Operacaffe

The cuisine at this place is truly exceptional! We tried the truffle ravioli from the special menu and the Maine lobster ravioli, both of which were absolutely outstanding. The Opera pizza, our appetizer, was also delightful. However, it's worth noting that the atmosphere was more casual than expected, as mentioned by previous reviewers. While it didn't detract from the overall experience, it's advisable to dress for a more laid-back outing, despite the high quality of the food.

What a great place! We tried Operacaffe because it's across from the Balboa Theater but we'll come back for the cuisine. Everything was delicious! We started with a special bruschetta; it was great and things only got better. Salads were crispy and fresh. Lasagna is made with bechamel, not tomato sauce, so it's incredibly rich and the meat flavors dominate. We also tried the handmade spinach and cheese ravioli. Delicious! So good we forgot to take pictures! Looking forward to our next visit. Maybe we'll have time for dessert!

The food here is absolutely amazing! We had the truffle ravioli from the special menu and the maine lobster ravioli, and both were mind blowing to say the least. We also had the Opera pizza as an appetizer and that was great as well. However, the atmosphere is a lot more casual than anticipated according to previous reviewers. We did wish the environment matched the quality of the food. It doesn’t take away from the experience but just be wary of dressing for a more casual outing.

Great location if you’re attending a concert or show nearby Civic Center. We reserved a table for 9 and they were willing to accommodate an extra person last minute. The food is great and they have a Special Menu on top of the regular menu. All the pastas were delicious. Drinks and wine were good as well. My friend complained about the waitress not answering a question regarding mixed drinks when she asked what’s the difference between 2 drinks. Besides that I felt it was all good. Place is a little hot during summer. They only have one ceiling fan working. Place looked clean. One bathroom only but it was well stocked and clean.

Let me start by saying this is the BEST Italian food I've ever had. It was beyond my expectations and absolutely incredible. The staff was so attentive and kind. My daughter and I went to dinner while celebrating her birthday. The restaurant is bright and cozy with a exciting vibe. We started with homemade bread with olive oil & balsamic to dip it in... amazing. Our appetizer was arancini with another dipping sauce... incredible. My daughter got the ravioli aragosta and it was delicious!!! I got the asiago pepper gnocchi that was pure pillows of love!!! We finished with cannoli and that was out of this world!!! But the experience was beyond the food. We felt like family and were treated as such. The entire staff took great care of us, thank you !!! If we lived in SD we would be here every week. I will absolutely be back to try it again. If you are in the Glass Lamp district and want an amazing meal stop by!!! You will not be disappointed!!!

Came with my fiancée for dinner on a Sunday evening around 6pm. Since it was Sunday, street parking was free, and we lucked out and found a parking spot just a few blocks away. We had a reservation, but it wasn’t overly crowded so probably would have been okay without it. The hostess brought us to our seats and gave us an overview of the menu and the specials, which included ossobucco paired with a saffron risotto. As soon as she started describing it, I knew I had to order it. The server started us off with some complimentary bread (seemed like focaccia to me) paired with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, which was quite good. Next we had the fried burrata, which was excellent - perfectly crisp on the outside, melty and creamy on the inside, and paired with a delicious tomato sauce. The ossobucco was divine - melt in your mouth tender, rich, veal that was braised all day long - and it went perfectly with the saffron risotto. We were pretty stuffed after the meal, but took some limoncello cake to go. All the staff was very friendly, and we really enjoyed the experience. Would certainly recommend this if you’re looking for some more upscale (but not overly expensive) Italian fare in downtown San Diego!

Excellent service, quick and efficient. The space was surprisingly more casual than I expected. The food was delicious, though not ground breaking. The fried burrata was interesting, wish I had tried both burrata dishes for comparison. The lobster ravioli was tasty, though the ravioli themselves are not very plump. The creme brulee was a solid option for dessert.

Superb dinner on our last night in San Diego. Read previous reviews and decided to give it a go. Wasn't disappointed! Ravioli porcini was delicious! Homemade ravioli and you could certainly tell . My husband had Bucatini Mare e Monte which was also amazing. All well presented, flavoursome and well priced for the quality. Only gave 4* for the atmosphere as there was only one other couple eating at the same time as us but we were very early evening.