Baci Restaurant

We had a great experience at Baci. They accommodated our reservation for a large party in a short notice. Their service was amazing.We had plenty of attentive waiters, and we were well taken care of even with a group with kids. Their plates were amazing. Especially the filet mignon, it was perfectly seasoned and it will just melt in your mouth like butter. Ambiance was beautiful as well, our family dinner was a success thanks to Baci and Staff.

Wow, this place is so good! One of the best Italian Restaurants I've been to in a while. Great wine! Amazing food! The staff was very knowledgeable and fun! I had a chef special pork chop with truffle sauce and black truffles. So decadent, and tasty! My wife had the wild boar ravioli, which was also fantastic! We started off with mussels, barata cheese with prosciutto, and the octopus! Lastly, I had the creme brulee, and my wife had the cheese cake. All very very good. If you want authentic Italian cuisine with a down home feel. This is your spot. It's worth all the time.

Baci is hands down the best Italian restaurant in San Diego! Everything is crafted to offer an exceptional dining experience—from the warm and inviting ambiance to the outstanding service and remarkable food. The menu is simply a masterpiece. And the daily specials take it to another level. Each dish is beautifully presented, with perfect timing between courses to enjoy the flavors. The taste? Absolutely jaw-dropping. The grilled octopus, pasta with lamb ragu, Osso Buco, and finally, the crème brûlée were all outstanding and delicious. Baci is a must-visit for any Italian food lover—or anyone who appreciates great food, excellent service, and a cozy ambiance.

Fantastic food and service from this old-school Italian restaurant. Hidden away just north of downtown San Diego the restaurant is a gem in all categories of food, wine, and service. Dinner tonight was a special Linguine with lobster and class. It was fantastic.

We had an amazing dinner for my birthday at Baci! The service was remarkable, the food absolutely delicious, and the overall experience was just fabulous. We shared the salad that has fruit in it. I choose a surf and turf entree with delicious lobster, a lovely Pinot grigio, and the tiramisu for dessert. He had the swordfish. It was a Saturday night and there was no problem getting a great table. Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING was amazing! We will definitely be back!

As soon as we walked in the chef greeted us and gave us the specials. We ordered the food and it came very quick. The food was delicious ! Super authentic and fresh. The servers were super nice and the atmosphere is fantastic.

Exceptional service. Salmon was slightly undercooked but delicious. Pork was cooked perfectly. Great place for business or romantic dinner

Took my father here for his 53rd birthday, and it was a lovely experience. Upscale dining atmosphere, elegant, and sophisticated service. We ordered the grilled octopus (a bit chewy), scampi in lobster sauce, and the veal piccata. As well as some delicious espresso martinis. Always a good choice for a birthday, graduation, etc.

Lunch with neighbors. Lunch only serves Thursday and Friday and is the same menu as the dinner menu so be prepared for pricey food. The old school waiters treat you right here and keep the water glasses feed and treat you like family. I chose to share a Caesar salad with added anchovies and it was on point with lots of garlic and zing. I asked the waiter to recommend a pasta and he said the seafood pasta was a Sicilian dish and the owners are Sicilian so that's what I ordered. It had lots of mussels and clams and calamari and fish and I managed to eat half of it and saves the remainder for dinner. I brought some of their garlic bread home to sop up the rich tomato sauce. I don't want to miss a drop! Parking is tight and we parked a few blocks away but who doesn't need a walk after a rich meal. Glad this place is still open. Same old menu and same great service and Italian cuisine. Makes me feel like I'm eating at their home!

All I can say is I moved here from Boston over 30 years ago and this amazing Italian classic restaurant is far above anything I've eaten on the West Coast. The service, the family, and the prices,The amazing food, and desserts will absolutely take you back in time no matter where your from. Thank you Tony & Philip Thank you Phil Thank you Saul and all of your amazing staff. I'll be back back...!!! Wow amazing !!!

I've lived in San Diego since 1984 and had never been to Baci -- BIG mistake. Fortunately, I was able to rectify this mistake when a friend invited me to join him for dinner at Baci a few weeks ago. We sat in the booth to the left of the front door which was perfect for people watching. We enjoyed some Scotch to start, ordered some bread and calamari for apps, then our mains. I had freshly made pasta with lobster and shrimp (excellent) and I can't remember what my friend had, but he really enjoyed it. In the it's-a-small-world department, another friend of mine showed up with his family to celebrate his birthday -- he's usually a Mr. A's guy, but Baci was calling his name. They had a blast. Although I didn't go vegan this time (OK, so I'm an occasional pescatarian), I appreciate that Baci will make many of their dishes vegan, which means I can bring my wife next time. And there WILL be a next time -- and a next!

When people think of amazing Italian here, they usually think of Little Italy, but I think of this amazing hidden gem in Bay Park. The ambience is old school, quiet, and reserved. The menu is small and straightforward. To start, there's complimentary bread and it's always so fresh and garlicky. My fav appetizer is their beef carpaccio. The capers and arugula keep it light. As mains, the osso buco is hands down my fav. It's so tender and a giant portion. The rice or risotto (?) underneath is seasoned so well. Plus, there's even bone marrow. I haven't had any bad desserts from here and their dessert cocktails are so delicious. The service is always so attentive and it's the perfect date night spot or special family dinner place. There's valet and street parking available. Easily my fav italian spot in SD.

I had been wanting to try Baci for some time now, after hearing so many people say such wonderful things. Finally, I went there on a weeknight with my cousin to check it out. We arrived around 7:30, and there were several parties dining indoors. The atmosphere was that of a bit of an old school charm mixed with modern elegance. We opted for the outdoor area which was really lovely, and completely empty at that time. It was sparsely and tastefully decorated. Toward the back there was a large table in sort of its own separate area of the patio. Looked like a great place for a large family dinner or a work gathering. We sat down to browse the cocktail and wine menu. My cousin started with a Negroni. After much time contemplating the large wine list, we decided on one of Super Tuscans. It was a difficult decision as they have so many Italian wines. We were quickly brought a basket of the warm and delicious house garlic bread. Both the smell and taste were amazing. Service was impeccable throughout our dinner. Our waters and wines were refilled regularly. We were checked upon, but never rushed. Though we were the last diners in the restaurant, we didn't know until walking out, as we were served dessert, and given plenty of time to enjoy it while finishing our wine. As far as the food, it was all very fresh and delicious. We began with the prosciutto and melon. The chunks of melon were large and perfectly ripe. I had the shrimp scampi in lobster sauce. It was rich, but not too heavy, and the shrimp were large. I highly recommend it. My cousin chose the special which was a pasta with shellfish in a cream sauce that was also good, but had a very different flavor from the lobster sauce that I had ordered. We finished with pistachio and chocolate gelato. The gelato had lots of flavor and real pistachios. I very much enjoyed my meal at Baci and highly recommend this experience if you are looking for Italian food.

The back patio is completely covered and the small, well spaced tables provide an intimate dining experience! The wait staff is attentive and helpful with your drink and food selections. I had the pappardelle which was very good. They offer many seafood specials. We were here to celebrate a special occasion and they did not disappoint with excellent food and service. It looks like the back patio would be an excellent place for a small reception or private party. The bar there looks like a local favorite spot. Parking can be difficult with Luce and Bay Park Fish Company just around the corner. We managed to find a place about three blocks away, but Baci also offers valet parking for $7.

Everything!!! Top Notch....Atmosphere, service, quality, kindness, delicious food, fresh, such a lovely and if required a "romantic" place to be. A wonderful family story of dedication and care. You're welcomed in a tuxedo or board shorts. They welcome with love everyone. 5 stars

Fantastic food and service. A great Italian restaurant. Great ambience, nice selection of traditional Italian food as well as great specials to broaden the options. A great choice for a special occasion as well.

Delicious food, beautiful ambiance, and the service was top notch!! Very much looking forward to visiting again!

We've passed this restaurant countless times while living in the neighborhood and regrettably it's taken 5 years for us to try it. It has old school restaurants vibes with a little lounge to the right when you walk in and lots of wood paneling and white table clothes. The waiters are attentive and we left here feeling like stuffed piggies. The appetizers were to die for. The calamari was perfectly deep fried. The burrata had a cute presentation with prosciutto wrapped around to create a little tower. The carpaccio was lovely atop a bed of arugula. We would definitely order those dishes again. The ossobuco was delicious and came with a tiny fork for the bone marrow (I didn't even know they made tiny forks for bone marrow). The shrimp scampi was to die for! Even though we were stuffed to the gills we had to have dessert. The cheese cake was delicious and the tiramisu might have been the best we've ever had.

Muscardini Cellars and Baci wine pairing dinner was absolutely fabulous. Ashley Songer w/ Muscardini Cellars and her assistant showcased a wide selection of Muscardini Cellers treasured wines in whites and reds. Baci dinner selection was created selected the exact flavor combinations to be paired with each wine was an explosion of flavors that complemented the flavors of each Italian dish prepared by the chef. We are Muscardini Cellers club members and Baci's has been a family favorite restaurant. It was a fabulous dinner and pairing, "Compliments to the chef" I also want to give a great big shout out to Ashley Songer & her assistant and Phillip that made this dinner pairing happen. Thank you for your outstanding customer service. We truly enjoyed our dinner. We met some great club members and cheered to a fabulous evening of fine wine and fine Italian food.

I took my Executive Team here for lunch, and it was simply outstanding. The service was phenomenal, and the atmosphere was equally as great. They are only open for lunch a couple of times a month and I'm glad we went. Definitely on the expensive side, but you pay for what you get- we'll be back.

This place is a hidden gem in San Diego! Food is out of this world. Had the angel hair pasta with shrimp and it was perfectly cooked. Bread had just the right amount of crunch. Could have passed on the branzino special. But overall, great experience for a romantic date night. Will be coming back!

Delicious traditional family owned & operated Italian restaurant with fantastic service, full of charm and one of our absolute favorites for catching up with friends. Cozy boothes and tables, no noise, always great food. Favorites are Gluten Free pasta ala Vongole (they give me sooo many Manila clams) chicken limone, osso buco, ...

Old school service, you always feel special. Great cocktails, the Whaler is amazing! I wish they had a tomato based pasta, bolonaise or lasagna. Silverware is too cheap and small.

This place is awesome, i really liked it, went there with a group of friends trying to have a nice dinner and we were treated like VIP's the service is SUPERV. ADAM WAS OUR WAITER. the food was super good, every body tried something different and we all loved it. Drinks were perfect too, martinis, scotch, wine... Reasonably priced.

First time eating here since I moved away from San Diego nearly 6 years ago and glad to report this restaurant is as solid as ever. Started out with a basket of complimentary garlic bread along with a great Caesar Salad. I ordered the veal cutlet parmigiana which was excellent--prime cut of veal with a white color (unlike some other restaurants that serve a lesser quality of meat that is tough and brown). The dish was served with carrots and mashed potatoes. My friend ordered the branzino which was also very good. Washed the meal down with a couple of glasses of Super Tuscan. Baci remains one of the top Italian restaurants in all of San Diego year after year.

A friend took us here for our anniversary and WOW!!! We sat outside which was very beautiful and intimate. It wasn't quite outside but more like a covered outdoor area. Our waiter was friendly and knowledgeable and because of him we ended up trying the sea urchin. It was not for me but it was a great experience. I had the veal picatta - so soft and tangy - and tried not to leap over the table and eat my friend's chilean sea bass. Thankfully i did get a bite which was to die for. And it was HUGE! I'm sad i didn't get to try their desserts, but maybe next time. The lamb pappardelle has my name on it! PS: they had jewelry for sale by the bathrooms and i wanted it!!

We had to wait a few mins to be seated even though we had reservations but it was ok since the bartender made sure to get us drinks while we waited. The food was yummy and the wine was even yummier. Dessert was good too (pistachio gelato - not pictured). Nice place for a double date night.

There's no better Italian restaurant in San Diego. Service and food are premier. The quality of seafood paired with homemade pasta is fantastic. The cannolis!! Yum!!

BEST AMARETTO SOURS IN SAN DIEGO!! Seriously, I have tried for over a decade to get a good amaretto sour in San Diego and no place panned out until I found Baci. They have one bar tender that works regularly and he is superb. He also makes amazing margaritas and dirty martinis. As far as the food, it's wonderful old-school Italian food. My favorite dishes are actually not even on the menu. I am not a big meat eater so I usually order the eggplant parmigiana or the scampi in lobster sauce but substitute the shrimp for sautéed mushrooms and it's delicious. They have great salads and my husband likes their chicken piccata. They will do a pepperoni pizza for kids which is what my son loves or sometimes he gets the breaded flat chicken with a side of spaghetti and both these kids dishes are delicious. It's a locally owned place with the owners at the restaurant regularly which we all know makes for much better service. Service here has always been great!! This place is a staple for my little family.

It was our first time back in over a decade and we were happy the food and service was even better than we had remembered it to be! We will be coming back more regularly now.

What an amazing restaurant! From beginning to end our graduation celebration was a hit! The food was amazing, the service was outstanding, We will be celebrating more occasions ONL at BACi. Thank you Philipe for making sure our experience was amazing.

Delicious Italian food in a fine dining atmosphere. We stopped here after a day at Sea World based on the close proximity and great reviews, not realizing it was a more formal restaurant. Despite being under dressed the staff was polite and served us without judgement. Our waiter was great and helped us customize the menu for our kids. I ordered the chicken limone (listed on the menu posted on Yelp which is NOT the current menu for this restaurant) and it was the best I've ever had (please put it back on the menu!) Menu items are pricey ($30-$45) but quality is delicious. Pasta was fresh and tasted homemade. The Papperdalle Alfredo was soft and delicious, though a tad bland. I'd definitely come back for a date night with the hubs! Based on the menu and pricing it's not really a restaurant for kids.

Shame on me... I have been dining here for over a decade and I'm only now doing a review. Delicious is an under statement. Obsessed with the clams pasta dish. Super professional service. Great wine selection. Decadent desserts. Ambiance is amazing. I will caution people that this place is slammed every day. so be patient and understanding. Truly one of the best Italian restaurants in all of San Diego.

Great place for dinner! My new favorite restaurant! Everything about this restaurant is amazing! The staff is really good and service is the best! The food is over the top! Tip is to go early before the crowds. You can thank me later!

Disappointed! Love this restaurant but last night was not good. Four different entrees at our table and only one was good ! Chicken Parmesan was inedible. Veal chop Milanese was dry and tough. We have ordered both these dishes in the past and loved them. Hope this was just an off night.

Honestly, our close friends took a group of us (8) here several months ago. They have known the owner Tony and his family for many years. We were served by one of the owner's sons, Phillip. They had our table reserved in the back ready for us, but first, we had a cocktail at their bar area while we waited for all members of our party to arrive. The only thing my wife and I were disappointed with was this was our first time dining at Baci's and we would've loved to have found this awesome Italian restaurant much much sooner. Every appetizer, main entree, and dessert was so good, we'll have to return again to try other offerings from their menu. The service which Phillip and his assistant servers/busers provided was top notch! We loved the entire dining room we were seated in, and their bar area was so inviting and the cocktails poured for us were absolutely delicious. I love chicken piccata and that's what I ordered, and Baci's serves the best I've ever had here in town! Browse some of the other photos for dishes I snapped photos of from our dinner here. Baci has earned it's way onto our rotating list of fine Italian restaurants to visit. I would've given them a SIX star Yelp review if it were possible.

Came here with my whole family and a newborn. They couldn't have been more warm and welcoming. Amazing service and great food. We got a little bit of everything from veal piccata to chicken Parm to marinated salmon and even gave the 4 year old special pasta to keep him satisfied. They helped us celebrate our parents 40th anniversary and we will definitely be back! Thanks Baci for the great evening!

Service and ambience were both very nice. 5/5. My drink weak (old fashion), my wife's drink spring ( manhattan). The food, just ok. The Burrata and Cesar salad both good. Duck ravioli- mild flavor- tough pasta, 34$ for 5 or 6 pillows. Branzino off the specials menu mild (little) flavor, small side of potatoes, very average but the kicker, $59!!!!! Ouch! I guess I should've asked for the price but this soured me-- I'll stick to the regular menu next time and hope the food AND value are better.

So came here with a party of 9 for a graduation dinner. Had a private room in the back and the ambiance was perfect! Quaint decor, low light. Service was decent. I had the gnocchi with cream sauce and it was PERFECT! Tasted someone else's pasta with vodka sauce and it was very good too. Ordered a espresso martini at the bar before we were seated and it was very good as well. I didn't taste any of the seafood items at our table, but everyone said their meal was great. A little pricey ($30 for Gnocchi?) but it was a special occasion.

i had dinner there on 12/21/23. All meals were very good and served piping hot. Not many appetizer choices. Not a huge menu, but plenty of options.

Anniversary dinner at Baci's was awesome. Tony's son waited on us and was very attentive even though he was working lots of tables. I had the best swordfish dish that I have had in 30 years. Thick, juicy and super flavorful. My wife had Chilean sea bass that was also done perfectly. We weren't rushed, we enjoyed our appetizers before dinner and the Baci dessert was delightful.

I've known Tony for many decades when he was a waiter at the Bull & Bear and knew his brother when I commercial fished for tuna in the SD Tuna Fleet way back in 1973-1977! I plan on bringing my wife and my 96 year old neighbor & his daughter for dinner this next Saturday! Tony if you see this please reach out to me at tony@charlesanthonypickett.com

Excellent food and great service!!!! Always top of the line!!! Great place for any special ocasion

Been coming to this place for years, when they first opened. They have not missed one single time. Good has always been superb. Go Baci!

I returned to SD after a move to the Northern Mountains and treated some close friends to dinner at Baci. The food was as excellent as I remembered, the servers were knowledgeable, helpful and pleasant, and the prices were what I expected. What else can you ask for?

I got dressed up and took myself out to dinner. I was excited for the great reviews I much more excited for delicious Italian food! The restaurant was in an inconspicuous spot, away from the usual, busy areas. I really liked that it was a bit remote! it felt exclusive haha. The inside of the restaurant was so pretty. The lighting was dim, warm and romantic. I was guided to my seat and my server came soon after. I was shown the menu and given the specials! I had the live urchin as an appetizer. Usually I have had it in sushi restaurants and the urchin is clean and neatly piled on to rice. This urchin was served whole, with all the juices and slimy bits intact. I was given a spoon and scraped it off the walls myself. I tell you, it was delicious!! And I liked scraping the urchin off myself. The briny juice was perfect. I loved the urchin that way and it was much more cheap than buying it at any Japanese restaurant I had been to. I ordered the 4 cheese gnocchi. It was the softest and most pillowy gnocchi I had ever had. The cheesy sauce was delicious. I also had the veal piccata and that was delicious too. I loved the zestyness of the sauce and capers. The veal was tender and tasty. I had never had veal that was not breaded before! The veggies that came along with it were tender with a nice al dente texture. I would love to return!

Yes, I do recommend Baci; the food there is impeccable, and the servers are super lovely; they bring your order out in no time at all. The décor is beautiful, and the owners will take you to your seat and be super friendly and talk to you. The food there is fabulous Italian. I have a table there every week, and even if you don't go frequently, you will feel at home. - Massimo G.

Great food, service and drink selection. Cool little bar up front and really nice wine selection too. Will definitely be coming back soon.

Walked into a very clean and friendly environment. After we were sat geovani took very good care of us with recommendations and specials. The food was brought out quickly and tasted amazing. Our party tried multiple dishes such as the gnocchi, Pappardelle Al Sugo D'Agnello, chicken parmigiana and the halibut special. The chicken was moist, noodles cooked perfectly and the fish was amazing! Overall great experience and food!

Superlative! It was our pleasure to join some dear friends at their favorite Italian restaurant, Baci's. Although the acoustics could be a bit better, I think I'll brave the noise to revisit their caesar salad (the best I've ever had) and their salmon piccata. My husband's osso bucca was also unparalleled -- and he's ordered it everywhere it appears on the menu! We live in Encinitas, but, believe me, I can't wait to dine at Baci's again. It was some of the best food I've ever had. Period.

The food at here was exceptional! The service was top-notch, attentive without being intrusive. The cozy atmosphere made for a memorable dining experience. Can't wait to go back! Ask for Phil

The food was absolutely wonderful. The service was very attentive, but not in your face. Would highly recommend for a special occasion.

Went here on a weekday night. The wait for seating did surprise me, as we waited for 15 minutes before the host came to greet us. A long line of people did start to form but the bartender shortly after checked in with the host. Great atmosphere! Food was amazing! Service 100/100! Gnocchi Quattro Formaggi is a definite MUST TRY! Dessert and everything was fantastic, will be back!

Came here for my husband's birthday dinner. He commented that the restaurant address was the same # as his birth year. Lol. I did mention that it was a birthday celebration...but I guess they don't do anything special for celebrating an occasion... Just a comment :) Here's the dishes we had and the comments of each dish. Mussels were so fresh and delicious that I used the bread to dip in the sauce to eat; Caesars salad was too heavy on the dressing and Parmesan cheese, otherwise the taste was ok; shrimp scampi noodles was superbly delicious; Osso Buco veal shank was had tender meat but I didn't like the tomatoe'ish sauce that came with...and I was surprised to see my bill later that this lamb shank cost $69 (too pricey for my wallet; and the waiter didn't tell us ahead of time because it was not in the menu); lastly, the pistachio Gelato was a nice choice to complete the dinner. Overall I would come back for other dishes but be more deligent in asking for the price of a dish if it is not in the menu.

wonderful meal. Highly recommend by a kid who grew up in a very Italian family. Food and wine was on point.

Very classic old school Italian place. I highly recommend to come here! The bread at the start was dangerously good. I ate so much of it! Every dish we ordered was delicious! The service was top notch as well!

Excellent food, service, and ambiance! First time going last week. Busy inside but not uncomfortablely busy. Waiter was attentive and professional. Had the mussels, swordfish, and a pasta. All 3 were extremely tasty. Will definitely go back. Reminds me of family owned Italian restaurants back east. Really happy they are so close by. No pics bc we ate everything before thinking!