Best Comfort Food Restaurants in Old Town

The ambiance here is so unique and beautiful! Airy, romantic, stylish and peaceful. And they let us bring our puppy. The food is simple but tasty and the value is one of the best in the city! We have been many times and will continue to come for brunch OR dinner! Today I loved the chai latte and white bean shakshuka. I always bring out of town guests to show it off.

We love books n records. Sat right next to the musicians and the music was fabulous and NOT too loud. The people at the bar had that one person whose voice is like daggers in your ears. lol. Literally nobody’s fault he cracked me up. The food is great and unusual and always sometime different there. The burger and Mac n cheese. Please KEEP them in the menu. Omg wow! Delish. The service is always top notch and not over the top. Like you have space. The decor is great and the wood really helps with acoustics.

We had out-of-state company, and where better to go for a memorable dinner than Cesarina. We were seated on the side outside patio- it's lovely with lots of plants. Although it was a cold evening, the patio was very comfortable with the patio heaters and they even had blankets available if people got a chill. Classy and perfect. My husband and I wanted to leave room for the fabulous desserts so shared a Caprese salad to start. OMG! Such creamy and fresh burrata on heirloom tomatoes and very high quality balsamic. Delicious! We all had pastas, a hard decision on which one to get always. While one of my favorites is always the gnocchi with funghi sauce, I opted for the seasonal butternut ravioli with butter and sage for the sauce. It was perfectly cooked, perfectly seasoned, and the Barbera that the server suggested was perfect for it too. Yum. We finished the meal by sharing the tiramisu made tableside. I can't imagine how they are able to make Lady Fingers that melt in your mouth - the fresh ones at the base of the tiramisu topped by the expresso, mound of delicious puffy pastry cream and lots of chocolate make a dessert to remember. Such a delicious dinner, and reliably so. I have never had a bad, or even average, meal here. A favorite from the time they opened, and they just keep getting better.

The meet and greet was promptly inviting and their service on point. I went for the cheese wheel and it definitely did not disappoint. I opted for the parmigiana wheel they also have the Grana Padano. The pasta was perfectly al dente, giving the perfect bite as you coat it with the luscious creamy sauce. I will definitely be returning upon my next San Diego visit.

Overall a good meal. Somewhat limited menu options for sandwiches/handhelds. Otherwise, I'd recommend this spot.