic large pic collage on the wall and marble counter tops is exquisite. Experience will largely change depending on where you sit in the large restaurant space. This is a 9.9 out of 10 for me. Hot spot in SD!
(5)Logovo L.
Great, large open space. Excellent service, but whoa doggy, stay away from the salads. No, I'm serious, 90% of the food was quite good, but we had the Nicoise (to go) and the Rotisserie salads and they were overpriced and not tasty. But they made things right, so yes, considering the quality of everything else I'm coming back. Lovely meat and cheese plates, everyone loved their pizza and sandwiches, excellent wine and beer menu. Tip on parking for lunch: Go to Padres Parkade. $2 for 2 hours.
(4)joyce p.
My husband and I went on the Saturday after Halloween, it was extremely busy. We had reservations at 930 but got out of our movie early and arrived at 830 they had nothing earlier so we sat at the bar. We were extremely lucky to have even gotten seats. We had a bunch of things starting with the buratta and speck I love speck and I loved this dish a great balance of the creamy cheesy buratta and the salty speck. We then had the salted fingerling potatoes with romesco sauce and a fried egg on top, this was perfect everything was creamier then it really should've been, amazing. Now my favorite dish was a wild mushroom dish with truffle, it was a perfect unami dish, loved loved it! On to the octopus and slab bacon dish with romesco, not my fave but the bacon.... well you can't go wrong with bacon on most anything, the octopus was was a tad overcooked, not enough to send back but enough to not fully enjoy it. My husband got a very good gnocchi with the same amazing burrata on the side, very creamy melt in your mouth goodness. Oh the drinks i had and highly recommend the la dolce vita very good balanced drink that can get you in trouble if you have more than 2, my hubby had the martini milano a good classic martini. Now to the dessert, we ordered 2 one with a honey cake a chocolate ganache and an ube-like gel thing (now if you know filipino food you know ube), this was not good. The ube for me was kind of neat to see at a restaurant in the gas lamp, the dessert chef was filipino cause I asked if it really was ube. The honey cake was like a hockey honey puck, dry and hard just about inedible but the other dessert made up for this one. The chocolate budino was out of this world, incredibly light in texture but topped with a great crunchy textural cookie like pebbles. It was so good I would order this in the marketplace by itself. The service at the bar was great, seemed a little rushed at times, but it was that day very busy, we were served and did not wait long it was well worth the trip there I would definitely go again and hopefully get a table this time.
(4)Jacqueline M.
Bottega Americano has become our go-to place, especially on Fridays when we're done with work and ready to relax. Bar service is really great. Everyone at the bar is personable, friendly and helpful when it comes to recommending things on the menu. We tried all new things tonight and it was all really great. Ricotta with honey comb, fritti calamari and shrimp, New York strip and mussels and chorizo. My bf will not shut up about the steak. We've eaten our fair share of beef and for the price... This was good; great char and actually cooked how we ordered, medium rare. I can't tell you the last time we ordered a steak that cost under $30 and tasted like something from Mastro's or any great steakhouse. I personally loved the ricotta and honey comb and especially the mussels. The broth is super smokey and rich and delicious. Brandi recommended the moose bar, so over course we had to grab one from the marketplace to go on the way out. GOOD IDEA. Side note: the marketplace had so much more merch than the first time we went. Pizza doughs, fresh breads and sauces.
(5)Courtney H.
Delicious! This space is a little unassuming sitting on a corner, but the inside is spacious and beautiful. There is a small market of Italian goods with a few chairs that make it feel welcoming (and nice if you're waiting for the rest of your party like I was). We had a reservation and were promptly seated near the open kitchen where you could easily see them preparing pizzas. To start, I ordered a moscato and we split a cheese plate. We had the taleggio, mortadella and pecorino which was accompanied with mustard, chutney, and crisps. You can build your own tray with the variety of selections they offer. Any time I eat Italian, I typically order the pappardelle dish offered, but I went for something new and ordered the paccheri (a thicker, rigatoni-type noodle) with truffle, pork, peas and mushrooms in a creamy, white sauce. I loved the dish and was surprised and happy that the peas held up in the richness of the dish. Many times peas almost seem like an afterthought addition, but this dish wouldn't seem the same to me without them. We requested bread, which comes with a generous portion and a tomato dipping sauce and for dessert, I ordered the affogato, a dessert I would like to end most of my meals. The food was incredible and I look forward to trying more. The service was also spot on. It felt like a true dining experience where we never felt rushed, but where were checked on to fill drinks and take orders. Also, the chef preparing the pizzas asked how we were enjoying our dishes. Again, the space is gorgeous, the food fantastic and the overall experience one I enjoyed.
(5)Elaine R.
Molto bene! Custom insignia tile, wood stacks for columns, sleek marble-esk table tops created a very swanky environment for us to enjoy our food. The wait staff was super friendly and attentative. The mussels with garlic chorizo sauce will leave your tastebuds singing! Plus one of the best parts is to dip their toasted bread into the sauce for added palate satisfaction. We also had their shrimp pasta which lacked some flavored so we added the leftover chorizo sauce to it and it took it up a notch. We just didn't stop there we couldn't leave without trying their desserts. The gelato was eccellente! It tasted just like the ones I've had in Rome. When in Rome...
(4)Thuong T.
This is a really nice restaurant thats great for italian food and drinks. They have short tables and tall tables and bar-like seating. They have a small section of display cases where you can also order dessert. They have pastas, anti-pastas, appetizers, pizzas, and shared plates for two. The customer service is on point. FOOD: Steamed Mussels $16 (chorizo, white wine, garlic-herb butter, calabrian chilies, grilles bread) The mussels were fresh. The sauce was subtle. Didn't like the sausages or the bread. The bread had like a stale breadstick kind of texture. I would much prefer the thin crispier kind of bread that usually comes with a mussel dish. Pappardelle $20 (braised lamb sugo, pecorino) This dish is simple but delicious. Tender lamb meat with a good sauce. Prosciutto $18 (broccolini, roasted garlic, tomato, mozzarella, crescenza cheese, calabrian chiles) I loved the idea of prosciutto on pizza. It was good but nothing too unique about the flavors. Pistachio pesto $16 (taleggio cheese, mozzarella, radicchio peaches, red onion, truffle honey) This was my favorite dish of the night. Who would've known that peaches with cheese and truffle honey could be SO AMAZING together on a pizza? Highly recommended. Overall, food looks great and tastes good. Definitely recommend the pizzas.
(4)Steven K.
Service was very good and the food was great too! Was not a huge fan of their appetizers, the figs felt like something was missing. However the tomatoe like dip they give you for bread was awesome. This place allowed me to scratch that italian food itch for sure. I also got the Pacherri which was really good, rich, creamy and heavy. The real star was the Sage Ravioli, wow! Also rich and heavy but super tasty. The also have a full bar which was a huge plus! Also got the pistachio pesto pizza with onions, pears, goat cheese and truffle honey. It was a very different kind of pizza, sweet and savory. Our server messed up the order and was super sweet about it, she gave us the prosciutto pizza and comped it when she realized we orders the pistachio pesto, so we got a whole free pizza to take home!
(3)Melissa A.
Happy to find this hidden gem in East Village! This place is located on a corner right next to a law school. I loved sitting in the patio. Nice spot for date night! Service was friendly & welcoming. We ordered Oysters, Pappardelle, & Paccheri. The Pappardelle had braised lamb in a tomato sauce & pecorino cheese. The Paccheri had a truffle cream sauce, pork, mushrooms, & peas. Both entrees left our bellies full & happy! Pappardelle satisfied my carb cravings & the lamb was a perfect complement. My husband ordered the Paccheri & the truffle cream sauce was delicious, but we both agreed the pork was a little much & he didn't finish it. Oysters were a nice starter (when is it not?!) & went well with the recommended wine, Prosecco. They only had 1 type of oyster available, which is the Hood Canal Oyster. I recommend getting the Bottega Blend, which is a white wine. I love buttery, slightly sweet wines. Heads up! Dog friendly & they offer valet parking.
(4)Maria C.
We came in with another couple for dinner, and we were promptly seated at our table. We were offered comped bread and red sauce while we perused the menu. Drinks were $12 a pop and I ordered the Trevi Fountain (Aperol/prosecco/club soda/orange/seasonal fruit). Our server arrived with drinks and we ordered the following as appys to share and our main entrees: -Di stefano barrata ($15) -Whole Branzino ($30) -Gnocchi ($18) -Lamb Osso bucco ($30) -Salted caramel budino Everything we had was very good. My entree was the whole branzino. I really have a whole fish to myself with skin and head, but decided to try a healthier dinner option. Had I known it had so many bones, I would have opted to get a skirt steak or a pasta dish. The branzino was tender and meaty. Good flavor with lots of lemon. The lamb was delicious. I had a piece of the osso bucco and it was tender with good flavors. I really enjoyed the Gnocchi as well. The barrata cheese topped on the pasta was a perfect pairing. The ambiance is simply beautiful. Elegant, modern and contemporary. Even the bathrooms are nice! There's a little to-go area when you walk in, which is nice if you want to grab and go. There are some yummy desserts you can pick up as well. I did pick up some macaroons to take home and they were yummy!!! I would definitely come back again and try more of their menu items. Great addition to downtown SD!
(4)Kat M.
I celebrated my birthday here this past Saturday with the help of Ally (the kind lady who answered the phone), Sara (Sales Manager), and Todd (our waiter). The reason why I decided to celebrate here was because I went to happy hour with some co-workers a few months back and our waiter (forgive me, I forgot his name, but he is super nice and well versed in the selections on the menu-- I also saw him working at the bar this past weekend) helped create a very memorable experience. The food and wine selection was great and because of his hospitality, I knew I would return. Ally kept in touch with me by securing the reservation and connected me with Sara when I asked if we could have a fixed menu. I gave Sara a budget and she was able to create a menu for our party on such short notice. In addition, the food was great. We had charcuterie boards, salads, pizzas, and ended up ordering a few bottles of wine that night. They even brought out a complimentary cannoli with a candle so my guests could sing, "Happy Birthday!" Everything was delicious. Not to mention the ambience was beautiful and lively. With downtown having a variety of dining options, it's all about the experience. Because of the people, food, ambience and oh... did I mention reasonable prices??-- I know that I will be a returning customer. We all had a great time! Thanks, you guys! :-)
(5)Mimi T.
A group of us came here for a business lunch. They were able to accommodate a large group without a lot of notice. The food fell short of my expectation. I had the seafood special for the day--Prawns with kale and black rice. The dish was on the oily side. My colleagues shared the same sentiments about their dishes. Perhaps it is better to come here for dinner?
(3)John T.
A little pricey but excellent food and service. Fun to watch the food being prepared at the various stations. Dog friendly outdoor dining.
(5)Anita T.
A decent restaurant, reminded me of Bottega Louie in Los Angeles because their interior look so much alike! My friends and I ordered a Salumeria with prosciutto, finocchiona, and a kind of cheese I totally forgot what the name was! The prosciutto was very delicious. It is very tender and soft, and the seasoning is just perfect, salty just at the right level. The cheese was also amazing. It is so rich and creamy and is definitely comparable to the cheese I had when I was living in Europe. However, the finocchiona was very average compared to the other two, and I really don't have a lot to say about it. The bread on the platter was also very well-baked and the three different little jams and dipping sauces for the bread on the side were also all very impressive and unique. All of us enjoyed the Salumeria very much. For the main dish, as a lamb lover, the lamb pappardelle was a no-brainer. The lamb was very tender and I enjoyed the protein itself very much. However, I do have one complaint is that the marinara sauce was a little too heavy and salty. In addition, I felt like the sauce was unoriginal. The only thing that made it different from other marinara sauce was the lamb. But honestly, I thought the combination of the two wasn't very harmonious. It was kind of like forcing the taste of the lamb to go into the sauce when those two just don't fit together. One of my friend got the mussels, and as a picky eater, he didn't enjoy it a quite lot. He thought the sauce could be a little more heavy, and the bread served with the mussels should've been the bread we had for the Salumeria. My other friend got the spaghetti meatball, and that dish turned out to be delicious. Although it is something so simple, the meatball was refined and every part of the meatball was heated perfectly. I was really debating between giving this place 3 or 4 stars. Despite the delicious Salumeria, the lamb pappardelle still did not impress me a whole lot. However, the ambience and interior decoration made my dinning experience very pleasant, so I'm going to go with 4. I look forward to come back again and try out their brunch and hopefully give them another star that I'm sure they deserve!
(4)Zildheam D.
First time visit and hopefully one of many, many, many more. Friday night reservations, beautiful large open area, opened kitchen, small market at the front of the restaurant and delicious food. The yellowtail crudo is extremely tiny, if you are greedy like myself - order your own instead of sharing -its that delicious! Alaskan cod was plated beautifully and served to perfection. Katy took excellent care of us and Jeff is such an asset to this place. My minor wish is that they hire a hostess who matches the positive and welcoming vibe from everyone else. Don't let that deter you, everyone can have a bad day and so what if she ignored us for a long time, the food and service besides that is amazing and I highly recommend reservations!
(5)Lo R.
What an amazing eating experience. This is a great place to eat, drink, coffee, deli sandwich, dinner, lunch. All of it! This place has amazing coffee drinks and Danishes that will make any one happy. This place has a night life that has a really fun atmosphere. Drinks are always on point and the servers are refreshingly witty. Iv been here a few times for lunch also and the menu is changing and stays delightfully delicious. Great place!
(5)David G.
Size matters; Bottega Americano is proof of that. Seriously, this place is huge, large, grand -- a far cry from the quainter Italian spots in Little Italy and South Park, and more reminiscent of over-the-top Italian-American spectacles like Eataly in NYC or Giada in Vegas. Bottega Americano is right at home in the East Village, where brand-spanking-new condo towers make the neighborhood feel more and more upscale with every passing week. This isn't a bad thing, mind you -- just a warning. If you expect cozy ambiance while whispering sweet nothings to your S.O. in subdued lighting, go somewhere else. If you want to celebrate Italian-style, then Bottega Americano is for you. You have your choice of places to celebrate, too. There's a fancy gourmet market, a deli/prepared-foods area with both sweet and savory foods available for take-out, a sprawling dining room, and an equally spacious bar, filled with pretty people downing happy hour vino like the end of the world was nigh. Naturally, that's where I decided to sit. Happy hour at Bottega Americano is actually quite awesome. After seating ourselves, the friendly bartendress was quickly out with $5 IPA beers and Chardonnay glasses. Can't go wrong with those. For snacks, we opted for the eggplant caponata and a pistachio pesto pizza. The eggplant caponata was tasty, but too salty for my taste. The pistachio pesto pizza was much better, and I especially liked the creative addition of peaches on top -- definitely an original twist. After happy hour was over and our tab was paid, we decided to make a detour to the dessert case and grab a French macaron and hazelnut truffle to go. They weren't the freshest, but still a nice sweet treat on the way out. Nice job, Bottega Americano. Even though I'm normally skeptical of oversized restaurants with a lot of flash, consider me your newest fan. :-)
(4)Lux S.
Nestled in the heart of east village what a delightful establishment this place is. It is beautiful and wondrous to set eyes on, even in the day. A lady friend and I came for lunch. They do "executive" lunches for $20. We opted for the tuna panini and the steamed mussels. The tuna panini was awesome. It came with a small side salad. The tuna was great, it wasn't as chopped as you would find in a canned tuna and I think there was egg in the sandwich which complemented the dish well. We were on the hunt for some amazing mussels and yes, we found them! Although I didn't figure I would favor too much of a red sauce it was actually quite addicting. The mussels are on the smaller size but do not lack quality at all. They were tasty, cleaned and prepared well. This dish you must order, I promise. Our server whose name I've either forgotten or never got was just ok. He checked on us maybe about once. He took a while to process our cards and said the system went down. After checking my bank statement I noticed there was a charge that was definitely not our bill and a charge that was, so I charged twice. He did void it but it would've been nice to know that mishap... There is also a cute market you may shop from! And even though we shared we were completely satisfied and astounded at how good everything was. First impression knocked both of us out of the park. Thank you, Bottega Americano!
(5)Kelly O.
Great dinner! The lamb pappardelle ($20) was everyone's favorite. The lamb was so tender and the dish was well seasoned--not too salty. Delicious. We also got the fennel sausage pizza ($16) with cauliflower panna, goat cheese, mozzarella, roasted tomatoes, kale. I still don't know what panna is, but the pizza exceed expectations. The goat cheese was delicious, the tomatoes added a sweetness...even the kale was crispy and so good. I would order it again--or come back during happy hour when pizzas are $10 (I think?) The atmosphere is awesome. It's huge and classy and feels the most like a NYC restaurant out of anywhere I've been in SD. Not super hipstery, either. There are several different areas, a cafe area, a little market, and the big dining area and more. Loooved it. For dessert we got a couple macaroons. The pistachio was far superior to the chocolate. Just a small thing. :)
(5)K C.
I really like this place, but today, it missed the mark for me. Make sure you point out the specific dessert you want because I was eyeing the cheesecakes for awhile before I decided to buy one. I noticed that they had two older ones at the bottom of the display next to a birthday cake. When I got home... what a disappointment. The cashier had boxed one of the older cheesecakes. I wouldn't have been so upset if it tasted alright, but this one tasted old and the consistency was like cheese (I posted a pic). I've gotten their cheesecakes before and they were light and "fluffy" and I was really surprised by the quality of this one. It should have been tossed if they didn't want it on display with the other ones and they had it hiding at the bottom of the display. Super disappointed that I spent $7 on days old cheesecake.
(1)Lisa W.
I'm not sure if this part of the Bottegas in Socal (like LA's Bottega Louie) but it kind of have the same concept. The place is huge! Even for a huge place some of the seating was oddly place. Our table was so tightly closed to another table and there was no room to move the chair or what not. Our server was knowledgable but pretty slow. He wasn't the greatest but it wasn't a bad experience. It was hard to get his attention. But when we did he was great. The night was pretty busy though. We still had a good time. Food items: -Oysters: delicious buttery oysters! -Charcuterie board (Prosciutto, salami, and soppressata with cheese like Brie): you get to choose 4 items. The deli meats were good. Nice and fresh -Lamb osso del buco: The meat literally fell off the bone. There was a crunchy-ness on the top over polenta and some kale. I love the kale that was sitting beneath it soaking all the delicious flavor at the bottom. -Lamb pappardelle: the lamb was a bit dry but the pappardelle with the lamb gave it good flavor. Desserts: we were in a hurry and wasn't able to get dessert but there will be a next time as I want to try their mussels and dessert! One thing though, I booked through open table and somehow the hostess messed up and put me as a "no show." As you know it's a bad stats to get a no show on open table and potentially kicked out. I got the email from open table and was a bit frustrated, but I called and I don't know who I spoke with but she was very sweet to work it out with me! I can tell they care about their customers! They were able to put me as cancel and told me to make another one so I can the points. I like resolutions to problems! Especially working together.
(4)Christina R.
Solid! 2 skinny girls with big appetites cleared half a dozen oysters, ricotta with honeycomb and 6 servings of crostini, lamb pappardelle, a fennel sausage pizza, and a house bread board with a bowl of marinara. The portions were generous and brought pre-divided to the table for 2. Finding meter parking was a pain- but valet is optional for $7ish. Service was excellent. On to the Food: Oysters- luscious, petite, served with a red wine vinegar mignonette, and cocktail sauce Ricotta with honeycomb- huge segments of velvety comb in an enormous bowl of local di Stefani ranch ricotta. They didn't flinch when we asked for the third order of crostini. Lamb Papardelle- so good! Perfectly al dente pasta, wildly flavorful marinara, delicious lamb- not at all gamey, though I like it that way too. Just a tad bit on the overdone side. All in all, I wiped the dish clean with the house Rosemary bread. Fennel sausage pizza- wow- surprisingly good- I normally don't care for fennel or even sausage on my pizza but this was very well-crafted. Delicious crust- not too sweet and perfect for dipping in the marinara. Fennel flavor can be too overpowering when it's not roasted enough, but this was. Absolutely no room for dessert this time, but will probably be back to sample these and the crudos at happy hour.
(5)Cherry L.
Came to San Diego for vday weekend and we made reservations for dinner here. I must say this became one of my favorite restaurants! The ambiance reminded me of Bottega Louie in LA soso much! I told our server if she's ever heard of bottega louie in LA and she said that a lot of customers had told them that this place looks like it so I guess I'm not the only one lol. It's super cute and bright inside and they also have outside seating with heated lamps. It's kind of like a better and fancier version of Bottega Louie, although I loveeee my Louie! We had the chorizo steamed mussels, oysters, scallops, and halibut with a bottle of wine and EVERYTHING was delightful and distinctive! All of the tastes just went so well together and I was eating every dish til the very last piece including the sauce and sides/fillers! They're also inexpensive and extremely affordable for such high quality food! I will definitely be back here when I'm visiting SD again!
(5)Anna E.
Everything was good, but nothing really blew me away. The meat and cheese board had some tasty treats, but again, nothing earth shattering. The ricotta with honey was tasty, but just a tad bland. We sat at the bar for happy hour and the server was great. Happy hour specials were decent and the space is beautiful.
(3)Adriana F.
Such a wonderful atmosphere. The patio is very relaxing. I loved that I can bring my dog here!! Pet friendly place. The server is fantastic. Great knowledge of the menu and had very good recommendations. Adrian is a wonderful server and took care of us. He was very prompt and friendly. The mussels are extremely good. I would come here every week! Great place to be and friendly staff.
(5)Jocelyn A.
The stylish decor earns a solid 5-stars, but I didn't find the food or the service to be on the same level. We ordered the ricotta and honeycomb from the "for the table" menu. It was absolutely delicious, but nothing else from that section of the menu sounded at all interesting to our group. The portion size for the ricotta was fairly generous (minus the fact that it only came with four crostini), but I saw a few other items come out of the kitchen and "for the table" seems to mean "for a table of two". Next we shared the brussel sprout and slab bacon pizza. The bacon had a nice smokey flavor, but it wasn't crispy at all and was more reminiscent of ham. Truthfully, I thought the whole pizza could have used a little more crisp to it. The brussel sprouts made the whole thing pretty soggy. The sauce and crust were fine, but nothing special. We also ordered a few pastas to share. The duck ragu fuzi and the lamb pappardelle were beautiful in presentation, but lacking in flavor. Both were served room temperature, and felt like they had been sitting too long before delivery. They serve bread upon request, and it too was unremarkable. The dipping sauce was good, but both it and the bread were served cold when they would have been better warm. The waitstaff is young, and seemed inexperienced. We got there early in the evening, and the hostess was sitting in the bar area with her shoes off - an off-putting way to start! Our server was kind, and fairly knowledgeable about the menu, but he left us hanging on a number of occasions. Overall, I would say that the stunning decor does not make up for the lackluster fare. I would suggest stopping into the cafe section instead, you can still marvel at the beauty of the place, without having to pay the high prices for dinner.
(3)Pete T.
When you first walk in your sights will gaze of the atmosphere sparkling lights hanging from the ceiling and then you'll a warm welcome from the hostess servers and bartenders The bar is lively with a great happy or five dollar drafts and five dollar house wines. Special prices for appetizers which all have been delicious and well portioned I Can easily recommend Bottega Americano as the unique casual atmosphere for any of your intimate occasions you wish to share with your loved ones
(5)Christine T.
Bottega Americano is a fantastic place for dinner. We were in town for the day and decided to dine here. Though we walked in with no reservations on a Saturday night, we were able to grab 4 seats at the bar. Saved us an hour of waiting. We ordered a number of things but what stood out were the scallops, fennel sausage pizza, meat & cheese board, and also the cocktails! I love the ambiance and decor of this restaurant. The kitchen is open so you can see all the excitement of the backhouse and they also have a marketplace near the entrance. Solid. Will definitely be back.
(5)Mac W.
Great brunch! I randomly stumbled upon this place one day walking to a friend's condo and decided I would check out their brunch even though it is known as an Italian restaurant. They have a little marketplace inside the restaurant if you want to buy pastries, cakes, salads, or sandwiches to go. They also sell some of their own rubs. We are outside on the patio since it was a pretty nice day. The service was a little slow but our waitress gave excellent recommendations. All of the brunch items range from $9 for bacon and eggs up to $16 for pasta. We ordered the breakfast calzone, French toast, steak and eggs, bacon and eggs, and the lamb pasta dish. You can order a bottle of champagne and a cafe of juice (OJ, tangerine, or grapefruit) for $35 or a single mimosa will run you $10. Everything was super tasty and the portions were pretty big. The breakfast calzone is AMAZING. Our server recommended the French toast and said it sells out often. It is also pretty tasty! I will definitely be back for brunch and look forward to trying the dinner menu soon. For a party of 5 our bill was $140 and that included brunch along with 2 bottles of champagne so not a bad deal for brunch downtown.
(4)Veronica E.
my GF who lives in east village wanted to catch up and suggested this place - so glad she did! I love reviewing places based on the over all experience so here it goes... AMBIANCE: LOVE. you can tell its not their first rodeo designing. all white- counter tops, floors, walls - with brass lamp fixtures.... just an overall 'clean' look that is appealing. We ate at the pasta bar so we didnt have to wait for a table - yes it was busy on a Wednesday, like it was a friday night... PACKED! FOOD: hands down the best MUSSELS i've had around town! The Filipino in me wanted white rice to eat with the thick broth and not waste the tastiness. it came with a full amount of med sized muscles and two pieces of toast a top. i had the DUCK rigatoni which was okay - portions were on the smaller side but very savory. I felt like there should be more flavor in the sauce but the past was made in house, very al dente. My friend had the BUTTER LETTUCE with grilled shimp, tasty! i think i'd rather have this, came with 4 shrimp and a soft boiled egg. We shared dessert... not very impressed but presentation was great! Cant wait to come back and try drinks and a few more items! PRICE: def 12-17$ per plate, some appetizers were less SERVICE: our waiter was very sweet and made sure we enjoyed everything. He was good about checking in and changing our order last min. PARKING: street parking in the neighborhood! ***Please excuse any typos or grammatical errors as this was done on my iPhone**
(4)Erica T.
This is my favorite restaurant downtown. We live in East Village and I can't believe we didn't check it out sooner. We are making up for it though. Loved it so much the first time that we went back again that same week. The mussels are amazing! All the lamb dishes are tasty. Everything we have tried has been great. We look forward to brining our puppy there to eat on the patio so he can enjoy one of their doggie treats while we have dinner. Love everything here!
(5)Sylvia S.
I highly recommend this place...if you're looking for an innovative design concept along with totally lackluster customer service! What a buzz-kill. We checked in for our 1:15 pm brunch reservation, only to be completely ignored for the next 20 minutes. (I mean seriously ignored, looked straight through, brushed by, totally and utterly ignored.) Finally got the huffy bartenders attention, while our waitress continued to punch her one and only table's order into the computer, to request a little water. She took our drink order, then turned around and promptly began to pick up teeny, tiny pieces of microscopic trash from the floor...I kept waiting for the hidden cameras to pop out and tell me that I was on some sort of hidden camera show. After 20 minutes of nothing, we high-tailed it out of there and practically ran to our faithful standby, Cafe Chloe, where we received the the most crazy-delightful service that is their hallmark...not to mention the most delicious brunch in San Diego. Cafe Chloe never, ever disappoints! I'm sorry Cafe Chloe...I'll never stray again!!
(1)Malcolm J.
Nice decor, much bigger and brighter than it appears from the outside. Definitely go inside and check it out. Really good service, Brandi was personable and attentive with a good sense of humor. Breakfast Calzone ($14): Cool idea. Never had one before but I liked it. Good sized portion, it ended up being enough for 2 so we didn't order anything else. I would order this again.
(4)Janel P.
Fantastic place for dinner. The menu changes so don't get excited over the photos or recommended items bc it might not be there. However, I had salmon and it was the best I've ever had. Portions are generous and worth every penny.
(5)Brad B.
This place has been on my radar for quite a while now, and I finally stopped in last Sunday for a long overdue drink. We plopped down at the bar and I simply sat there looking around and taking it all in. There's a giant pizza oven, an iced seafood bar, a small market up front, a patio with a vespa, windows with a view of the trolley rolling by and towering pillars decorated with unfinished firewood - absolutely beautiful. Now, I can't speak for the food but will most definitely be coming back sometime soon for happy hour at the very least. Our bartender gave us all the details and the $10.00 pizzas sound like the perfect reason to return. On the other hand, I am able to speak for the cocktails. I ordered a variation of a pisco sour, which was similar enough to Peru's signature drink but different enough to be considered unique to Bottega. It was prepared perfectly and presented in glass dressed with a small wedge of pineapple. Yum! This drink is a total summer sipper and I can see myself spending many, many hours on the patio with one of these in my hand... pinky out!
(5)Jamie E.
Beautiful interior, I was worried when my friends choose Italian. I was pleasantly surprised by the many options for someone who is not an Italian food pasta eater. They were very accommodating to my food allergies. Probably the best salmon I have ever had in a restaurant, delicious salads and veggie sides from the cold bar.
(5)Cody S.
I've REALLY wanted to try this place for 6 months now. I've even recommended it to friends based off of word of mouth alone. This week was finally the week. After perusing the menu online, my husband and I headed in for lunch. The interior is awesome. You immediately walk into a display case of incredible looking desserts, and then glance left to see stunning wooden floors with tile pathways, log adorned pillars, a magnificent bar that stretches to the ceiling, and lots of natural light. I was immediately happy I chose to come here. So what happened? First off, the menu wasn't the same. I had wanted pasta but the price of gnocchi was $20 instead of the $15 listed on their website, where as the meatball panini my husband wanted wasn't listed at all. Our waiter explained they have seasonal menus. Fair, but why would a price shoot up? I made my peace and settled on ordering a chicken panini instead while they agreed to make my husband's sandwich (score!). However, things got worse. Our sandwiches arrived and looked tasty. That is until I bit into mine. The meat on the inside was ICE COLD. Not just normal refrigerator cold, but like it had been sitting in ice. I understand it's hard to grill a sandwich all the way through but this was as if they took 2 pieces of toast and stuck frozen meat on it. I tried to eat a few bites but couldn't keep going and mentioned it to my server. He took it back explaining he would bring a new one out shortly. So I waited. And waited. And waited. Now it was 15 minutes later and there was still no panini or status update on it. My husband, who had been trying to eat his meal as slowly as possible, was now finishing the last remnants of his sandwich. I was getting really frustrated by the lack of communication. The waiter was finally walking by and I had to flag him down and tell him to get my sandwich to go. No apology, just an "Ok." Suddenly a waitress spilled ice water from the next table all over my leg and the ground. It was really no big deal but she apologized profusely. Then the manager came over and apologized. That's when it hit me. These people were more apologetic over water getting spilled than getting my order right. It took until this point before the manager acknowledged me, despite the fact that I saw our waiter discussing the panini with her earlier. They ended up comping my sandwich but the damage was done. I'm sure if I were to come another day I might have a different experience. But now I don't want to. When I finally ate the sandwich in the parking lot of Trader Joes (I'm classy like that), it wasn't very good. The quality of meat was there but whatever the sauce was tasted like cream cheese and it was smothered in so much of it that I felt like I had consumed a vat of oil by the time I finished. Between that and the prices ($20 for pasta at lunch?), I'm kind of over it. Too bad Bottega Americano, I had such high aspirations for you.
(2)Lexie A.
I would've gave them an extra star but I made reservation at least a week in advance for my significant others birthday. As soon as I checked in they told me that they were cleaning the area which was fine but I was seated at the bar..... I didn't know that if I made reservations in advanced I'd get seated at the bar instead of the table, where waitress and bus boys would constantly bump into my seat numerous times while I'm eating... Maybe when you make a reservation in advance, make sure you ask for a table. Food was good and my waitress was a sweetheart. I loved the cheese platter but you could've given more jam. Oysters and mussels were really good which I recommend.. Thank you for the birthday Cannoli but I don't think I'd recommend this place..
(2)Barney C.
Location: 4/5 Bottega Americano is pretty new to the neighborhood. I would consider it being in East Village rather than Downtown. That's good for me though because it's in walking distance. It's pretty close to the trolley station for those that are fans of mass transportation but then again, it's pretty close to the trolley station, for those that aren't fans of somewhat sketchy characters. The library down the block also lends to there being more than average sketchy characters. I have no issues and feel pretty safe. There's always security around too. Atmosphere / Ambiance: 4/5 First thing i noticed about the restaurant was that it was bright due to the lighting and white walls / accents. This doesn't boast well if you're trying to do the whole dim lit / candle light romantic thing but the establishment is fancy enough to impress a date. The seating varies with high top counters and standard tables and the crowd has a more of a middle-aged to older family and/or friends get together feel. This is not a bar or gastropub by any sense. Don't go in there with torn jeans or a jersey. Sorry sports fans. There's only one television in the restaurant. There are some cool rustic elements that help the vibe like columns encircled by stacked wood and funky lighting decor. Cleanliness: 5/5 As I mentioned above, this joint is bright. Like sterile operating room bright. It would be easy to spot any cleanliness issues with the amount of light in there, and I found no evidence of dirty or grim. It's pretty pristine. Service: 5/5 My server was legit. Prompt, friendly and attentive. Perfect amount of time was allotted for drinks then dinner selections. She took her time to explain the layout of the restaurant as it relates to the menu (5 different kitchens to match the 5 sections of the menu, top of menu = smaller plates, bottom of the menu = larger plates / entrees). She wasn't pushy with the specials and desserts either. I'm a fan of the her / the service. Food: 5/5 Amazingly delicious. The average entree course was around $25 but it was well worth it. The flavors were great, the food was cooked well and the portions were large enough for my huge appetite. I kinda get irritated when I shell out a lot of money for a child sized meal; personal preference. We ordered the NY Strip Steak (nice & large) and the Scallops (4 large ones). Both tasted delicious. There's a pretty large selection of meats and cheeses but I didn't venture down that culinary path. Looked like it was a great for sharing among a larger group though. Conclusion: Definitely try out this place. It's located far enough from the Gaslamp to avoid the masses and foot traffic, but the location is not inconvenient. The food is awesome as well. It's pretty fancy, but worth the cost. Good for date night? Sure, if you're not trying to set the "mood" ... it's better for a "I want to make sure you look good under bright lights but also what to show you I can be fancy" date. Taking your folks here would be a good look too. K. Tis all. Enjoy & Bon Appetit.
(4)Angela A.
Everything was delicious. We enjoyed appetizers including minestrone soup topped with cheese and meatballs with delicious marinara sauce and fresh parsley. Service was excellent. Chef and owner were both welcoming and delightful. Will definitely dine here again soon. Similar to Louis Bottega in DTLA.
(5)Chris S.
Bottega Americano 5 stars- ambiance and food quality 4 stars- service The food is amazing here. I would definitely recommend the beef carpaccio it was a good size portion and had a good flavor. The lamb rack is probably the best lamb I have ever had. It is a Colorado lamb which was not as gamey as a Australian lamb. In addition to the amazing taste it was also huge. The picture is actually the dish in half because it is just to big to eat by yourself. The fingerling potatoes and creamed spinach was amazing. The lamb au jus was phenomenal and added a lot of moisture to the dish. The tiramisu was also great and was a good sized portion for the cost. The only bad thing was that the service was lacking. As a person who works in a restaurant I know when the server is bad or is just busy. The server only took our order and only came back after we waved her down. No checking in and seeing what else can be done. If I could give 4.5 stars I would but overall this is a excellent place for some great food and ambiance.
(4)Vianney C.
Ambiance: This place has a very nice decor and ambiance. There are a lot of people on a Friday or Saturday night. It's a place to got to for drinks and maybe some appetizers Service: Out waitress was really nice, unfortunately I can't remember her name but she recommended a couple of dishes and entrees. Food & drinks: The only drink I had other than red wine was called "la dolce vita" which was okay. But the food was not good at all. Unfortunately the fiz rabbit pasta had the weirdest and strongest taste, something I wouldn't try again. The meatballs and strawberry pasta were the best we tried all night.
(2)David A.
I've come here several times, love the pizza, fresh pasta and variety of fresh appetizers. Reasonably priced, and convenient for Padres
(5)Kat G.
One of my favorite new spots in SD! Clean adorable ambiance, unique dining style, and the food is ridiculous. I've only been here 3x so far but have had a great time each experience trying new seasonal selections each time. I love the changing menu & freshness of the ingredients. Keep up the great work Bottega Americano, can't wait to come back!
(5)Sara G.
This place was freaking yummy! I went with 3 other friends so we got an assortment of food and shared. The, Fennel Sausage Pizza was exceptional! My only recommendation would be the chairs were a little uncomfortable and scrunched close together with other tables.
(4)Jennifer J.
This place is solid. I've never eaten anything bad here. My family really enjoyed their visit when we went as a group as well, and my dog was allowed on the patio. I was a little annoyed that they were out of the Gluten Free beer (my favorite beer and also the only kind I can drink). This place has been consistently spot on.
(4)Jeb H.
My girlfriend took me to Bottega Americano for my birthday, and it sure was a treat! This is an unusual restaurant in that it also sells retail items during the day. Upon walking in the door, I immediately noticed how large and roomy the place is, and also how busy it was on a Tuesday night. I also really like the rustic decor! A couple of cocktails got us off to a good start, and settled in to peruse the menu. We opted to try the meat and cheese board from the salumeria, and it was delightful. I appreciate how you can choose not only how many items you want, but also the specific meats and cheeses it will contain. We opted for the speck with a soft and a medium cheese. It was served with numerous slices of toasted baguettes and a lovely fruit medley that included strawberries, figs, nuts, and honey. I haven't had speck before, but it was...ahem...specktacular, and I enjoyed mixing and matching different items on the plate. We also split a Scallop Risotto that was also excellent! The scallops were gigantic, and the risotto was rich and creamy with melted cheese. Our server was fantastic! She was very knowledgeable about both the food and drink menu, and offered suggestions on what to pair together for our meat and cheese board. Great food, tasty drinks, excellent service, and a cool and stylish atmosphere all combine to ensure that we will be returning soon!
(5)Monika C.
Great food but slow service. (Granted we came here the second week that they opened and they might have been working out some kinks.) We sat at the crudo bar and got to watch the chefs preparing a variety of foods from crudo to pasta. The food was great and for that I would give it 5 stars, but the service was pretty slow and our dinner somehow ended up lasting 2 1/2 hours. Good thing we were sitting at the crudo bar which kept us entertained or the time in between dishes would have been miserable. This is probably the best Italian food I have ever had and this will definitely become a restaurant in our local rotation.
(4)Allyson L.
I live this place! We stopped here for Sunday happy hour. We were only going to get one drink but ended up with several rounds and food too. The design and decorations are amazing, very trendy! There weren't many people in there at the time so we sat right at the bar. Our bartender was very helpful and knowledgable. We were having trouble picking out cheeses for the cheese plate, so he told is a little about each one and what he recommended. We ended up with that and their artisan bruschetta. Everything was so tasty! I can't wait to come back here! It would be a great spot for specials occasions or even before a Padres game!
(4)linda y.
Came here for a Mother's Day late lunch at around 2pm. Thought it was pretty ordinary, nothing really stood out to me in particular. The decor was nice, had a young/hip vibe to it. Me and my boyfriend both ordered dishes that the waiter highly recommended [I got the breakfast calzone and BF got the Artichoke Benedict]. Both dishes were yummy, but nothing particularly memorable. We thought the artichoke benedict was better than the calzone though. It can get pretty loud, so if you are sitting at a rectangular table with more than 4 people, it's difficult to talk to/hear someone on the opposite side. They do validate parking.
(3)jayme h.
I rarely write reviews, let alone negative ones, but I can't let my experience here go unmentioned. The one saving grace, though, was the service. My waitress was friendly, attentive and didn't make a fuss over me sending my plate back...so kudos to her for salvaging my meal! I live downtown and walked by this place dozens of times. It has a welcoming outdoor patio with comfortable looking furniture...and when my fiancé and his friends went to the game I thought I'd give it a shot. Starving and with high hopes I ordered one of my all-time favorite pastas: linguine with clams. The dish arrived quickly, but at first glance something already looked odd. The noodles were about a 1/4 inch thick...and very yellow. But, hey, maybe they make their own pasta...so I dug in. Bite one: whoa. Wtf...these noodles are so heavy, doughy and mushy. The sauce was flavorless and incredibly salty. I couldn't even taste the clams. Three bites in, I surrendered, resigned to do the unthinkable: I was going to send it back. My super server came out to check on me and gave her the bad news. Thankfully she brushed it off and offered to bring me something else--I opted to try dessert and ordered the "piña colada bombe." It arrived roughly 20 mins later. Thankfully, it was tasty, but I was kinda expecting more for $12 and 20 minutes. I might go back for coffee and the patio, but never again for food.
(1)Songbird G.
Definitely loved the smoked ricotta pizza suggested by the waiter as a light repast. He went off on the wine suggestion - it was too dry for that night. Desserts are exqusitely made and the only complaint taking off 1 star is the small portion size. The most beautiful decor- hanging lanterns of various shapes changing as we move through the restaurant, the vespa scooters in red and black, photos covering the walls, chopped wood pillars and high ceilings, bar-like view kitchen, and an equally large bar make it a good experience for parties of all sizes and requirements. Even the trip to the restroom was interesting! They have a large display case showing off their sweets for the night. Romantic dinner for two? Check. Large office group having a discussion? Check. Senior friends meeting to gossip? Check. Family meeting? Check. They have you covered. I had a pleasant chat with one of the managers. Cons: I felt they have lesser options for vegetarians. A must visit.
(4)Rahul H.
Came back for dinner. Started with the three cheese plate, which was pretty good but not on the Bice level. Paired it with a great bottle of Sangiovese. Followed that up with the yellowtail crudo, which was fantastic. It was surrounded by a sauce that resembled cucumber ranch along with deconstructed key lime pie bits. Girlfriend went with the garganelli pasta with lobster broth and shrimp for her main. She enjoyed the fresh made pasta and sauce. I went with the broccoli rabe mozzarella Calabrian chilies pizza. It was standard but came with only one chili for some reason. Service was great for how packed the place was. And I mean packed not only because every seat in the house was taken but also how close the tables were. That was a bit much. Otherwise we loved it and are excited to come back. Definitely a place to gain some lbs.
(4)Heather s.
I'm very torn as I write this review. Our experience left much to be desired, but I'm bumping it up a star as it has so much potential... I'll have to give it another chance after they've had time to iron out the kinks. Headed there for a late lunch on one of its first days open, 9/1/14. The space is well designed and has been compared to Eataly in NYC (IMHO, like a distant runt cousin, really). As you enter, there's a counter to order take-out and a tiny store area. The rest is seating, with five advertised "bar" countertops or dining tables. We arrived a little after 1pm and were told there was a 20 minute wait for a table for 4 (strange considering how it was more than half empty). But we settled ourselves at the bar bar and ordered some drinks. The tab was easily transferred to our table once seated. Unfortunately the whole dining experience took us THREE hours in a more than half empty place - because it took so long to get us our drinks and food. DRINKS : Considering it was only their 2nd day open, they were out of a lot of items on their drink/wine menu. Poor form for a restaurant opening of this caliber. FOOD 4 stars overall: Excellent and the only real reason I can give this place an overall 3 stars from our experience as a whole. - SALUMERIA 5 for $25 (5 stars) : Choose your own meats and/or cheeses. Don't remember what we had but each selection was rich and delicious! - MUSSELS $13 (5 stars) : An amazing chorizo, white wine, garlic-herb butter sauce. In fact, probably THE best mussels dish I've ever had anywhere. Perfectly grilled toast and they brought us more to soak up every last drop of the scrumptious sauce. - RAVIOLI $18 (4 stars) : Filled with goat cheese and corn, with a brown butter sage sauce. The ravioli was perfectly hand made and cooked al dente. An interesting dish, best for a sweet tooth! I loved it, but could only eat half as it was so rich. Tasted like dessert! - GARGANELLI $18 (3 stars) : Again, perfect hand made pasta cooked perfectly al dente. Unfortunately, the shrimp was just mediocre and the spicy lobster broth was a under flavored. SERVICE : Sloooooooooooow - our waiter would disappear for long lengths of time. He did, however, acknowledge the ridiculous wait times (probably about 30-45 minutes) for each food course and even gave us all a glass of wine on the house as we were waiting. After we left the restaurant, we walked by our waiter who was having a smoke outside. He shook his head at us, looked depressed, and apologized again. Couldn't blame him for the delays caused by the kitchen though.... I did note they were horribly understaffed, even despite being half empty. PARKING : Street. Or walk, as we did from downtown.
(3)Teresa N.
Decent Italian food (seat down or to-go), has a mini Italian grocery store, modern trendy decor inside, patio seating, good service, reasonable price For appetizers we had Di Stefano Ricotta, Honey Comb, Olive Crostini. Really delicious app to start with, but ricotta has a relatively mild taste, make sure you enjoy this before other other dishes . Second app we had was the mussels, with some savory chile sauce (it wasn't spicy) for the grilled bread, the sauce was really addictive! Entree we had the Ravioli and Garganelli... they were both good but we all liked the ravioli more. The ravioli with the corn, goat cheese, and kale were very flavorful. Especially the kale, tasted like they cooked it with meat or something. Garganelli a egg based pasta, the dish was cooked with spicy lobster broth which I didn't find spicy at all, 4 jumbo shrimps, pretty big but not every flavorful, garlic and mint. I think the dish was just okay, more on the bland side. Very nice place, will definitely come back.
(4)Randi A.
This is my second time to actually dine in here- I can't describe how delicious both dining experiences were. I am completely hooked on the eggplant caponata. We ordered it our first time here and it was so good I came back later during the week to order some to go from the cold case. It was the perfect combination of sweet and savory, and on the toast- I could eat that all day long. I wish I had some right now. Recently we went for brunch- boyfriend ordered the frittata which was lovely, fluffy, light and fresh with arugula, pesto, and sundried tomato on top. I ordered the Paccheri pasta which was UNBELIEVABLE. Have you ever legitimately been sad about a meal being over? Because that's how I felt after the last bite. Homemade Pappardelle pasta, delectable mushrooms, guanciale, and peas in a delicious cream sauce topped with a fried egg is the best pasta dish I have ever tasted in my life. I was afraid it would be really heavy because of the cream sauce for so early in the day but it was surprisingly not. And the fried egg gave just the right amount of added richness without being overly so. They also have a great cocktail menu if you are into that sort of thing. I can't recall what I had but it included vermouth and oranges. Delightful. Can't wait to come back!
(5)Courtney O.
Trendy. Romantic. Perfect. Brought my boyfriend here for his birthday and we had such a delicious and wonderful experience. We came on a Thursday night and were able to find street parking a block away from the restaurant. They do offer valet. The restaurant was very busy, but we had made a reservation on OpenTable and were seated right away. In honor of his birthday, we, of course, ordered a bottle of wine. The Chianti was $33 for the bottle. Great deal for a delicious Italian wine. We started with the cheese platter. Our server recommended the boschetto cheese. Once he told us it had truffle oil in it, we were sold. EAT THIS CHEESE. It's unbelievable. We also tried the Robiola tre latti, a nice soft cheese blend that spread perfectly over the crostini. We also ordered the soppressata, a spiced salami. For dinner, my boyfriend and I shared the lamb pappardelle and the Fennel Sausage pizza. My boyfriend was particularly obsessed with the fennel sausage pizza calling it "the best pizza I've ever eaten." This pizza has kale on it, which originally made us laugh. But, the kale crisped up and added the perfect flavor combination in conjunction with the tomato and fennel sausage. It was so delicious. The pappardelle was my personal favorite. The lamb was bursting with flavor. For dessert, the restaurant served us a complimentary pistachio cannoli! Yum! Overall, our experience was wonderful and perfect for a romantic birthday celebration. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was comfortable yet lively. We will definitely be back.
(5)Jamie J.
THE CUTEST!! I only ordered from the cafe like spot- but bottega americana is probably the prettiest place I went so far in 2015. I am a HUGE fan. Can not wait to go back for dinner. Love the location as well!
(4)Nette B.
Came here for dinner and I love the ambiance. Call ahead and make reservations or there's communal tables. We sat on the high tops closer to the bar along the window and oh my you can see strange people passing by but great for people watching. he he... Server: I forgot her name but she was very nice and attentive. She explained the menu very well. **HH available 3-6pm daily Food: Mussels with chorizo, white wine, garlic-herb butter, calabrian chilies and grilled bread. OH MY GAWD! The BEST Mussels I've ever had. The chorizo goes so well with the mussels and sauce... ya the sauce. I had to order some extra bread. Paccheri, english peas, wild mushrooms, truffle panna and pork guanciale. I absolutely loved this dish. Roasted pork shoulder with brussel sprouts, caramelized onions, white bean puree and smoky jus. I was not a fan of this dish but the pork was very soft. I will definitely return as much as I can especially to have more mussels.
(4)M D.
I came in with big expectations! I thought they served breakfast which I was wrong about. They only do on Sunday's. The server was very sweet, and maybe I ordered badly, but my Tomato Bisque was too thick, filling and herb heavy. The blue cheese was a nice touch, but maybe they could tone down the calories (tomato bisque doesn't need cream). My soup came with a bread stick which was the heaviest bread stick ever made. It must have been deep fried and dunked in butter. Less is more and they don't seem to live by that here. I'll definitely give them another shot, but was not impressed at all this time around. As I was leaving, I got the sense that a lot of their business comes from the nearby Law School, and local businesses. It definitely wouldn't be my first pick for a casual lunch with friends.
(3)Fausto C.
Trendy. Fancy. Awesome decor, super big, service is always impeccable. Go to see and be seen. Food is great. Great location. Great DATE night place. Portions are just right. A bit expensive but worth it. Parking is difficult like in all of downtown SD. I highly recommend it.
(5)Crystal B.
Love love love Bottega Americano! What a beautiful and well executed plan this restaurant is! If ONLY it was open when I actually when to TJSL, but alas it opened as soon as I graduated! Anyway the decor is very cozy and gorgeous, it's such a special place to walk into! I was there from day 1 of construction so I must say I was super excited to see what came of this place, and all my visits since it opened have all been wonderful. Ive been countless times just for coffee and snacks or to go lunch for my office. All the salads in the case are amazing, except for some reason I'm not crazy about chopped salads but that's a personal preference, I do adore the butter lettuce salad though! It's great to also be able to put a protein on top for a few extra dollars. Also all the mini desserts are amazing, especially the truffles. The drinks at the counter are also realllllllly good, and they do offer almond milk! I love the chai latte (I always get a 2 shot dirty chai) because their mix is sugar free and more spicy than anything. The Miel is also yummy with honey! As for the restaurant itself, I always like to sit at the glass stations and watch the food being made. I've tried lots of diff stuff on menu but always have to get an order of the ricotta cheese/honey and at least one pizza. All in all I ADORE Bottega Americano for the fabulous food and ambience!
(5)Robin S.
I wanted to give it 2 stars, as an attempt to counteract the chorus of poodles out there yapping about how great this place is, but this is what I'd rate it if I had no expectations. Sadly, though, based on the reviews, we went with high hopes and were sorely disappointed, mainly because of: 1. The layout of the room is weird and disjointed. Even when empty, it looks messy. The designer was trying to go for "a look". It just didn't work. There were four of us and we got stuck sitting at a high table around one of those weird lincoln-log looking pillars (see picture) and we were constantly trying to reposition ourselves so we could talk to each other around the post and pass the food around. It was uncomfortable and distracting.. My advice for them is LOSE THE BIG UGLY POSTS! 2. The food was such a disappointment. Brussel Sprouts weren't roasted enough (they are the easiest thing to make ... just roast the HELL out of them, get lots of caramelization, and they turn out fabulous). Sprouts are all the rage this year, and most every place in town is doing a pretty good job. But this was the worst I've had in SD. The pizzas have interesting toppings, but the crust was really "meh". If I didn't know better, I'd say that they par-cook it, or even worse, it's some kind of frozen product. The sad thing is that it isn't but it tastes that way! Scallops were very good quality, but again, undercooked and missing caramelization. Overall, it was if someone back in the kitchen is afraid of using enough heat. If I go to an Italian restaurant, I expect my food to taste roasted, not poached! 3. I was hoping that being on the east side of the East Village, the crowd would be chill, more like a South or North Park vibe. But sadly, the night we were there, the bar at Bottega was filled with convention-going engineers who were sent there by their hotel concierge. The majority of the bar was wearing their convention badges, and were "on the make" bigtime. We entertained ourselves by watching them check out, en-mass, every woman that walked into the bar. I felt like I was at Cafe Japengo, circa-1988. I'm a big fan of Eataly in NYC and appreciate that they are trying to provide the same type of "one stop for the best of each thing" in our little town. (Omg, just thinking about that porcini prime rib panini there ... I'm completely jonesing for it. Must. Get. To. NYC. Soon.) (Digression ...) But sadly, the person that said this is Eataly's Sad Runt Cousin, hit the nail on the head. The two plusses were a short but interesting wine list (Yay to them for including a a Lambrusco secco and other cool bottles from "not the usual suspects"). Also, our server was really good, made sure our glasses weren't ever empty, and even acknowledged that the food came out in a weird progression (another cut on the kitchen, which has an attitude of "we'll just send it out when we feel like it, not when it makes sense for your dining experience") If I'm stuck going back there, I'll probably just get cheese and charcuterie. And go at an hour when it's not so crowded so we can sit at one of their few normal tables.
(3)Gracie L.
Alright, let's just cut to the chase with this place: food- tasted good! Service- excellent. Seating arrangements- odd. Prices- fair /high. Ambiance- magical. Portion sizes- SMALL! I'd like to give more stars to Bottega because their food truly tasted good and the chef even came out to see how we were enjoying our meal. But the portions are small....especially for the price. Our bill was at $100 when a second entree had to be ordered just to fill that "hungry spot" in the belly. The Duck Ragu with Fuzi is absolutely delicious, costs $18, and is WAY too small to be called an entree. My party of two also enjoyed the meat & cheese board, featuring pecorino, prosciutto and robiola, and another entree of pappardelle with braised lamb (mouth watering and scrumptios!) We sat at the Meat & Cheese bar where the gals offered great advice with pairing and even gave us a sample to help make our decisions. They were great! If only that entree was bigger, especially for the price, I'd be a happier camper! Strike one Bottega, let's see if our next visit is a home run.
(3)Leslie B.
Happy Hour Review: I went to Bottega Americano for the first time recently...and had a wonderful time at happy hour. My friend and I arrived about 5:30 on a Friday afternoon...happy hour goes until 6:00. The place is open and beautifully decorated. it is not just a restaurant, but also a market and bakery. I am hoping to try the pastel macarons that I saw on my way in. We sat down at the bar, and had a lot of choices to make. They have some great deals on house wines, and "For the table" appetizers, as well as the "Salumeria" boards. Happy hour has way better prices. We chose the eggplant and red pepper spreads. We also chose a plate of salami and cheese, that came beautifully displayed with fig spread, candied walnuts and a couple other accoutrements. I recommend the truffled cheese (I cannot remember the exact type of cheese). They also have complimentary warm, soft bread served with a creamy tomato sauce (but you have to ask for it). To top it off, we had two carafes of the house cab....and though we were really pushing it, we were able to get it all for the happy hour price! I look forward to returning....for happy hour, dinner, and shopping!
(5)Jeff R.
Great food, great service, great atmosphere. Would highly recommend this restaurant. All three of us loved our food (1 Gluten Free). Will definitely be dining here again the next time we are in town.
(5)Rogelio K.
Had brunch. Everything was good. Will be a go to spot for brunch next weekend. And the hot sauce and ketchup was house made and really tasty. Will not let you down.
(5)BeBe D.
Highlights: Great Waiting Staff + Ambiance. The steak with roasted peppers was divine + the Noord Hollander Cheese + Chorizo meat was delicious. Lowlights: The gnocchi (the sauce) had as much personality as a boring date. The concept + design is the same as DTLA's Bottega Louie. I'm also confused by the name, Bottega Americano... shouldn't it be Bottega Italiano?
(4)Juliana P.
Came here for the first time for a Valentine's Day meal. The place was fairly packed and from what I've heard is meant to be a riff on Eataly in NYC. I absolutely love Eataly, but this is definitely a sit down place and not standing/roaming as much as the former. Therefore, there is less of the European vibe but I appreciated being able to order from one of their five kitchens at once. Not sure how you'd do as a party of three here since there are few four tops and two top tables, rather this is better for a big group or a couple at a bar. I really liked sitting at one of the kitchen counters and watching the chefs do their thing--I watched Steve make our carpaccio and then got to eat it right away. But, I digress, since what's really important is the food. I'm always on the lookout in San Diego for good Italian food and this had a lot of NYC quality with what I think is a decent price. I decided to forgo the Valentines pre fixe though because the price didn't really make sense--you could pretty easily find three delicious courses on the menu for under $55, so unless you were really keen on one of the special items it seemed unnecessary. However, my boyfriend did get the oysters, lobster ravioli, and the chocolate dessert (name escaping me). The oyster dish included six oysters of two varieties from their raw bar with two sauces--this seems to be regularly on the menu and for good reason. From peeping into the kitchen, I saw a lot of these go out. The lobster ravioli was actually mushroom ravioli with lobster chunks on top in a vanilla/brown buttery sauce. This sounded strange, and at times confused the hell out of my taste buds, but was so delicious I kept stealing bites. I'm not sure if the name of the dish is spot on but the flavors were. His dessert we split which I highly recommend with wine and would order again. My only gripe is that they have a lovely dessert counter but none of it is on the menu. The other desserts weren't that appealing to me, but then as I walk out I see a big case of mini cheese cakes, macaroons, etc. This should be offered for dessert too! For my food, as I said I started with the carpaccio. I think it was one of the best I've ever had. The horseradish cream really kicked it up a notch and cut the acidity of the arugula salad. If you want bread, you have to request it. I'm actually fine with this because 1. It's not an extra charge and 2. Aside from special occasions, I try to avoid wolfing down the bread basket, and for a place that has several gluten free options, I think it's smart not to waste the bread by setting it out as a default. The sauce it was served with I think should be warmed up, or the need to set out oil/vinegar and dishes. For my main, I had the lobster risotto. It's not an enormous dish but was definitely enough for me. Initially I was going to ask for more cheese, but it was cheesy and salty enough. They did a great job cooking the rice of the risotto and I wish I had some leftovers right about now. Our waitress Katie took great care of us with a good wine recommendation and we will definitely be going back! (I really want one of the charcuterie boards next time!)
(5)Anastacia W.
I came here for brunch with a few friends on Saturday. At first when I was driving to it, I was a little unsure because of the neighborhood. It was so cute inside! I love the atmosphere, perfect vibe for a group of friends. They have a lot of high tables. When the weather is nice, they have outdoor seating. There's a bakery in the front with delicious desserts. The food and prices are good for what you get. Would definitely recommend meeting a group of friends or co workers here for a casual dining experience!
(4)Shanel S.
Wow! A five star experience all around. I don't think they missed any points here. When asking me what my favorite restaurants in San Diego are, this will be one on my list for sure. I called around 6pm on a Friday night to make a last minute reservation. I believe Laura answered and assisted me. She explained that they were very busy and would try to accommodate the 7:30 reservation I requested. She told me 8:15 was the earliest, but if we arrived earlier, we could sit at any community tables and order tapas and drinks until our table was ready. Also, if anyone else didn't show for their reservation, then she could seat us sooner. It was kind to suggest. We got there at 7:55 and were seated immediately with no issue at all. Once seated, we were greeted and waited on by Megan. I suggest her to anyone dining here. She knew the menu very well and was patient with us when it came to ordering. We started off with charcuterie. They have the option of three items for $15 or five items for $25. We went with three and got the duck prosciutto (by far the best I have ever had), chorizo "salami" and gorgonzola cheese. The best way to start! It was like a preview of the other amazing things to come. The meat and cheese was accompanied by crostini's, dates, hazelnut spread and some sort of fig jam. All so good. Megan was even kind enough to bring us more crostini's and even brought us homemade focaccia bread with tomato sauce without us even asking. Both were delicious! The warm bread and cold sauce complemented each other so well. For dinner, Itzel R. had their margherita pizza and shared a spicy pasta with Chris W. (I don't remember the exact name of the pasta). Both were fantastic! The pizza had a soft center and perfectly chewy crust. Perfect ratio of cheese, sauce and basil. For my dinner, I had the pappardelle that had braised lamb in it. Unreal! The pasta was al dente. Comparable to Bencotto and maybe even better. Sshh because I still like Bencotto. The chunks of lamb were huge and plentiful (that's what she said!). To finish, we shared a tiramisu and an affogato. The affogato had some sort of candied pecans or walnuts that I could easily eat by the handful. The tiramisu was too delicious for words. Everything was seriously just the best and if you're hungry, the food comes out quickly. Nothing takes too long or comes out too soon. I also have to pay note towards Vince, our bus boy, I guess you would say. He kept our waters full even though we had a pitcher on the table and cleared plates accordingly. We never felt rushed even though they were packed. Great for date night and the noise level was perfect for carrying a conversation.
(5)Katina K.
Edit 4/1/15: Todd is an amazing server! Friendly, attentive, and helpful on what to order! Have come here a few times now for breakfast, brunch, and dinner to go and have been extremely happy with the service and my food. For brunch I ordered the chicken sandwich (I forget the specific name of it), pizza, and the Italian breakfast. If you like bread, cheese, and salami then the Italian breakfast is for you. It was so yummy!! The sandwich was off the hook too, the chicken was not dry at all and all the ingredients were perfect. The other night I called in a to go pizza and they told me 10 minutes! So quick. I ordered the bacon slab pizza that has Brussels sprouts on it and it was one of the best pizza's I have had in awhile. I also ordered some things from the market place like a salad and the oven roasted cauliflower that were really good. I suggest ordering a pizza during happy hour (3-6pm) because they are only $10! The restaurant inside is awesome. All of the lame reviews about pillars blocking everything and disorganization need to just leave! I actually think it's a pretty beautiful looking restaurant inside. Super clean. Very open space. The service when I was there was a little slow but it was busy and early in the morning so there wasn't a lot of staff, they were apologetic and I understood so it wasn't a big deal!
(5)Kimberly S.
I've been here twice, and loved it both times. Terrific service, terrific food, great atmosphere, good location. The scallops are great, as is the osso buco. Love their cocktails as well.
(5)Seven T.
Good stuff! Fresh pasta! Happy Hour! Not really my scene though! Yea, imma fan, perhaps ill return for some happy hour eats, but i dont feel that im 'fine' enough, for this, dining. My dockers are still at the cleaners cuz i got a little pasta sauce on em!
(4)Carol L.
We came for dinner and definitely had the 'eyes bigger than the stomach' syndrome. Too much looks good on that menu! What a beautiful interior! I started with their Galileo drink (rum). It was delicious! We started with their smashed avocado bruschetta. The focaccia was devine and the topping was so fresh that every bite burst with clean flavor. They accidentally served us a meat/cheese platter. It was small and we had never been there before so we thought it was a standard thing (it wasn't), but it was delicious. The cheeses and meats were paired with some pepper jelly and fig. I had their strawberry salad and it, too, was fresh and yummy. By the time my entree arrived, I was no longer hungry. I thought the dish was ok, but I was disappointed I didn't select a pasta or pizza dish (since that is what they are known for). My dining partner did have the lamb pappardelle and devoured it. Would definitely return. Oh and the bathroom is beautiful!
(4)emma c.
Outdoor patio Beautiful interior Open from breakfast til dinner Allows dogs on patio (water bowl is provided) Properly portioned meals Good beer, cocktail, & mimosa options DESSERT Friendly service Now check it out! Only downside is parking. It's in downtown, you know what to expect! Perfect date or meet the parents type place. It's beautifully different and wonderful.
(5)Phil A.
Wow, not even sure where to start for this review. We went for brunch and had an amazing meal and drinks. To start, they have their own tomato juice they make for Bloody Mary's and they are fantastic. Flavorful, spicy, and with a thin slice of bacon to top. The mimosas are made very well and they don't use the normal cheap (Cooks) champagne. I had the Chicken Milanese and my girlfriend had the French Toast. The Milanese has an amazing espresso gravy topping off two large pieces of perfectly cooked chicken and browned on a large buttermilk biscuit. The biscuits are heated and have the perfect golden-brown tops and it's the best biscuits and gravy around topped with tasty chicken. The French toast came out topped with fresh berries, smothered in a taste bud assaulting caramel sauce. Great food all around and the service is just as good, routinely checking on us through out an increasingly busier brunch. For the price of just about $50, we both had large, excellent servings and two great drinks. We will be going back as soon as we're not longer full!
(5)Itzel R.
WOW! This place is a must if you're looking for good Italian food. This is for sure one of my favorite restaurants. This would be my third time coming back and won't be my last. Everything about this place is great, the staff is super nice and helpful if you don't know what to order and they help you choose and give you options. Megan was my server last time and I must say she was super nice and helpful. I took my friend Shanel S. for the first time and she had no idea what to order since everything seemed so good. Megan was nice enough to help with suggestions. The service is quick too so we didn't have to wait long for our food which was great since we were starving. Their chorizo "salami" and gorgonzola cheese is amazing that we got on our meat and cheese board. For dinner we had a margherita pizza and shared a spicy pasta and the pappardelle that had braised lamb. The pappardelle was delicious and I was constantly sneaking bites of it from Shanel S. Lastly, for dessert, we had a yummy tiramisu and it is by far one of the best. Normally I'm a crème brulee girl, but the tiramisu beats it by a long stretch.
(5)Cory S.
Great food, social and lively atmosphere and a good selection of drinks. One drink was brought to the table with bugs however, noticed after taking a drink. Leadership at levels up to the sales manager was entirely absent and careless, promising responses or follow through that were utter lip service. Other reviews tell me this isn't the first time service at Bottega was lacking. Crickets and the like seem a trend from this establishment...
(1)Angela B.
Everything from the food, drinks, wine, service, decor and atmosphere are all amazing! Loved that the vegetables that came with my fish were crisp and not overcooked. I could actually taste the flavor of the fish and veggies without being overpowered with added flavor.
(5)Allison J.
Had they not thrown away my meal when I went to the bathroom, I may have had to give them 5 stars. I went away to the restroom and asked my husband what happened to my meal. He assumed they took it to box it as they didn't even ask if I was done. But when we asked where was my meal, they said they didn't see it anywhere and offered to comp a dessert item. Honestly that didn't suffice but I'm not a complainer so I said that was fine. Besides this, everything else was superb. Service was excellent and we were a large party. We occupied the whole patio which was nice and accomodating. Drinks were excellent. We got there early for our reservation so we also had a chance to try out a few small samplings in their front dessert case. The pistachio truffle was well worth $1.50. One of the best truffles I've had. Mini macarons for $1. Food was excellent, well priced and large portions. Highlights: salt and pepper calamari, pork shoulder, papardelle. Pizza was also good and I'm glad we added salame for an additional $5. Dessert presentation was beautiful and also delicious the espresso in the affogato was bold, but not to overwhelming. The Budino was velvety.
(4)Jul S.
I've been waiting for months to try Bottega, and it did not disappoint!! Chef Dave has such an interesting pallet and it really shows through the food. The pizza with kale, sausage, goat cheese, and cauliflower panna demonstrates this perfectly. My fiancé hates all of those ingredients on a normal day, but he was raving about the pizza!! Chef Jeremy had great recommendations, as did Ashley in the salumeria. Pastry chef Rygie makes the best desserts in town!! The space is beautiful, the food is delicious and well priced, and the service is great. I knew Bottega would be amazing, but it went beyond my expectations. This is a must try for anyone who loves food, drinks, and people watching. My only regret is that chef Dave Warner wasn't there that night, now we have to go back!!
(5)Ashley H.
The first time I came here was for happy hour with a group of friends. I asked for a table for 4. The hostess escorted me to the bar and said it was bar seating only. There were not any spots open so I asked for a table. She advised that happy hour was only at the bar. I said that's fine, but I have a group coming and we would like a table instead. She proceeded to tell me that all the tables were reserved. The place was empty. At the same time, my friends were arriving. I informed them that all the tables were apparently reserved so we left and went to Cowboy Star instead who had a fabulous happy hour. We checked open table after we moved locations to see if the place was really all reserved at 4:30 during the week. Open table confirmed there were multiple open reservations every 15 minutes. Very disappointed! I decided to give this place another try since the reviews were very good and maybe the hostess that day just misunderstood what I was requesting. The second trip in was excellent. We went to brunch on Mother's Day with a group of friends. I had the Pappardelle which was excellent. We all shared bites with each other and everyone agreed that the Pappardelle was their favorite.
(4)Johnny W.
Ate here once with my dad right when it opened and it was decent. Ate here again with a group and it was fine again. Nothing outwardly special about the cuisine in my humble opinion. It's a beautiful space so hats off to the owner for that. And I like how they're stretching the gentrification in East Village more and more towards the east of the neighborhood. My issue is that I think there's too many better places that are doing this sort of thing in San Diego for me to go rushing back anytime soon. Oh - and speaking of owner. . . Everyone thinks they're an "owner" here. So that's a little corny. Either you own the place outright and the buck stops with you - or you don't. In this case, everyone seems to "own" the place. A little confusing. . . Oh - and they do the "we have a 30-45 minute wait" thing when you roll up with no reservation and there are LITERALLY dozens of empty tables in front of you. Am I the only person who fricken CAN'T STAND THAT!?!? So you're dispatched to a highball table and you finish your meal with still several of those exact tables you coveted sitting vacant. Oh well. . .
(3)Jay D.
First of all this place is huge, plenty of seating and it's beautiful decorated. You can tell a lot of time and effort when into building and laying this place out. From the fresh coffee to the varied mimosas all the way down to the thick cut bacon and chicken Milanese this place is very well executed. They've only been open a few months but they definitely seem to be firing on all cylinders. They have so much different types of food here you really can't go wrong. Oysters, French press coffee, meatball subs, Italian groceries... You name it. We had the chicken Milanese and the French toast for brunch and it was very good. I think we just found a new favorite local spot for everything!
(4)Sarcaswit Z.
A spacious, modern and quite beautiful restaurant. Service is excellent. Food is pretty good - some items are better than others.... Calamari was just okay but the Paccheri / english peas / wild mushrooms / truffle panna / pork guanciale dish was really delicious! An ideal place for dates or very small groups - despite its size, or perhaps because of it, this is not a suitable venue for large numbers as conversation will be a struggle. It's not as loud as some places I've been to and hated, but 3 or 4 people should be the maximum, otherwise you won't be able to hear each other very easily. Looked like the majority of the chairs and tables were the high set ones, so feels a little bar-style but definitely more comfortable with a very luxurious look and feel. There's also a nice patio. Cozy, this place is not, but the décor is very stylish and the vibe pretty damn great. And for the first time in my life I was happy with the temperature - probably because I was sitting right next to the pizza oven! Pictures of some of my favouite old movie stars on the wall was an extra nice touch, though it was a great pity that they were confined to the restroom walls!! Overall a very pleasant and satisfying experience and a perfect Valentine's day dinner outing. 4.5 stars
(4)John S.
This place was my daughter's pick for her recent birthday Sunday brunch. We had a pretty large party of 14 people, but with a reservation we were promptly seated at a large table. As far as I remember there was only one small mix up where a side order was delivered to the wrong person and they decided to just sit it in the middle of the table. I only partially fault the server for that but a fresh side was brought out without any hassle once we figured out what happened. Ooops. No big deal. Now, this motley crew of a family I have, is about as picky as it comes, yet no one complained. There was some of everything ordered from breakfast items, to pizzas, cheese boards, etc and it was all good. The large, high ceiling, open room seemed to help the mood a bit - not that I'm calling my family grumpy or anything. The only thing that I wasn't a big fan of was the French Toast. It tasted fine, but it seemed more like Bread Pudding than French Toast to me. It's their take on it and I like bread pudding, so no points deducted there. Price wise, it was a little spendy but it wasn't too bad overall considering what it is.
(5)Joey C.
Never have I seen such dedication to customer satisfaction! Never. The manager greeted us at the door and had us seated immediately. The table bussers in black were floating table to table, keeping the water glasses filled. Our waiter handed us a bowl of complimentary churro samples while we waited for our food and, at one point, just as I had taken the last swallow of my coffee, from my peripheral vision I saw him change direction and I thought, "There's no way he saw me just finish my coffee and now he's running over there to bring more." But that's exactly what happened! Shortly after brunch was delivered, my wife noticed something amiss with my plate. I'll hold back precisely what it was because as soon as I informed the waiter of the issue he grabbed up my plate, apologized profusely, and ran back to the kitchen to have them prepare an entirely new order. In less than 5 minutes I had a brand new plate of food with further apology and and my bacon shaped like a heart :-P Furthermore, the manager removed the entire cost of my order from the bill just to make amends. Given the ambiance and the way the staff fussed over me, I felt like a VIP eating in a Gordon Ramsey five start restaurant! I can't wait to go back!
(5)Stina M.
Amazing!! Took a random trip through scary down town just for this place and sooooo glad we did! The food was absolutely amazing. The waiter, Alonzo I think... He was so polite with big smiles. I had a prosciutto panini that was simply mouth watering. Hummus that had a decadent flavor and my boyfriend had a calzone that was gigantic. He finished it because it was so good!! The ambiance is beautiful but it was packed so it was chatty loud. Lunch rush. The price isn't bad. Worth it. You get what you pay for and this was well worth it!! I will go back for more!!!
(5)Adrian R.
Really great, fun and awesome place to spend sometime with your SO or group over some good eats. From the warm greeting as we walked in, to the attentive and kind staff that will explain the menu this 'must-try' should be on your list. Lots of people were eating the Pizza but we had a craving of Pasta. We started with some meats and cheese, then had the Spaghetti & Meatballs and finished with the Upside Down Banana Cake. Worth the trip and will definitely be back.
(5)Carmen V.
No reservation needed, even though was packed. Went there to celebrate the birthday of a friend and honestly, we were in a rush, otherwise I would have suggested another place, but it was a novelty for me and wanted to try and my friend was ok with that. We did not need reservation, true, but we had to have our dinner at the bar, which was not the most comfortable situation (I like tables:) but it was nice to see the trolley passing by, adding that hint of red needed in the dark nights of East Village. The concept of Bottega Americano is pretty cool: different areas, like shopping for gourmet Italian food (salamis, olives, pastries, etc), the area for seafood, the pizza oven in action, the bar, a nice terrace outside with the cute Vespa at the door. The Italian black and white vintage posters...all that very nice...but somehow this looks to me like a Costco versus a small charming boutique. I like small and personalized and I did not find that at Bottega. Too big, too crowded and too noisy. TV with American sports on kills the Italianizing factor. Specially when you are seating at the bar trying to have a conversation while tasting and not so tasty mushroom pizza and with so much noise in the background. The food was ok for us, the best those warm olives offering diverse variety in shape, colors and flavors. For dessert we had something too sweet, too intense and chocolatey-caramel that I would not recommend unless you want to visit the dentist the next day. I will try again next time in San Diego but in a different time, not for dinner and when is so crowded.
(3)Sarah B.
Bottega Americana looked cool when it opened, with its unique dining concept and extravagant interior. However, looks can be deceptive. I live downtown and I have been to Bottega Americana two times for dinner, all of the times were mediocre in terms of food, although the servers are friendly and helpful. The hostess and management is a different story. The two times I went for dinner on weeknights we waited for 10 minutes to be seated, only to be seated at the least desirable table in the restaurant even though it was 80% empty. Anyways, I thought I would try this place for lunch on a Saturday. We walked in at 2:45pm, and on the website it says that the dining room is open until 3pm. We were told that the dining room was closed and the only place to sit was the bar, where all the tables were dirty. The hostess did not offer to clean the tables or give us menus, so we sat at a normal table in the "dining area" that was literally right next to the bar. The hostess rudely came up to us and told us that we could not sit there, but only at the bar. Again, all the tables for two at the bar were dirty. On top of that, there were probably at least 15 parties still dining in the dining room. We didn't feel like arguing with her, so we just left, which she did not seem to mind at all. We proceeded to head to Water Grill further down Island Ave, which offered a terrific lunch with memorable service. I recommend staying away from Bottega Americano. It is overpriced and the experience has never been memorable, and this time it was terrible. There are other Italian restaurants downtown that offer terrific food and service, such as Cucina Urban and Piacare Mio in South Park (my personal favorite). I will not be returning, which is a shame because I live right down the street. If Bottega Americano cannot retain local costumers such as myself due to their continual poor service and mediocre overpriced food, this restaurant will not be around in the long-term.
(1)Criselle O.
Came here supposedly for lunch but didn't realize they only serve brunch here on the weekends ): I was bummed because I really wanted to try the mussels! Oh well, I guess I have to make another trip some other time. Anyway, when you walk up to the front it looks like a little boring but once you step foot into Bottega Americano it's like a dream. The space is seriously gigantic! One of the biggest eateries in DT in my opinion. I love whoever designed this place because it's amazing!! Ok, so I wasn't prepared for brunch so I didn't really know what to order so I just ordered the usual at other places which was the albacore salad. I was really disappointed because the albacore was cooked all the way which was kind of weird. In photos it looked like ahi so yeah. . . it was just alright. My boyfriend got this breakfast sampler. We were thinking it would be a plate of crazy things to make you full but nope.. all it was were pieces of prosciutto, cheese, bread, and "mixed fruit" meaning prunes and something else mixed together. If we wanted to order a cheese board then we would've ordered that. ha. That thing cost $16. Totally not worth it. The only thing I liked was the budino. I'm kind of disappointed with this place but maybe on my next visit, I'll change my mind.
(3)Alicen R.
Brunch was so good! My blood orange mimosa was pretty snazzy too! Mark was our server and he was so awesome...One of the best servers I've ever encountered! He gave great recommendations, was extremely attentive and was super enthusiastic when helping me decide on my many menu options. We shared an Italian Breakfast (cheese/meat/fruit platter) with bacon & eggs and a breakfast calzone. The breakfast calzone was freakin' HUGE. Totally could be ordered to split. The cheese platter was excellent, as were my eggs. Now let's chat about the bacon... I am a bacon lover. I grew up in Europe so I'm used to European slab bacon, however the bacon I got today was mostly fat and I left half of it. I don't think I've ever left bacon on a plate. Ever! But still, everything else was great and I dig this place. Will def be back to try those Lemon/Ricotta crepes!
(4)Feiychoy S.
Such a wonderful little spot!! I came for brunch with my sisters on a Sunday afternoon. We had made reservations but it didn't look too busy in the restaurant. We were seated immediately however it did take quite awhile for someone to greet us at the table. There seemed to be only 2 or 3 servers on the floor. We ordered mimosas for the table and several entrees to share. We were disappointed in the fact that this place was known for fresh pasta but only had one pasta dish on the menu:( We did however order it and it was magnificent! We also ordered a pizza and the lobster sandwich. Everything was extremely satisfying but we had to order dessert from their case. At such reasonable prices it was impossible to pass up. The apple Bundt cake was so yummy!!! We also got a chocolate brownie cake that was really rich and also the cheesecake. I think next time I want to come for dinner and try the amazing selection of meats and cheeses along with the pasta dishes.
(4)Brandon V.
It really is amazing what they did with an old storage space next to the lobby of the law school. A multi-million dollar renovation and you now have a really cool designed restaurant. There is a small store when you enter and you can pick up a wide variety of items, coffee, tea, deserts, salads, etc. There is a really cool wood burning pizza oven in the middle of the restaurant too. I've only been twice but the food was outstanding. If here definitely get the mussels I'm not sure what's in the broth but it's addictive. The manicotti included three manicotti's with sausage and the lobster risotto had several huge pieces of lobster. There is a large selection of liquor and wine to choose from and the martinis were very good. They started a brunch last weekend but I was unable to make it , however the menu looked excellent. The patio is pet friendly and they have doggy cannoli for $2 apiece. All the employees were great with my dog; bringing out water, treats and he received tons of attention. I was however surprised by one of the owners (Greg) came over after we've already paid, had to go bag, and obviously leaving in a few minutes....he didn't seem pleased my dog was there and said he needs to seat the table next to me where my dog sitting. This was 6 p.m on a Saturday and 10 other more desirable tables were open on the patio. He didn't ask how our meal was or anything....just looked at us and my dog and said he needs to seat the table and walked off. Just odd. I'll still be back but will bring more dogs with me next time.
(4)Jen H.
3.5/5 stars Fairly new restaurant--a quaint, beautifully decorated venue. The bathroom even have monogram tiles! We came here on Saturday for brunch. Ordered: 1) Mimosa: 3/5 typical but good ratio of the prosecco 2) Italian breakfast: 4/5 I liked this dish. Note, it comes with a peroni shandy, aka sweet beer/cider, so I was drinking my peroni and drinking my Mimosa--classy :) I didn't enjoy my peroni b/c it was too sweet for my taste buds. 3) Power Frittata: 3/5 good option if you want to stay healthy and watch calories Their mustard was delicious. You can find this at the marketplace, in the front. I can't remember if it was fig mustard, but it was a blend of something delicious. Very subtle taste.
(4)Caroline A.
I went here in early August while in San Diego for work. Basically, this place is like a San Diego version of Eataly on a much smaller scale. They have a small, gourmet food boutique, a takeaway section and a sprawling restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. The decor is simple and nice, but not someplace you would want to go for a special occasion. The food was good, but average as far as Italian goes. Cucina Urbana is better. We had the oysters which were good, the arugula salad which had too much dressing and I got the pasta with lamb ragu which was okay. The service was surprisingly excellent, the woman who waited on us was much better than what you typically find in San Diego. Worth a visit to check it off your list, but not a place to repeat.
(3)Alvaro E.
I was straight blown away. I came with a group of six and we made sure to order different things to try as much flavors to try. I ordered the mussels and the sauce in it was amazing. Dip it with the bread it came with--ahh. Then I ordered the chocolate custard dessert, by far probably their best dessert! The dark chocolate custard is the perfect component to make the dessert not too sweet, but paired with the brown butter crumble and cinnamon whipped cream--the amalgamation is just perfect. Then-- THEN THE TRUFFLE CHEESE. OH THE TRUFFLE CHEESE. I understand that truffle itself is kind of like a cheating ingredient because no matter what it always tastes the best, but because of that reason I kept a small square of cheese on hand. After everything I ate, I kept the cheese all the way til the end so I can savour it. Aside from the food: I love the ambiance is pretty nice. Fancy, but dont fret too much over it. You'll still be served just as well as anyone else. Which I will get to, as the customer service was on point. They get to your table water at hand and pouring you a refill at every half mark. They make sure your meal and experience was great. I couldn't figure out what my friends ordered, but the lamb they ordered was delicious. As a guy who doesnt quite like lamb, I enjoyed it as it was sweeter than earthy and gamey. The shrimp had this minty flavor that just was sensational in the sauce it was in. Big portion of shrimp too. And the garlic was sweet roasted! The truffle pasta was to die for. I mentioned the weakness I have over truffles, but the sauce was creamy and flavourful. The pasta itself was aldente. Well done!! Then there was the mushroom pizza with sweet onions and it was pretty good. But definitely nothing short of flavour all around. I am definitely returning!!!
(5)Kazumasa K.
I went to here on friday for dinner with my fiancé Server Mark took care of us. He was really nice n friendly, perfect I really enjoyed everything from appetizer to dessert Mushroom pizza Large seafood plate for two. I wanna come here again fosho Thank you Mark!!
(5)Maureen H.
We have eaten lunch and dinner here and it is beyond Excellent! We live Downtown but on the other side so it's a little far to walk but we are now hooked! Everything from cheese and meat appetizer, salads, entrees ( chicken, lamb, pappardelle), desserts are so fresh. My husband had the lamb and he thought it was the best he has ever had. They have so many different stations where food is home made! We took our Granddaughter (13) and for her coming from the burbs she was in awe as to how fun, high energy and very cool it was!
(5)Robyn S.
Absolutely delicious food. For an appetizer, I had the Smashed avocado bruschetta. For the entree, we had the Pappardelle, which is this yummy fresh pasta and braised lambed. Perfectly seasoned and the portion size is good for the price. We also had the halibut. Flakey and delicious. I was really liking the interior. It had a home kitchen feel yet it was fine dining at the same time. I had no complaints. My party had a wonderful night.
(5)Ernesto C.
Based on our very bad evening at Bottega Americano, I became very curious how others viewed this restaurant. After reading many of the reviews, it seems like there is one bit of consistent feedback - Poor Service - overall, I could not agree more.... Last night was 'one star' for decent food ( not Rome but A-ok for the west coast ) and 'one star' for modern city ambiance and lovely decor ( reminiscent of other food establishments my wife and I have frequented in the great cities of London, NYC, Chicago, Hong Kong, Melbourne & Sydney and many others ). 1+1 = 2. Before we went here, our expectation was actually for better math in the order of 4 to 5. PROBLEM #1 - POOR SERVICE - the rudest server I have encountered in San Diego and for that matter, in at least the last 10+ years, ruined our evening with a bad attitude, completely lost in this trade and pretty much MIA most of the evening. We also moved here from the other "MIA" - Miami - and this fellow would fit in perfectly in Miami - USA Capital of Rude People & Bad Service. I had that horrible feeling I was in a mediocre Miami restaurant again. Our displeasure at Bottega Americano was so great, that I seeked out someone from Management and Sara Kincaid - Catering & Sales Manager was nearby. She was very polite, very gracious, heard me out and insisted I send an e-mail to restaurant management. I did follow through and also enjoined the General Manager, Greg Van de Velde. To my surprise, I never heard back from either one of them and it appears it may have all fallen on deaf ears. C'est la vie. As I said to Greg and Sara, " we are typically very generous with our gratuities, when service is at par with expectations and then some. You can only surmise how utterly poor / rude the service was, for us to leave $NIL. This is also completely unprecedented..." PROBLEM #2 VERRRY SLOOOOOWWW - if other great food halls can get right, with the same buzz and patron traffic, Bottega Americano has to get it right. Especially at the price point food and wine resides. The waits between courses were agony. Perhaps this was a function of the poor server assigned to our party or ...? There is a feeling of organised chaos in the place .... Uhmm, not a good thing and Gordon Ramsey would not approve. SILVER LINING - MAYBE.. I would love to go back and have a wonderful experience but time must pass, as there are many other better & established places to discover in SD ( albeit, not as trendy and more down to earth than this newcomer restaurant ). I think many basic and fundamental kinks need to be sorted out pronto. The place seems to have great potential and must be careful not to burn at liftoff. This objective review comes from true lovers of restaurants and food & wine. Management, take note - this restaurant should merit 4-5 start and not 2.
(2)Sean W.
This is the best Italian food I've had in San Diego since Buonissimo 2 in Hillcrest burned down. It's also probably the only good Italian restaurant in San Diego right now.
(4)David S.
I've been here about 3 or 4 times, and each was great. The first time we got sandwiches to go for a picnic at the marina. Awesome. The second we had food and drinks. Very nice. The third was wine and cheese. The happy hour was wonderful and the atmosphere spot on. The bartender forgot our wine at the other end at one point, but made up for it when I reminded them with a little discount. Overall, this is the perfect spot for and time of day in East Village and really speaks to what the neighborhood has become.
(5)Patricia M.
Went there last night for dinner. Friday night and Halloween and we had no reservation but to our surprise we got seated right away. The hostess was extremely friendly and attentive. Our server came to the table quick, and she was fine except for the fact she spent the night flirting with my boyfriend!!!! Not gonna tell her name but she had big feather earrings. It was so bizarre that even him felt uncomfortable and mentioned that to me. I've never seen something like this before so it was actually amusing. He's a hot piece of ass, yeah yeah but come on, you REALLY don't need to come to out table 356 times full of smiles at him. Luckily I'm not a crazy jealous woman and thought it was funny how clueless she was. Moving on to the food... Their wine list is great and we had the mozzarella "balls" for appetizer, nothing extraordinary. I had the pappardelle with lamb (mainly because on Monday I had it somewhere else and wanted to compare...) and it was just ok. There was something missing on the flavor and I'm year to find out what it is. Not much cheese either and I missed that. My man got the margherita pizza with salami and here's the catch: the pizza came with no tomato. We both looked at each other like "doesn't margherita pizzas have tomatoes?". I had to google to make sure and yeah. We told the flirty server and she took it out to "add tomatoes". We looked at the menu and the description said "tomatoes" and when she brought the pizza back she said "chef said the "tomato" in the menu stands for "tomato sauce". ?!?!?! Ooohh, excuse our ignorance then. They added a bunch of cold baby tomatoes cut in half of the pizza and voila; a new kind of margherita pizza was born! Lol It tasted good but those cold cherry tomatoes on top... Oh my. Overall our night was fine. We might be back, we might not. The food didn't impress us much and the service..well, it was entertaining. Get your own, sister, get your own.
(3)Mar E.
This was a wonderful find on a recent trip to San Diego. We went there for dinner before a baseball game at Petco and really enjoyed it. We sat at the bar and were served by Brandy , who was very helpful in her suggestions. I had the duck prosciutto and lamb pasta. Both were wonderful! Go early because the place is very popular.
(4)Rika L.
4 stars for the decor. 2 stars for food and service. The space is really open, well lit and layout is well designed. A great place to grab lunch and a casual dinner. The tables are nice and roomy. Service was slow. We didn't get to order until 30 minutes after being seated and that was with 3 tables dining in. It got busier towards the end so let it go. We ordered some macaroons from the bakery and the bakery told us to tell our server so she could just add onto our tab, but we couldn't track her down. When we asked for our bill, she was like 20 feet away and I just made the sign for "check" and she didn't come close enough. By the time she dropped off the check, it was so quick, we couldn't tell her. So we just decided to go back up to the bakery to pay for the macaroons. Now onto the food, we weekend lunch there. We thought they would have brunch by now, but it doesn't start until Nov 1. Macaroons: They all tasted the same. It didn't have much flavor but I liked how they priced them $1 and made them smaller so we can try all of them. Garganelli with Jumbo Shrimp: It looked so delicious when it came out and the shrimps were jumbo. One bite and it was soooo salty and sour. More salty. We couldn't finish the pasta because it was so salty, left half of it. I couldn't let the jumbo shrimp go to waste, but how can you go wrong with such fresh shrimps. Chopped Salad: it had everything in it. I think it was a leftover salad. Each bite was different. Too chopped. Grilled Mary's farm chicken panini: this was good. The sauce in the panini was really good. We upgraded to truffle fries for $4, but it wasn't worth it. They were shoestring fries but really fine shoestring. I never had such small fries.
(3)Carlos P.
After all the hype about his being one of the hottest new restaurant openings in SD we came here on a Friday night and it was pretty full. It seems to be a trendy place right now. Possibly a good place to bring a date as far as decor and everything. . All the food to go options looked pretty good but I came here for a sit down dinner. The service was extremely slow. EXTREMELY. Very annoying. It even took a half hour just to ask for the check alone and then another 20 for them to bring it. Definitely did not enjoy waiting so much in between each dish especially since we ordered everything at the start. The complimentary bread would have been good if it was warm. Had chopped salad with added shrimp, good. We had to try the Meatballs since we were at an Italian place, they were ok I guess nothing special. Salmon tartar was.... 'strange' is the best word to describe it...wouldn't recommend We both were pretty hungry so we decided to try the Seafood dish for 2 (Grigliata de pesce mista) but in reality it would have been nice if it was for 1. Taste wise It was good. Still hungry we even ordered the Lamb Chops as we heard they were From California lamb, and they were only alright, but definitely better than the lamb at Queenstown Pub. The worst part wasn't the mediocre food it was definitely the long wait to get our food (for example how does the main course come ready after a superlong wait before the salad?), and just the constant waiting all night. It was mission impossible to get our waiter maybe because we sat outside. Advice would be to sit inside for possible faster/better service but it's very loud so on a date outside would be the spot for ' romantic ' effect. Don't know what else to say about you, Bottega Americano.
(2)Margaret D.
My friend and I were running some errands in the morning in East Village. When we were walking back to the car I noticed Bottega Americano and remember reading about this restaurant in a magazine. I really wanted to come and eat here for dinner so my friend and I poked out head in the door. In the front there is a counter where they serve coffee, desserts and Breakfast items. The restaurant is a large, beautiful, open space with fabulous interior. They were just setting up for lunch, so my friend and I opted to try a Veggie Croissant and a Latte. The price is what I would pay for the same thing at Starbucks but the quality was far superior. They had some high tables, a couch inside and a patio to choose from. Our drinks and breakfast was brought right to us and it was nice at hot. My croissant was just perfect. I will be back to have an actual meal here.
(4)M. G. H.
So. Good. Delicious food. Great service. Excellent wine selection. My spouse and I have been here twice, once by ourselves and once with an out of town houseguest, and we were so happy (and full!) both times.
(5)Kauveh S.
The Yellowtail crudo is too die for. The white sauce they incorporate into it is amazing. We also had once again a great salumeria platter to start with. Sorry juniper and ivy Bottega is my new favorite spot. The service is just perfect and Greg could be the best Host in town. Keep up the great work. Chris Sohaey
(5)Mike H.
My wife and I and two friends dined here on March 13th. The restaurant has a great ambiance, and most of the waiting staff is great. First complaint I had was the front staff seating us were not very friendly, and did not seem to know what was going on. Despite having reservations, and at an early time, we were standing around for 20 minutes, when we saw open tables. Anyhow, my main complaint was the dish my wife ordered. Which was the octopus pasta. The pasta was extremely salty. I tasted some, as did our friends. And we all agreed. We had mentioned this to our waitress, and she said she would tell the chef. However, she did not come back. Albeit, my wife did not finish her dish, and rather just shared some of mine, as we thought the waitress would come back to offer to replace the dish. Well she came back with the bill after all was said and done, and never mentioned anything about replacing the dish, or removing the dish from the bill. Which was surprising to us. Anyhow, my wife left hungry, and we actually had to pick up some fast food on the way home to just fill her stomach. All in all, not the greatest first experience, especially after the amount of money we spent on dinner, plenty of drinks and appetizers. The rest of the food was pretty good.
(2)Natasha C.
A few weeks ago I was in Chicago for my best friend's wedding, and in case you're wondering, I did, in fact, download and purposefully watch My Best Friend's Wedding on my flight there. But that's neither here nor there. The point of me telling you the two aforementioned facts, is that I happened to stop by Eataly while I was in the Windy City. I loved the concept - a single location that boasts 23 eateries. It's large and in charge, and reminds me of afternoons spent in Italy this past summer. But this post isn't about Eataly. It's about a new restaurant, located at Park & Island, in the burgeoning Downtown East Village neighborhood of San Diego. Bottega Americano is getting some rave reviews about town lately, so naturally I had to check it out as soon as possible. The restaurant and marketplace is impressive. The space is beautifully decorated, offering five interactive food bars, as well as a market for those that only have a few minutes to grab something to go. The menu combines classic Italian dishes with fresh ingredients and innovation of Modern California. I stopped by for lunch yesterday and noshed on some freshly cooked pasta, as I cursed the fact that I had to go back to work, otherwise I would have totally tried one of the Snake Oil cocktails, always a treat. My lunch mates opted for the paninis, which had good flavor, but were served cold. Overall a good experience. Like I said, I can't wait to come back after work hours.. Enjoy an adult beverage and some apps. The restaurant is new, and the staff is still working out some kinks. Our waiter spaced our apps and entrees a little too much, so we ended up waiting over 40 minutes for our main course (a little long during the lunch hour break, sans a cocktail).
(3)Nancy S.
We had lunch here today and it was just great. The menu is extremely creative. We split the corn and goat cheese ravioli and it was excellent. We also loved the peach carpaccio dessert. It has such interesting flavors - peaches, pistachios, marscapone - yum yum yum. I'd like to come back and try some more dishes.
(5)Hamid F.
I dined here last Thursday, May 7, '15 for dinner with my fiance. We didn't have a reservation but were promptly seated at a counter. The chef and wait staff were very professional & kind, willing to engage their customers in conversation and take the time to answer questions by demonstrating and providing historical insight to their recipes and food. I've lived in San Diego for over 16 years and have dined at just about every fine dining establishment in San Diego County. Bottega Americano really stands out for me. To have such a highly trained staff willing to engage the customer really makes an otherwise pleasant dining experience that much more enjoyable. For this reason, I feel Bottega Americano is one of the most understated restaurants in San Diego. I look forward to returning very soon!
(4)Todd S.
Have had one breakfast, one lunch, and one dinner here. I highly recommend all three. Great atmosphere and very good food. It helps that it is two blocks from my condo.
(4)Mike N.
I'll start by saying this isn't a review of the sit-down restaurant, it's of the "to-go marketplace".. which, from the name, you would think would be a quick-service experience, especially since the food is already made and sitting in the glass counter. You'd think that, by paying $9 for a panini that's supposed to come with chicken inside, it would be at least a decent portion included. And you'd also think that, you would not be waiting for 20 minutes for food that should more or less be "grab-n-go." You'd be wrong. As mentioned, I ordered a panini with chicken (can't recall the menu name), which was brought out after (not exaggerating) 20 minutes. However, my friend still had to wait for her meatball panini, which took another 5-7 minutes. That means we've now been waiting for almost 30 minutes for 2 marketplace items. At that rate, we might as well have just gotten a table. That's just unacceptable. When we finally were able to eat them, we weren't impressed. Mine was much smaller looking than the one on display. As for the meatballs, my friend said they were bland and tasteless, and I think they flat out forgot to put any chicken in my panini. It was full of vegetables, and very, very greasy. Hopefully the sit-down section is better, since the marketplace items were overpriced and underwhelming.
(2)Jack M.
A great new Italian eatery located in the heart of East Village which is sure to provided great eats and fine wines for the years to come. On this first visit, I had the opportunity to enjoy a board of Di Stefano Burrata with speck, fig mostarda, aged balsamic and crostini for $12 and their gas and white pizza oak baked pizza with Mission figs, quattro formaggi, arugula, speck, shallot marmellata, saba for $14; both which had me turning my head with excitement. The Di Stefano Burrata was outstanding and came breathtakingly presented on a board with the burrata and speck nestled together as if a match that was made in heaven ( yelp.com/biz_photos/bott… ). The burrata was silky and smooth, mildly flavored, and went very well with the fig marmellata and bitter arugula ( yelp.com/biz_photos/bott… ). The speck had nice salty flavor with just enough fat to add a richness on the palate. This was indeed a treat to eat paired with crostini ( yelp.com/biz_photos/bott… ). The pizza was terrific, not to mention quite the handsome looking pie ( yelp.com/biz_photos/bott… ). All the ingredients sang well together, but what had me turning my head and looking over at the 800 degrees oven, ( yelp.com/biz_photos/bott… ) thinking to myself, "it's the magic oven." The crust was light and airy, but with just enough chewy texture to perform like a playground in the mouth ( yelp.com/biz_photos/bott… ). The peppery and bitter arugula, the nutty shaved reggiano, to the smoky cured Italian ham, the Speck, balanced well against the slightly sweet mission figs ( yelp.com/biz_photos/bott… ).The four cheesed, the gorgonzola, Fontina, mozzarella, and reggiano were all well melted and tasted great, but that Italian Saba and figs and their sweetness, somehow brought the pizza together nicely ( yelp.com/biz_photos/bott… ). Well done. The place is beautiful and provides and open environment. Service was good, perhaps not as refined as it should or will be in the near future, because I had to ask several times for my check with plenty of time between. However, the kitchen staff and chefs were great with a communicative and sincere personalities and willing to share and discuss their form of art ( yelp.com/biz_photos/bott… ).
(4)Banu K.
oh my where do i start? i have wanted to try this place out since reading an article about it. the whole experience from start to finish really amazing. we went for dinner on the 2nd day it was open to the public. i knew that early openings were a little rusty usually. but didn't expect it to blow me away. all the way from the amazing food, to the ambience to the delightful servers as well as chefs, OMG. parking: on the street which wasn't hard to find at 8:00, but on a monday. there is a valet service too. ambience: what a entrance. you immediately see the gorgeous hanging lights and the open space. such great lighting, nice and airy, lighted but still intimate. there are many pockets of tables, and really amazing, random tables throughout the restaurant. i loved that you could sit at one of many 'stations' whether it be the pasta area, the salumeria, the pizza oven area, or the bar. not to mention they had tables open to the whole area. the community tables were huge, and really not packed like some of the community tables out there. you still had some privacy even though you were seated together, which was a nice change. service: katie was pretty amazing. we knew her from another restaurant, and she was definitely seasoned and knowledgeable. made great suggestions from the specials to wine, which were spot-on. cocktails: i opted for my fave, espresso martini, which i ask to make a certain simple way, and the 2 bartenders did not disappoint. btw, it was refreshing to see just female bartenders tonight, mixing and serving all night. my friend ordered one of the craft cocktails, which was ok, i think the mescal in it was a little too pungent. but they brought him an unbelievable margerita on the rocks, which was very nice. appetizers: we started off with the salumeria: duck prosciutto, mortadella, and the cheese was the casatica. all amazing choices, really enjoyed the fig jam and crostini served with it. looked beautiful, check out my pics. we also had the Carrots / turnips / sweet onion / crescenza cheese. they cooked/roasted the carrots and turnips just beautifully, and really was a favorite savory taste all night for me. meal: my friend had the Roast del giorno which was a succulent pork loin, in a chimichurri sauce, served with squash i believe, and a delish sauce almost sweet/savory that it was stewed in. it was a special, and really was a treat. i had the mussels. they were served in a butter garlic tomato based broth and served with chorizo. as mussels to me are usually always salty, i thought the chorizo made it too salty in addition, but really enjoyed eating it separately. dessert: we both had an espresso/coffee, and the budino. wow, what a great chocolate crumble on top, that katie said wasn't even bread based. so simple, creamy, delish. it had a carmel drizzle around it that was amazing. i am very impressed. i will admit that i haven't found another great restaurant as my to go place since the cucinas, but think i may have found another great place to take my friends, family, guests. it was a nice treat to talk to the sous chef jeremy oursland, who talked about his great kitchen, and all the fun toys that were back there. we saw Chef Dave working endlessly side by side with his crew in the open space, that was nice to see. we ended the night by buying some fig spread that was used on the salumeria platter we got, and can't wait to use it on french bread for breakfast! i am in love, and will be back for sure, very soon. thanks katie, chef dave, and the team!
(5)Jennifer R.
Wow! A beautiful restaurant, great service, and terrific food. Typically soft openings are a little rough since they are working out the kinks but our experience tonight was great and there weren't any hiccups along the way. We split a butter lettuce salad and the waiter was nice enough to split the plate for us. The presentation was beautiful! The flavors were simple but delicious. We also ordered the puttanesca pizza which had amazing crust and a fresh flavor. For dessert we went out on a limb and ordered the peach carpaccio. Such a light and refreshing dessert that is not overly sweet. We're already planning our next trip and recommending Bottega Americano to everyone.
(5)Stephany L.
Very small portions for the price, probably not best to come very hungry or looking to for a big meal. Pizza seemed to be the best value but as I said before the other dishes we ordered were really small for the price and most of the friends I went with were still hungry after. Also, you should definitely should reserve way ahead of time (like at least a day) for larger parties. They seem to fill up with reservations really quickly on the weekend.
(3)Katie W.
We live right next door, and having Bottega Americano right next door is a dream. We Stopped this morning to grab a morning pick-me-up and couldn't have been more impressed! My coffee snob fiancée had cappuccino while I just had an iced tea. He had no critiques about his drink (he always does) and my tea was brewed perfectly. Not over steeped, but not colored water either. The decor is amazing, very understated and cool, but we basked in sun the outdoor patio, where there is tons of seating. We peeked Into the dining room to see them hanging noodles on racks to dry. Can't wait to come back later for those! The threw the word "marketplace" into their description, so I assumed they would have a few grab-and-go items. It's more like an Italian specialty market right In the restaurant- pricing was great too. This place is an amazing addition to East Village! Welcome to the neighborhood!
(5)Mareden T.
Came here for lunch with some of my foodie friends. This place is definitely must come back to kinda place. Love the decor and the open airy feeling. Staff was very friendly and attentive. You can sit down and order or they have a walk up counter service. I ordered the fresh pasta of the day with the pork stew (sorry I can't remember the exact name of the dish). Oh my it was sooooooo good and very hearty. We all sampled one another's dishes. Everything people got was yummy. My only complaint was the complimentary bread they brought out. Way too salty for my palette. Some of my other friends didn't mind. I wanna come back here again and try their dinner and drinks.
(5)Erin L.
Alright, two dining experiences later, 5 stars. Way to work out those kinks! Their pasta, by far, is the best I've had in San Diego. I said it. Family of four, all four were excellent, including the spaghetti and meatballs, cioppino, octopus bucatini, and I forget what I had...but it was all really, really good! My parents don't eat out much, but they said this was the best pasta they've ever had! Their bread is always fresh and delicious, and you seriously have to try the duck prosciutto. Love it!
(5)Jeanie S.
Wow! This has been one of the worth meals I've ever had in my life from start to finish. The execution was horrific! The chef should be embarrassed. Meatballs were hard and dry and lacked flavor. The brown avocado toast was on soggy focaccia bread and was screaming for salt. The garlic spaghetti had a chance but the raw garlic was old and super pungent. Another fail. Then the pizza oh boy- margarita is the simplest of all and a go to for testing the water- well this was over sauced and missing the mozzarella. It had some cheap processed blend. The dough had no salt and was delivered soggy. Yet another fail! Cancelled the last two dishes to afraid to even try them. The tea was cold and the pistachio gelato was hard and looked like coffee. Omg The room was packed and had good reviews/ the service was on point and she felt bad about the poor quality food. Good design! Worst execution ever! Cherry on top was the chef walking around the dining room, might was to go taste the food.
(1)Claire G.
One of The best new restaurants in San Diego without a doubt! Fun, hip, energetic and exciting. The kitchen buzzes, the space is open and inviting.The food is fabulous and stands on its own. Our group tried the mussels and the homemade Burrata Cheese along with the Caponata and Beet salad for appetizers. All of them were absolutely delicious. We shared the fennel sausage pizza and the margarita pizza with added salami and they were okay. The standouts for the entrées were the roast special of the night which was a huge pork loin chop perfectly cooked and the lamb pappardelle, exquisite! All of their pasta dishes sounded amazing.our group also enjoyed the butterscotch Budino dessert and the custom crafted cocktails and delicious wines and beer. Service was on point and the whole evening was an absolute joy. Cannot wait to come back ...bon appétit!
(5)Denise T.
Excellent food, wonderful service and beautiful atmosphere! We enjoyed the rotisserie chicken salad, the butter lettuce salad and the mussels. For dessert we got the chocolate mousse cake, a cannoli, and a chocolate macaron. It was all delicious and the service was perfect. We will be back!
(5)Billy K.
Awesome spot. Great dinners- amazing brunch. The layout is an open concept. I've been coming here every weekend since they opened. Great staff and great eats.
(5)Taylor G.
Between the three of us, we had two 3-star and one 5 star review for the food. As for the service, 2 star, 3 star, and 2.5 stars... Cocktails were watery and over-shaken. Not sure if ice issue or staff issue. Our reserved table was not ready upon arrival. They tried to permanently seat us at the bar 10 minutes later. We asked for a table where we could all hear each other / face each other and waited another 10 minutes. As noted to the reservationist, we were doing a goodbye dinner and wanted to be able to talk. Our server was earnest but green. His support staff was silent and stiff and it felt like we were being rushed through our courses. Plates were snatched without being asked if we were finished. I normally don't comment on table layout, but for such a large space, the restaurant seemed extremely jumbled and hard to navigate. When being seated, leaving, or using the restroom, the tables seemed awkwardly arranged. There were not many clear paths. I felt like I was disrupting other tables when moving. Overall I felt like the staff did not "read" our table well and the service suffered because of it. For a restaurant that seems to be competing with Cucina Urbana, it's lacking a lot of the finer points of service and ambiance.
(3)Glen H.
Sit by the pizza guy, he's awesome and very entertaining. Staff is really nice and professional. Oh and the food is the bomb!
(5)Alina B.
Love the ambiance, very lively. Must try the beet salad & yellow tail appetizer. Great service to match the amazing food.
(5)Bill P.
Really good East Village eatery with a trendy, hip-industrial flair. Food was a delight as was our knowledgeable, competent, ultra-friendly waiter. I thought the butternut squash raviolis were a little under-filled, but otherwise a great experience. The house sauce that comes with the bread is amazing and addictive. A "must try"! Wasn't digging the $16 for a Don Julio shot, but ah well, San Diego downtown tries SO HARD to be L.A. What is one to do? :-)
(4)Mel C.
Please bring back the steak and eggs!!! I traveled all the way back from Seattle to experience them again and was distraught to hear they were no longer on the menu. Going to try the braised pork shoulder hash, stay tuned...and our server, Megan, is awesome!!
(5)Cynthia W.
Brunch is awesome, I've had the lobster PLT and the Italian breakfast here. Delicious!
(5)Jeremiah C.
Wife and I went here for brunch this morning... Great new restaurant! Several savory brunch plates and cocktails that had an Italian-American influence. We were impressed and enjoyed everything we ordered, surprisingly even by the organic coffee. Ambience was unpretentious, comfortable and welcoming with an open-kitchen, almost family-style feel. They also had several types of specialty "bars" (oyster/crudo, salami/cheese, etc) that seem fun to try out in addition to traditional alcohol bar. We really like the decor and entire layout. -Very family friendly, which we enjoyed. Great mix of customers, even young children/families, but the restaurant seems to attract professional, responsible parents who don't allow their kids to run around like crazy. There was a dedicated take out deli-type counter which is also a wonderful idea. We actually enjoyed our food so much that we also ordered takeout on our way out for my parents who were babysitting for us. Service seemed excellent (it was our server's first day and so we cut him a lot of slack. He was a nice guy and told us up front that it was his first day. We actually really appreciated that do we knew what to expect.) Prices are very reasonable (~$14/plate, $8/cocktail). The food quality, presentation, and overall experience is actually much better than what you'd pay or expect to pay for brunch at many other restaurants in downtown, let alone similar dining establishments around San Diego. We were already planning our return to Bottega Americano before we were finished eating. Try it out!
(5)Jeffrey B.
One of the most inspiring concepts in all San Diego. The space is simply stunning and adds to a lovely experience. The staff are professionals. It feels like a small Eataly from NYC. Not all of our guests loved dinner. I expect that quality will improve as the restaurant matures. San Diego's East Village finally grows up with this one.
(4)L. M.
This place is great! Cheese platter and chopped salad were delicious. I ordered the ravioli (so rich and flavorful even without any sauce on it - theres garnish on it and goat cheese) and my boyfriend got the manicotti and also loved. Can't wait to return and try more menu options! We were STUFFED. Drink menu looked nice as well although I just got wine. Nice bar area too!
(5)Holly D.
I cant wait to go back! Amazing ambiance, fantastic service by a sommelier who made our experience epic with the perfect suggestions. We just ended up having him order half of our experience for us. A BIG "O" for our taste buds. We met several of the owners and the chef who came by to say hello and chat. I am so excited to see East Village growing with class and quality all around. A big thank you to BA. We WILL see you soon!
(5)Laura S.
This new restaurant has hit a culinary and dining experience home run. They have taken all the main ingredients of the food revolution and blended it into a fine cocktail of a memorable sights, sounds, tastes, and just basic dining delight. The professional inventors of this experience obviously have been around the world and combined their knowledge into a satisfying restaurant experience. The beautifully designed and organic atmosphere makes you feel like you could be in Rome, New York, or San Francisco, only better. It has a tasteful environment but with the easy going, friendly San Diego vibe. There are five different dining choices within the restaurant from a pizza bar, to a communal table and to the standard dining tables. There is always a choice, the American way. No expense was spared inside the restaurant with the custom tile, the marble tables, copper pendant lights, and the ergonomic forks which I appreciate. When you dine out, you want that fork to feel weighted and substantive in your hand. It is the instrument of your dining experience. The hostess at the podium made eye contact and greeted us warmly, always the first point of contact in a restaurant and sets the tone. We were a party of six and graciously greeted by Greg one of the owners. Our server was pleasant, attentive, knowledgeable, and made our dining experience as good as it was. She had solid recommendations about the menu and made certain that the wine glasses were always full as did the water server. We ordered the charcuterie board with tasteful meat and cheeses and a beautiful presentation, along with an octopus appetizer, always hard to fine, and others. All were excellent. We all had something different for our main course and shared. The branzino whole fish was succulent and cooked perfectly with a light crust on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside. The pappardelle with lamb was tasty cooked to perfection, freshly made pasta always taste better. There is also a gluten free option for pasta. The wine list offered a variety of options in different price ranges. The wine was decanted and served as it should be. The food runners were obviously trained, they served from the correct side and gently placed the food down, not plopped it as in some other restaurants, and they also knew who ordered which entrée. Many food runners in other restaurants arrive with the entree and expect the diner to direct the food traffic on the table, this detracts from the experience. The attention to detail was gratefully obvious. Our party lingered and went to the bar after our meal. Again, we had cocktails blended to perfection and tried some new things that we had not heard of. The bartender was friendly, welcoming and knew her craft. It was a delightful evening, and a notable restaurant to place on the top of your dining list. You will be glad you did.
(5)Jay L.
Took my family here for my Mother's bday. This place is AMAZING! Interior design is beautiful! And I love the concept of having front seat kitchen! It shows the cleanliness of the food prepped. Behind doors, you never know how clean the kitchen is. By far THE BEST pizza in SD! And truly made fresh by an Italian guy andrea! Tell him to make you cauliflower purée sauce & figs, that's soo bomb! We ordered 3 types of pasta entrees and wow! Definitely fresh! Even has vegetarian & gluten-free options! My favorite was fennel sausage filling Entrees I ordered the Lamb succo, DELICIoUS! Falls off the bone and not overpowering by that "gamey" taste The pastry kitchen gave my mom a mini happy bday treat :) So I give it 5 stars!!! Cleanliness, delicious food, friendly kitchen staffs, beautiful restaurant, and fairly priced menu!
(5)Julianne M.
I'll always give this place 4 stars because of the food, waitstaff, bussers, and ambience. I live in the east village, and the corner they chose looks historic, and downright beautiful. But, I brought my friend here for his birthday dinner, we both brought our Boxers, and the owner, Greg, was extremely disrespectful. We sat on the patio, which is supposed to be pet-friendly. We had an early dinner at about 5:30. His dog, and my dog were seated on the cushions next to me, with about 14 tables open outside. We had our to go bag on the table next to us, and two empty drinks. We were leaving, and then Greg came over, stood over me, the female, and in an intimidating fashion that they have to seat the table next to us. I don't get intimidated, I'm a Texan, and am tough. I've dealt with misogyny. But, to have a guy hovering over me, ignoring the man sitting at the table, and trying to intimidate the female is ridiculous. He was disrespectful. If he had told us dogs were not allowed on the seats, done. I would've put them back on the ground. No issue. He was rude, to be rude. I don't get that. Don't open a restaurant with a dog-friendly patio, and be hateful to pet owners. You live in SAN DIEGO! Being rude to dogs is sacrilege! I live three blocks away, and wanted this to be my spot for friends coming in. I feel a little uncomfortable going back. I like my dog. It's still really pretty, and good food, even if there is a douchey owner.
(4)Lynn Z.
Love the service ! Love the food ! Love the concept ! One of the best ! Happy hour is fantastic !
(5)Mindy N.
This place is sensational. We were able to make a reservation and had a nice table for our table of three. We started out with a meet and cheese board - every selection was quite tasty down to the persimmon and fig spread. Their gluten-free (gf) options are quite extensive with many dishes including pastas and pizzas. We ordered the Pappardelle with braised lamb, Lobster truffle risotto and the Stuffed butternut squash Ravioli with goat cheese on top. Every dish was perfectly flavored, it's hard to pick a favorite. We shared the Juana de Sol Malbec it was perfect. Our server was really great, he knew the menu and dishes really well to answer any questions we had and was always there when needed. The price wasn't bad for the quality and portions, really decent. We'll absolutely be back!
(5)Kaitlyn C.
The food is top notch, from the appetizers (I recommend the yellow tail and mussels), to the main course (lamb oso bucco was out of this world), to our extremely light and not at all over filling dessert. Not only was the atmosphere both clean and homey (which can be hard to achieve both of those feelings at once), but the service was fantastic. Our waitress (Jenna, I believe) was on the ball, other kitchen staff were there to help quickly if we needed any thing. The experience over all was fantastic and this is a place I would happily go again! Recommended to anyone! Great food, great service, and great atmosphere!
(5)Joaquin P.
I thought Cucina Urbana was IT for italian food, until I stepped foot into Bottega Americana. Amazing food!, from appetizer, to main dish and dessert...also service was impecable. Great atmosphere and lots of people. Move on Cucina, Bottega is my new italian favorite...I will be back... Definetly!
(5)Harry C.
Very clearly modeled on Eataly in Manhattan, the food here is as good or better. We arrived at the height of the busy time and still got very prompt service. Indeed, at least 3 servers ask if anyone had taken our drink order. (One had.) One complaint; our entree's came while we were still eating our appetizer. We mentioned this and the server immediately took responsibility, indicating she had put it in ahead of a very large table order so it wouldn't be too delayed. The quality of our food was wonderful. We split an orders of the mussels and the burrata cheese and proscuitto. We each got a pasta entree. I ordered the mushroom and Italian ham. It was great but, being rich, was too much after the appetizers. Like most restaurants these days, the noise level is pretty high. We would return again and recommend it to friends.
(4)Justin W.
After several visits and simply loving this new neighborhood gem so damn much, I decided to break my silence and write my first 'yelp'. The setting is lively and fun. Open Air with expansive seating options. The Lounge is a cool setting for drinks and cocktails where you can take it all in. There are several floor dining options throughout the room for intimate dinners of parties of 2 or 4. For a large group, there is no better seat than the Pizza Oven table. probably one of the coolest tables I've ever seen. - call early to book it for your large group. The food is interactive and comes from several stations. The cheese n charcuterie come from its own area, as does the fresh raw seafood, and pastry - each complete with their own bar style seating where you can pull up to the action and watch it all happen while you dine. - if you are just popping in for a quick dessert and the dessert station bar seats are free... grab them! Besides having a cool concept, the kitchen is really well organized and the food is amazing. I have tried several different cheese n charcuterie boards and they are always fresh, unique and of the highest quality. The Beet Salad is fantastic and artfully plated, as well we loved their beef carpaccio. My favorite go-to starter has to be the burrata with speck and aged balsamic. A classic dish, done so very well. great with some crisp dry white wine to start your dinner. for some share bites you can't go wrong with the Octopus salad, the steamed mussels or some fresh oysters for your table to share. The wine! very reasonably priced great Italian selections. I was thrilled to find a reasonably priced Sangiovese and a great Barbera by the glass on their list. Cocktails are refreshing and on brand. the bartenders and friendly and engaging, so don't shy away from the bar seats if a food station countertop is unavailable. The entrees were magnificent. I have had their lamb both ways - as the papperdelle and as the osso bucco. both magnificent. As well I've tried their gnocchi (soft pillows made of air...) and their very healthy Salmon entree. - all to die for. A great neighborhood addition with to go food! If I lived in the East Village I'd be eating 2 meals a day there in some fashion. As it is, I will make the 4 block walk for dinner, drinks, and or lunch as often as possible. great gem. Looking forward to trying their brunch menu they just launched on the weekend.
(5)Kelly D.
Beautiful place with really good food that had interesting modifications to staple Italian dishes. The wine list was decent but mostly Italian wines for choices by the glass. Many Californian choices too, but only by the bottle. We went with another couple and shared the duck prosciutto (very tasty) cheese, and salami plate as an appetizer, the carpaccio (excellent), octopus, scallops on risotto (superb), spaghetti with meatballs (very savory with slight sweetness that was perfect), potato fingerlings with the egg, and broccolini. All the food was fantastic (5 stars). However our server was not that attentive. He forgot our wine order several times, didn't check up on us, and seemed a little distracted. In fact, his apprentice was much better. Thus, service was 3 stars. The chef came and talked to us as he was making rounds, which was nice. Valet is $7.
(4)J F.
Food done right. Fresh, handmade, made in-house, seasonal ingredients combined with high culinary standards. Excellent customer service, especially the manager, Corrie. She makes sure her customers are happy and keep coming back! The baristas are awesome as well and make delicious americanos. Ambience is excellent for any occasion. Located adjacent to Thomas Jefferson School of Law, so it may be a great place to meet future lawyers!
(5)Chris M.
This place is pretty awesome! The concept is cool and fresh. This venue has multiple stations that prepare a list of dishes that all seem to taste delicious. My girlfriend and I sampled something from every station and we weren't let down. Aside from having great food, the staff should be held in the same high regard. They were all attentive, professional, polite and personal. This was truly a great night all around. It also helped my San Diego Chargers beat the 49ers that night too. I can't wait to go back.
(5)Melodie C.
Adding this to the rotation of favorite dinner spots. Open, slightly modern looking dining environment with a mix of common tables and 4 tops. We went on a Friday night with no reservations but were seated immediately. Service was perfect - attentive and genuine without being overbearing. We ordered the lamb pappardelle and octopus bucatini, both of which were fantastic. It's a challenge to find octopus that isn't overcooked and rubbery but this dish was overflowing with well seasoned, delicious chunks of it. On a side note - they make one hell of a blue cheese olive martini. Sold!
(5)ed w.
Interesting spot. Dined on a Wed evening prior to end of Happy Hr (6pm). Made reservations but not needed for this time slot. Lots of street parking. Valet optional. Staff was courteous. Place can get loud. Our table of five ordered several appetizers based on prior reviews. Tuna and Burrata were ok. Octopus and Mussels was good. Meat/cheese board portions were kinda small. The butternut squash soup was tasty. Entire party enjoyed our main courses. Rib eye, Lamb shank, Ravioli, Paccheri and yes, the Spaghetti & meatballs. Overall, would return again. Happy hr lounge looks like a lively spot for a quick bite and refreshments and 50% off too!
(3)Mikey F.
After a horrific experience at Double Standard, I was frantically in search of an incredible experience to make up for it. I called Bottega Americano right before closing on a Saturday night, and was informed that if I hurried on over, they'd have a table just for me, no RSVP needed. SCORE. I walked over, and the hosts and waitresses were ALL SO BEAUTIFUL AND NICE!!!! Omg!!!!! It was like they were pretty Italian Disney princesses. I was shocked they let me get a table with no RSVP, because the place was PACKED. It's a huge place, but every table was taken and packed with large groups. In spite of how packed it was, I was not at all overwhelmed; the place gives off a very cozy, perfect-for-the-holidays vibe. The only thing missing is Mariah Carey Christmas music! All the patrons were dressed like they were ready to go see The Nutcracker! The food was amazing!!!! I couldn't at all understand what the names on the menu say, so I had to ask them to translate for me. I ended up with an amazing Italian seafood dish. It had lots of Italian noodles, shrimps, scallops, calamari and mussels (and from what I hear, they rotate the seafood in the dish so sometimes it includes salmon?!!). All of it was fantastic. Even the bread and dip before the food was great. I will be honest that the water vase ran out halfway through my meal and no one came to refill it. In fact, the waitress didn't even bring me my check. But I'm perfectly fine with that. No waitress = no tip necessary. Thanks to the lack of waitress, I saved more money than I would have at the Dollar Tree and still got a 5 star dining experience! SCORE.
(5)L S.
After overcoming 3 broken parking meters I almost gave up. So so so glad I didn't. The food here was so riduoisly delicious and the staff was so friendly and welcoming it was one of the best dining experiences in a long time. The lunch menu is extremely reasonable and in line with San Diego's up and coming farm to table venues. I ordered the *Ravioli / butternut squash / goat cheese / brown butter / sage / braised cavolo nero* It was filled with layers of goodness, each bite better than the last. They serve fresh hot focaccia with a cold creamy tomato dip on request. Erick was my server and he was wonderful. The young man making fresh dough at the pizza oven was very engaging and It felt like I was sitting in a good friend's kitchen. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. I can't wait to go back and share with friends!
(5)Erica O.
I really wanted to like this place but unfortunately most of the food was just average. - Charcuterie & Cheese Board (had a great fig jam accompaniment) - Saffron Tagliolini (fishy and lacked depth of flavor though the noodles weren't bad) - Pork Shoulder (dry, not bad but not great) - Broccolini (fine) - Budino (tasty) Though the food wasn't fantastic, the service was excellent. Our server was extremely attentive and helped me navigate the menu considering my nut allergy. I'm not sure I will be back anytime soon but may give it another try one of these days.
(3)Mary C.
WOW! This place is a must try. This is my first time here for dinner with the love of my life and we were wowed! The Pacchetti pasta was to die for- guanciale, peas, truffle cream- delish!!!
(5)Margot S.
LOVE Bottega Americano! Their brunch is fantastic and they use unique quality ingredients. Everything I've ever had (especially their specials) has been fantastic! Everyone I bring here loves it too! Kudos to the friendly staff and innovative chef.
(5)Dung N.
I was contemplating on doing restaurant week or trying out this place to celebrate our 26 month anniversary. I'm so glad that we went here! I had an amazing dining experience at this restaurant. From start to finish, every bite was almost perfection! The space is gorgeous and very spacious. We couldn't find parking, so we used their valet service for $7. We actually entered their market place, not knowing that their was another entrance for the restaurant LOL. I already saw a video of this place before they opened and couldn't wait to dine here. I love their open kitchen concept! I explored all the areas and the staff was very warm and inviting. I had the yellowtail crudo and my bf got the mussels witch chorizo. The sauce for the mussels was the best I've ever tasted. They gave us a spoon and extra bread to finish every last drop. The yellowtail was fresh and had a pretty presentation. Then he ordered the ravioli, which was filled with goat cheese and corn. The ravioli was perfectly hand made and cooked al dente. Unfortunately, it didn't come with any meat. I love meat. I had the garganelli with shrimp- it was okay...I'm not sure why the pasta in this dish was not made in-house. You can definitely tell the difference!! I liked the big pieces of shrimp though...Since we sat in front of the pizza oven, we got to see all the action! It was nice to have this "private" area all to ourselves. The pizza guy let me taste the speck and arugula...so good!! I even got a complimentary mini pizza on the house. It was so cute!! Even our server was jelly that she never had one made for her LOL. The pizza was delicious by the way. For dessert, we ordered the chocolate budino and the limoncello panna cotta. Both were beautifully presented and I enjoyed them a lot!! Service was impeccable and the entire staff was very welcoming and helpful. We even got to take a picture on the owner's Vespa!! It was funny that my outfit matched their logo. HAHAHAHA....Can't wait to go back!
(4)Allan H.
The food was solid, not outstanding but solid. Though, the ambiance was terrible here. It was loud as heck and if you want to have dinner with anyone and not yell to have a conversation. This isn't the place to go. The server I had was not good at all, borderline rude. SHE talked down to her co-workers and just had a arrogance about her that was noticeable and ugly. So if you wanna try the food which is average at best to see if you have a better go of it than I did, go for it. I hope you have a way way better time then I.
(2)Ellen D.
This is a fascinating venue! I walked away from the library to find a quick bite and found this extraordinarily inviting take-out/full-service restaurant/food oriented gift store. The take-out display offered many unique salads, cauliflower with yummy sweet red onion and raisins in sweetened, but not sweet vinaigrette, pasta, grain and others, including a visually exciting albacore. I chose cauliflower (great choice) and a Chicken Parmagiana fillet. $8.00 Delicious! I'll be heading back to peruse the gift shop and seated dining. Thank you Bottga Americano for upscaling my lunch hour, yum!
(4)Barbara L.
I love this place! I brought my boyfriend here for a late dinner on his birthday. We had an 8:45pm reservation and the place was hopping on a Tuesday night. The dining room started to clear out while we ate our dinner. The space is very large and sound bounces off hard surfaces which can make it loud during a busy dinner hour. We enjoyed two cocktails; I prefer La Dolce Vita which is very refreshing and not too sweet, on a hot evening. We shared a meat and cheese board from the salumeria and our server was helpful in recommending items. There are MANY meats and cheeses to choose from and I liked that I could choose what I wanted versus being told what I was getting. We had a great speck paired with two cheeses, a soft and a soft-to-medium cheese. Sorry, I don't remember the names, but they were delish! We shared the scallops and risotto main course and the server/kitchen kindly put our order into two bowls. The scallops were beautifully seared and the risotto was yummy and creamy (and came home to be eaten the next day). Pssst. . . . I have a confession to make . . . I wanted to bring my boyfriend here because I'd already been here twice without him and felt a little guilty. From previous visits, I can recommend the manicotti, the sausage fennel pizza, and the caponata as a starter. The dessert to have, and I cannot find the name, is this chocolate-pot-de-creme-thingy with other flavors chunked on top. It is SOOOO very good! On my next visit, I'd love to try more items from the salumeria while sipping some red wine.
(5)Carrie c.
The bright fresh feel of this place was perfect for a casual lunch. The ravioli with squash, goat cheese, and spinach was very tasty. The boudini (sp?) Was a very tasty dessert as well and the coffee was excellent! They have a great deli style cafe where you can buy some prepped foods, like farro salad, Italian sausage, and desserts. Everything looked so good. In this area of the restaurant you will also find some great gifts, including some greeting cards, slate cheese boards, and a line of seasonings, sauces, and treats that would make a great addition to a gift basket or your own pantry. I would highly suggest adding this to your Yelp Bookmarks list!
(5)Mauricio S.
Good service. Good food. Good portion. Good price. Came for happy hour and came out happy indeed
(5)Shanah C.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this place!! Authentic Italian atmosphere! Cafe / restaurant with full bar, handmade pasta, cheese bar. Oh, and let's not forget the bakery area with lots of yummy desserts! Ordered the spaghetti & meatballs. If requested, bread is brought to the table with a delicious dipping sauce. Lots of treats to take home (cheeses, chocolates, Italian pastries) Can't wait to come back!!
(5)Brian P.
We tried this restaurant for the very first time to celebrate our anniversary. Wow!! I can't say enough about our experience. It exceeded our expectations in nearly every aspect, starting with the decor, energy and the ambiance. The open kitchen concept, wood lined pillars, communal tables and marketplace all made for a warm & inviting experience. The staff was awesome!! Everyone, including the waitress, runners & bus boys were very attentive and friendly. The prices were very reasonable for such a beautiful concept restaurant. I had the Lamb Osso Buco. Loved every bite!!! It was tender, flavorful and more than enough food. We didn't order any sides other than what came with our meals and it was plenty. My girlfriend had the Scallops with Lemon Risotto. The scallops (4 large) were cooked to perfection and very flavorful. The Lemon Risotto was also really good and cooked perfectly. We had noted in our OpenTable reservation that it was our anniversary in hopes that we could land a great table. Not only did they give us a nice private 2-top but they surprised us at the end of our dinner with an anniversary cannoli complete with a small candle and a congratulations! What a great touch on a great evening. We can't wait to go back soon!! Highly, highly recommend it!!!
(5)Ashley P.
This place was fantastic! If you are trying to find amazing Italian food, this is the place in the San Diego! I had the gnocchi and it was the best gnocchi I have ever had, the plate was licked clean! The chocolate budino for dessert was also very good and was pretty rich. They also have a nice selection of desserts in their deli area as you walk in the restaurant. Only complaints (the reason for 4, not 5 stars) are location, very difficult to find parking so if you have a reservation come in advance to find a spot, plate sizes were a bit small. I had read other reviews saying they were small, however I was completely full at the end of my meal, i couldn't finish my dessert. The best part is you get full, but not stuffed, so you leave feeling good.
(4)Anna L.
It's a safe bet. If you're going to meet up with a friend, go here. If you're going to have a nice dinner date, go here. If you're a man and you're wondering where all the girls are, go here. Most of the dishes are solid. My favorite by far is the roasted tomato gnocchi. I would recommend getting the lamb pappardelle, the New York Steak, and the Bone Marrow (if they have it on special). I would definitely skip the Yellowtail crudo and the Scallop main dish. The green goddess dressing is a little heavy and the scallops that we had weren't fresh.
(4)Alejandra A.
My classmates and I visited this restaurant as a field trip (Culinary students) today. I had a great experience , i loved the tour inside the kitchen and everything was delicious.
(5)Chris B.
Came here for date night last Friday. The only reason this spot is two stars is because of the great customer service we received from our server & front hostess. Here are the reasons why this spot is getting two stars instead of the hyped up fives everyone else is giving away. 1. Customer Service: 5/5 for our male server & the really tall female hostess (forget their names): friendly, efficient, personable. Even when our server was slammed with hangry customers, he remained friendly, and approachable. The very tall hostess as well was friendly. Even though a lot of the restaurant patrons were getting irritated with the dining/seating arrangements, and a lot of us were wanting a table separate from everyone, she remained very friendly, and accommodating. The biggie on this was -- we had a reservation @ 2045, (arrived there early @ 2020) and we didn't get seated until 2130. We were starving, and on the verge of hangry-ness. Yes, they were busy, but the staff, and the whole restaurant system seemed disorganized. Tons of empty long community style tables that could have been divided into three private tables for two, could've worked much better. 2. Food: I had the garganelli / spicy lobster broth / jumbo shrimp / sweet garlic / mint; fiancé had the meatballs; and on the side we had the Margherita pizza. Mine was good, but a little too salty; fiancé's meatballs was good as well. Pizza on the other hand, was OK. The food plating (except for pizza) was nicely done. So, probably 3.5/5 for the food. 3. Price: pretty cheap for the food you're getting. My order was $18, fiancé's was $14.00, pizza I forget, and 'free' breads with EVOO/balsamic vinegar dip on the side. 4. Decor/table placements: good decor, Beatnik, modern, clean. Table placement on the other hand -- didn't make any sense. Community semi-fine dining is not something I want to share with intoxicated, and loud patrons I do not know. I want to enjoy my meal, and have a good conversation on date night with my fiancé. 5. Location: Again - this did not make any sense to me. Island & 11th is not a "Good" area of Downtown San Diego. It is right next to the trolley, in a semi-unincorporated area of Downtown where a lot of homeless people hang out/walk by. I felt bad biting into my food while knowing the homeless man or child looking on must be hungry. It's dehumanizing. At least, put a visual barrier of some sort. 6. Parking: OK, depends what time and day you decide to dine. The closer to the weekend, and later in the evening, you will either have to pay for parking, or park really far.
(2)Ari R.
It's a gorgeous, chic space. I love the different sections, bar, charcuterie, market, coffee, chef's table, pizza bar. It's an amazing design. We had a very long night here. Our waitress was super slow. We had to actually get up several times to flag her down or let our busboy know we needed her. The manager seemed nice but was not expediting at all. He was not supervising or checking on his waitstaff. He never came over once. The waitress seemed embarrassed but never even bought us coffee for the problems we had. Won't come back for a long time, even though our food was all pretty good. The pizza is kind of generic, though. They need to do a more classic Neapolitan. Go check it out for a drink, first and see what you think. Great bar. That's what I have to say.
(3)Sarah K.
I read about this restaurant opening on Eater and was excited to try it when I visited San Diego. The restaurant had only been open for a few days and I understand that kinks need to be worked out, but my friend and I had a terribly sub-par experience. When we arrived and gave our name for the reservation, the hostess said "you wanna sit at the food bar?" and I replied "well we want to eat dinner, are there any other options?" she didn't reply and just led us to two seats awkwardly positioned in front of the pizza oven and next to the pass that was noisy and bustling, not to mention the seats are totally the wrong height for the bar. We moved and sat nearby overlooking the salad prep area, where we watched flies crawl over the bowl of guanciale all night. Once we finally ordered, my friend and I had to go through five drinks before we came to one that they weren't out of. We had the burrata appetizer and noticed they forgot the figs and it doesn't make sense to give four hunks of cheese and only three slices of bread (math is hard apparently.) We had our meals and they were fine, nothing to go crazy over. I wanted to go to Bottega Americano because many people had described it like Eataly in New York. Let's put that comparison to bed and not insult Eataly any further. Finally downtown San Diego is a dump, don't understand why they'd invest all the money to put the restaurant in the middle of the gentrified wasteland.
(1)Jeffrey W.
This place is boss! Ravioli is hands down one of the best I've had ever. I love Italian places that make theIr own pasta. The mussels are a must! We didn't save enough room for dessert. We came hungry and left in dining induced coma
(4)Brian H.
At first glance, Bottega Americano has the makings to be a fantastic restaurant. The concept is largely reminiscent of Eataly in NYC. In terms of execution, however, Bottega Americano has a ways to go. Our group of eight was seated at the "Pizza Bar," which turned out to be a giant table that could've easily sat fifteen plus people. You wouldn't think this would be a big deal, but as it turns out we could barely hold a conversation because the table was so large. In addition, some of the lighting (specifically, the fixtures on the ceilings) were very harsh and more suited to a hospital lobby rather than a restaurant. My suggestion: replace the high-top tables with smaller, more intimate ones that can still accommodate larger groups, and replace the ceiling lights with softer bulbs.(Note - Searsucker does a great job with soft-lighting in that sort of industrial space) Aside from some of the aesthetic nitpickery, however, the service and food were very good. The servers seemed like they were still getting a feel for the restaurant (which had only been open for 3 weeks), but they still managed to be attentive and friendly. We ordered a bunch of appetizers, pizzas, and pasta dishes. Everyone seemed to agree that the food was fresh and on point. Bottom line - once Bottega Americano does some fine tuning, it will surely become a San Diego staple.
(4)Lulus N.
We came for dinner after the Padres game and unfortunately we had terrible service. It took 20 minutes to get a server and as I write this review we have waited 45 minutes for our food and it still has not arrived.
(2)Danella S.
The food was delicious. Almost delicious enough to forget that even with a reservation, we still had to wait a bit for a table, but it was worth it. I'm also considering that we were a party of about 10 people. It was fortunate that we had a large party. So we were able to sample an assortment of appetizers. Of the many apps we tried, the mussels stood out for it's delicious flavorful sauce. We also ordered the gnocchi as an appetizer which was delicious as well. I had the scallop risotto and my boyfriend had the lamb pappardelle, which we shared with each other, to make the most of the experience. The scallops on my risotto were an impressive size and perfectly cooked. Flavor was rich, but balanced. The lamb on the pappardelle was tender, and overall was a tasty hearty dish. Already making plans of coming back!
(4)Christina M.
Loved this spot! Bottega Americano totally reminded me of Eataly, which is a great thing. Ten of us went to celebrate a birthday and the waitress was so patient and attentive to us. The food was full of flavor. So delicious and fresh. The only qualm was having to wait for our reservation due to a too small table being reserved for our large group. All in all we had a wonderful time, enjoyed the food, the atmosphere, and shopping for goodies! Will definitely be going back soon!
(4)Diana R.
Love it! It's a very casual and classy place to go by either yourself, on a date, or with friends. Service was excellent! I will definitely be coming back.
(5)Michael P.
Okay, for one of the first times in my life, I am at a loss to describe the culinary experience I had at the soft opening of this fabulous place last night. Started out with a platter of oysters and shrimp cocktail. They make the cocktail sauce from scratch, of course, and it goes perfectly with the seafood. Next was a small plate of burrata cheese, speck (an air-cured, lightly smoked ham like prosciutto), fig mostarda, topped with aged balsamic and served with their toasted crostini. This was absolutely amazing, a great combination of flavors. Main course was garganelli pasta (little rolled up tubes which they make in-house like all their pastas) with jumbo shrimp, with roasted garlic cloves and topped with a spicy lobster broth (see photo). It was perfectly al dente, and the sauce was full bodied without being heavy with cream like so many Italian places. Enjoyed a fabulous brunello red wine and shared some fantastic desserts, with the peach carpaccio being my personal favorite as I am not a sweet tooth. The decor of the restaurant is absolutely stunning, a modern urban rendering of an Italian marketplace...but it feels intimate even executed in 8,000 square feet...and the energy in the place is electric. Service was friendly and efficient especially considering that they were not open to the public at this point. I can't wait to come back, and in fact have a reservation for this coming Saturday. Unbelievable night!
(5)Rubyjane A.
What can I say about this place? The portions are small but the food as a lot of flavor. The drinks aren't that great. It doesn't taste as good as it was described. I had gone here for a girls night out and we are pretty bummed that it wasn't that great. Don't get me wrong the atmosphere the ambience was great. But the food portions and the drinks weren't that great. We even asked the waiter to take back the drinks and make something new but it still didn't taste good. And it's in the pricey side. Let's just say that you'll still be hungry after you leave. Maybe eat before coming. Or maybe I should try it one more time but I don't know if I want to waste my money.
(3)Alec L.
This local neighborhood restaurant is a really great spot and we've been there 5 times since opening. So I figured it's deserving of a yelp review from this guy. Synopsis: It's very European in style, which means great food, great social ambiance and a great experience. Venue: The place itself, both the marketplace and the dining area (Inside and out) are high class without being pretentious. Very inviting design. For dinner and late night, customers dress up and generally are a well dressed crowd, which is refreshing to see. Food: The food is DELICIOUS. They have a lot of options, which is the idea behind Bottega. Eat a variety of Italian cuisine items, from a fresh seafood bar (oysters!) to a meat station (prosciutto, speck, chicken, etc) to a pasta bar (handmade pasta!). Oh and wood fired pizza to boot. Any food we've tried, breakfast and coffee at 7am, Panini's, pizza or pasta, have been delicious. Classic Italian flavors an ingredients. Couldn't ask for more for a quick trip back to the flavors of Italia! Ambiance: The ambiance is great. It is very European, meaning stay a while and enjoy your meal. Come with your friends and family and enjoy wine and good company while trying different things from the menu. It is very conducive to that style of dining. Whether it be takeout or dine it, the staff has always been warm and accommodating as well. Just don't expect fast food, that is not the style and go to bucca de bepo if you want that. In summary, we're excited this place is around the block. While not the cheapest, we don't want it to be. The food and environment deserve to charge a little more, and the customer deserves a dining experience like Bottega offers. So sit back, enjoy your company and enjoy Bottega. We certainly have and hope everyone gets a chance to.
(5)Elizabeth M.
Bartenders are great. Decor is unique. Love the drinks and wine list. Went here for a friend's birthday and love the new addition to east village. It's businesses like this that are regentrifying downtown. A+
(5)John Kevin M.
The East Village got a gem with this one. Quite and secluded, BA is simply amazing. I had their mushroom truffle pasta with peas (sorry I forgot the name) but it was mouthwatering. The sauce was rich and mingled along with the peas and fried pork great, the pasta was cooked perfectly and helped absorb all the cream from the pasta. The service was A1. Waters filled halfway all the way through my party of 6s meal, the staff gave us knowledgeable wine pairings with our food and the wait staff wasn't too overly eager, they gave us enough space to look through the menu properly to figure out what we really want. Atmosphere and dress code-- classy, but it is San Diego. Button up and slacks or Shorts and a shirt will do fine.
(5)Amy L.
Great new place that just opened a couple months ago. My boyfriend took me here for our Anniversary and it was great. Good place to come back for groups! We ordered the burrata + speck which was delicious and so fresh. Definitely good for 1-2 people to share. Definitely recommend the pappardelle with braised lamb. The pappardelle noodles are huge and delicious, very filling. I'd compare this dish to the popular pappardelle dish at Cucina Urbana, however, I found THIS to be better and so fresh. I also recommend the Garganelli with Spicy lobster broth & jumbo shrimp. The shrimp were HUGE and cooked perfectly. The pasta and sauce was delicious. Not very spicy and mild on the lobster broth flavor but still all the flavoring was delicious. The mint added a nice twist to the flavor which I really enjoyed. The staff was very attentive and friendly and overall had a really nice experience here and will definitely be back!
(4)Mary H.
Great Restaurant! Great vibe! Superior Service. Can't wait to go back! Pizza was delicious! The bartender made the BEST martini too!
(5)Ben H.
Cute and good selection. However, just doesn't take care of the little things! Cannoli were bland as they added no lemon or orange zest! I appreciate having less sugar than most American desserts but you still need the flavor from somewhere! Coffee was decent but didn't really have any flavor to remember. I wasn't expecting a bland bucket of cappuccino at a delicatessen like this! I will try pizza/pasta next time and hope for the best!
(3)Daniela M.
The place is loud but we really enjoyed the meal. We had a fantastic Cabernet but I forget the name. My husband had a delicious Pizza figgs and I ordered an even more delicious raviolis. Also the entrances were good, the hummus and olives were tasty, perfect size and went out very quick. I personally did not like the bananaa desert but I liked the one with peaches. The service was very nice and the decoration very nice too.
(4)Stephanie T.
Great service!! Sat outdoors in the patio on a sunny day. We got the Italian breakfast and the Breakfast Calzone to share with a carafe of prosecco mimosas. Huge portions (especially the calzone) for decent prices (around $15-16 a plate). We left stuffed and happy.
(5)Juan F.
Great service. Great food. It's popular. Make reservations. It's loud, so don't plan on a quiet evening.
(5)Stephanie G.
This place is amazing! The decor is really what drew me to this place, I love the modern rustic look. But, besides the decor of the place the food was great. I had their rossotto, (which from what I gather changes daily) I loved it! I highly recommend people coming in and trying out this place! I hope to come back soon.
(5)matt b.
I just had the best lunch that I can remember having. Today I received a blast e-mail from Bottega Americano (I'm on their e-mail distribution list) discussing a new "Executive Lunch" deal...an eat fast for a great price offering ($20 which was a steal I thought!). I thought it was a smart idea because I had noticed on previous visits to Bottega for lunch that it could sometimes take over an hour. So, on a whim, I went today. As I was solo I took a seat at the bar. I just absolutely love being in that space. It's cool, high end while casual and very comfortable, and just a good vibe to me. The bartender's name was Josh. Very in touch with the menu and professional. He walked me through the new Executive Lunch deal. It was basically a choice from a selection of five soups or salads and another choice from a selection of five entrees. And then there was the Ribeye entree special which I selected along with the Farmers Market Salad. To my surprise, the salad arrived with chef Dave Warner in tow who could not have been more friendly and gracious. We spoke briefly and he asked if I needed anything, and when I said some salt for my salad (which looked like it literally just came from the farm) he ran off and came back with a little vessel of coarse kosher salt which he said would work particularly well in the salad (which it did). Just as I was finishing my 10 out of 10 salad (which was actually pretty sizable) a small sample bowl of the tomato bisque arrived - it was on the house unsolicited from Josh who noticed my debate between the soup and salad. Very classy move which struck me well. And the bisque was spot on too. The Ribeye arrived cooked to perfection (medium rare+). The normal steak special would have come with roasted fingerling potatoes prepared with gorgonzola cheese, but I asked Josh if they could accommodate some vegetables instead. He said "of course." What I got was awesome! It was a bed of somewhat finely chopped pea pods and kale mixed with fresh shaved corn shaved. And the decent sized ribeye was placed on top. It was unbelievably good. The whole experience was an A+ and I was in and out in less than 40 minutes. On my way out I noticed that they had substantially beefed up their grab and go cafe section (meatloaf, chicken parm, mini pizzas, more vegetable and salad offering along with their normal chicken, salmon and panini offerings. I LOVE Bottega Americano and will definitely keep coming back.
(5)B Q.
Stopped in last week for lunch with my Mom. I had never heard of the place. We were downtown and did a quick search. This place was right around the corner so we gave it a shot. The food was very nice, and our server was exceptional. They sell many of the things on the menu in pre-packaged containers in their "market". There was a tomato spread that came on our appetizer plate which we could not get enough of. Looking forward to coming back here for dinner sometime.
(4)Alan C.
Wow, holy moly, jeepers creepers!! This place is f###ing awesome. From the meats and cheeses and eggplant appetizers to the chopped salad....the mussels with cured chorizo was massive home run. And then, the desert! The Dark Chocolate Budino put the prior dinner to shame, it was ridic!!! Highly and emphatically recommend!!!
(5)Patrick D.
Great atmosphere. Fresh pasta, pizza and seafood. Outstanding service
(5)Tish L.
This place has some of the best customer service ive exeperienced in a longgggggg time! Came here for my bday with a party of 10. We were running late but they were really cool about it. Then we got ther and had some issues with a party member being a little partied out and getting sick so he had to leave. They were genuinely caring and accommodating. Our party tried several drinks and i had the moscow mule with gin that the server recommened was super delicious. I didnt eat much but why i had of the mussels and lobster risotto all tasted good. Ive had a frien bring me some of their macarons and loved them. Definitely a good spot to check out.
(5)Gene L.
Food was good, but the service was incredibly slow. It took our waitress about 40 minutes to figure out the check. Water wasn't consistently filled. Atmosphere felt very artificial like the Truman Show.
(2)Danielle A.
They have been open less than a week and my fiancé and I have been there three times already. Yes, we do live across the street but this place is great! The atmosphere is warm and the decor is lovely. Such a wonderful place to grab a drink with friends. Everything we have tried so far has been delicious. We have enjoyed two types of the salad, the wild mushroom pizza and the wild mushroom pasta. The crust on the pizza and the freshly made pasta is amazing. Fresh ingredients and great flavor combinations! So happy this place has joined our neighborhood!
(5)Emmi O.
I am so in love with this place! I live next door and I have been every single day since they've opened for coffee or lunch. The panini s are amazing, especially the prosciutto one! I ordered to go today and even the togo bags are adorable. The whole place from the time you walk in is gorgeous. The decor is perfect! The cold brew coffee is also amazing, I've been getting that every morning with soy milk. The iced green tea is really, really refreshing. I can't wait to go back tomorrow for more coffee :)
(5)Mike D.
Meatball sandwhich is just wonderful. It was light on sauce, so I got some on the side. Perfect Also the Lamb Pappardelle might have been even better. Eat here.
(5)Carlos R.
This is a great place for brunch. The food is amazing, the venue is bright and open with great sound supression. In other words its not as noisy as most places of the same size. Katrina was our server and she was great but they seemed to over work her. She was one of only three servers so they were a bit slow but definately worth the wait.
(4)Ben X.
Finally managed to find myself at Bottega Americano. I've heard quite a bit about this place, and was quite excited to compare it to other Italian restaurants in San Diego, thinking that this one would stack up to be the new go-to. The place itself is pretty cool. I like the industrial mixed with a touch of elegance in the decor, and they have some neat vespas hanging around. The set up is very interesting - with the four kitchens and all, although I don't think it actually makes a difference in terms of you getting the food. Starting off with the Ricotta w/ Honeycomb, I was thinking of how it would stack up to the same dish (give or take), at Davanti Enoteca. Verdict.... Davanti Enoteca is better. The ricotta here is a little too defatted, and the honeycomb portion a little too sparse. I liked the microgreens, but the ricotta really needed to be a touch less watery. Moving onto the calamari - the calamari, of course, was mostly rings, so the gremolata fell right through it. The marinara on the side was a bit smokey - a little strange, actually - it overpowered the delicate squid (which was tasty, although fried to a little bit of powdery texture). Nevertheless, I thought it was a sizeable serving, and the crispy lemon was a great touch. Now for the bucatini... well, let's just say, if you're not a fan of very strong flavors, I suggest getting another pasta. I read previous reviews saying the pastas were on the bland side, but this one was very, very salty. Also had a bitter finish to it, and a bit of an acrid taste from the octopus (which may have been braised in its own ink?). I thought it sounded great on paper, but... I took one bite and I couldn't stand it. Had to send this one back. Lastly, the pistachio and truffle honey pizza. The oil from the pesto had seeped through the crust, leaving a wet bottom so there was no nice crisp to it. I was influenced a bit by Cucina Urbana's Fig & Gorgonzola to pick this one, and I have to say I like theirs better. While they have similar crusts, this one ended up soggy, and the truffle honey was overpowering - all the toppings became texture only, and the flavor of the cheese was lost. Our server though, I believe his name was Bryan, was very friendly and professional about everything, and removed the bucatini from the bill. +1 for him! Ultimately, I don't think I'll be coming back. I had heard a lot of hype about this place, but it fell short in a lot of ways. Many people were ordering the salumeria boards, so that might be the way to go. I think there's better Italian in San Diego.
(3)Christopher J.
As good as it gets. Great addition to downtown and the East Village. Try EVERYTHING!
(5)Samantha G.
Ok maybe 4th times the charm..dinner Friday night, busy busy..hostess desk finally got their act together. More importantly, service was impeccable..tried the ricotta cheese appetizer, dinner - gnocchi with side of cauliflower. Only area really needs some other options is dessert ended up ordering side of gelato..have tried their other desserts and really not impressed even though italian restaurant..hoping to see some other options soon!
(4)Jennifer M.
This is now my 3rd time at Bottega--once in the dining room, and twice at the marketplace. I will try to give it some slack since it did just open some few odd weeks ago, but Bottega Americano is simply this: a great concept with amazing food and horrible service. I take that place: dysfunctional marketplace service. (I cannot group my dining room experience with this since my server was polite and definitely knew what he was doing.) As far as the marketplace is concerned, when the food is pre-made and sitting and waiting for you to enjoy, it should not take an additional 20 minutes to get it after ordering. It just shouldn't. I understand they're still getting their systems in place and training people, but the employees seemed completely out of their element and overwhelmed with making a simple cup of coffee. Let alone asking them to heat up the chicken breast (since it was sitting in the fridge all morning), or asking them to substitute the salad's dressing...it really shouldn't be THAT complicated. But for whatever reason, the simplest things there are the most difficult for them. The food really is delicious, though. If you're willing to wait a bit and see a few morons in their element--then definitely go. The food is worth it. Just make sure if you're going to the marketplace, you still have time to kill.
(3)Fran R.
Just an amazing place. The food was incredible, the service excellent, and the decor and atmosphere were vibrant. Last night was my first time at this restaurant. It was in a nondescript area of town on the outskirts of East Village next to the TJ School of Law. When we walked in, I immediately loved the decor. It looks like a giant kitchen and you've been invited to dine with the chef. I loved it. It's Comic Con and we didn't have a reservation, but the hostess said she could get as "counter-top" seating. Within about 15 minutes, we were sat at a counter where the sous chefs were preparing meat and cheese plates. One of them, I missed her name, she was so friendly and welcoming. She obviously took pride in her work. Our server was equally friendly and helpful. We started with a meat and cheese sampler and avocado bruschetta. All delicious. Then we had the "special" which was lobster risotto. Ridiculous. This was so good and they did not skimp on the lobster. From beginning to end, I was so impressed with this place and really impressed at the service and quality on such a high volume night.
(5)Max T.
Definitely a must see in the San Diego East Village. First of all the service. We were helped by a guy named River who was absolutely stellar and made our experience that much more enjoyable. Second the ambiance. With a different, modern feel it's a great place to have a fun conversation with a bunch of friends. The cocktails were different and delicious. Finally the food. Too long to go into details but in a nutshell don't miss the duck prosciutto, the truffle salami and the reserve cheese as appetizers. For your main dish I recommend any of the pizzas but you have to order the Osso bucco! Simply the best I ever had. Altogether it's a great, refreshing newcomer to the San Diego food scene. Definitely here to stay. Enjoy!
(5)Deborah W.
Really enjoyed the cocktail and wine menu as well as the interactive areas of the restaurant. Interior design is very appealing but it is really loud. Wild mushroom pizza very good:) will come back:)
(5)Ryan T.
Was very excited to try out this new restaurant (based on the reviews), and ended up going for an anniversary dinner with the wife. Maybe my expectations were unfairly high, or I just had an unrealistic standard with my last 2 amazing dining out experiences (Comun and Catania). Overall, this was a pretty disappointing experience. The decor and design were both very hip and intriguing; however, the layout was strange and seemed more crowded than it should be given the space. We were at a 4-top near the back and there was little room between the outermost seat and the patrons seated at the lower bar area. the table also seemed too long, there was a lot of empty space between myself and my wife on the other side. The service was mixed.... Our waiter was very nice and pleasant when he attended to us, but there were large chunks of time when we were waiting to place our order, waiting on drinks, etc.... it was not quite long enough to make a direct complaint, but it definitely made for a considerably longer dining experience than expected. this was 7pm on a Wednesday, so it wasn't exactly a packed house. He also got a drink order wrong (Eel River porter in the bottle instead of Blazing World on draft), but i didn't want to have to wait any more time to get it fixed. The food quality was mixed as well. The arancini were decent but starchy ($11), and the strawberry salad ($13) and yellowtail crudo ($17) were probably the highlights. the entrees, however, fell well short.... we ordered the two "most popular items" on the menu- scallops ($31) and osso bucco ($30). The osso bucco was quite dry and the accompanying kale and polenta were overly salty and cold, i had a hard time finishing it..... the scallops had a rubbery consistency and an overwhelming "fishy" aroma (the leftovers stunk so bad on the way home, i made my wife throw it out)..... finally, we gambled on the recommended dessert which was a fancy chocolate pudding in a water glass; it was decent but nothing to get very excited over..... the quality fell well short of the cost..... i don't mind spending close to $200 for a special dinner, but i want to be satisfied (if not ecstatic) when it's over. i don't think i've paid so much for a subpar meal in quite a long time, i just wanted to get out of there at the end. perhaps we ordered the wrong things here, maybe the salumeria, pasta, and pizza (or other entrees) are better bets. given our experience, i doubt we'll return, especially given the number of amazing newer (and classic) restaurants in the downtown area.
(2)Renee B.
I love this place! The pastas are amazing.. I love the ambiance... Great selection. I've been twice in one week and we plan to make this our regular spot for a fancy little dinner. We've had the goat cheese ravioli, spaghetti & meatballs, spicy lobster & shrimp pasta - all were insane. Highly recommend!
(5)Amanda M.
Amazing ambiance! I love the motos everywhere that remind me of Milano! The high tables, the counter tables, the ceiling decor, and the market! Are we really in San Diego?! Amazing food! I had the papparadelle and lamb, and the broccolini side. My friend had a fish dish. 3 glasses of wine, 2 martinis, and a espresso martini later...I was a happy girl. I only rate it 4 stars because I think the wine and some of the dishes are too overpriced. I am fine with an amazing meal, but this isn't NYC or Saint Tropez...so maybe bring the price down a bit on some of the options to keep the local clientele coming in nightly.
(4)Khalifa G.
Was starving when my brother and I went in here last night and was not disappointed. The whole restaurant is very clean. I was amazed how well theyve maintained the cleanliness of the kitchen. Still looks brand new. Thats not easy to do. Especially with how big this place is. Service was wonderful as well. My glass was always full and I never even knew they were there to refill it. Food was coming out right on time and hot. Started with a hummus and the fennel sausage pizza. Top notch pizza at this place. Definately one of the best Ive ever had. From the dough to the quality ingredients they chose to use, everything went perfect together. The chef sent us out an avocado bruschetta as well that was amazing. Then after we demolished all of that we got the Lamb Pappardelle and the smoked gnocchi. Both amazing. And for the cherry on top I enjoyed a scoop of pistachio sorbet thats house made. Really enjoyed my dinner here and glad I finally got to try this place out. See yall again soon! Props to Chefs over at this place doing what they are doing. I can only hope to someday run a kitchen as efficiently as these guys seem to be. Its a day later and im still thinking about that pizza.....
(5)Xan B.
I had very high hopes for this place. I wasn't expecting it to be Eatly in New York as some probably did when they heard about the concept. There's a medium sized deli case and some products for sale in coolers. Overall these looked good and seemed fairly priced. I went on a Thursday night and it was pretty busy. The restaurant space is awkward. The mix of high and low tables and shared and private tables feels too crowded and hard to navigate. I liked the copper lights but thought the wood pillars didn't fit in. The service was great. Attentive and friendly. Our server, Todd, was extremely nice and visited us just the right amount of times. The serving staff was all professional and had smiles on their faces. The three star review is for the food. Overall I would rate it as average to just above average- 6/10. The calamari was awful. Chewy with a batter that was grainy. It was supposed to come with fried lemon and we got one sad lemon round. The sauce was watery and not flavorful. We had a ricotta app. That was excellent. The best thing we ate. We also ordered pizza. The crust tasted store bought and didn't hold together well. The ingredients on the pizza were good but the sauce was bland and tasted like the same sauce from the calamari. We also ordered the special which was a pork roast. It was fatty and very under seasoned. The red sauce on this dish was again the problem. For an Italian place, I expect the red sauce to be good! I'll give this place another chance, but there are many excellent (cucina Urbana, bencotto, etc) Italian places with nice atmosphere in SD that I would go to first.
(3)Kevin W.
Great ambiance & experience overall! Eric took great care of us as did anyone else we interacted with. Food was delicious - gnocchi melts in your mouth! We'll be back!
(5)Jim B.
Pretty much what everyone else is commenting on. New place ****- Still has some kinks to work out. Food -***** All of our dishes were amazing. Quality of food was excellent. Wine List - *** The wine list didn't overwhelm us. Will bring a bottle next time. Ambiance - **** Wide open restaurant with lots of commotion going on . Fun to watch everything happening. Overall had a great time. The openness of restaurant does make it quite loud. The only thing I didn't like was the seating. We were sat at one of the counters watching the Seafood station. I eat to many dinners at counters while travelling for business and this kind of reminded me of that. Really don't want to spend alot of money to sit at a counter.
(4)Izanami N.
If you'd like to impress someone, I would take them here. That's what my friend did and I had to say, I wish my experience here lasted both lunch and dinner. Very creative cocktail menu, beautiful designed entrees using fresh and local produce, clean and sparkling restaurant and I especially love the take away counter where you can pick up and enjoy your food at home. The sodas in the fridge are scrumptious! We tried 3! My friend took some pizza dough home and said her pizza was fantastic. They make their own pasta. Generous portion sizes and excellent service. After our macarons, I wanted nothing more than a coffee which I'm sure would've been fabulous there but I didn't have space in my stomach for anything else.
(5)Vicki P.
Good not great. Nice place to share. food was well thought out and waiter explain them very well. Pizza was thin but not crispy.
(3)Brian S.
Wow. Great food and drink. Will definitely be back. This is a place to order several plates and pass around family style. We had a group for their first public night. I probably would go 4 stars, but will give them a break on some of the small things. They have yet to establish par for the bar drinks. They didn't seem overly packed, but were out of ingredients for one of the signature drinks at 7:30pm. We had reservations for 6, but were going to be sat in a line at one of their bar tops (see tip above for family style sharing). We asked about siting outside since it was almost empty, but apparently that wasn't an option? Props to the hostess for getting us a table quickly. By the time we all got our drinks at the bar, a table was ready.
(5)Jessica C.
Very unfortunate, but this place didn't live up to its hype. But I will say the concept is cool, the decor is beautiful, and the appetizers were pretty good. We shared a meat and cheese board, octopus, and mussels. Like I said appetizers were good, nothing great. Our entrées were all disappointing. Just lacking in flavor overall, as well as texture. I honestly don't even remember what the others ordered, but my boyfriend and I both had osso bucco, and it was bland, the worst part was that it didn't come out hot. The service was okay. Our group of six all agreed this place needs much improvement, and unfortunately none of us would be returning. A huge bummer, because we had all been looking forward to this spot for quite some time.
(2)Dave N.
I was completely disappointed. First off the spacious floor plan has been filled in to accommodate more people. Trying getting to the bar. Once there I was given a menu. After sitting there five minutes I walked out. No one came by to see if I was ready to order. On top of that, there were empty seats all around (obviously those customers felt the same way and left). I live nearby and wanted to say hi to a new neighbor. Obviously they aren't too neighborly.
(1)Kristina C.
We had a large party and miscounted by one and had no problem being accommodated. Todd was our server and he was everything you could ask for: knowledgeable, polite and friendly. Since we were a party of ten we all had different items off of the menu and everything was delicious. Definitely would come again. The only downside is the noise level is a little high to where I couldn't hear the other side of the table well. But it comes with the territory considering the height of the ceiling and industrial feel.
(5)Q D.
I am in love with this place! Beautiful restaurant and such an amazing dinner experience. The pizzas remind me of going to Italy. The staff was welcoming and I am such a fan. The ambiance, the food, the drinks.... great start of the evening! I promise you, you will love it! People need to understand about their prices.... You're paying for quality and the dining experience... Look at the venue. It's amazing. So if you're a cheap ass and expect Olive Garden prices, don't try to front and then write them a bad review.
(5)Salem L.
Two visits to Bottega so far and a great experience both times. The restaurant is beautiful and buzzing with energy with excellent service both times. The bar tender was awesome and knew the menu real well.we orderd the house cured salmon which was amazing with a mix of crispy potatoes ,an excellent dish.beef carpaccio was so beautifully presented and melt in your mouth tender. A mix of salumaria meats and cheese were so fresh and of the highest quality. Robust tasting warm olives. Spaghetti with meatballs. Very clean meat and delicious with the noodles cooked perfectly. Will definitely go again and again.what a nice addition to the san diego culinary scene.
(5)Gerry H.
As a native New Yorkers, I have impeccably high, and specific, standards when it comes to Italian food. Bottega Americano managed to exceed even my high expectations. The design is very stylish, upscale, and welcoming - I would want to live there. We ordered a feast, and everything was delicious. From the burrata, to the fresh pasta, cocktails, and crusty bread - everything was truly as good as it gets! Their take away section also looked quite good. Macaroons for a dollar? Yes, please!
(5)Claudia N.
I live across the street and I frequent this restaurant about twice a week and I'm not ashamed to say it! The food is spectacular and the service is always on point. I highly recommend starting with a meat and cheese board or a pizza for the table. The lamb pappardelle is to die for. And end with the cheesecake because you deserve it!
(5)Joyce S.
It seems that Bottega Americano is modeled on Eataly, with a focus on Italian food and separate counters for the salumeria, cheese, pizza, etc. This would all be pretty neat if it operated in the same way as Eataly - sort of like a farmer's market where you order what you want from each stand. But Bottega is a restaurant. So who cares if your prosciutto comes from the salami counter and the pizza from another counter. It doesn't matter. You don't sit at the counter and order from that counter and the only way you know about the different counters is because of a long and kind of awkward speech your server gives about this. I believe they say something kind of ridiculous too like "at each corner of the restaurant we have different counters where different foods and culinary arts are performed"....LOL WUT. I literally started to laugh out loud when he said culinary arts imagining it must have been a joke. I was wrong. The server apologetically shrugged and continued the spiel. So to whoever makes the servers say this to new customers....it sounds really awkward and is incredibly longwinded and a little pretentious/ridiculous sounding. Plus again, who cares since you are not ordering at the counters. But the food is pretty good. I wanted to just leave it there but ok: Olives - black and green olives, marinated with olive oil, lemon peels and thin little strips of fennel. Really good. Fontina pizza with truffle oil and mushrooms - Really good. LOTS of fontina and lots of mushrooms and a good amount of truffle oil. Great crust too. Could use some herbs to liven it up, add an edge. I vote for thyme. Burrata salad with figs, prosciutto, and fig mostarda - EXCELLENT burrata and prosciutto. Comes with thinly sliced crostini, some arugula, drizzled with olive oil and a hint of balsamic. A really, really great iteration of a classic. Roast chicken with broccoli rabe and potato - Really good roasted chicken, broccoli rabe was not a hit with everyone (you have to chew a lot) and the potatoes were just ok. Mussels with chorizo and grilled bread - Pretty good. Really rich, creamy broth studded with fat chunks of chorizo. A very hearty plate of mussels. Stick with the more traditional Italian food and you will be rewarded. They have really good cured meats and cheese, will definitely get a meat and cheese platter next time. Service was good but soooo slow. Also took forever to get food and the table they reserved for our party of 3 was kind of a joke (one person would basically be sitting behind a pillar, 7 feet away from the rest of us) so had to wait to be re-sat. They are new so hopefully these issues will go away. Along with that silly speech.
(4)Selen G.
We had a sunday brunch wlth the whole family there two days ago, because of the baseball game it was very hard to find a parking lot nearby but after we got inside, everything was perfect, the bakery was delicious, croque madame was exactly what I wanted and our 2,5 year old girl found good space to walk and explore. The interior design is very bright, chic and modern and as a fan I liked Audrey Hepburn photos on the walls of restroom. the service was quick and the waitress was friendly, I recommend this place for brunches.
(5)Laurie B.
We went here yesterday (Saturday) for an early dinner at 5:00 pm, on the advice of a dear friend. Luckily for us there was a Happy Hour until 6:00 pm. We sat at the comfortable bar where the chairs were high and sturdy and the atmosphere was clean with a warm vibe. Lots of light and pleasantly not too loud - so that get this - we could actually hold a conversation! No ear plugs needed for this restaurant! :) I ordered the House Blend Chardonnay - amazing and only $5! Then we ordered the SALUMERIA with duck prosciutto, Mortadella al pistachio and three of the cheese choices. Delicious! (I prefer soft bread rather than the hard crostini, so I requested that and they were happy to oblige!). Then I ordered one of their specialty pizzas - the Fennel sausage / cauliflower panna / goat cheese / mozzarella / roasted tomatoes / kale. Only $10 at Happy Hour and enough to bring home. My hubby had the House Red Cabernet for $5 and the fabulous Roasted pork shoulder / brussel sprouts / caramelized onions / white bean puree / smoky jus. Another nice-sized portion that we brought home and will have today. His entree was not on Happy Hour pricing, but who cares, it was worth the $26. Finally, we had wonderful, kind, sincere bartenders/servers who took great care of us. We were made to feel comfortable and welcome. This restaurant is DEFINITELY on our favorites list! You must check it out!
(5)Sarah B.
I've been wanting to try this place since reading about it in a Thrillist article that listed the top 11 restaurants in San Diego. Some of the Yelp reviews are not the best so I didn't really know what to expect. My initial reaction? I was in love with the place. A self admitted design nerd, I LOVE the decor. The clusters of modern chandeliers, the texture of the wooden posts, the large black & white photographs turned into wallpaper made this girl SWOON. It's visually stunning. And I'm so happy that the food was just as amazing as the decor. We had a group of 8, celebrating a friend's birthday. We started off with meats & cheeses, oyster and mussels. All FABULOUS. My hubby & I noticed the home made pasta hanging in the kitchen & we knew we had to order some for the entree. I chose the Maine lobster risotto & hubby got the spaghetti & meatballs. They were both utter perfection!! I sampled bites of the osso bucco, the lamb & 2 other pasta dishes. All fabulous as well! We also indulged in desserts as well. We got the banana cake, the coffee style dessert with hazelnuts & a chocolate mousse type cake with cookie crumbles. I can't remember the names but all were amazing! Our table was thoroughly impressed with the wine, food & service! It was a fantastic night! They had a party of 75 arrive at the same time as us & it didn't hinder our experience AT ALL. Talk about a well run establishment!
(5)Tracie H.
The atmosphere in the place is eclectic. But very noisy so not necessarily the place to go if you want to carry on a conversation. The food was very tasty, except for the Brussels sprouts. We got four different entrees and all were very good. The drinks, on the other hand, were only so so. They do not know how to make a dirty martini even after I sent it back. Also failed on a coffee and Bailys. Don't know how you do that! Started out with a great, attentive waiter named Todd. Very friendly and all over it. But before our entees came, he had to leave and turned it over to Brian. Brian was checked out from the start and even when stopping by the table to pick something up, we couldn't get his attention. Took us forever to get the check. I will go back but won't order any drinks and will ask for a different waiter.
(3)J C.
Excellent food! So why the 2 stars? Well, i get take out at least once a week here and most weeks twice and every single freaking time they get the order wrong! Tonight was my last straw. I refuse to keep paying for shit I didn't order or paying for shit that I ordered but they still screwed up somehow or forgot the salads or added cream sauce when asked for it on the side. It is not exactly cheap to eat here so get it together Bottega or hire someone with a higher IQ that can take a to go order correctly.
(2)Osito S.
Great fennel sausage pizza and really good Oso Bucco main course....and our server was extremely personable and helpful when it came to recommending dishes.
(4)Brandi H.
I went here with a group of girls to celebrate my birthday. I was super excited because San Diego Magazine voted this restaurant as one of the best new restaurants (this may have been the reader's vote, can't remember). I made reservations which they called to confirm which was nice. I had asked for outdoor seating. We got there and realized the patio was very removed from all the ambiance of the restaurant and there was one weak heater on. I was freezing (it's July) so we asked to be seated inside somewhere. This was met with a few huffs and sighs before they seated us at a bar top near the kitchen. I was still enjoying myself and we ordered a few drinks and the avocado bruschetta which was pretty good. I was excited that they had gluten free pasta available. I ordered the saffron shrimp pasta. I was told if it was gluten free, it wouldn't be saffron infused. I understand the gluten free choice won't be the best but if you proudly post it on your menu, wouldn't you only have it available in dishes that wouldn't change? The pasta came and it wasn't even cooked all the way. It was chewy and cold. My friend got the scallops and they were amazing! We didn't see a waiter very often. My friend came and ordered and they were able to get her meal out with ours which improved the experience. However, as we were preparing to leave, the host actually came over and asked if we were finished. I said yes and he responded with "well that's good because we could use the table". I will not return to this restaurant even though it is beautiful and I'm sure other choices on the menu are much better. I have never been pushed out of a restaurant ON MY BIRTHDAY. However, they wouldn't have known that because the waiter didn't engage with us at all even though we were dressed to the 9's. Very disappointing.
(3)Kurtis T.
One of the most unique dining experiences in San Diego. The food and vino list were made for each other which shows thought was put into the menu.
(5)Robert K.
The wife, some friends, and I checked this place out a few weeks ago. There were a lot of people enjoying themselves at this place. We got one of the hi-tops to sit at. Service was great as the servers were quite attentive. We ordered a meat/cheese plate for the table to share. I ordered the special and my wife had a salad and the mussels. The bartender made our cocktails well. I'll definitely come back as this is a great place for groups.
(4)Chuck B.
This is a great place with outstanding service, cool vibe, fantastic wine list and an interesting menu. My wife and I along with a couple of friends had a wonderful meal. My only constructive feedback is around the complexity of the entrees. Each has no less than 6 or more ingredients making it a bit challenging to truly enjoy what you ordered. Point in case is the Spaghetti and meatballs perfection in a fantastic meat sauce.... For some reason it arrives with a glob of green pesto on top. The pesto itself is wonderful but out if place and unnecessary....so goes the entire menu. We'll definitely be back!
(4)Audrie A.
Wow! This place is amazing!!! Great atmosphere, upscale casual dining and super pet friendly. The cuisine, well, it is out of this world. Bottega Americana has found a lifelong supporter in me.
(5)Brooke S.
Delicious! Atmosphere is really cool, and the food lives up to the hype. The fresh bread and the marinara dip they give out is fantastic, and the pistachio pesto pizza had such refreshing flavors. It is expensive (downtown prices) but it's perfect for a night out on the town.
(5)Jen W.
Been a couple times for brunch and really enjoy the open airy space and the brunch items. They are also kid friendly and even have a changing table in the bathroom, which is often hard to find at trendier restaurants. I have been accidentally over charged and have had nice, but not great service so I'm deducting a stat for those reasons. Otherwise I think this is a great concept and will be back.
(4)Tulip B.
I'm torn with this review. My first time here was on a first date and it was a great venue for such, though a little loud. The staff was friendly and offered good wine recommendations. The order was not put in correctly and I got the mussels still with the chorizo in it. When I mentioned this to the staff who brought it out, they graciously took it back and brought out the corrected dish. Unfortunately, I wasn't as impressed with the food itself. The calamari was bland and the dipping sauces weren't much better and the Brussel sprouts were soggy with oil. I enjoyed the mussels, but I knew ahead of time that chorizo on them would be just too strange and unenjoyable for my palate. Glad I requested that modification and that they were willing to do so. The dessert was creative and quite delicious! Overall, it seems like a good place to go for wine and apps, but I wouldn't go for dinner again.
(2)Ana R.
Loved this restaurant! It was suggested by some friends and decided to go on my birthday. I made reservations for lunch on a Wednesday (1:30pm) and had a wonderful time. This is what I ordered and recommend: zuppa del giorno, a delicious carrot soup. The mushroom pizza as an appetizer and the Garganelli with shrimp. The orders are well sized, so you won't end up hungry. Our waiter was helpful and friendly. The prices are right for the food. A must go to restaurant.
(5)Caroline T.
Was very excited to try this place as there has been a lot of buzz about it. I came here around 5:00 and was initially disappointed. The restaurant felt cold, and as my dining companion mentioned, had a college cafeteria feel. We ordered the pizza with the fennel sausage cauliflower panna and have had better tasting pizza at Dominoes. We ordered a ricotta appetizer that was less than mediocre. However, their cannelloni bean soup was delicious. Not enough for me to come back though. I would rather just order dominoes and call it a day. Sorry Bottega!
(2)John C.
Been here three times since it's opened up. Some of the best pasta I've ever had. Great wine selection and even better service. The restaurant has a great vibe to it and will do very well.
(5)Beth B.
Friend took me here for a birthday dinner. Was super excited to try it out, especially after reading the early Yelp reviews. Although the atmosphere evokes swank without ostentation, that is the one of the few positive things I can say about the restaurant. (One reviewer said the place is cozy--not even close. Cozy evokes thoughts of warm, traditional spaces in rich hues. The design is urban modern, clean and sleek. That review, I believe is a plant as none of the comments matched my experience or experiences that occurred subsequent to the review.) Although we had reservations, the front staff treated us as if we we're putting them out. Initially gave us a table in a high traffic area, although there were plenty of open tables. We were eating early--around 6:30 on a Sunday night. Problem #1 We ordered a bottle of wine, which was not in stock, and so moved to our second option, a white for about $54 per bottle. We were served a lukewarm carafe of wine in an unmarked bottle. There was no indication from the menu that the wine was on "draft." The server explained that this wine was one of the draft wines and is kept at that temperature. I have never been served carafe wine at vintage prices. Problem #2 Our server asked what was wrong. We told her. When we voiced our displeasure at not having been informed that the wine was not actually a bottle and not actually labeled, our server copped an attitude. She couldn't understand why we took umbrage at paying $54 for unmarked wine. We told her the menu should indicate which wines are actually in bottles and which are not. More attitude. Problems #3 and 4 When we also mentioned that the wine was lukewarm. Again, we received attitude. That's the way the bar keeps it. Problem #5 We ordered starters with minor modifications. Olives on the side. No onions. None of the modifications had been made. Problem #6 No one stopped by to check on us so that we could let someone know about the errors. Problem #7 Our main courses we favorless and lack luster. In fact, I ate there less than a week ago and can't remember my meal. Problem #8 Dessert was good. Macaron and pannecotta. Both were worth a visit. But, that's all I can recommend.
(2)Ali B.
hostess was very rude. made us wait when there were plenty of open tables. i dont know why she would treat us this way. we ordered the lamb chops, cooked medium, and they brought out a bloody undercooked chop. overall I was expecting a pleasant experience and what we received was far from it. definitely would not bring my wife back here.
(1)Mike Y.
Great place. Awesome atmosphere, excellent service, and amazing food. Fun selection of cocktails and appetizers. I recommend the goat cheese ravioli. Didn't want to leave this place!
(4)Mike B.
I have eaten here a few times since I work in downtown. The atmosphere is really cool and the food is good as well. It is a great place to have a dinner date night but some of their lunch items are a little over priced for what they are offering. I recommend people try to food and experience the vibe of Bottega.
(4)Lexi's Dad D.
Sadly the third experience was a let down. Had lunch today and food was average and service was Bryan was not good; he rarely checked on us and we had to keep asking for refills. Won't be rushing back.
(2)Eran O.
My girlfriend planned a surprise party for me and all of my close friends. She made a reservation and when we arrived we had to wait for our table for over a hour. We were not offered any drinks for the inconvenience. No communication regarding this after several times asking. Then when we finally sat down my girlfriend continuously asked for something to make everyone feel accommodated and to make her feel less embarrassed. Finally a server that wasn't even our server offered to give everyone a glass of champagne. When the server brought the champagne she brought it without pouring a glass for everyone she just put the bottle down and enough glasses for maybe half the table. Oh and I forgot to mention when we were sat there wasn't enough chairs for all of our reserved guests. We had to move tables ourselves because they were too unorganized to assist. When she brought our bottle of wine that we actually ordered she broke it all over myself and my girlfriend with very little apology. In the beginning we had arranged for separate checks for each family as some people drink alcohol and some do not, and at the end when receiving the bill, it was a very long check with everyone's drinks and food and they expected us to figure out who drank what etc. I was not going to let my girlfriend take the bill or others have to pay for what other people may have drank so I paid over 500 dollars when this was pre arranged via email on my BIRTHDAY. I will never go there again. The customer service and communication was extremely unacceptable and I will never go there again nor recommend this place to anyone, in fact I have nothing positive to say.
(1)Joe W.
This is a review of their happy hour which is 4 to 6PM daily (7 days a week). Nice that the happy hour isn't just Monday to Friday. Fennel sausage pizza only $10 on happy hour. Regular $16. Not a large pizza but well made. Definitely a deal at $10.....would have been disappointed at $16. Draft beer (good selection) $5 on happy hour. The regular dinner prices seem high for the neighborhood and the casual atmosphere. If crowded the place would be noisy. Lots of visual stimulation. Doesn't seem like the place for a refined quiet dinner. More lunch hall.
(4)Cindy M.
The pappardelle lamb sugo was amazing. The lamb was braised to perfection. The pasta didn't taste as fresh was other places. Perhaps it was too al dente, but the combination of the lamb and the sauce didn't put the dish to shame. I highly recommend this dish. I do have to say that for five star service "LA's Bestia" is a restaurant where u can savour the freshness in every bite of every dish with very similar atmosphere.
(4)Lizzy B.
Had dinner there last night with my girlfriends, everything on the menu looked yummy. They have a raw bar, salumeria, wood-fired oven pizzas, pasta, and other delectable entrees. Lots of veggie options as well. I started with oysters on the half shell and opted for the mission figs / quattro formaggi / arugula / speck / shallot marmellata pizza. I also had bites of my friends' pastas (Garganelli / spicy lobster broth / jumbo shrimp / sweet garlic / and Paccheri / english peas / wild mushrooms / truffle panna / guanciale) and they were all DELICIOUS. They have fun craft cocktails and the desserts were also killer. Great ambiance, I will definitely be going back - many times.
(5)Bob E.
Not much to say that hasn't already been said -- Bottega Americano has proved a great addition to the downtown area in a neighborhood that seems to have really embraced the place. Pro tip: if you're looking for a great way to try it out on the cheap, order 6 meatballs and baguette to go (maybe add a side salad) - makes for the best submarine sandwich in town!
(5)Mark M.
This is not regarding the grab and go, but rather the restaurant. Terrible service. Waited for 10 minutes just to be sat (no one in the restaurant) and then 10 minutes just to get water. The staff was not friendly and to make things worse the manager (some woman) came over and was just plain rude. Definitely will not be returning to the restaurant portion of this place..
(1)Nathalie B.
Love this new gem. Had amazing steak and eggs breakfast. Steak was korean ribs style and cooked perfectly. Potatoes were Krispy and ketsup and hot sauce were house made and delicious. Whole family loves their dishes. Sizes were plentiful and waiter was attentive. Wish I lived in SD!
(5)Alex M.
This restaurant is easily one of my favorite restaurants in San Diego. The design is beautiful and the food is absolutely delicious!! You must try this place!
(5)Sarah S.
I love this place! Love the inside interior, staffs, and ambience. Ordered cheese and meat platter. Got prosciutto san daniele, duck prosciutto, and salami al tartufo which pairs well with boschetto and noord Hollander cheese. Also recommend their bruschetta. The salmon topping is so fresh and smoky! Great place for girls night out!
(5)Koorosh K.
The atmosphere is really cool with a very nice and well thought out layout but the food wasn't that great. We had one order of the salmon and one order of the scallops and it was okay. I would recommend it for a drink at the bar before you go out.
(3)Louise B.
I am not one to leave a negative review but on Sunday when we went here for Fathers Day brunch I had the worst service experience of my life! I typically love Bottega Americano, this was my 3rd time there and wanted to take my dad there for a special experience but our waiter was the absolute worst! It started when we first made a drink order he was looking all around the room and did not even acknowledge us when we spoke. We also ordered an appetizer cheese platter (which was delicious). The appetizer came out pretty fast so not all of us had figured out what we wanted for brunch yet. When the waiter asked to take our menus we told him we wanted to keep them because we did not know what we wanted to order yet but THE WAITER PULLED THE MENUS OUR OF OUR HANDS and told us we could not keep them while there was food in front of us because the "eco-friendly people wouldn't want us to get our dirty hands out their paper menus" he then proceeded to put the menus on the empty table next to us. Never in my life have I had a waiter grab a menu out of my hand, what was even more appalling was watching him grab the menus out of my 60 year old parents hands. We were having cheese platter how messy did he think things were going to get? He continued to have a sour attitude the whole meal, we typically would of ordered dessert but needed to get away from our servers negative energy. Thankfully the food was delicious or fathers day would of been a total bust! ATTENTION MANAGEMENT you need to have a talk with the waiter that was working near the bar area on Fathers Day for the 2:30pm sitting.
(1)Shannon D.
Started off with a delicious glass of Barbera wine. We ordered the Burrata, wild mushroom pizza, spaghetti and meatballs and ravioli. The burrata was to die for. Creamy and delicious. The prociutto served with it was a little smoky in flavor for my liking. They served it with a fig jam and apples. The fig jam was amazing with a smokey finish. The wild mushroom pizza was nothing special. I've had better flatbreads/pizzas. The spaghetti and meatballs was done very well. The spaghetti was cooked slightly al dente which is my preference for pasta. The ravioli in a sage butter sauce was Amazing with a capital A!! We got the pear Tartin desert which was weird and not what we expected. Service was good (my water glass practically never went empty and wine glasses were taken away promptly) but food took a long time to come out.
(4)Carrie C.
I had heard all amazing things about this place, so I went in with high expectations and they were definitely met. The gluten free mushroom and truffle pizza was to die for- one of the best gluten free pizzas I have ever had. The steak was massive and very delicious. I also highly recommend the brussel sprouts as a side dish. The service was fantastic. Our waiter was very attentive and friendly. Although the location of the restaurant is a little strange, the inside and overall ambiance was wonderful. Great experience. I will definitely be back!
(5)Caitlin B.
I am officially addicted to this place! I went for just for one latte and now I'm going pretty much every day. The cafe miel is my favorite. It's a blend of espresso, milk, cinnamon and honey. The dictator is my second favorite. It's a tea latte that's mimics a Carmel macchiato--so yummy! The paninis are delicious too. Just know it does take a little bit to get your drink or food. This isn't your quick 711 spot but I love it anyways!
(5)Cass S.
We dined this past Saturday night and Bottega Americano did not disappoint. I read the reviews prior to our visit so I was prepared for bad service and good food. I wasn't prepared for GREAT food and equally GREAT service. We were seated at the pizza bar, by the main kitchen (I think this might be THE best place to sit because of it's proximity to the kitchen, you get top see everything!). Brian was our sever and he was very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. It did look like Brian had a lot of tables, but even when he wasn't around, a manager, 2 busers and one of the chefs checked in on us. I felt very catered too, in a way that reminded me of dining back east in Chicago or New York. In San Diego I feel this level of service is actually rare. I agree with people that it was loud, but I tend to expect that downtown so it didn't bother me at all. I will say it was quiet when we were sat at 7 but definitely on our way out at 9 was full and lively. The food: We started with the lobster bisque and the speck and burrata (fabulous) plate. I had the La Dolce Vita Cocktail (refreshing and light) and my hubby had the cab (I can't remember which one). For the main course I had the Lemon scallop risotto. It was very good, the scallops were perfect. I tend to like nuttier flavors when it comes to risotto so it wasn't my favorite but the execution was perfection. My husband had the lamb osso bucco. I don't like lamb and I don't like polenta. I could have eaten his entire plate of BOTH. I have never had polenta so creamy and delicious! Highly recommend but heavy so be wary if you are going somewhere after. We did not have, but we will next time the Kale and sausage pizza. The pizza guy probably made 20 of them while we were sitting there and they looked amazing! All in all a great dining experience. The service was exceptional. They did everything right for us.
(5)Linda B.
Amazing culinary experience. Italian food and a seat at the pizza station with Andrea, it doesn't get any better if you're a foodie. We started with oysters and prosecco to get the pallet excited, then Andrea made us a steak pizza. It was hard to choose after watching pizza after delicious pizza being created by a true artisan from Roma. Finally the pasta, OMG the pasta was fantastic. Bucatini with braised octopus, my tastebuds we're working overtime. The server was knowledgeable and efficient, the food runners, Sous Chef, wait staff and Andrea were engaging and interested in us and our experience. I ended the night with a hazelnut truffle from the retail case, just couldn't resist one more tasting before walking out the door. Unforgettable evening, grazie mille!
(5)Sandy G.
My husband and I came here for breakfast on Saturday and we were pleasantly surprised. The space is very beautifully decorated to look like a market. All the servers were very pleasant and efficient. I ordered the Baked French Toast which was absolutely delicious. My husband ordered the Prosciutto Panini which was also delicious. Even the iced coffee was delicious. What else can I say? We will definitely return and try this place for dinner!
(5)Scott D.
Came here for brunch the other weekend, can't believe I haven't been here sooner! The highlight was definitely the food, we ordered a breakfast calzone and panini. Each on their own was probably enough food for us to share and tasted awesome. The breakfast potatoes that came along with them were great as well. Not sure if their ketchup is house-made, but it's definitely not Heinz. It's darker, richer and goes very nicely with the potatoes. We ordered some bloody marys with our meal and those were OK. I wouldn't recommend them, but there are plenty of other brunch drinks to choose from. It didn't seem abnormally busy while we were there, but the service was a bit slow. I don't think this was a problem with the wait staff (they all seemed to be working hard), they probably just could have used a few additional wait staff. Obviously, the restaurant its self is visually stunning (just check their website). It feels very comfortable despite the huge size and vaulted ceilings. I definitely will be back to take advantage of their happy hour. Their cheese + charcuterie selection, drink menu and dessert case all merit at least a second visit. One last thing, they do have quite a few large tables so this would be a great place if you have a sizeable group.
(4)Kate F.
Love the vibe of this place. I feel as though I'm in NY or SF. It is very noisy. Service is friendly. Love the different stations, a new concept for me. Pizza was just ok, but pasta, cheese and Salami boards were great. Salads good too.
(5)Immanuel O.
Great place! We have been trying to make it here for awhile and finally made it for Sunday brunch. The service was great, the frittata was nicely done and the coffee was amazing. Well definitely be coming back.
(4)Delphine R.
You know it's an amazing place when you already planning a visit back while still there !!!!!! I love the restaurant itself, nice , bright , love the open concept and long tables for big groups . Perfect place for date night, for birthdays, for business. Yes it can get a little bit loud but that's part of the concept and charm of this place . We had reservations at 715pm but were early, we sat at the bar , enjoyed our glass of prosecco for a mere $7 , the bartender was very attentive , even if he knew we were just killing time . When reading reviews , people said the food took forever to come out, us was perfect and honestly , you here to enjoy it all, why trying to rush it. Now the food : we shared the burrata and speck and the chorizo , OMG BOTH TO DIE FOR . The burrata was so creamy . The mussels were perfect, the broth kinda spicy with the Calabrian chilies, the pieces of Spanish chorizo delightful , we asked for more bread and didn't waste any of the broth, and $13 ?!?!? Is a very good price . I was full after that , we did get the gnocchi, melt in your mouth and the special short rib , wow so good. No room for desert , what a bummer . I wanted to give out a shout out the sweet valet guy, young man, very polite . :)
(5)Becca O.
Love this place, but it gets 4/5 stars because Cori's gone! That woman worked her butt off! The only time I saw her sitting was when she was actively interviewing potential staff. She was always attentive, asked how my day was going, and made the process in the lunch area so efficient. Get her back, Bottega!!
(4)Kevin W.
Stopped in for lunch and had a coffee and a panini. The lady at the counter was very pleasant. My latte was so-so, but the panini was tasty! The space is beautiful but really bright. I think I can add this to my weekly lunch spots now.
(4)Elisa T.
Cool atmosphere, great food - not too salty not too sweet. My husband and I came in for late night appetizers and dessert . Tried the ceci hummus, strawberry salad, minestrone soup and pear tarte. Very flavorful and fresh. There were actually people dressed up nice for change in SD. Will definitely be back.
(5)angela t.
The setting is draw dropping "I'm in San Diego? Shut the front door!" Like Dean & Delucca's but California style. Great food, including killer coffee and desserts.
(5)Ashley Y.
The atmosphere of this place was great. Cute place for a date night. Service wasn't too great and my food was kind of bland. However I do recommend the meat and cheese plate. Drinks were pretty good as well.
(3)Chelsea G.
I went to go eat here tonight, after checking their website ( bottegaamericano.com ) to confirm they were open--since it's a monday at 10pm. Immediately on the home page it states cocktails and late night menu 10pm-close Sunday through Thursday. I thought, "great! they're open" However when I arrived the door was open, but the bartender said they were closed. When I told her the website says they are open now, she said "yeah we just close if no ones here"...but I'm here! feed me! That doesn't seem like the proper way to run a business...Needless to say, I was disappointed because next to having quality food, the most important qualities for a restaurant possess is to be accountable and reliable. Tonight Bottega, you disappointed.
(1)Wendy L.
Not the best place to eat for younger families. While the food was decent, the fact that they had two high chairs for the entire restaurant really irked me. The hostess told us all of their high chairs were occupied by a large party and when we saw this "large party" leave, I counted all of two kids. My active toddler had to sit on my lap during the entire dinner. Needless to say, this did not make for the most enjoyable meal, good food or not. With a restaurant this size, one would expect more than 2 high chairs, but then again, maybe they don't really cater to families and I just chose the wrong place to bring my child. I will say that we were there less than a month after they opened, so perhaps it was something they figured out later, but that dining experience was memorable enough for me to want to write this warning for other parents of young kids.
(2)Sara W.
Phenomenal food and atmosphere and service!
(5)John B.
This is great food. Only place I have ever eaten, anywhere, where the waitperson says that we will love their water! Apparently, the staff likes the water at Bottega enough to take it home in bottles, rather than buy commercially available stuff. Nice bar. Tasty food from $8 up make the choices hard! Wish I was an investor/owner. Happy to eat and drink there!
(5)Dat Doughnu T.
Takeout food is consistently delicious. Coffee & Tea drinks are very good. Staff at the coffee bar / to go register is very friendly.
(5)Juliana F.
If I could give it less than a star, I would. My husband and I were very excited to try this place, we'd heard amazing things about the up and coming "Eataly" style restaurant opening in San Diego, so we gathered some our friends (some from out of town) to try out this new place. Let's start with the positive... - Great location - Beautiful space and decor On with the negative... We were greeted 15 mins after we arrived, while servers and other employees would just walk by us without asking if we needed anything. The place was not full at all, so there was no need to wait to be seated. We had three single families in our party, we arrived at lunch time and we were really hungry. When we finally ordered, our food took about 10-15 mins between each plate to be served. The first plate delivered was a pizza and it was burnt, when the last person in our party got their plate, we immediately got our check without even asking for it. Our friend's wife asked the server why our check had been brought if we had not asked for it, we were not done eating and we were not ready to leave. The server's answer was "Well I just thought you really wanted to leave because of your screaming children" WE THOUGHT WE WERE BEING PUNK'D!!! First of all, our children were not screaming. Second, why in the world would someone working in hospitality say something like that, why would anybody say something like that!!! We asked to speak to a manager, by the way, the owners were present and never cared to come to our table and ask what the problem was. They finally sent someone that we are sure was not the manager and all he said was "i'm really sorry, can i offer you some dessert?" we just asked for the check and when the a-hole server (Brian, was his name) brought it back, it was $50 more than the original check brought out the first time. We just payed, left no tip and were very disappointed, not to mention PISSED! On our way out, there was another family complaining about the same treatment, they were billed almost twice as much as it should be, the server had treated their children disrespectfully and the server had been quite rude to them. It's a shame that such a beautiful place that is brand new to the city and neighborhood would have this kind of service. I understand not all places are for children but it was a Sunday afternoon, the place is blocks from PETCO park and they made it very clear they are not kid-friendly. Such a shame. We will not be returning.
(1)Zubin P.
Solid solid place. Went on a date night, and I had the Osso Bucco which was absolutely ridiculous. The ambiance was clean and bright. Not what you would expect for a late dinner. It was fine, but off. We ordered apps, drinks and entrees. Not one thing was bad. Really great place.
(5)Cathy G.
Love the concept. Chopped salad was tasty and enough to share. Calzone a winner. Would go here often if I worked downtown.
(4)Angelica B.
Delicious food, great service, and great cocktails. Went here for a holiday party of 6 and it was very easy to make a reservation. Thank you
(5)Rachel A.
the food is good, but my family and I had an awful experience here with the HOSTESS! two female hostesses were extremely rude to us and LAUGHED in our face when we asked if we could sit at a table which we had a reservation for, 7 minutes early. after our 7 minutes in heaven, when we had ordered appetizers while we waited, neither hostess came to seat us for our table although we were directly behind their station. we watched both girls walk by us multiple times, completely avoiding eye contact and any acknowledgement. our waiter, Todd, was extremely kind and helpful. he answered all our questions and helped us order. outside of the hostesses, the restroom had no toilet paper. props to Todd, for being a great waiter and serving us the tasty food. no props to the hostesses, who's job it is to be nice to people and have some hospitality. might want to find a new field of work, ladies!
(3)Megan S.
I have been wanting to check out this place since they opened and finally got the chance last night! The ambiance is beautiful right when you step through the doors. First of all, the service is incredible! Jenna H was our server, she is attentive, kind, and moves with grace. The food was delicious. I tried the scallops and they were cooked perfectly! My friends split the Grigliata di carne mista and they loved it. All of the items came out a la carte and looked beautiful, awesome presentation. When it came to dessert I was hesitant on if I wanted to get something so I politely declined. My friends ordered the pina colada bomb and it was divine, it even came with coconut snow, yum :) Jenna brought us their chocolate dessert complimentary because she said it is just too good not to try it! It was so kind of her and she was right, it is crazy good, we licked that dessert clean. It was a lovely meal and the excellent service topped off the evening. Thank you, we will definitely come back!
(5)Douglas M.
I have been to Bottega about 35 times since it opened just a couple months ago. The food quality and ambience of this restaurant set a new standard for dining in San Diego. I enjoy this so much that I had a birthday party here with 35 of my closest friends. I definitely recommend this place!
(5)Annie P.
I took my team here for dinner and it was fantastic. Everything they served was delicious! The service and ambience was amazing. The price was not outrageous, most expensive item on the menu was $28. There were 8 of us in our party and everyone loved their meal. Eat here, you won't be disappointed.
(5)Del P.
Finally! San Diego can embrace the food hall movement with our newest addition, Bottega Americano. This restaurant and its concept is reminiscent of Eataly in NYC. This gorgeous space is not only a restaurant, but a gourmet market, wine and cocktail bar, imported coffee shop and so much more. When you first walk in, you enter the market area where you can buy local chocolates, truffle butter, honey, olive oils, preserves, pizza dough, fresh fruit, wrapped sandwiches, salads, coffees, teas, desserts, Italian treats, and even cookbooks. The interior of the restaurant is open with tall ceilings being held up with stunning piled wood columns. Tables are scattered throughout over clean white tiles, as well as community tables. The kitchen and prep areas are all wide open, so you can watch them make a beautiful charcuterie board from the Salumeria with amazing meats, cheeses and olives. A large pizza oven in the center, and a cold seafood bar on the other side with fresh made pasta hanging from the rafters. The wine and cocktail selection is expansive, and the atmosphere is energetic. We all had a delicious meal. and look forward to coming back again.
(5)Lee B.
Molto Buono! I've eaten here twice - first time was perfection. The second time was pretty slow, but I know they are probably working out the kinks. It's absolutely gorgeous inside and the menu is fantastic. The homemade pasta is divine.
(5)Vanessa B.
Great ambience and beautiful space. 4 diners, had the Chicken milanese, proscuitto panini, some pizza or other, and the special of the day (cod cioppino). Hostess was standoffish and didn't even ask if we had a reservation before saying we could go sit at the bar. (we did have a reservation). They also forgot the garlic fries with the panini, but that may have been a good thing! So one star there. Other than that, food was great, service was great, they could actually make a mojito, and it was a good place to meet friends (you can talk loudly), although the overall volume at lunch is not too crazy, like some other places. Prices are very reasonable for casual lunches (paninis are 9-10, pizzas are 13 or 14) if you want a real restaurant with a nice ambiance. I'd go back any time. Hostess needs to chill out though.
(4)Elise L.
Wonderful, wonderful! Went last night with friends and it isnt officially open yet... But this place reminds me of New Yorks Eatly. Perfect date spot! They have gluten free pasta and an elaborate wine selection. What a great addition to the San Diego food scene!
(5)Erica F.
Wow! Cool decor and great food. We had the shrimp and grits along with the cheese board. Could not decide which was best. To end our brunch we tried a few pastries which were good because they were not overload with sugar. The bloody mary was over priced. Total bill was about 66 bucks. A little pricey for brunch.
(5)Kris D.
Absolutely disappointing! The service was horrible and when the food finally arrived it was cold. They never cleared the plates and fit the coffee wrong. Terrible experience.
(1)Jan E.
There is simply nothing negative about this place. When a group of five diners orders individual meals plus appetizers, and every single item is a flavor euphoria, the restaurant is well-deserving of a five-star rating. The meatballs were like none I've tasted; my selection of saffron pasta with cioppino absolutely melted in my mouth. The massive cut of New York steak was cooked perfectly, and the octopus appetizer was a homerun. The wait staff was friendly and on-point. The interior design is a feast for the senses and the open layout of such a large space is spectacularly arranged. Can't wait to go back to sample more delicious goodness!
(5)Amy U.
Such a fun place and a great dining experience! I came in for a working / social lunch and was immediately greeted by our server. I'm used to having good service, but I have to say that the service we received was above and beyond. Our server was Eric H. and he explained the specials, guided our selection and helped select the perfect bottle of wine to compliment our meal. The decor is fun, fresh and perfectly executed. I can't wait to return.
(5)Danielle C.
The one extra star is for the food, it was yummy enough, HOWEVER, everything else was HORRIBLE! We had a large group, with a pre-set menu $45 each which included a meager cheese/fruit board, 3 boards for 16 people to share- not nearly enough- the appetizer was a joke. The main course was good, but the israreli couscous was soggy. Chicken and salmon-good. The worse part of my experience here was the service. Our server (who is receiving an auto-grat of 18%) had a bad attitude and his service was non-existant! I waited 30 minutes for 1 glass of wine, after asking 3 times. We were never checked on, asked if we needed anything, asked how anything was. This restaurant should be embarrassed at the show they put on last night. It was a birthday celebration that was a disaster for the hosts. The $45/meal was a gross overcharge for the food we received and the server deserved a 5% tip, not 18%. There was a 5% charge for making the reservation- ridiculous. There weren't' enough tables/chairs for everyone upon arrival, so this 5% reservation charge is a joke also. The decor is interesting, but all the marble makes it feel a bit cold. Maybe this place is ok for a date, but I STRONGLY recommend against hosting a large party here. They clearly can't handle it, plus the overcharge is appalling. At the end, the server couldn't bother to figure out who had what drink (not many people were even drinking here) so he just added it to the total and made everyone split it, so everyone's bill ended up $70 per person, and guests who didn't even drink had to pay the bill for the people who did. GET IT TOGETHER BOTTEGA AMERICANO- I WANT MY MONEY BACK.
(2)J H.
Went to lunch for the first time and had trouble choosing what I wanted from the menu. Ended up with the Rotisserie Chicken Salad and was pleased with the results. The Focaccia bread with a cold tomato dipping sauce was excellent. The service was wonderful. Staff was quick, quiet and accomodating. A more-than-good experience overall.
(5)Jessica T.
I have been back to here twice since my original review and I have to say they have worked out all the kinks they had when they initially first opened. Love the food and the service! We will be back!
(5)Karla P.
Bravo! This place is fabulous! I don't give very many 5 stars because there is always room for improvement. In this case it's a strong 5! Amazed that Bottega has only been open a week or so and they have already worked out the kinks! I'm enamored with Bottega Americano's concept and the design of the space is just as inviting. This is much more than an Italian restaurant. It's like an indoor market place. If you want seafood, they have a raw bar. If you're craving pizza they have a wood/gas pizza oven and a counter so you can sit, enjoy a class of vino, & watch as they make it. Just want coffee and dessert? They have that area too! It's a nice day and you feel like dining al fresco? Yup there's a dog friendly patio. Want to hang out with a fabulous charcuterie board and a glass of wine? That's there too! I think you get the picture...there's a little bit of everything. Even a deli with fresh salads, paninis, and small market with items for you to take home to cook yourself. We sat in the main dining room area since it was our first time there and tried a little bit of everything. The pastas and sauces are fresh, the breads are baked in house, and they have a wide selection of wine and some very good Italian varietals. The service is attentive, we never had an empty glass of water or wine at our table. I'm already looking forward to my next visit. Plenty of community tables and little nooks to sit at and enjoy a fabulous dinner and bottle of wine.
(5)Lindsay N.
I had high expectations of this place because I heard the same designers were involved as Eataly in Chicago (now I'm wondering if that was just a rumor). I expected it to be bigger with a bigger market but the "market" really just looked like a small gift shop comparable to a Starbucks. I had the carpaccio which was good and the Brussel sprouts with pancetta were very good. I'd have to say because of the okay atmosphere paired with decent Italian food and high prices, I Would probably not come back unless it was someone else's decision. It was okay.
(3)Kristina S.
My husband and I finally made it here, and I am so glad we did! I can't think of one negative comment to make about this place. The decor is simple, stylish and comfy. Service was five star. I ordered the prosciutto panini and my husband ordered the meatball panini- both fresh and reasonably priced. I REALLY hope this is a restaurant that will stay many years in East Village.
(5)Ed B.
atmosphere is delightful and bright, so many things to look at. Menu is well described and price to portion is excellent. I had the korean ribs and eggs and the taste is very well blended and the eggs truly compliments the ribs. This was a good rest experience, I highly recommend it, reservation is preferable.
(5)Alicia L.
What a horrible way to start out a new year! This place was horrible :( We had reservations and were seated 15 minutes late yet the table we were seated at was open the entire time. I had to ask the hostess why we were not being seated otherwise we would still be waiting for a table. Took over an hour to get our food, which was not even hot when we got it. You want salt and pepper? You must be crazy... That is another 15 minutes. A refill on your coffee? That is another 10 min wait and that was for cold coffee...hot coffee was another 5 minutes. People behind us sent their food back because it was cold, the people to the left of us waited 15 minutes to have their order taken and another table was turned away by the hostess but they went outside and found a table on the open table app. Really? It took 2 hours for 2 of us to eat lunch because of the slow service. Terrible.
(1)Gavin G.
First off keep in mind this restaurant is in a questionable part of town, so don't plan on a romantic stroll around town after dinner. My wife and I tried this and a homeless guy started following us, so we made a quick turn to our car. That being said, the restaurant itself is beautiful inside. The service was great. Our pizza took a while to get to us, but it was during the soft opening, so you have to expect some issues. The food was excellent and well priced. A surprise for me was the peach carpaccio dessert. It was unexpected and really delicious. I will be back and look forward to try the pasta.
(5)james p.
Excellent,Had dinner here Sat night and it was awesome!!!Our server,cute little blonde,was very informative and knowledgeable about menu and wine list!!!!
(5)Irma W.
VERY DISSAPOINTED!!!!! yesterday evening a group of my friends decided to do Happy hour here since one of my friends has been in here before for the deli part of the restaurant she has been wanting to try the restaurant part particularly happy hour. most of us arrived between 5-510 pm we wait in line to talk to the hostess who directs us to the bar area for happy hour, when we get to the bar the bartender told us the bar area has been reserved for a private event and to go back to the hostess who will be able to seat us at a table and still honor happy hour. the hostess talks to the manager who for one seemed annoyed and two looked at us like we didn't belong in such a nice establishment, there were 5 of us and she thought their were only two why she assumed that I'm not sure but when we told her there were 5 she rolled her eyes and took a deep breath and said it would be a moment she would try to find us a table....we waited at least 15 min with the staff ignoring us so we politely said thank you but we are going to leave as soon as we said that she said "WELL YOUR TABLE IS READY OUTSIDE" we said no thank you and walk out when we walked out we noticed the whole patio area was completely empty there was no reason for such a long wait....I will not be returning to this restaurant again which is very disappointing I was excited to try their food but no one should go into an establishment and feel like they don't belong!!!!! for all they knew I could have been a humble Billionaire!!!!!!
(1)Lisa C.
Been here 5 times. Great food and a little different in a good way. good service, but slow. Everyone friendly but one busboy. I like the energy of the place. Some dishes a little on the salty side. They totally have the pastas down! Best ravioli I have had, I was making yummy sounds.
(5)Mary B.
We had an amazing dining experience this weekend! We will be back!
(4)Erin P.
I wanted to try this place since it's new so I took a friend of mine there for her birthday. It was a great place to celebrate a birthday because there was a fun vibe with lots of energy and people. The restaurant is huge and located on Island Ave downtown San Diego. The décor is rustic Italian yet modern. It's very clean and spacious with a fun open kitchen. The service was good but I wouldn't say outstanding. It may have been due to the restaurant being busy with holiday parties. When we did ask our server for recommendations he was knowledgeable and did steer us in the right direction. I had the beat salad for $9 dollars which was delicious along with the lamb osso bucco for $28 dollars. I loved my craft cocktail the Occhi Nociola made with Mescal. Overall my experience at Bottega Americano was positive and I would recommend the restaurant to anyone as long as you make a reservation ahead of time. They are able to accommodate larger parties as well. The little market near the front of the restaurant is cute offering nice salamis, cheeses, snacks and other fun items.
(4)Gigi F.
I'm giving the restaurant four stars, but really it should be three. Let me start by saying the food we had was amazing! The best Italian food outside of Italy hands down! The service unfortunately was slow and inattentive. I'm not sure if it was because they have only been open a week or if they simply do not have enough staff on the floor. If the food was not as excellent as it was, I would not go back just on basis of the service. Nonetheless, it's their first week open and we'll go back again to see if they work out the staffing kinks.
(4)D S.
Food is excellent. Craft drinks are very fresh! Awesome
(5)Dan S.
Tully disappointing experience. Ordered NY strip steak. ~$30 dish. Unusually thick cut but 40% fat. The center was cold. Had no choice but to send it back. Instead of making the dish from scratch they just threw the remains of the steak on the grille and served it back to me including the bite that I spit!!! Garnish was great. Pinot Noir by the glass was unremarkable.
(1)Tom H.
This place is fantastic. Very well done and has a wide variety of food: coffee, to go pastries and sandwiches, a solid menu and bar. We went for lunch with some co-workers and split pizza, salad, mussels (which were awesome), and some meats and cheeses. The service was excellent, food came out quick and it was all really enjoyable. A great place for lunch, dinner or just a drink.
(5)Rex R.
WOW WOW WOW.. When you walk in, the decor and ambiance is impeccable. Then you get to the food. Truly amazing. The fresh ingredients set this restaurant apart. This will be on top of my list to work through the exciting menu. This is a must try whether it is a short walk of an hour drive. Try it......you will LOVE it!!
(5)Lisa R.
It is with a heavy heart that I write this review. We live in the East Village and have been here several times. On all the previous occasions, we found that the food was amazing and the service was attentive and fast. We were so excited about this new place, that when we saw they were having a New Year's Day brunch, we convinced all of our friends who live outside the city, to come downtown to try our new favorite place. We made reservations over a week ago and it seemed that most people there had reservations. When we were seated, the hostess gave each person a wine list, but we soon noticed that we did not have a menu for food. We asked a staff person if we could get the food menu after waiting about 15 minutes and he never returned. After 20 minutes, the waiter came to take our order, but we informed him we didn't know what we were going to order, since we never received a food menu. We did order drinks at this time. The waiter returned 10 minutes later, with no drinks and 2 food menus for a party of 7. He told us they were "running low on menus". Needless to say, it took several minutes for all 7 of us to peruse the rather extensive 2 menus and decide what we were going to order. After being there for 45 minutes, we still did not have drinks and the waiter had not returned to take the order. We finally spoke to a manager, and our drinks arrived, but still no waiter. We spoke to a manager again after being there for 1 hour and 15 minutes and were finally able to get the waiter there to take our order. We then proceeded to wait another 45 minutes and still no food had arrived. We spoke to the manager a third time. She was apologetic and gave us more drinks, stating that they were short staffed. When our food finally arrived after being there 2 hours, much of the food was cold. 2 plates were served, then it was another 10 mintues for the rest of the plates and side dishes to arrive. One person did not get his side dish until 20 minutes after his meal. After the 2 hours involved waiting for the food, we decided not to complain that most of the food was cold to avoid being there any longer. The manager did take 20% off of our bill, which was nice. Unfortunately, none of my friends plan to return as this was a horrible first impression. Since it seemed most people had reservations, I am not sure why they did not plan ahead for the crowd. While I am sure everyone can have a bad day, it was not a great way to start the New Year here.
(2)Daniel W.
great addition to my neighborhood! not exactly inexpensive but light years ahead of anything downtown imo. service was excellent and my sampler prosciutto,chese plate ended up being a full meal and very nicely served with a mint-caramel walnut-berry desert side. will be back for sure!
(5)