Gourmet Italia

Review summary

1. J

   Joe

   VIP

   San Diego

   6 reviews

   1.0

   6 reviews

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 1

   They want to beg me not to post anything and come back for a different experience..first I was called two days in advance to go over the rules and verify my party and no seating until all party and only two hours. Party was all there for our 7pm reservation and we did not get seated until 7:45 and while waiting attempted to get drinks at back bar with never getting one. After we ordered our food and asked for bread and water we were told there was no bread and no calamari would we like to order something else. The food was ok when it got to us around 8:30 pm for our 7pm reservation..management and ownership should be embarrassed to call themselves people in the hospitality business..I would never recommend this experience to anyone and especially not on Christmas Eve the only day off my wife has this week because we are here while she works 90 hours a week as a surgery resident
   

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2. N

   Nadine

   Orange County

   2 reviews

   1.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 1

   They made a big deal about having 2 hours only for dinner then they didn’t seat us for 45 min . My son and daughter tried to get a drink and a man put his hands on my son telling him to move to the other side of the bar- bartender was rude when asking h for their ID’s. Then the hostess on the next table next to us dropped the fork on the floor and placed it back on the table. The front door was packed with people. All and all this was greedy of them to have so many reservations in such a short amount of time. By no fault of our server she was running around and the experience was not relaxing at all. Food was great and loved the small atmosphere but thought they could cut back on the amount of people as everyone coming into the restaurant with reservations were complaining.
   

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3. c

   cassie

   San Diego

   3 reviews

   3.0

   3 reviews

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 5

   Well unfortunately it seemed like they were unprepared for Christmas Eve. We were the first seating of the evening at 4:15. We arrived a few minutes early however weren't sat until after 4:30. not necessarily a problem but everything was running late it took us 45 minutes to get a salad and another 45 minutes to receive our entrée and then after our two hour dinner service timeframe was up they offered us dessert which the we were rushes out. Overall our server was great. 
   

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4. K

   Kaylee

   VIP

   Detroit

   29 reviews

   5.0

   29 reviews

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Best dinner I have had in years. The food was amazing! Very cute restaurant that you would never expect in a shopping mall.
   

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5. W

   Wes

   San Diego

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Take a breath, slow down and enjoy your meal. If you want a quick bite. This is not the place. If you want time to sit and enjoy. This is the place.
   

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6. S

   Shaunielle

   San Diego

   5 reviews

   5.0

   5 reviews

   Dined 5 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   This was my second visit to Gourmet Italia, and I chose it for my birthday dinner with a family member—what a perfect choice! Both visits have left me absolutely speechless with the exceptional customer service. This restaurant is truly a masterclass in hospitality. On this visit, the owner himself greeted us and personally walked us to our table. Despite the restaurant being extremely busy, and our reservation time was delayed, he made up for it in the most gracious and welcoming way. His vibrant personality set the tone for the entire evening. Our server was incredibly knowledgeable about the menu and checked on us consistently without being intrusive. Every staff member who passed by our table interacted with us or checked on us, creating a warm, attentive atmosphere where nothing felt like “it’s not my table, so it’s not my concern.” The team worked seamlessly together, and their camaraderie was evident. The staff member who brought out our food was hilarious—he joked about how much Parmesan we wanted and kept stopping by to chat, making the evening even more enjoyable. The drinks here are amazing, and they don’t skimp! I only had one since I was driving, but next time, with a designated driver, I plan to indulge a little more. The Caesar salad and lobster ravioli I ordered were the same dishes I had on my first visit in June, and I have been craving that lobster ravioli ever since—it’s divine! The fresh, rich flavors are unforgettable. I could eat here every week and never tire of it. The menu offers a fresh variety, and their specials are always enticing, so I can’t wait to try other dishes next time. The family who owns this establishment also owns two other restaurants in the area, and I’m excited to check those out as well. To top off the evening, my server surprised me with a birthday cannoli. It was my first time tasting one, and though I’m not usually a dessert person, they were absolutely delicious. Gourmet Italia is the best!
   

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7. T

   Todd

   Los Angeles

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 6 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 3

   Food was excellent will be back for sure. The only problem I have is they have small tables in the sun faces the person that’s looking out besides that wonderful experience.
   

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8. s

   steve

   Orange County

   28 reviews

   5.0

   28 reviews

   Dined 6 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   It was great. We will definitely go back. We went for an early dinner and parking was easy and noise level was good. Highly recommend.
   

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9. A

   Anna

   Los Angeles

   1 review

   1.0

   1 review

   Dined 7 days ago

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 1

   We booked a lunch reservation at Gourmet Italia for our department holiday gathering and to celebrate two birthdays. Beforehand, I contacted the restaurant to confirm they could accommodate our group with enough space and privacy. Unfortunately, our experience fell far short of expectations. When we arrived, the restaurant was nearly empty, yet we were seated right at the front by the bar. The space was cramped, and the only other patrons were men seated at the bar who kept sitting uncomfortably close to us, eliminating any sense of privacy. This was especially frustrating given there was a whole other section of the restaurant, which we later saw, that would have been much better suited for our group. While the food was delicious, the service was disappointingly slow despite the restaurant being nearly empty. We had to wait for drink refills, request to order dessert, and experienced no acknowledgment of the two birthdays we were celebrating—even though they specifically asked during our reservation. Why bother asking if you’re not going to do anything special? To add to the frustration, when we asked for a box for leftovers, the busser seemed visibly annoyed. We spent over $300, tipped generously, and remained polite throughout, but the service made us feel like an inconvenience rather than valued guests. This restaurant may work well for evening dates or a quiet meal for older patrons, but it’s clearly not a suitable choice for group events. Unfortunately, we won’t be returning.
   

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10. R

    Robyn

    Orange County

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 18 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    This is the second time our birthday group has gathered at Gourmet Italia for lunch. The only noise created was from our group (celebratory). Our server, Jennifer was delightful. She was efficient, friendly, funny and helpful. The food was delicious!!! Will be back!
    

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