Allegro Restaurant and Bar

The atmosphere at Allegro in Little Italy is nice, and the decor sets a welcoming tone. The hostess was friendly, which was a good start. Unfortunately, the dining experience didn’t live up to expectations. We ordered the artichoke appetizer and the Parmesan wheel for two. The artichokes tasted like they came straight from a jar, simply garnished with capers—definitely not what we expected. The pasta had potential, but it tasted as if it had been sitting for hours, and the sauce was disappointingly bland. It needed seasoning and something to enhance the flavor. The best part was the Parmesan wheel scrapings, but there was barely a teaspoon on each plate. Service was another letdown. Our server never cleared our appetizer plates, never checked in on us, and seemed distracted when we asked for the check—even though the restaurant wasn’t busy. For the price, the food and service just didn’t match up. It’s a beautiful spot, but sadly, we left feeling underwhelmed.

We came here for a friends birthday. The host was friendly and sat us right away. The restaurant has a unique look with outdoor and indoor dining. The drinks are good the menu has just enough items to choose from mainly Italian and sea food.

I recently dined at this restaurant during Restaurant Week and had the pleasure of enjoying a three-course meal, which was exceptionally good. The portions were generous, making it easy to share appetizers between two people. The atmosphere of the venue was truly remarkable, enhancing the overall dining experience. I highly recommend this restaurant for a date night.

I cannot say enough how much I loved it here. The wine was a delicious Malbec. My daughter got the seafood lasagna, she doesn’t eat seafood and I told her she was crazy but she ate every bite. I got the Marsala tortellini and was in heaven. The meatball starter is amazing and I think we ended with a perfect piece of chocolate cake.

We came to San Diego for a golf weekend with 3 of my buddies from Texas, and to catch up with an old friend from high school who lives in SD. After some online research, I picked Allegro in Little Italy and made a reservation weeks in advance. I’d heard great things about the neighborhood vibe, and the restaurant definitely delivered in atmosphere and service. Allegro is a beautiful spot with amazing ambiance, and the service was outstanding—attentive and friendly. Our server was great at recommending dishes, and I really enjoyed their espresso martini. However, my other drink felt a bit pricey for what it was. When it came to the food, though, I was hoping for a bit more. The lobster ravioli, while good, didn’t quite stand out like I’d hoped. Overall, it was a solid dinner, but maybe I’d set my expectations a bit high. It’s definitely worth a visit for the vibe, service, and a drink or two, but for me, the food just missed that “wow” factor.

Took a good 18 mins to just put in any orders. Fine. But Wagyu at MP is total ripoff. $120?? Super chewy and fatty. Would not recommend. Surcharge because of a kid??? Fillet was worth the price.

Went 3 out of 7 days to eat! Oysters nicely cleaned, zucchini flowers with fig jam as good as Italy, had the seafood pasta awesome!

Service was abhorrent! It was during happy hour and they never provided that menu, had to look it up online. Had our child with us and never offered us a kids menu…. It exists….. took 30 mins before they even took our order ….. Only came here cause they offer happy hour on Saturday and have a good offering. Besides that food is delicious! Thanks to NICOLE who was a life saver and helped us get checked out and packed up, cause our assigned server was non existent! Will be back only if we can have Nicole as our server…. Give her a raise!

The ambiance was warm and inviting, with a classy yet comfortable feel--perfect for a special occasion. To start, we ordered the calamari, which was decent but had some chewy pieces. It was lightly breaded and had good seasoning, but the texture was a bit inconsistent. It wasn't bad, but not the highlight of the meal. The Caesar salad, on the other hand, was solid. You can never really go wrong with a classic Caesar, and this one had just the right balance of crisp romaine, creamy dressing, and fresh Parmesan. It was refreshing and a great way to start the meal. But the real star of the night? The Parmesan wheel pasta--WOW! This dish was absolutely incredible. The pasta was tossed tableside in a massive Parmesan wheel, and you could just see all that creamy, cheesy goodness coming together right in front of you. Every bite was rich, velvety, and packed with flavor. Honestly, it's probably one of the best Parmesan wheel pastas I've ever had. If you're a pasta lover, this is a must-try. Overall, Allegro delivered a great dining experience, especially with that show-stopping pasta. I'd definitely come back, and next time, I'm getting that Parmesan wheel pasta again!

We went for dinner during restaurant week which I think impacted our service and lead to the lower rating. Our initial encounter getting a table left a lot to be desired. The hostesses sat us in an outside section with no one else and didn't offer us spots in the other outside section or at the bar. There were several couples after us who also didn't have reservations and ended up being seated inside or in the other outside section which was ~1/2 full. The server was incredibly nice and thorough, however later another server was confused and also started taking our orders which lead to delays and confusion all around. The food was tasty, the pasta was cooked al dente and the portions were decent (even for restaurant week!). Overall, good food and good service. However, sitting in an empty section started the night off on the wrong foot.

Sad to lower this review after one month. Considering my initially positive review, I came back with a larger group for dinner. However, I'm embarrassed by my recommendation after our experience. I made a reservation a week prior yet upon arrival, the hostess kept saying that nothing was booked. A manager came out and they shared a look prior to leaving us unattended at the front. Eventually they found our reservation and we were seated accordingly. Notably the dinner menu was substantially smaller than the happy hour menu. After placing our order, we were given bread and butter. Thankfully, that was the only positive of the night. My plate had a hair on it and when I lifted up the plate, there was some brown residue on the bottom. I had to wave down our server and he gave me a new plate. The entire table was shaken from what they saw on my plate and consistently checked the tableware moving forward. The food took a while to arrive and when it did come out, my dish was not brought out. Once again, I had to wave down our server as we were not tended to our entire meal. Our glasses were consistently refilled by others but I was disappointed by the service by our main server. *Pork Belly Carbonara: worst carbonara I've ever had. The sauce was incredibly clumpy, flavorless and dry. The pork belly was mildly tender but sour. The fat should have been rendered better and there was no crispiness despite that being in the description. The pasta was overcooked and mushy. *Wagyu Tartare: similarly bland. The bread was slightly crispy but toasted unevenly. The meat was tender but it needed more salt, pepper, and acidity. It was missing an element of mustard or Worcestershire sauce to add some depth. The quail egg added some creaminess and tomatoes some sweetness. The contrast in textures was pleasant but that was the only positive. The entire dinner was disappointing and completely different from my first visit. I can not continue to recommend Allegro as it gave my party such an unpleasant experience.

I came here with my mom on my birthday and had the best time. I love all the lemons everywhere. Very cute place to eat. The service was great. We love artichoke and it was the number one reason why we chose to eat here. Highly recommend getting the Artichoke Alla Romana. It was my favorite. We also ordered the Fettuccine Mare E Monte and Salmone Al Vino Bianco. Everything was delicious. Oh I also forgot about the bread and butter. The butter was so good I asked what kind it was but nobody could tell me and just said regular butter lol. We weren't playing on getting a dessert but they gave me a lemon cake dessert. It was so so good. I'm a chocolate person but I would get the lemon cake again for sure. I will definitely be going back.

Made a reservation for galentines dinner in the lemon patio and had a great time! The lemon patio is so cute and there are heating lamps to help keep you warm. Our server Marco C and the other staff members were very attentive! Even the hostess (I didn't get her name but she had a lot of tattoos) was so sweet and offered to take pictures of our group for us. The food was fantastic! Since it was happy hour we got a lot of appetizers... we tried the calamari, truffle fries, garlic knots, oysters, brussel sprouts, and cheese wheel pasta! Everything was so good. The only one I wasn't a fan of was the garlic knots. For my entree I had the Bolognese and that was very tasty! For drinks I tried the aperol spritz and it was yummy! Made me feel like I was back in Italy. I would definitely recommend this restaurant and come back!

If you're looking for incredibly fresh, authentic Italian cuisine in San Diego, this is the place to go. Not only is the food delicious, but the interior is beautiful. I was able to sit in the lemon room which was perfect for a solo date. Only loses a star as they tried to move me to a different area than what I had reserved without explanation, despite me going at a very slow time.

Once they served us the garlic knots and I bit into the deep fried, native fry bread esque goodness, I knew we made the right decision. Allegro is some of the closest to authentic Italian food I've had outside of Italy. High marks for the carbonara and the Allegro lasagna (a lump crab lasagna with lobster sauce). Delish. Portions are large, service is top notch and the venue is clean, cozy and comfortable. Would 1000% go back.

A few of my friends were in town who recommended we go to Allegro. I'm skeptical about most restaurants in Little Italy but man did this place hit. The service was impeccable. The vibe was warm, welcoming, and even dog friendly with an outdoor patio area. Now, let's talk about the food. I highly recommend the truffle pasta, it's pricey ($75), but trust me, it's worth every penny. They mix it in a massive cheese wheel right at the table, and the flavor is next level. A truly indulgent experience. The carbonara was also delicious. I was tempted to order another one to take home. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by Allegro. Would I go again? Absolutely!

We came in on a busy Saturday night and got seated right away! The host was great and sat us under the lemons! The ambiance was nice, it's not too loud and there is some nice music playing in the back. As for the food you can definitely tell that it's FRESH Italian food! For someone that's picky, this might be the place for you! Food was awesome and our waiter was great!

I went with 3 other ladies. The restaurant was pretty, elegant and not too loud. Our waiter wasn't too friendly. I got the pasta that had short rib meat inside. It was great, the marsela sauce was creamy.

Tonight I had dinner at Allegro Restaurant, in the Little Italy section of San Diego. This place is a hidden gem. The food is outstanding and so is the service. As I walked by, I looked at the menu prominently positioned just outside the front door but I didn't see what I was looking for, fortunately the hostess asked me if I was looking for something in particular, and I said that I was indeed. I didn't notice the spaghetti carbonara at first, but she was kind enough to point it out for me, and she added, that she's heard from many people that it's the best in the area. Challenge accepted! I sat at the bar and the bartender immediately asked if he could make me a drink. He asked if I wanted to see the menu, but I told him I already knew what I wanted. The spaghetti carbonara was some of the best I've ever tasted. They don't skimp on the creamy sauce or the tender guanciale. The only thing I asked for was a little cracked pepper, and I was good to go! I also asked for a Cesar Salad. If there was anything to complain about, the salad and the spaghetti carbonara arrived at the same time. I should have asked for a few degrees of separation between the dishes. I thoroughly enjoyed dining at this wonderful eatery in the heart of Little Italy and I highly recommend it to everyone who enjoys great Italian cuisine made the right way by people who know what they're doing! E ora si mangia (And now we eat!)

If you're looking for an authentic Italian dining experience in San Diego, Allegro in Little Italy is a must-visit! I had their bolognese, and wow--absolutely incredible. The pasta was perfectly cooked, and the sauce was rich, flavorful, and comforting, like a homemade meal from an Italian nonna. It's clear they use fresh ingredients, and the love put into the dish really shines. The service was just as impressive. The staff was attentive without being overbearing, making sure our drinks were topped off and our plates were cleared quickly. They made us feel welcome from the moment we walked in, which added to the overall experience. The ambiance is a great mix of classy and cozy. It's family-friendly, but also a spot where you could enjoy a romantic dinner or a night out with friends. The location in Little Italy is perfect--surrounded by lively streets and great for a stroll after dinner. Allegro delivers on every front: fantastic food, warm service, and a charming atmosphere. I can't wait to come back and try more of their menu!

Food: 3 Service: 4 Ambiance: 4 Fun, lively spot in SD Little Italy! We celebrated a friend's birthday here and the place was packed on a Saturday evening. The manager/owner? was kind and gracious when we checked in. It was quite busy so did take a minute to be helped once we were seated but we didn't mind at all. Our waiter was friendly, efficient and helpful! We ordered a few cocktails (which were good) and I ordered a glass of cab (delicious!) The bread and butter that came out was sooo delicious... especially the butter. We ordered the calamari and grilled octopus. These were also very delicious and we were looking forward to our entrees. This is where we were a bit underwhelmed. We ordered the parmesan cheese wheel pasta, pork belly carbonara, tortellaccci de carne. The dishes came out looking lovely and even the presentation (with the cheese wheel) was fun, but we were missing flavor!... and protein. The pork belly carbonara had 3 pieces of pork belly, 50% of which were 100% fat. Overall, we did enjoy our time here and would return. We look forward to trying other items on the menu!

We came to San Diego for a golf weekend with 3 of my buddies from Texas, and to catch up with an old friend from high school who lives in SD. After some online research, I picked Allegro in Little Italy and made a reservation weeks in advance. I'd heard great things about the neighborhood vibe, and the restaurant definitely delivered in atmosphere and service. Allegro is a beautiful spot with amazing ambiance, and the service was outstanding--attentive and friendly. Our server was great at recommending dishes, and I really enjoyed their espresso martini. However, my other drink felt a bit pricey for what it was. When it came to the food, though, I was hoping for a bit more. The lobster ravioli, while good, didn't quite stand out like I'd hoped. Overall, it was a solid dinner, but maybe I'd set my expectations a bit high. It's definitely worth a visit for the vibe, service, and a drink or two, but for me, the food just missed that "wow" factor.

This place was amazing! Great ambiance and vibe. Our server was excellent. My boyfriend and I ordered a cocktail--he had the London Fog and I had the allegro sour. Both were excellent. We order the artichoke appetizer that was surprisingly simple yet delicious with robust flavor. Highly recommend. We ordered the Parmesan wheel for 2 for our entree--which blew our minds. The mushroom Parmesan cheese sauce was everything we hoped it would be. They mix up the homemade pasta in the Parmesan wheel at table side. We would recommend trying this as well. Both Diego and Benjamin took excellent care of us! We will definitely be back.

My husband and I dined at Allegro this past weekend and had a lovely time. Every dish we chose, with the help of our server was excellent. We started with some cocktails and then decided to have a bottle of wine with our dinner. Our server Nicole was very knowledgeable and friendly and really made the experience fun for us with her warm personality. The restaurant is a block away from the main plaza making it feel like it has its own unique energy with a really cute ambiance in the decor with ivy, lemons and neat wallpaper. We will definitely be back and are looking forward to trying more of the menu.

Terrible customer service. We had reservations and were asked to wait in line outside on a cold night. Found some chairs at the bar and were escorted from there to our table. A host with tattoos all over walks all the way up into my personal space to rudely demand to know if I just sat myself. My friend jumps in to give the name of whom seated us. Hostess doesn't apologize but runs off again.

We came here for dinner and this place is absolutely fantastic!!!! The interior and exterior are so beautifully decorated I felt like I had taken a trip to Sicily. The staff was wonderful and took great care of us. We got a beautiful table outside with a fire pit on the center that just made the evening so special. Every single food item was incredible. My favorite by far was the Linguine vongole. The limoncello cake was the best to complete the meal. I cannot wait to come back here the next time I'm in San Diego! IG: QueenOfAdventureNYC

These garlic knots are the best garlic knots I have ever had. They weren't really 'knobs', they were more like stubby garlic tot-like things. Still amazing. They were light and almost reminded me of the type of bread you get at Brazilian steakhouses because they pulled apart so easily. What made these garlic knots stand out was the fact that they weren't just brushed with some garlic butter and sent out to the table, no, they were beautifully and thoughtfully stacked in a bowl with garlic cloves (confit-style) spread in between them. It also came with a side of freshly made marinara sauce. The second I finished my portion, I wanted to get another order. They were so good and I miss them dearly. I will be back to this place and I will get my second order of garlic knots. Sometimes, I forget to take photos of the menu so I can reference back to the ingredients AAAAND I forgot to do that with this pasta... and I checked the menu again and it's all different now! So, I'll describe is as best as I can from my memory. I thought the noodles were cute and looked like little hats. It was fun to eat. There were cherry tomatoes, spinach, and sausage all in a light marinara-like sauce. It wasn't super heavy. It was a massive portion so I took some home.

The food was cold by the time it got to our table. Also we had a reservation that we were on time for even arrived 10-15 mins early to. We had requested a specific sitting that was not accommodated. They ended up just sitting us on the street which was loud and uncomfortable. Don't recommend coming after 6pm

We came in with a large party of 20 for a birthday and the food and service from start to finish was excellent! Really can't say enough about our waiter and the staff helping him. It was a memorable event!

Beautiful restaurant, I was highly surprised at how Great the food was! Everything we had was wonderful! The oysters were some of the best I've ever had! Pasta cooked perfectly!

Beautiful restaurant! Such a great ambiance for date night or just a nice dinner. Took my friend out for her birthday but also restaurant week. She ordered from the restaurant week menu which is $49 and it included an appetizer, entree and dessert. My friend got the shrimp cocktail which came with 3 large shrimps and the pesto fettuccine with garlic and shrimp. It was delicious! I didn't order from the restaurant week menu because I wanted to try the fettuccini mare e monti which was a seafood pasta in a creamy brandy sauce. Omg so good & I highly recommend getting that. I also got truffle fries which was super crispy in this light batter covered in parmesan cheese. Large cut fries but just the right amount of crispiness and potato. I also ordered bread and butter which I do recommend as well. The butter was super light and creamy, easy to spread and loaded with some type of herb. We ordered still water which for some reason took a while to get because our appetizers and entree came out before the water did. But the waitress was super attentive and friendly, she even brought out a special lemon cake for my friend for her birthday. Overall, great experience and I would love to come here again. I LOVED the lemon ceiling they have which I think they are notorious for.

The food was pretty great! There were two private events inside the restaurant yet we were able to get a table inside for two with no reservations. A table outside was also offered. The decor inside is pretty great. Good place to celebrate a birthday dinner or date. The server was super helpful and attentive. The food comes out right away so wait for your food until you finish your appetizers for sure!! ** The offered me more bread after which I thought was nice.

What to say about Allegro? The entire menu was absolutely delicious. There wasn't a wrong choice my party made be it the giant Parmesan wheel, beef tartare, garlic knots, truffle fries, different pastas, etc. Personally I went with the Lemon artichoke starter and the pepper Gnocchi pasta (as my entree) and all 6 of us at the table agreed...I made the best decision food wise that night. Like I said however, no dish here is a wrong answer. Everything on the table that night was fantastic. The service was exceptionally well for a Saturday night. The wait for a table of 6 was about an hour long but that was to be expected with a packed house and just a walk up (no reservation). The ambiance of the restaurant was lovely as well. The place was nicely lit but not too dark. The restaurant was packed but not super crowded. The wait staff was attentive but not overbearing. All in all, I'd definitely recommend eating here.

Great food and atmosphere! Very nice restaurant in Little Italy. There was public parking at the next block and very close. Dinner was great we got there in time for the happy hour menu. Kids had the fettuccine and also spaghetti and meatballs. They were all very satisfied! Service was a little slow but I think they were quite busy and the server was very courteous and apologetic about the wait. We will be coming back!

My husband and I made a reservation for 5:30pm on July 4th through open table. They were able to accommodate our request sitting in the lemon patio which is a covered and enclosed outside space adorned with fake but an aesthetically pleasing lemon grove. We asked if we could do the Cena Romantica dinner special which includes a choice of appetizer, the Parmesan wheel pasta for two, and dessert. It was definitely well worth the price of $65 in total. The meatball appetizer (polpette siciliane) was delicious and tender. The pasta wheel dish was a fun experience and it tasted great. The pasta being tossed around in the parmesan wheel gave a very strong infused parmesan flavor which paired nicely with the al dente fresh pasta. The tiramisu was also a nice creamy dessert. Their drinks were also good, I really enjoyed my mango margarita. My husband said the Perfect Stranger drink was strong but good. Our server was wonderful and very attentive to us. I unfortunately forgot his name but he made us feel right at home. I would gladly come back to try more dishes here since we had a great date night! It looked like there is only street parking available but it seemed hard to find a spot. We took an Uber from our downtown hotel which made everything much more convenient.

We had an amazing experience here. We visited for my friend's birthday and they accommodated our large group well by putting us around a beautiful fire pit. We were sat outside but the interior was beautiful and the exterior was nicely decorated. The food took awhile to come out but all the dishes were worth the wait. We ordered oysters and we all ordered pasta. The oysters tasted extremely fresh as if they were catched right then and there. They offered lemon and tobasco which we appreciated. The pasta was delicious and warm and was super filling. Overall, we had an amazing time and can't wait to come back the next time we visit San Diego.

Dinner was wonderful! The food and drinks were delicious. Sofia was a great, super sweet, helpful and gave wonderful recommendations!

Wow wow wow, I have never been more disappointed in a restaurant. The restaurant itself was beautiful! The bathroom was absolutely disgusting, only 1 stall locked, there was no toilet paper or toilet seat covers. For such a fine dining establishment it was definitely very shocking. The food was the best part about this restaurant. It was absolutely delicious. We started with the Burrata salad and it was fresh and flavorful. We also got the Parmesan wheel pasta and wow that was incredible! So so so flavorful and tasted fresh and incredible. Definitely a top meal I've ever had. The huge downside was the service. The service was the worst service I have ever experienced. Our waiter according to the receipt was Benjamin and we were absolutely invisible to him. My friend's drink arrived after our food and we had to let the bus boy know, then it finally came. I asked our server for bread which we never got. I also asked the waiter who gave us our food for bread and we still never received it. Our waiter Benjamin was no where to be found, he not once came over to us. We had to flag him down for everything. We honestly could have sat there for hours and never got the check if we didn't ask. Not only that but he never spoke, he never apologized for my friends drink arriving late, never said thank you or anything. It was also my birthday and we were never offered a desert menu. There was also a moment I asked our waiter if I could modify what I ordered and he said nothing and just walked away. My friend and I were so confused if he heard me and were worried our dinner was going to come out incorrect. We have no idea why our waiter didn't say one word to us but it was extremely uncomfortable. Luckily the food came out correct, besides not receiving the bread. The food was incredible but the service was so bad that we didn't feel welcome one bit. We saw other tables get bread, and had attentive service because they had a different waiter. Absolutely terrible experience.

First of when we looked at the reviews of this place and photos we thought it would be a good restaurant and I don't know if we just came in a bad day but this was not what we expected at all. We came in with reservations for a group of 6, the host showed us the line for reservations, 50 mins later we got seated so what's the point in making a reservation? Makes no sense to me. Service was horrible. We got our drinks probably 20-30 mins after we ordered it and he forgot my drink and charged an extra thinking I already got mine on the first round. We ordered the beef tartare which didn't have any flavor to it. The tuna tartare and the Caesar was good but too much dressing on the Caesar. Ok let's get to the main course. We ordered the Parmesan wheel which to me the pasta was not hot more of room temp, it also felt under and not al dente. Lobster lasagna and lobster ravioli that my friend ordered was not hot as well. All I can say the best part of this meal was the company and the ambiance inside other than that I wouldn't recommend and I wouldn't come back.

Amazing Service. From the host to the waitress. We loved the deco. Incredible food. Lobster Raviolis, sea bass and their calamari is a must. Prices in a higher end but totally worth it.

Allegro in Little Italy of San Diego offers more than just delightful dining experience. Its authentic Italian cuisine paired with accommodating staff has brought much delight to our Saturday evening. One of the standout dishes is the Parmesan wheel pasta, which is prepared tableside, adding a touch of theatrical flair to the meal. The rich, creamy sauce that coats the perfectly cooked pasta is both indulgent and satisfying. How much cheese is too much cheese though? Our server provided us with extra Parmesan cheese flakes to top off our pasta & was extremely kind throughout the process. Another highlight is the calamari, which is lightly breaded and fried excellently, offering a crisp exterior with tender, flavorful squid. The marinara dipping sauce that accompanies the calamari is was surprisingly a complementing factor to its taste. The ambiance of Allegro is warm and inviting, making it an ideal spot for both casual dinners and special occasions it feels like. The ceiling was decorated with prop vines and lemon all over. Finding parking will be the hardest task of the night, followed by deciding what to order from their amazing menu. Overall, Allegro is a must-visit for anyone looking to enjoy high-quality Italian food in a charming setting.

Really easy to make a reservation ahead of time but still within a day or two of going! We arrived early and were quickly seated and greeted. Our server was extremely attentive our entire experience. Great vibes throughout the night too! We each started out with limoncello spritz and split the ahi tuna bruschetta. We absolutely loved the ahi tuna bruschetta it was such a delightful combo! The limoncello spritz was too sweet for my friend and not sweet enough to me. Personally it had too much of a yeast aftertaste for me. After drinks and apps we ordered the pappardelle tartufo, aka the Parmesan wheel, and it was perfect. Pasta was perfectly al dente, and the truffle sauce was to die for. Mushrooms were fresh and made the entire combo! Watching the wheel come out and being served the fresh pasta was very fun as well. We ended our dinner with a deconstructed cannoli. If you love cannolis you will love this! Such a delicious treat to end our meal!

Food and atmosphere was great and our server Shey was the best. She gave the best recommendations. The gnocchi and tortellacci are worth the visit. Definitely recommend

The ambiance was amazing, but the service did not meet my expectations. I paid over $500 for four people, and the Brussels sprouts were overcooked and lacked flavor. I ordered an Old Fashioned, but what I received was essentially just a shot of bourbon with an ice cube. This was very disappointing, especially since I had heard so much about the restaurant. It's clear that the hype didn't match the reality. one star

NYE review 12/31/24. Staff did really well for a busy night. Pre fix Ossu bucco ravioli & Lobster ravioli we're main dishes.Appetizers Burratta & Shrimp cocktail. Ossu bucco filled and spot on. Lobster ravioli less sensational filled lighter but ok. Appetizers were good. Lemon cello shots delightful.Service was excellent under the circumstances of New Year's Eve. *** Note a mysterious 4% shows up at the end of your bill to help pay salaries? on top of tax and gratuity. Tip is automatically calculated on top of the tax & bill as well.No mention on the pre fix menu of this charge or on the website.

Our recent visit to Allegro in San Diego's Little Italy was a highlight of the trip! Nestled in the heart of the area, Allegro offers a cozy and welcoming atmosphere that draws you in from the moment you arrive. The ambiance perfectly blends modern charm with a classic Italian feel, making it ideal for a relaxed meal. I ordered the Gnocchi Cacio E Pepe, and it was fantastic--perfectly tender gnocchi with a rich, creamy sauce that had just the right amount of peppery kick. It's clear they take pride in their dishes, as everything tasted fresh and thoughtfully prepared. The limoncello shot I ordered was a refreshing way to round out the meal, adding a bright citrus note to finish. Service was attentive and friendly, keeping the experience seamless and enjoyable. For anyone visiting Little Italy, Allegro is a must-visit spot for exceptional Italian food, great service, and an inviting ambiance!

Went to Allegro for a bachelorette dinner, and would really recommend this place! We got here and were promptly seated which was sweet. Service was a little slow here, but the ambiance was absolutely fantastic! There were cute lemons on the top of the ceiling and the design here was gorgeous. For food we tried: * garlic knots - buttery delicious sauce with the garlic knot, this was amazing and could not stop eating this * truffle fries - these were good and crunchy and well made, but I felt this should have came with another sauce besides ketchup, something like a garlic aioli would've been nice * cacio e Pepe gnocchi - guys this was rich and delicious. The gnocchi was soft and pillowy with cheesy goodness and I couldn't stop eating! * limoncello cake - they gave us a slice for the bride and we all got to try some and this was absolutely delicious! If you go it's a must try to share with the table! Overall, really solid experience and would come back here!

This Italian place has a really nice aesthetic and definitely picture worth. The decor is really cute inside and out. it wasn't really busy but we did have an early dinner reservation. We came here for my daughter's birthday and the service was excellent.The staff was very friendly and went above and beyond to give us a great experience. We ordered several dishes, and I think the most fun dish we had was the pasta that they make in the Parmesan wheel! It says it feeds two but honestly, it's probably more like 3-4. We also ordered calamari, oysters, a few seafood pasta dishes, and bolognese. The food was good, but no dish we had really stood out. This place is great for big groups and is a cute spot in the heart of Little Italy.

Allegro definitely made up for my birthday dinner with this complimentary Chef's tasting. I have to say, service was top Tier (thanks Alex!), drinks were great, food came out hot and who would have thought artichoke in lemon caper sauce would be so good! I'll definitely be back for that again! My cousin doesn't eat anything raw but ahi tuna was top tier! They also don't miss with the ambiance; I felt like I was in Italy so no complaints there!

All around, I was genuinely unimpressed. By far one of the worst experiences I've had. Server did the best they could, but I could tell it was the management. Food was HORRIBLE pasta was overcooked and drinks were basic. I could make better at home. I expected more in little Italy. Hopefully they can change things and do better.

Very nice restaurant in Little Italy with unique interior. In Italian Allegro means cheerful, and indeed this restaurant radiates cheerfulness! The theme of the restaurant is a lemon tree with outdoor patio being covered with faux lemon branches with faux lemons! Very nicely done. I had few appetizers on the menu. Meatballs are good but on smaller side. Octopus is delicious but it comes with potatoes not scallions as menu says. Charcuterie board is always good. There is a great selection of wine and cocktails so you will always be happy... Service has always been consistent. I would say great place just some menu inconsistencies that might need to be fixed....

A very cute restaurant with lots of decorations and good places for pictures. Ordered the Spritzer flight and it was good but not great. Espresso martini however was delicious. Garlic puffs were so good and pasta tasted homemade. Service staff wasn't super friendly but still had a great experience overall.

We were kindly invited back for a Chef's Tasting to make up for our previous experience! I just had to mention to the host and waiter that we were here for the Chef's Tasting and they understood! We were so graciously taken care of by Pietro! Pietro was so kind, respectful, knowledgeable, and happy to serve us their food and made the experience 10 times better! Pietro served us one delicious dish after another and we were so appreciative as well as STUFFED! I thought we would just have a small meal but we were treated so well. First, we were given the house made bread, I believe it might've been focaccia, and their house made butter. They were both great! Next, we were served two delicious cocktails with pretty flowers floating on top. One of them had a vodka base with raspberry puree and the other was a like a watermelon margarita if I recall correctly! Both were refreshing and yummy! Next, we had two appetizers: the artichoke in a lemon sauce and braised short rib over cornmeal, which Pietro said was a traditional dish in Italy which might make it on the menu soon! Both dishes were great, the artichoke had a good range of flavors and the short rib was tender and delicious! We also enjoyed the cornmeal with it! For the entrees, we were so excited to get the mushroom pasta from the cheese wheel! This is the dish I actually wanted to try last time but wasn't able to. It was so delicious and met expectations! There were some parts of the wheel they would scrape from the edges and add to the pasta which were just amazing bites of flavor! It tasted like a delicious truffle mushroom pasta. We were so shocked after eating this pasta to be served half a Maine lobster! As well as jumbo shrimp, mini scallops, shrimp, on top of asparagus, carrots, and mashed potatoes. We were so full but were still able to enjoy this, of course having to take some of our entree home! After this, we finished with a light dessert: limoncello cake! I don't typically go for this but it was truly delicious! A great choice considering how full I was. We were so generously offered an espresso or other coffee drink but really could not enjoy anymore because we were so full. Aside from the food, the ambiance was very cute and aesthetic! Thank you to Allegro and Pietro for making this experience so great for us!

Genuinely confused how this place has a high rating. Service was okay, server was friendly however our food arrived within 10 minutes (but probably less) of ordering before our drinks even arrived-a clear sign that food is prepared in advance and just served up upon ordering. Ordered tartare, carbonara, Caesar salad and the octopus. Tartare was mid at best. Served with some janky crostinis and olives and a (quail?) egg. Caesar was awful. Imagine cutting the butt end of a romaine and tossing it in some bottled dressing -that's what it was. Shoulda sent it back but always too embarrassed to return food. The actual octopus was good, however it was served over breakfast potatoes and bell peppers. Strange. And the carbonara-still pretty convinced we were served some sort of Alfredo with a piece of pork belly on top. Ordered carbonara cause I have a hard time executing it at home and yea-it was disappointing. Also ordered two cocktails which were ok-nothing special. All that for $180 (including tip)-soo it was an expensive mistake. Worst meal we've had in a long time. Save your money.

The interior of this place was very interesting with all the lemons, but I really enjoyed it for some reason. My date and I were seated right near the door to the outside seating and it was not a great spot at all. It was loud and the servers kept stopping right next to us to talk about stuff. Very hard to hear each other and enjoy our date. For drinks, I got the Allegro Sour and the Limoncello Spritz. The limoncello was very sweet and I would've rather had it in non-spritz form. The allegro sour was very nice and tart and I would definitely order it again. Food time! My date and I started with the Grilled Octopus (beautifully cooked and melts in your mouth. loved that it came with potatoes and other stuff to enhance the flavor) and Carpaccio Di Ricciola (you can taste the freshness of the dish and there was a perfect amount of sauce on top). For dinner, I got the Gnocchi Cacio E Pepe (light sauce) and my date got the Fettuccine Pesto E Gamberi. My date was absolutely amazing and we ended up splitting the dishes because there was still way too much sauce with my gnocchi that I couldn't eat more than a few bits. While still delicious, I'm honestly scared to see how much sauce they normally put if this was light sauce. The pesto dish was definitely the better of the two! This was some of the best pesto I've had in a restaurant. I really hope they make it inhouse. I would definitely come back here again.

I visited during Restaurant Week and was excited to try the menu, which featured some appealing options. While the variety was impressive and the dishes looked well-prepared, my experience was unfortunately overshadowed by getting sick afterward. I can't pinpoint exactly what caused it, but it left a sour note on what could have been a great dining experience. The service was decent, and the ambiance was nice, but food safety is non-negotiable. Hopefully, this was a one-time issue, but I'd hesitate to return.

Beautiful atmosphere for Italian food in the Little Italy area of San Diego. Service is attentive, regularly checking on the table without being overbearing. Delicious Italian food - osso buco, one of my favorite dishes, is wonderful here; they also have traditional pasta dishes and other entrees such as fish and steak. Overall, great place to eat if you're in the mood for Italian in San Diego!