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Old Venice
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
2910 Canon St(between Rosecrans St & Scott St)
Point Loma, CA 92106
Neighbourhoods: Fleetridge, Point Loma
(619) 222-5888
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 9:30 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 10 pm
Sun 4 pm - 9:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
266 reviews for Old Venice
Review Highlights
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"It was served with plenty of fresh hot garlic bread." In 30 reviews -
"Feta appetizer is a sick amount of baked feta." In 10 reviews -
"I'll start with its SUPER romantic in the right spot." In 78 reviews
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266 reviews in English
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Review from Jimmy H.
San Diego, CA
After three failed attempts, I finally made it back to Old Venice, this time with my girlfriend who is visiting from SF. The first time I was here was during Restaurant Week and while I loved the food, I was disappointed by the portion size and left hungry. Not this time. I ordered the shrimp and scallop alfredo which was decadent as hell. The flavors were great but the alfredo sauce was a bit too rich in my opinion. The girlfriend ordered the spicy roma shrimp and it was an excellent dish. Both entrees came with either a soup or salad. We got one of each and they were both quite good. The only real disappointment of the night was the Napolean which wasn't nearly flaky enough.
All in all this is a great place for Italian food. Definitely make reservations though cause it gets quite packed especially during the weekends.Listed in: Pre Baby-Making Dinner
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Review from P. S.
San Diego, CA
4/20/2012
I could have sworn I've reviewed this before. What sorcery is yelp up to?
If I had reviewed it, I think I might have given it 4, or even, 5 stars. My experience the other night was less than the prior stellar 2 or 3 times over the years.
It's too bad. Like the dirty walls and stale water in the vases I noticed, it's all a bit shabby now. Even, sorry, down to "Alexander's" level of inattentiveness.
The waitron was a bit, how do I say, forced? Like he really was trying to be a nice guy but you know his heart is not in it. (The host was a super smiley surfer boy doll though.)
The crusty herby buttery bread was too showy to start. I had a soupy scallop scampi and my friend, who likes "How Things Work" shows, had another fish, alfredo style.
Mine was nice and tangy but the veggies and noodles were totally lost in the sauce. I ate the meat, sopped some sauce with the plentiful, if overly fanciful, bread, and left most of the rest. My curious friend reported his was "ok" and that wasn't just his affect disorder.
They were having the Taste of Shelter Island thing and judging by the people staggering into the loud bar next door, it was more like Tipple of Shelter Island. Those boat type people really are special.
Speaking of "How Things Work," I'm still waiting for the "Once you go black, you'll never go back" episode of Mythbusters. -
Review from Mike C.
Recommend calling in and make a reservation because this place gets pretty packed. They have semi-quiet indoor dining area, a very loud bar area and a semi-quiet-loud outdoor dining area. All of them were pretty full on my visit here, but I didnt take a chance so I'm glad I did a reservation ahead of time.
I came in for Restaurant Week and for $30 you get a 3 course meal. And there were a lot of people. I was originally seated in a semi-big table, but when they realized a few minutes later that I was just eating by myself, I was re-assigned to the loner-corner-table. And it was colder since this area didn't have the heat lamps on.
Oh well, whatever. Anyways, 3 courses for 30 bucks. I love asparagus so I went with their proscuitto wrapped asparagus. Grilled, with some chopped garlic. Great taste. Also came with some cubed melons too. Not sure how each compliments the other, but whatever.
For the main course I went with the chicken florentine over a bed of angel hair pasta. The chicken was stuffed with hot cheese, spinach and mushrooms. Despite the small portion, I was still satisfied after this meal.
And for dessert, I went with their Raspberry Napoleon. The wafers were very difficult to cut especially with just a fork as the primary and sole tool for this evolution. But with enough force, I managed to break through and finish this very sweet dessert.
Even if you don't come here for dinner, there's a nice bar that they have where you can chillax for a bit. But depending on what time you come in, it can get hella loud. So you might be rolling the dice if you're expecting a nice quiet date night here. -
Review from Dan D.
2/29/2012
Atmosphere - Very nice...white...clean....and has a romantic feel to it. almost pretentious IMO.
Food/Beverage - Full bar. Food is better than average, but nothing I would go out of my way for.
Cost - A little more than your average Italian place nearby...like I said they try to be high end but with a neighborhood bar area...just doesn't mix...If I am gonna pay $$ for the extra ambiance...I don't need to bar peeps popping off. They do offer coupons/discounts which helps out.
Summary - My biggest problem with this place is that it tries to combine high end romantic feel with the neighborhood/Cheers type feel ...everytime I go it seems there are the same group of hooligans that work there and their friends outside or at the bar yukking it up...kind of annoying actually. Nice place in downtown PL...but with so many other options this is just a pass for me....sorry but for some reason this place just rubs me the wrong way....maybe it's their multiple personalities. -
Review from Mark A.
San Diego, CA
4/11/2012
I love this place!! Food is fantastic and the atmosphere is quaint and cozy. Wife and I went here on our 1st anniversary and they gave a free happy anniversary cake for free. Very thoughtful staff. Great place to bring friends and family for fantastic food and fun.
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Review from Amanda R.
San Diego, CA
3/11/2012
Went there last night with my boyfriend. The food was AMAZING. The service, however, lacks.
We sat for a bit over 10 minutes to get water, and another 5 to 10 minutes for a server to approach us. Our server was nice, I just think he was spread very thin. Everything took a lot longer than expected.
However, like I said, the food was so damn good. I had a chicken dish over penne pasta with pesto sauce and my boyfriend had the veal.
I will go to this place again and Im sure will up my rating. It was a Saturday night, so I know they were busy. The place is loud too, so dont go here expecting a quiet date place on the weekend. -
Review from Mae S.
West Hollywood, CA
2/13/2012
My girlfriend and I were looking for a romantic Italian dinner to celebrate Valentines Day and we luckily found this place! It's a charming little restaurant and the decor and lighting creates the perfect romantic atmosphere for a date. The food and the service were both excellent and the portions were just the right size.
I highly recommend the baked feta as an appetizer, it was so good that I'm still thinking about it two days later! I was so happy with our experience here. I wish I lived in San Diego so I could go more often! -
Review from Leigh K.
San Diego, CA
1/26/2012
I have been here a few times with friends. The white lights all around the restaurant are a definite charmer. The atmosphere in general is very clean and crisp and romantic. Perfect for a date night-- at least it seems that way.
The food that I have had here has been wonderful. The ambiance only enhances it honestly. I've tried the bruschetta, the caprese salad, and the pizzas... all recommended by the friend who first told me about this place. I've tried the artichoke and asparagus pizza, as well as the standard vegetarian. I liked the artichoke and asparagus better, but both were delicious. If I lived closer, I would come more often. It feels like classy dining without being too expensive.
The outdoor area of the restaurant is adorable. It just says "intimate wedding reception" all over it. -
Review from Clare P.
San Diego, CA
4/19/2012
I went to Old Venice during restaurant week for lunch and WOW! Not only was it a killer deal, but the food was absolutely delicious, the staff was unbelievably helpful and sweet and the decor is stylish, quaint and comfortable. They give you warm, yummy bread when you sit down and they are generous with refills. You'd be doing yourself a disservice to fill up on bread though because everything we had- appetizers, salads and pasta was high quality and delicious. They really don't seem to cut corners on anything. The only reason I can't go back often is because I can't afford it- dinner prices are a bit high (but for good reason). Also- the patio is awesome!!! What a hidden gem this place is- and in a beautiful walkable neighborhood. Try it, you'll love it.
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Review from Cory M.
San Diego, CA
4/17/2012
Old Venice is the best in town for dinner or happy hour! First of all it is esthetically stunning, the decor is all white and candle lit! I feel like i have gone back in time when im there, or i imagine that is what Venice was like! There is a beautiful patio in the back for ourdoor or daytime dinning, a bar inside with a fireplace and live music, and a formal dinning room for a more intimate experience. It really has something for all ocassions. We went their recently for my dads birthday, started with the baked feta....it was incredible! For my entree I ordered the spinach lasagna, probably the best I have ever had! Old Venice has been around since i was a kid and everytime I eat here its busy, so it really doesnt need a review because it is already and HUGE sucess! Love!!!
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Review from Dung N.
3/17/2012 9 photos
This place is so pretty and romantic. We sat outside, so it looks nice with all the lights surrounding the patio...You can also hear a live band playing in the lounge area. The Birthday girl is friends with most of the people who work there, so of course, our service was really top notch. The garlic bread was amazing, even better with the garlic cloves and cheese appetizer. I had the lasagna and was really full, but still saved room for dessert. They brought out some orangey cake that was ok- I ended up eating most of the chocolate one..I think I was supposed to share with the whole table..oops!
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Review from Vlad K.
San Diego, CA
2/19/2012
We made a reservation, showed up, no one cared, end up waiting for table for over 1 hour even so we were told 10 min.
Unless you come often there, do not bother,...
Would never go back, it used to be a great place with great service and it is down the hill now with mediocre food. -
Review from Tiffany Y.
San Diego, CA
1/29/2012
I'd give them a 3.5 if I could, but eh... there needs to be a few improvements here.
I came here during restaurant week for $30 during dinner time. I wasn't really wow'd by any of the food that came out - though I did enjoy the stuffed shrimp the most. Something was lacking in their risotto... and their Chicken Florentine tasted a bit dry :( Tiramisu was okay, not much different from the standard one, except maybe even more moist?
I probably won't come back but I definitely like the interior design! I love my black & white theme! -
Review from William B.
Palo Alto, CA
3/24/2012
There is an odd prevalence of this kind of Italian food in San Diego: In a cute little part of Point Loma (and apparently across the street from a visa office, if your needs run that way) this is a nice spot for a hearty Italian lunch. The sandwiches are tasty, piled with toppings (including fresh vegetables, if you order right, as I did not) and very large. I ordered a whole sandwich, rather than a half, and it's a mistake I probably won't make again. Although I will be tempted.
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Review from Gwendolyn M.
San Diego, CA
4/3/2012
Overpriced, canned sauce, gloppy pasta. What else is there to say? Oh yeah, the service is slow and disdainful.
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Review from Charity K.
Portland, OR
1/25/2012
I chose this restaurant for a romantic meal with my partner as it seemed to have high ratings in that area. The candles on the table seemed to be the only romantic ambience in the restaurant. Tables were so close that it was impossible not to overhear another couple's conversation.
We ordered the artichoke and shrimp appetizer (decent but nothing to write home about), shared the Pasta di Kathleen (dry, think noodles and rather unflavorful), and tiramisu for dessert (delicious but of course too rich to eat after the meal). The portion sizes are conducive to sharing and with the bottle of wine plus tip we left paying just under $100.
Service was friendly and prompt. We were disappointed in the quality of the food and the ambience but if you're in the area, it's probably a decent choice. -
Review from Tiffany L.
Jersey City, NJ
12/7/2011
The interior of this restaurant is incredibly warm and charming. The food was really good and the service as well. For starters, we had the Magic Mushrooms and the Shrimp and Artichokes. The mushrooms were very good, a small portion but big on flavor, stuffed with crab and lots of melty cheese. I really enjoyed the Shrimp and Artichokes, nice portion for sharing and the shrimp were cooked very well. The white wine and caper sauce is perfect for dipping bread in. The soup of the night was hearty and influenced with wonderful prosciutto bits.
For dinner, I chose the Lasagna and that certainly did not disappoint! The sausage layered inside was very flavorful and really made the dish. For dessert, the Tiramisu was very good, and we also enjoyed the Old Venice Cookie topped with vanilla bean gelato. Our service was friendly and attentive, and the area that this restaurant is located in is very cute. The ambiance was very romantic and lively. I would definitely love to return soon! -
Review from Jim L.
2/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
It had been years since we've been here and I'm not sure why we waited so long to return. The ambiance is cool, the service is great and the location is a nice change of pace to our norm.
In our week of birthday celebration, we decided to venture back down here for my wife's birthday. One huge plus to Old Venice is that they are kid friendly and allow the kids (and adults) to color on the paper table clothes. My daughter was in heaven for actually having permission to write on the table for a change. Funny thing....we don't allow that at home under ANY circumstance.
The general set up of the restaurant is somewhat odd. As you walk in, the hostess is right there in your face. No, not in a bad way but she is very close to the door. Another noticeable thing is that everything is white.....walls, ceilings, table clothes, etc. Seems kind of surgical in a charming sort of way. The dining area is set up into two different sections on the right side of the building, front and back with a lounge separated by a swinging door to the left. The odd thing about the separate dining rooms is to get to the back dining area, you need to walk through the kitchen area and past the bathrooms to get to the rear area. The tables are a little close to each other as well. We had a table against the window and immediately behind my back was a table for two. Every time the person behind me wanted to leave or return to their chair, I would have to squeeze my chair in to allow them to pass. A little bit weird but doesn't take away from the overall experience.
So we walk in on a Friday night and are seated immediately and are served waters and complimentary garlic bread. Let's be clear, I am a sucker for garlic bread and if I had to make a choice for a last meal....it would probably be in the top five. The garlic bread is served on an open faced sesame bread of some sort (I don't know my breads) and has plenty of butter and garlic and to top it off, it was endless.
We started our dining with getting an order of their "magic mushrooms" which was mushroom stuffed with crap and shrimp, covered with provolone cheese then broiled until cheese is melted over the entire surface. I could have eaten two servings of these.
For our entrees, my wife went with their Rigatoni Bolognese which included an Italian sausage baked with mushrooms and onions in a garlic marinara sauce mixed with rigatoni pasta. This was a little on the spicy side and the portions where huge. I went with their Beef Tenderloin and Garlic Shrimp. The tenderloin was topped with port wine sauce with mushrooms and the shrimp was sauteed in a garlic butter. The tenderloin was cooked perfectly (pink in the center) and was very tender while the buttery shrimp just melted in my mouth. This dish was served with a variety of vegetables and roasted red potatoes. Both meals definitely an A+. The kids shared a pizza and I didn't hear any complaints from that side of the table either.
The service here stands out. I don't remember our servers name but she was very attentive as was the entire staff. Our orders were taken immediately, drinks refilled often and food served quickly.
As I said at the beginning, I'm not sure why it's been so long since we've returned to Old Venice but I can assure you that it won't be that long of a wait until our next visit. -
Review from Flea B.
San Diego, CA
10/25/2011
Lovely little spot. Very romantic. Good blue cheese stuffed olive martinis. One thing though, .....
COUGAR TOWN -
Review from Yen T.
San Diego, CA
So my friend and I came here on Sunday at 6-7 ish because we wanted pastuh!
My first impression upon seeing this place 'wow, classy and romantic, it's gotta be delicious".
There was no wait. Hostess was quick and waiter was friendly. And food came out at a decent amount of time (or so my friend thought).
We sat in the back. The place was decorated with white metal chairs and dim candle lights to compliment the white little tables. I mean, it was like having fancy dinner in my backyard, except it wasn't my backyard.
So I don't understand the fuss about the garlic bread. It was super greasy? On top of that, they gave us a huge chunk and didn't cut it into smaller pieces? I don't understand this.
I got the burgundy steak and my friend got the manicotti pasta. I thought the steak was good, soft and juicy, but I couldn't say the same for the mushrooms and fettucini. You know that feeling when you eat something and it tastes alright at first but after the third bite, you get kind of sick of it? That's the feeling I was getting. But I'm also picky when it comes to pasta...
My friend thought that her pasta was mediocre; it definitely wasn't a "WOW". For the price that we were paying, I truly expected more.
In the end, my friend and I both agreed that our moms could make us better foods. Well, maybe my mom is asian so maybe not pasta but her mom is european so I trust her.
But I must add that I came here after several huge meals from the thanksgiving weekend... -
Review from Jessica H.
San Diego, CA
1/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
The food is good, the service is good if you dress rich ...awful if you dress in any other fashion. Oh and in my first 5 minutes here 2 guys in the bar starting punching eachother within a foot of a baby stroller. It was maybe 8pm. Real great first impression.
Listed in: At the beach!
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Review from Heather T.
San Diego, CA
12/12/2011
Love the ambiance, love the music, love the fireplace near the bar.
We have come here more times than I can count and never been disappointed. Last night we ate at the bar, listened to their musicians play some christmas tunes, and enjoyed ourselves a couple glasses of cab.
My suggestions, eat in the bar area, its cozy....order a glass of wine, share a Garlic Bulb with Brie(delicious, but beware of garlic breath), share a wicked Caesar salad, then if you still have room for more....share the Bolognese its our favorite. The Bolognese is plenty for two if you eat a salad or app as well. We enjoy it for its spicy flavor, delicious sausage and mushrooms, and the creamy garlic marinara sauce is so good I use their bread to sop up every last bit.
GREAT PLACE FOR:
a quick app
a glass of wine
a romantic, delicious comforting dinner
The only reason I give four stars, is we were rudely crowded at the bar by some men that seemed to know everyone at the restaurant.....The entire bar was empty and they squeezed in right next to us at the end of the bar, took down the beautiful candelbra that is on the bar top(which we happen to be enjoying), all so they could have a close seat to the tv for the football game. We ended up scooting down so my Fiance could use his arm without asking for permission from the man to his left. Other than some rude regulars, this place is awesome. -
Review from Raynard F.
San Diego, CA
8/25/2011
Old Venice is an awesome Italian restaurant in the Point Loma area.
Most, if not all, of the items on the menu are delicious and the service is on the dot as well.
If you choose to sit inside, the furnishings are white and modern with dim lighting. If you choose to sit outside, the furnishings are white old school metal tables and chairs with an antique look.
Sitting outside for dinner is especially quiet and makes for a great environment to impress a date. This restaurant is very classy!
I've seen large groups eat here but it would probably be best to get a reservation as the restaurant can probably only seat 60 to 70 people. -
Review from Su C.
San Diego, CA
12/6/2011
Must go!
Very romantic place to take your sweet heart.
Food was pretty good also. Ordered the Florentine chicken w/ imported cheeses, which was awesome. The mussel appetizer was ok. The burgundy steak over fettuccine was on par.
I dont think you can go wrong w/ this place if you're going on a date or just to eat Italian food.
Didn't really like the house pineapple vinaigrette salad, should have asked for a different type of dressing.
food = 5 stars
service = 5 stars
ambiance = stars
You wont be disappointed! -
Review from Diana A.
Encinitas, CA
2/26/2012
My 3 stars is based strictly on my meal [La Regina]: seafood & black linguine. The seafood tasted fresh served with tomato sauce and linguine pasta. This was one of the server's favorite seafood dish. It was good but missing some oompf. It is a pricey dish because it's seafood but I was thinking I should have opted for the shrimp risotto. The dinner salads served with the meal were not anything special - basic green salad with feta cheese sprinkles and standard dressing.
The cilantro pesto shrimp looked really good & my boyfriend enjoyed his rigatoni bolognse.
The service was wonderful considering we had a big group of 12. The outdoor seating had a lovely ambiance and ideal for a big group.
I would definitely consider returning to try out a different dish. -
Review from Gracie M.
San Diego, CA
1/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
I recently dined here for the Restaurant Week special and let me tell you, this place is a GEM! I cannot believe I've lived in San Diego for over three years and haven't been to this place! The food was excellent! I had a three course meal from the R.W. menu and started off with a wonderful salad, followed by Rigatoni Bolognese and topped off with a lava cake hot from the oven. The bar and dining area is exquisite, and so is the service. I sat and dined in front of the fireplace and it was amazing. I recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a grand evening with great company.
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Review from Cecile N.
San Diego, CA
9/2/2011 1 photo
We went here for our 4 year anniversary because I looked up romantic restaurants in San Diego. Old Venice was number 1! So I was pretty excited to try it. All the pictures that were posted looked so nice!
When we got there, our reservation was really early. Like 6pm. Still light out and the restaurant was empty. The decor was just as described.. all white furniture but no candlelight. Probably because it was so darn early in the night! That's our fault because we had plans later that night, but it really made the whole experience different. It just didn't seem like the most romantic restaurant in San Diego.
The food was decent but nothing super spectacular. I'd definitely like to give it a second try at a later time because we totally missed out on the ambiance that everyone raves about. Hopefully we'll get to soon. -
Review from Anita L.
5/25/2011
This restaurant can easily be a spot with great ambiance and food. That's what I thought when we walked by and peered in from the outside. So we went inside, into the very crowded and loud dining room and were seated in a cramped and tight spot. But that's okay. I'm thinking that the reason the place is so jam packed is because the food must be outstanding. I was hoping so because I was famished.
Since it was quite late we decided to order an entree each and forego the appetizers. I ordered the squid ink linguine with seafood and m friend ordered the beef tenderloin tips with pasta. Mine came with a soup or salad and I opted for soup.
When the soup arrived, it was cream of mushroom. SERIOUSLY? Cream of mushroom? What happened to the minestrone? Or the Tuscan kale soup? This is supposed to be an Italian restaurant, no? Well the cream of mushroom was so over-salted it was not palatable.
Luckily they brought us some garlic bread because I was so hungry but sadly, the bread was stale.
Our food arrived and luckily my pasta was good -- not fantastic, but good. The scallop was very tender -- in fact, everything was cooked well except the fish which was overcooked.
My friend's beef tenderloin pasta was okay. It didn't wow us at all. The only thing that's probably positive is that the portions are huge so you can probably share an entree. We weren't able to finish our entree -- we probably only manged about half.
I had a glass of wine and with our 2 entrees our meal came to $80. I thought it was very pricey for the caliber of food and service we received. There are far better places for Italian food in San Diego.
2.5 stars and I'm being generous by giving them a 3 instead of a 2. Parking in the area sucks too. -
Review from Mari A.
San Diego, CA
LOVE it here! It is my favorite Italian restaurant in San Diego! Great drinks starting anywhere from glasses of wine to an assortment of cocktails (they have their own full bar next door). The place is quaint and romantic though I have been here with plenty of friends before. I've also been here on a night with live music in their bar area. You'll be lucky to catch it one night.
Anyway, when coming here, order the stuffed mushrooms! YUM! And the Regina pasta.. squid ink pasta with mixed seafoods. LOVE! Top the night off with their tiramisu and you'll leave happy. :) -
Review from Thomas N.
1/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
We were on our way to another restaurant close by when this place caught the GFs eye. They had a bunch of white lights all over the restaurant. So we canceled our reservations to our other restaurant and looked for parking. After parking on the street wet realized that we could have parked in the lot right behind the restaurant. The place was smaller and louder than I thought it would be but it still felt cozy with the fireplace on the wall. We started with the Sauteed Shrimp and Artichoke Hearts as an appetizer which was good. The shrimps were large and meaty and there was a lot of flavor. We also had a salad before the main course which was like any other salad. I had the Chicken Picatta which had a nice sour tang to it. I thought that the dish was good altogether with the pasta and veggies on it. The GF got the Seafood Cacciatore which I thought was ok. It didn't stand out as much as I thought it would with all the seafood. The food was good but some of the prices on it may keep me from coming back here. The server that we had was very friendly though.
Overall:
-Pros: Good food and service
-Cons: Small place if you are coming here to eat, parking is sometimes hard to find, and its a little loud, its kind of half bar/half restaurant -
Review from bobbie w.
San Diego, CA
2/10/2012
This is one of my favorite places to eat in San Diego. It's definitely a hidden gem! I've tried so many things on the menu and I've never been disappointed. Beautiful atmosphere and very romantic!
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Review from Sarah G.
Coronado, CA
1/27/2012
The atmosphere was trendy yet classy. The food was wonderful and enjoyed by all family members! The service was excellent too. The waitress we had brought out a reading trophy for my son along with ice cream. The Gargonzolla salad and spaghetti was phenomenal
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Review from Lyn C.
San Diego, CA
1/20/2012
My boyfriend and I came here for lunch and ordered off the Restaurant Week menu. It was an amazing experience.
They welcome you with warm, soft garlic bread that is scrumptious alone or dipped in the provided olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
I ordered the warm feta appetizer and it was decadent. So rich!
Then I had the smoked salmon over black linguini. They knocked it out of the park. Everything tasted fresh and authentic. Nothing was too done up. The ingredients really got to shine. Amazing. -
Review from Elizabeth C.
San Diego, CA
3/30/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I can easily say I have been eating at Old Venice my entire life. Whenever I would fly out to visit my dad in San Diego, he would pick me up at the airport, we would drive down to Old Venice, pick up a pizza to go, and then eat it on his porch with the sun setting. Absolutely one of my fondest childhood memories of San Diego.
As an adult, when I moved out here one of the first things that crossed my mind was how awesome it will be to finally live by this restaurant so I can frequent it on a more regular basis. This restaurant will always have a special place in my heart.
This is the place I take friends to when they come to visit when they want a nice meal in an intimate restaurant setting that is classy without being fussy. Their atmosphere is relaxed with a touch of class. One side of the place is the restaurant with comfy overstuffed chairs, white table cloths, and soft lighting provided by candles and beautiful chandeliers.
The other side of the restaurant is the more casual wine bar but still a great place to grab a bite, but I would only recommend that side if it's just a party of two or your friends want to sit at the bar, as the seating on this side isn't as user-friendly for larger parties.
They even have a cute dining area out back that is perfect year round, even in "winter" when it's "cooler" because they have the standard California Heat lamps. Making dining outside year round efficient for decades!
So enough about the atmosphere, what about the food you say?
Love it. Their pizza is so delicious. Their lasagna gooey and oh so amazing it would turn anyone into Garfield in a heartbeat. My favorite thing on the menu is the manicotti and I could easily eat my weight in it. Even their house wines are good, and I usually don't say that about restaurants that don't specialize in wine (like the Kensington Vine).
I've been here on romantic dates, family dinners, and taking friends out who were visiting from out of town. They even have paper on the tables so you can draw (notice how I don't say "so the kids can draw" hint hint). This place fits the bill for whatever you are looking for when you are craving good Italian food. -
Review from Bernadette M.
Valley Center, CA
1/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Lovely atmosphere and yummy food....
Cue in a little Marvin Gaye or Sade...bow chicka bow wow
White booths and walls, dim candles, and chandeliers will greet you when you step into Old Venice. Kind of weird that the hostess table is so close to the front door but it's minor compared to the nice atmosphere. As you make your way to the back, you find yourself to the closed patio with the similar ambiance and heat lamps. There is an outside patio as well, but with the chilly weather everyone was inside. While it seems like a romantical place, I think it's also a great place to go with friends as well. However, the table next to us with the crying baby. Not so romantical haha
Complimentary garlic bread-warm, buttery, garlicky (is that a word?) and flaky. Mmmm fatty goodness!
Walnut gorgonzola-Friend ordered this and liked it. Deelish if you like these kind of salads.
Soup of the day-I forgot the name but it was some sort of creamy tomato broth with shrimp and mushrooms. Sounds odd, but it was soo tasty. My waiter accidentally brought me the Manhattan clam chowder (which was yum too) instead and told me to keep both of them. Score!!
Linguine de Kathleen-Friend ordered this and liked it too. It's very pesto-y, so if you love pesto, you'll love this.
Rigotoni Bolognese-OMG this was soooo good. I usually never order spaghetti like dishes when I eat out bc I figure they all taste the same and can be made at home. But I really enjoyed this dish and drool just thinking about it. It just had the perfect blend of spices, gooey cheese, noodles al dente, and I just love me some sausage!
Homemade oatmeal chocolate chip cookie and vanilla gelato-yum
Tiramisu-I'm not much of a tiramisu or dessert fan but ordered it just because my friend ordered the other. But it was good for what it was. If you're a tiramisu lover, you'll prob like this. It's a little bit more on the softer side.
Our waiter was nice and attentive. Portions were pretty big. Prices are reasonable. Grazie!Listed in: That's Amore
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Review from Matt A.
10/16/2011
Hands down probably the worst Italian food I have ever eaten in my life. Now, let me qualify that. Granted, if you eat Chef Boyardee or you go to some cheezy chain, you know what you get. But when you go to a restaurant that has an extensive wine list and fresh seafood and prices that would make you think it is upscale, but the spaghetti tastes like stuff you would eat at Summer Camp - "Houston, we have a problem."
Now, the waitress was nice and attractive. I will give Old Venice that.
But back to the food and prices. First, how is it spaghetti and meat sauce is $8-$12, but pasta with shrimp and pesto is $26? I mean, more than double? Am I at a Lakers game? Am I stuck at an Airport stationed in between Beverly Hills and Bel Air? When did pesto pasta and shrimp necessitate such an exorbitant price hike from -- as Ray Liotta would say in Good Fellas - "egg noodles and ketchup"? The decor felt like I was in the middle of restaurant wars on Top Chef and the particular team I was patronizing got $300 to spend at Restoration Hardware for the entire interior design. Listen, I have no problems with mediocre to crappy Italian, I mean, I've eaten at Fillipis! But at least I wasn't lulled into thinking that I was going to partake in fine dining. You don't expect good sushi at a gas station, and you don't expect bad Italian at a place that has mussels, clams, salmon, $30 pasta dishes, etc.
Second, the pasta was atrocious. I cannot say this enough. The meat sauce tasted like it was literally just scooped out of a can. The portion of pasta was only large because of how bad it was. The spaghetti was soft and mushy, the raviolis tasted overcooked...and, have I mentioned the sauce? I would say this, if you want to impress someone with your Italian cooking, take them here first, and then cook for them - you will come out looking like Mario Batali.
Third, the tiramasu was "mehhhhhh". If youre going to waste calories, hop over to 7-11, grab some reeces butter cups and chocolate milk, and you'd be in better shape and find it more fulfilling.
But besides from all that, it was a fantastic place. A must see for visiting distant-relatives and people who just got paroled. -
Review from Critiquel O.
San Diego, CA
12/18/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Authentic feeling and tasting - and I usually gtr away with feeding two people of each single order - the portions are that big
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Review from Stephanie C.
Los Angeles, CA
What a classy little restaurant! The all-white dining room made for an elegant dining experience. But because of the warm weather, my boyfriend and I decided to see in the outside patio in the back.
We were quickly greeted by our server and didn't have to wait very long for water or the garlic bread. My boyfriend ordered the Half & Half (he chose the cheese ravioli and pesto cream sauce) while I ordered the Seafood Risotto. Being that I'm not a very big fan of cheese (yes, I know, you're probably wondering how anyone can NOT like cheese...well, I guess I'm one of the few!), I wasn't too into the cheesy risotto. However, my boyfriend loved it! He ended up having two meals that night - his dish + my order.
Overall, a great ambiance for a nice (but pricey) little date. Only downside was the small space made it somewhat crammed. -
Review from Yuki K.
San Diego, CA
1/5/2011
Had the chance to stop by for my boyfriend's birthday, since we visited the Alexander's for my birthday. You can try your hardest not be, but something about this place makes the air so romantic, if you're going to impress your date, you gotta take em here. No mojo, no problem.
I feel like you must order seafood when you're around Point Loma, and yeah we did get Seafood Cacciatore (all things seafood, light, best to enjoy natural flavor of the ingredients) and Mussels Fra Diavolo (spicy with mussel broth in the sauce..mm!!)
Oh and the birthday Tiramisu. Must I say? It made us make love. I'm telling you!
good luck. -
Review from Debbi D.
Los Angeles, CA
6/1/2011
Such fond memories of Old Venice! My bestie had her wedding rehearsal dinner here and have loved it ever since. Love the all-white, romantic, candle-lit vibe going on. They used to have DJ's spinning lounge-y music. Not sure if they still do that.
We sat at the bar and had a lovely time. Yummy blue cheese stuffed olive martinis, veggie pizza, bruschetta, ravioli to share. We will be back soon, wonderful neighborhood restaurant.
