Best Authentic Restaurants in Shelter Island / San Diego Bay

Price

££
£££
££££

Cuisine

AmericanItalianSteakhouseSeafoodFrenchIndian

Regions

San Diego

Areas

Banker's HillBarrio LoganChula Vista / BonitaCoronadoDowntown / GaslampHarbor Island

Top Rated

CharmingFancyGood for business mealsGood for groupsGood for special occasionsGreat for fine wines

Dining Options

All dining options

Delivery only

Takeaway only

Seating options

BarCounterStandardHigh TopOutdoor

Award-winning

MICHELIN

Accessibility

Gender-neutral toiletWheelchair access

65 restaurants available nearby

A photo of Solare Ristorante Lounge restaurant

1. Solare Ristorante Lounge

4.7

Exceptional(2486)

££££Price: Moderate

• Italian • Point Loma

Booked 32 times today

Family-owned and operated, Randy Smerik and his team are dedicated to providing an amazing dining experience for you. Our authentic Italian cuisine features a focus on fresh and locally sourced ingredients ... including fresh pasta made each morning and organic produce, wild fish, and hormone free meat.

A photo of Garage Buona Forchetta restaurant

2. Garage Buona Forchetta

4.6

Exceptional(947)

££££Price: Moderate

• Italian • Coronado

Booked 44 times today

Authentic Neapolitan Pizzeria & Italian Ristorante in Coronado, San Diego, California.

A photo of Bali Hai Restaurant restaurant

3. Bali Hai Restaurant

4.7

Exceptional(6062)

££££Price: Expensive

• Polynesian • Shelter Island / San Diego Bay

Booked 50 times today

Exotic Pacific dining on an enchanted tiki island.The Bali Hai Restaurant has been a favorite in San Diego for over fifty years. Our spectacular views of the San Diego bay and the downtown skyline make us the perfect location for any special event. Along with our dining room upstairs, our premise possesses three different and versatile private rooms. The flexibility of multiple private facilities allows us to accommodate any type of party. We host weddings, class reunions, birthdays, anniversaries, concerts, memorials, festivals, fundraisers, business meetings, seminars, and corporate events.

4. Callie Restaurant

4.8

Exceptional(376)

££££Price: Very Expensive

• Mediterranean • Downtown / Gaslamp

Booked 69 times today

Callie represents Chef Travis Swikard's debut solo project after spending a decade working alongside the esteemed Chef Daniel Boulud in New York City. The restaurant’s name, "Callie," comes from the Greek word "kallos," meaning "the most beautiful," and embodies its blend of Mediterranean cuisine with local ingredients and terroir, from sea to land from San Diego, Swikard's hometown. In 2022, Callie was acclaimed as one of America's top new restaurants by Esquire and Robb Report, and received both a Bib Gourmand and a Plate from the Michelin Guide. Callie is a dedicated supporter of Feeding San Diego, having contributed over 1 million meals to those in need in San Diego since its launch. Swikard is set to open his second restaurant in La Jolla in 2025.

5. Cloak + Petal

4.7

Exceptional(1005)

££££Price: Expensive

• Sushi • Little Italy

Booked 47 times today

WELCOME TO CLOAK & PETAL!Where we invite you to journey into a place of both intimacy and companionshipOur concept is drawn from our name. The word “cloak” implies secrecy, inspiring our concept of a social sphere humming beneath the levels of ordinary life. “Petal” alludes to the Japanese tradition of “hanami,” when family and friends gather under blooming cherry blossoms to savor food, drinks and fellowship.Enter our space and travel underground to décor reminiscent of an abandoned Tokyo subway, a stratum of society all its own, an artist’s dream. Cross the threshold into a mystically transformed Japanese social dining lounge which appears to be an outdoor seating area, similar to a waiting platform. Sit beneath a trellis of draping vines and teardrop lights in the intimate space we’ve thoughtfully created, and feast on authentic Japanese sushi, appetizers, small plates and drinks with family and friends.Journey down to Cloak + Petal… and come unwind your soul.

A photo of Cori Pastificio Trattoria restaurant

6. Cori Pastificio Trattoria

4.8

Exceptional(665)

££££Price: Moderate

• Italian • North Park

Booked 37 times today

Acclaimed Sicilian Chef Accursio Lota serves up authentic cuisine in a cozy 60's-style Italian trattoria. Voted San Diego's Best Chef five years in a row, and Barilla’s World Pasta Champion, at Cori Trattoria Chef Lota serves up beautifully bold dishes like Agnolotti with Spring Peas and Beef Bone Marrow, and an unbelievably rich Vegan Parmigiana di Melanzane. The menu melds the flavors of Sicily and Italy with the best of fresh, locally-sourced Southern California ingredients, and is matched by a curated wine list and cocktail program that include indigenous, bio-dynamic varietals from all Italy. The current Spring menu features dishes like Agnolotti with Spring Peas, fava bean, and beef bone marrow, and Cacio e Pepe with sustainably-sourced Petrovich caviar.Enjoy full-service table seating, grab a place at the marble-topped bar, from which you can watch all the action of your meal being prepared in the open kitchen or just order your meal to enjoy at home with your family.

A photo of Brigantine at Portside Pier restaurant

7. Brigantine at Portside Pier

4.7

Exceptional(4351)

££££Price: Expensive

• Seafood • Downtown / Gaslamp

Booked 112 times today

Brigantine at Portside Pier is an authentic seafood restaurant in San Diego. It embodies the beach town lifestyle and a dedication to flavorful food. Reviews rave about the 'beautiful atmosphere', 'phenomenal food' and 'friendly staff'. The restaurant is known for its San Diego-style surf and turf, including award-winning fish tacos and marinated grilled swordfish. Its consistent high ratings for ambience, food, and service attest to its authenticity.

A photo of Bencotto Italian Kitchen restaurant

8. Bencotto Italian Kitchen

4.6

Exceptional(3350)

££££Price: Expensive

• Italian • Little Italy

Booked 59 times today

Bencotto Italian Kitchen serves up authentic Italian dishes with a modern twist. With 75 kinds of pasta recipes, it's no wonder customers rave about the 'authentic and delicious' food. The ambiance is described as having 'old-world charm and warmth', capturing the essence of Italy. The reviews consistently praise the food, service and ambiance, making it clear that Bencotto is a genuine Italian dining experience.

9. Barbusa

4.6

Exceptional(4381)

££££Price: Expensive

• Italian • Little Italy

Booked 79 times today

Barbusa is an authentic Italian restaurant in Little Italy, San Diego. It's praised for its vibrant atmosphere, excellent service, and delicious food, with reviewers stating 'Food is amazing…authentic, and delicious' and 'Amazing meal and service!! An authentic Sicilian feeling'. The restaurant's attention to detail in presentation and its handmade pastas, freshest seafood, and stone-fired oven pizza add to the authenticity. It's a favorite among locals and visitors alike.

10. RustiCucina

4.6

Exceptional(1201)

££££Price: Moderate

• Contemporary Italian • Hillcrest

Booked 23 times today

Welcome to Rusticucina, where locally sourced ingredients, seasonal dishes and a warm ambiance reign supreme. We are named to reflect the merging of two cultures; American and Sicilian, since our owners are straight out of a small town in Sicily. We invite neighborhood dwellers and visitors to experience our farm-to-neighborhood restaurant unlike any other. Aperitivo, a traditional Italian-style happy hour, leads the way—think sensational small bites, Aperol Spritzes, Negronis and Limoncello. We also offer a full bar and carefully curated craft cocktails, along with an impressive beer and wine list. Our food menu, boasts hearty, rustic cuisine, with pasta made in-house, from scratch, as well palate-pleasing entrees and a slate of pizzas and flat breads. Our tableside service offers a one-of-a-kind, dedicated experience, and their outdoor space is the perfect landing spot for dog lovers and sun worshipers. We even offer a pet menu for furry guests.

‘About the restaurant’ descriptions have been generated using an artificial intelligence model comprised of OpenTable proprietary data that has not been independently verified by OpenTable. The content is presented as-is, for informational purposes only.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

GJ
GregJVIP
San Diego •4 reviews
4.0
Dined 1 day ago
Imaginative food well prepared, great wines, excellent service, but some items rather pricey for the size, and very loud.
More info
Callie RestaurantPrice: Very Expensive• Mediterranean• Downtown / Gaslamp
•
4.8
J
Javier
San Diego •19 reviews
4.0
Dined 2 days ago
The food and the service were excellent as always. The view was magnificent. The only draw back was the noise level it sounded like we were in the stock market. Very hard to talk and to hear the other person in my party.
More info
Bali Hai RestaurantPrice: Expensive• Polynesian• Shelter Island / San Diego Bay
•
4.7
D
Daniel
San Diego •1 review
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
Really amazing place to eat, vibe, and chill with friends. The food is delicious, the aesthetic is 10/10, and the service was great.
More info
Cloak + PetalPrice: Expensive• Sushi• Little Italy
•
4.7
OT
OpenTable Diner
Phoenix / Arizona •1 review
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
The service and the staff were excellent! We were constantly being greeted and checked on, and the staff was very friendly. The ambiance was beautiful and the food was exceptional and not heavy in our stomachs. Loved it!
More info
Garage Buona ForchettaPrice: Moderate• Italian• Coronado
•
4.6
A
Alicia
Chicago / Illinois •4 reviews
5.0
Dined 6 days ago
The staff is truly lovely and professional. And food is absolutely delicious.
More info
Solare Ristorante LoungePrice: Moderate• Italian• Point Loma
•
4.7

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Authentic

Shelter Island / San Diego Bay

Old Town
Coronado
San Diego
Carlsbad
San Marcos
Sorrento Valley
Chula Vista / Bonita
Point Loma
Rincon
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