LAVO Italian Restaurant

LOVEEEE this place!!! Best Italian food. I came here for my birthday dinner and the whole experience was great. The dinner, the dessert, and the drinks. I would go once at least once a week if I could. It is on 5th Ave so parking is a little annoying, but the food is worth the struggle. I feel the aesthetic of the restaurant fits UTC more than downtown. They also have a location in Vegas! It is best to make a reservation, otherwise it may be booked for the night and you’ll have to be seated at the bar.

Dined here on a Saturday night with friends. The ambiance is nice, and the noise level is loud. It's hard to have a conversation with people across the table. Service was good. I can't remember his name, but he checked up on us and made sure we were good. Food: 8 oz Filet with mushrooms My friends had the salmon, Reginette Seafood Alfredo, Rigatoni Alla Nona, Parpadelle Bolognese, Tiramisu, and Cannoli. Everyone enjoyed their dish, but for me, the steak was ok. I should've ordered something else. It was tender, though. Overall, I'd return when I visit SD again.

What an amazing meal!! Our server Stephen was witty, quick, and thorough. The bartender Ricky made some of the best drinks we’ve had with dinner in a while. Don’t sleep on the GIANT meatball! The only thing we didn’t love was the garlic bread. Wasn’t bad, just wasn’t amazing like the rest of why we ate. The pasta dishes are to die for.

What a good time!! We had reservations for two and ended up getting a half-circle booth for 5-6 just for us, so that was super cozy and nice! The atmosphere was dimly lit with plant life everywhere, very clean and elegant feeling without being too fancy. We started with some prosecco and the LAVO-tini which is the most delicious take on a lychee martini I've ever had. It came with raspberry caviar??? Who even knows what that is but they were little cold juice-filled balls that added a new dimension to the sipping experience. Our apps were baked clams and mozzarella sticks, both really awesome and served piping hot which we appreciate. Entres were the crusted salmon dish and the Bolognese - the salmon was so light and refreshing with zoodles underneath in a citrus sauce, the Bolognese was rich and delicious but definitely could've used just a touch more meat in the sauce. Took the 20 layer cake to-go and ended up eating a couple bites in the car on the way home because it just looked irresistible - which proved to be 100% true. Seriously cannot go here again without an order of the 20 layer cake. Overall really satisfied with the meal and the service was awesome too! Efficient staff that was polite and good at their jobs. I will say we've gotten more delicious Italian food in San Diego for slightly lower prices, but all things considered we loved our dinner here. Definitely will recommend to friends & family!

Brunch at LAVO was scrumptious. From the belini to the breakfast pizza, the truffle benedict and waffle to the coffee, LAVO was all things wonderful and more. The service was exceptional, all dishes were superb. I could find myself there next visit to San Diego any weekend.

Food here was amazing but service was even better! Came for brunch with a friend, sat at the bar (because always prefer being closer to the action if possible). I wanna specifically shout out Will behind the bar. This mans offered (and made) my friend fresh rosemary salt because he heard her mention in passing that the truffle fries would be even better with that addition. Just whips out a lil food processor and makes fresh herbed salt- totally of his own volition! As someone who spent many years serving tables and tending bar, I was so impressed by this young man’s initiative and obvious love for the craft. Highly highly impressed. Will also makes a bangin espresso martini. He described how he made it (tequila + some liqueur to take the edge off and give it a bit of sweetness, plus real espresso) and I gotta say I was VERY skeptical that tequila would ever make a good espresso martini. Hoo boy if I was wearing a hat I would’ve had to eat it- I was wrong and it was delicious. So good I had two in addition to the bottomless mimosa, lol. Not tons of places especially in this district do bottomless mimosa so if you’re like me and my friend and can put away some champagne, it’s a good deal. Will also made sure to dial in the amount of juice in our mimosas as well- standard amount of juice is like 2oz I wanna say? Which in my world is about 1.5 ounces too many- so he mixed them the way we liked which was great. The seafood pasta was awesome and one of the dishes with freshly made pasta. Definitely get it with the spicy red pepper sauce on the side and mix it in- that really elevated that dish to a 10/10 for me. Super impressed by the food but especially the service at this spot. Very very impressed

LAVO took me by surprise. The quality of the food and service was remarkable. We shared several appetizers and entrees. The arancini were delicious -crispy on the outside and melt-in-your-mouth cheesy on the inside. The calamari were great when they were hot. Eat them fast. We also had a simple salad and the dressing and the lettuce itself were really good. As an entree, I had to Branzino and a side of asparagus. The fish was slightly overcooked but still tasty. The asparagus was delightful. I will definitely go back!

I wouldn’t return. The food wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t particularly good either. Lots of competing flavors that didn’t seem to complement each other, and the garlic bread was very toasted and crispy, and very oily. The server was good though, kept our drinks filled constantly, and was attentive.

This was the meal I was most looking forward to during my visit to San Diego and LAVO did not disappoint! Pappardelle bolognese is one of my favorite foods and LAVO did it justice. The sauce was creamy, meaty, and robust and the noodles were perfectly cooked. I also ordered the infamous 20 layer chocolate peanut butter cake and it was so good! Can't go wrong with chocolate and peanut butter, and it's big enough to share with others or save for dessert for another meal. I wish I could enjoy it all over again, but this is definitely a go-to meal. If you're on the fence about dining here, just go for it. The experience will be amazing.

We did San Diego Restaurant Week at Lavo. Experience was overall good. Our server was very nice and knowledgeable. I liked the ambiance too. Food review: Caesar salad, tuna tartare, and arancini were the appetizers and all pretty good - would give 9/10, 8/10 and 7.5/10 on them respectively. One note would be for the arancini - the "tomato fondue" was not that great and it was oddly slightly spicy. Main courses - we got the strip steak and penne vodka. The strip steak was a 10/10 and def recommend - it was perfectly cooked and seasoned so well (get a side other than fries though). Penne alla vodka was OK for me - 5/10. Was not a fan of the noodles (something about the texture/cook on them that didn't hit well) and my dish was cold on the outer part of the dish (probably from waiting for the steaks to cook?). Sauce was not super flavorful either. Definitely not worth $29 IMO. Dessert - we had nutella budino, gelato and Oreo zeppole. Budino was pretty ok - give a 6/10. Not as silky as I would expect a budino to be and whipped cream on top looked pretty sad (don't know if that dessert was sitting around waiting to be given to us or something. Gelato is gelato. We got the salted caramel and that was an 8/10. Oreo zeppole was 10/10 for flavor but 0/10 for the menu description not being accurate. The description was "double stuffed, malted vanilla milkshake" but when we got the dessert it was 3 deep fried Oreos with a side of vanilla bean ice cream. This was our group's favorite dessert and had the description been correct we definitely would have all ordered this one. Overall, the with SDRW this was a good deal but I think the appetizers and penne pasta are priced a little too high for their quality. Would have been pretty upset to receive the pasta I did if I paid full price

The second I walked into this place, I had a feeling I wasn't going to be a fan. The decor was kinda weird with the pictures on the walls compared to the nicer tables and the uncomfortable chairs. It was also way too loud. I could barely hear my boyfriend sitting next to me, let alone anyone else at the table or the server. For drinks, I got their Melograno E Pera with no agave. It was still sweet and I couldn't taste the pomegranate. My boyfriend got an Old Fashioned and I thought that was much better than mine. The bread they brought to start was good, but nothing special. I liked that it came with some marinara sauce to dip. For appetizers, our group shared the Three Cheese Arancini (absolutely delicious! Very flavorful and I loved the texture), Charred Octopus (cooked nicely, but flavor was bland), Tuna Tartare (way too much lime as that was all I could taste, but I really liked the crackers it came with) and The Meatball (absolutely disgusting! This is not worth it whatsoever and just tastes like cheap frozen meat). Entrées! I ended up ordering the Grilled Branzino, which was absolutely amazing! This was the favorite dish by almost everyone at the table. Cooked beautifully and packed with delicious flavor in every bite. I almost didn't want to share! My boyfriend got the Truffle Ricotta Cavatelli and not only did it look horrible and grey, but it also tasted just as bad. Absolutely horrendous. I also got to try the Reginette Seafood Alfredo (pretty good, but heavy with the sauce) and the Pappardelle Bolognese (loved the veal in this and would recommend). Overall, this place is not what I expected considering the reviews. They present like they're this fancy place, but then have tacky pictures on the wall. I would only order 1 of 4 appetizers and 2 of 4 entrées again, not that I would come back here.

I hate leaving bad reviews but this was quite the experience from start to finish. We made reservations to celebrate our friend's birthday. We were a group of 6 and we arrived when there were multiple free tables. Weirdly enough, they sat us in one of those booths with 2 extra seats to the side. We look over and see that the same sized table was being used for a group of 2. From there it just went downhill. When our bread finished, our waiter mentioned that he'll bring back another one at least 3x. We hadn't even brought it up initially but spoiler alert, no bread came the entirety of the dinner. Another waiter came by and wordlessly took away the plates and utensils when we first finished the bread. The food came in later and there were still no utensils. We had to flag down one of the hosts to grab them. We tried the food and the temp was lukewarm at best. Also a bit too salty. It wasn't till halfway through the dish that our waiter came back to offer grated cheese. We had the meatball, seafood alfredo, spaghetti, and bolognese. Honestly...even past the service...Olive Garden would have been better. The restaurant was getting busier and there didn't seem to be enough wait staff so we would have been more understanding except for the fact that when we would look over, there was another table of 6 being constantly attended to more than us. The only times I actually realIy saw our waiter was when he was at that table. And yes, they actually seated them at a table with 6 seats instead of cramming them in like we had to. Anyways, the fastest point of service was when we asked for the check. No water was refilled. They mentioned there would be a special surprise for our friend's birthday but nothing came. Honestly that was a blessing cause it meant we could leave earlier. Just another interesting note but we were probably the only table that was a different shade than the others so idk, you do the math. TLDR: just go to a different Italian restaurant. Nothing was groundbreaking. Wish we went to Olive Garden instead.

Came here accidentally as I was walking by! Decided at the spur of the moment to grab dinner and a glass of wine!!! Ended up having a bottle of wine and a good amount of food! Nice interior, good location and pretty good food! I had a burger with pancetta ham which was great, side of salad along with side of Brussels sprouts with bacon!! Service was all right, not your typical as I sat at the high top next to the bar! When I was paying the bill they said my credit card bounced, and asked me for a different method of payment. I told him they did something wrong and should re-run it as I know I have money available. The bartender wasn't happy but it worked. Not sure if it was funny business or accident but still they should be careful...

Meh. My work colleagues and I are in town for a scientific conference and we were looking for a dinner spot and my coworker picked this "Italian" restaurant. It was on the main drag in the gaslight district so I knew it would be flashier on the inside then many other better restaurants we have enjoyed in town and as expected this one was more about the substance and bar and less about the food. We ordered the fried calamari and sadly it arrived cold. The long pizza was hot and fresh however and they arrived together so I'm guessing the pizza was delayed and they let the fried squid plate go cold. I hate that. Cold fried food shouldn't be served to customers. I shouldn't have to ask to send it back to disrupt our meal. If the dish dies while waiting refire a new one. Simple as that. Restaurant 101. I had the "spicy" seafood pasta and it really wasn't great. The shrimp were tiny and overcooked and the teeny tiny little clams had a metallic taste - not sure how fresh they were. It was uninspired but it looked nice on the plate. There is a theme here. Looks not taste. My colleague had the rib eye and seemed to enjoy it. Another colleague had the margarita pizza and he seemed to enjoy it but noted how oily it was. Both pizzas we had at the table were dripping with oil. An actual puddle of grease formed on both plates where the long style pizza was served. Perhaps they over drizzle it with oil ? Not clear why ? Perhaps for the photo op ? Certainly not to enhance the flavor. The plate of Brussel sprouts had not even been cooked all the way through and as a result were hard and chewy. We left that plate virtually untouched. The waiter didn't notice and no one cared that my pasta plate remained half eaten and the Brussel sprouts virtually untouched. We dropped about $220 for the three of us just for the food. One steak, two small pizzas, a bowl of Brussel sprouts and cold fried calamari. Unimpressed and really annoyingly loud and noisy in a grating type of way - so if the plan is to sit and have a nice meal and actually talk to one another this is not the place to do that. Disappointed. I've had much better meals this week in town at much lower cost and where I could actually hear other speaking. Meh. Hard pass.

We were walking around downtown San Diego and just left prohibition (separate review coming soon!). My friend had a taste for italian food, and we found LAVO literally diagonal across the street from the bar. It was a Friday night, and the restaurant was not very busy but had enough patrons spread out. The ambiance is pretty, whimsical even and there are servers walking around constantly trying to assist. We ordered two different pastas, I forgot the name of each other but they were delicious. I ordered the spaghetti with meatballs, and it was a nice bite. The waitress stated that the restaurant is known for its meatballs and they were good. The other pasta dish with the flat noodle was savory, I think a certain type of meat was in that as well. We ate, sipped nicely paired wine, and enjoyed the experience.

Lavo at Gaslamp Quarter San Diego on was amazing. We went on a Thursday night in January so the area was pretty empty but Lavo was full and had a great vibe. Service was excellent! We usually go to Beverly Hills Lavo but this Lavo is also beautiful with an entirely different vibe. We had: Pappardelle Bolognese, an order of plain French fries, and wine. All were perfect and delicious.

This is a great restaurant. Period! I visited this restaurant with a number of my co-workers for dinner. Off the bat I noticed that the ambiance included great decor, comfortable lighting and a casual atmosphere. I do wish that the tables allowed for more space in between seated guests. Let's talk about the adult beverages. Lavo offers a number of drinks (see pics). I ordered the Lavo-Lini. The drink includes raspberry caviar. It was a fancy and flavorful drink. I tried it out based on the recommendation from our server. Kyle, our server, reminded me of Ginuwine/Duke of Hastings (Bridgerton). He was friendly and offered menu recommendations as well as descriptions throughout our time at Lavo. Shout out to him! The food was in one word spectacular. We shared multiple appetizers. I especially enjoyed my entree and dessert. I ordered the Reignette Seafood Alfredo based on Kyle's recommendation. It was delicious. The pasta was perfectly cooked and the seafood was tender. The true highlight was my dessert order-the cannolis. These were quite possibly the best cannolis that I have ever had. No cap! A friend from work and I both loved these cannolis. In hindsight, I should've ordered some to go. The cannolis are a must order when you visit Lavo.

I rarely hang out in the gaslamp district now that I live here, so was surprised to walk upon Lavo and their gorgeous interior, the extensive bar, with delicious drinks and food. It's definitely a nice establishment welcoming all to enjoy a drink and bite on their outside patio or inside their massive restaurant. The hubby and I stopped in for a drink before a show and sat in the bar, though we'd like to return for food because the seafood and Italian plates those around us ordered looked superb. He ordered the old fashioned which was strong, smooth and delicious. I ordered the Noco di cocci which was refreshing, gave off tropical vibes, and was beautifully presented.

Not amazed. :( I was really looking forward to going to this place for Restaurant Week because the three-course menu looked interesting for $40 but come to find out they already offer this deal on any regular weekday. The only difference was they added the Branzino and Rainbow Cookies. First course: We had the Sauteed Mussels in Marinara and Arancinis. The mussels were pretty good, not chewy and the sauce was fine. On the bottom though I was surprised to find soggy bread??? We didn't eat that. The Arancinis were actually very delicious though. Crispy and cheesy and perfectly paired with the tomato dipping sauce. The parmesan on top was a great touch and added a lot of flavor. Second course: Had to try the Branzino. It was good! They give you a good portion of two filets. I liked that it was not too greasy and it was great with the veggies. Third course: We shared the Nutella Budino and Canollis. The cannolis were great! I love pistachios and they give you generously give you three. The Budino was okay. I liked the crushed nuts on top that added a good crunch. We also had a glass of Riesling which was fine. Could probably find a better wine at Trader Joe's in my opinion. Service was fantastic. The hostess sat us at the booth even though it was just the two of us which I appreciated. And the ambiance was great. OVERALL: given the price point, I think it was a little expensive.

Dined here on a Saturday night with friends. The ambiance is nice, and the noise level is loud. It's hard to have a conversation with people across the table. Service was good. I can't remember his name, but he checked up on us and made sure we were good. Food: 8 oz Filet with mushrooms My friends had the salmon, Reginette Seafood Alfredo, Rigatoni Alla Nona, Parpadelle Bolognese, Tiramisu, and Cannoli. Everyone enjoyed their dish, but for me, the steak was ok. I should've ordered something else. It was tender, though. Overall, I'd return when I visit SD again.

I really enjoyed my meal here. I came on a busy Friday night but the service was still amazing. Dinner was delicious and it didn't feel rushed. It was a nice vibe and music was playing at a decent level.

Loved my experience at LAVO when I tried it for the first time! My friend and I definitely forgot about Comic Con weekend and how busy it was, but we were still accommodated with fast service and nice hospitality. Yellowtail Crudo (4/5): This was their special offered that day. Topped with charred peaches, this was delicious for a seafood app! It could use something more as the peaches were very sweet, but the yellowtail was a really nice cut. Oysters (3/5): We got 6 oysters and did a mix of different types. I did not really enjoy the cocktail sauce or the migonette sauce as they were also too sweet. Reginette Seafood Alfredo (5/5): This is my new favorite way to enjoy alfredo. The noodles were not too al dente and the pasta was saucy and elevated using lobster butter and light cream. The portion size and quality was worth it as I had leftovers! I also really enjoyed their starting bread basket too, plus you can ask for more which I appreciate. The food here was wonderful and the inside of the restaurant was classy and modern vibes. Would definitely try again!

TL;DR (+) Arancini and mussels marinara are delicious! (+) Great service (+) Beautiful ambiance (-) Penne alla vodka was so salty I came here during restaurant week and was super excited! Hearing that this place was owned by Tao Hospitality only piqued my interest even more. For appetizers, my friend and I shared the arancini and the mussels marinara. Both were incredible! The arancini was crispy and flavorful, definitely my favorite in our meal. The mussels were pretty fresh although it came with bread in the marinara that was soaked which we both found quite strange. For entrees, I had the penne alla vodka and I was SO disappointed. It was unbearably salty and had no taste other than salt. The prosciutto, peas, and onions were a nice bonus but it was so salty that I couldn't even and didn't want to finish it. My friend's branzino was pretty good. A lot of the reviews say the fish was inconsistent but hers was cooked well. For dessert, we had the cannoli and nutella budino. The cannoli came with pistachios which added a really great flavor! I found it slightly strange that there was cinammon in the pastry dough. The nutella budino was really rich and dark, I enjoyed it! Their service is great. We both felt very well taken care of. The ambiance is beautiful. It is definitely on the classier side. Parking is tough but that's because it located in the heart of Gaslamp.

My friends and I dined here during restaurant week and decided to order off of that menu. When it comes to pasta, I love anything bolognese. Since this happens to be an Italian restaurant, maybe I should have tried the pasta. Though the SDRW menu had steak and I fully believe in taking advantage of that deal. First and foremost, the cocktails that we ordered were no less than $20. There are some that are a lower price point, but I was actually in disbelief how pricey the cocktail list was. Regardless, the "lavo-lini" was delicious and the waiter pours it in front of you, so there is a little "show" to it. The espresso martini is also very good! The table started with bread, which was delicious. There was a little garlic and butter to it, and a side of marinara. For the first course, all of us did the mussels, which were pretty good, but not memorable. I did the steak frites for my main course. I liked the fries better than I liked the steak, which I feel like I could have made myself, and the sauce was flavorful with some prominent peppercorn. For dessert, I had the cannolis. The bread, cannolis and alcohol were the better part of the meal. There may be better cuts of steak, but it may be safer to just go with pasta, or I need to try more of their menu. I had friends who ordered pasta as their entree, and were not thoroughly impressed. Our server was very sweet and patient. Even the hostess was lovely because we made a reservation and I was the only punctual one, so I am happy we did not lose our table. The restaurant itself is also very beautiful with a great bar area.

It was Saturday night around 10:30. We just left an amazing concert and we were STARVING. We passed a few options but were stoked when we happened across LAVO! Quality Italian food serving up eats late night?! Sign me up! After checking out the menu for a bit (everything looked amazing) I settled on Nonna's Rigatoni and the boyfriend went with the Spaghetti and Meatballs. The spaghetti & meatballs were amazing, but my Nonna's rigatoni was INCREDIBLE! I had to guard my plate so my boyfriend didn't eat it all! We took turns dipping the bread in the sauce and I swear if they sold jars of that stuff I'd buy 50 of them. We loved our food and our service was really great. It was a fairly typical late-night, downtown crowd which made for some interesting people watching, but the staff were pros. I would absolutely come back to LAVO again. Well, I mean, I basically have to now that I'm obsessed with that dish!

Got there on time but my friend was stuck in traffic on a ramp. I decided to hang at the bar and have an Aperol spritz after checking in first at the hostess stand (I had a reservation on Opentable). My friend arrived and joined me for an Aperol spritz (on special on happy hour menu). The bartender looked for matches for me at my request. But they were not the old interesting photo from when I got them years ago in NYC. The match boxes were plain green. After a bit the hostess came over and said she could not hold the table any longer so we checked out at the bar. She also said that we only had to a certain time to eat because the table was needed. We exceeded that time and were not chased away. I dislike that the tab cannot be transferred. I also dislike the speech about when we should be done. It cheapens the experience. This was a biz dinner. We started by splitting the mushroom pizza. It was amazing. Really. Highly recommend that dish. It was pretty filling so we decided to split the meatball and the linguine diavlo. The meatball was awesome. The pasta could have fed a small country. We had a lot of leftovers. I got the pistachio ice cream and strawberry sorbet and they were delicious. She got the tiramisu and it was as delicious as it was beautiful in presentation. Recommend highly. But have a reservation.

3 of us came in for late res (8:45p) for just dessert after seeing the pictures of the chocolate cake online. We ended up ordering the cake, mousse, tiramisu, and sorbet. The desserts were all fantastic. The only downside of the entire experience was our waiter Kyle, who thought it was somehow appropriate to place a cup of hot water for tea right in front of two phones that were clearly in the middle of filming the tiramisu reveal, and didn't think it would be prudent to even apologize despite our groans of annoyance. And he did it right as the tiramisu was oozing out of the container. Even the guy doing our reveal thought it was odd. Both shots ruined. No apology despite us being visibly distraught.

I stumbled on this spot walking by when I was exploring downtown San Diego. Katie was my server and she was so nice and personable and offered great recommendations. Truly a great experience with her. My drink was so yummy and the pasta was even better. I'd like a dash more salt but it was good nonetheless. I finished everything off with a blood orange sherbet for my birthday and it was quite refreshing. The music was dope and I really loved this restaurant. I'll be back during my next visit!

I rarely leave 1 star reviews, but I feel like this is well deserved. I made a reservation at LAVO on a Saturday night for my birthday dinner. Upon arrival, we had to wait an extra 20 minutes until we were seated which was the first red flag. If I made a reservation, I don't think I should be waiting. After being seated, we ordered our food and the waiter was nice. The ambiance inside is loud and full of music which I liked for a birthday dinner. This restaurant is in the heart of Gaslamp and I liked the classy but also fun vibe of the restaurant. The appetizers took a while to come out but it wasn't too long of a wait. It was the main courses that took forever to come out. We were seated at 8pm and we didn't eat until 9pm. We waited AN HOUR for our food. This was a disappointment to me and my guests at my birthday dinner. The waiter was nice and brought out a few free appetizers while we waited but to me this was unacceptable of a wait. By now, my guests and I are all very famished so you would think we would chow down this food that we waited an hour for. And you would think that this food that took an hour of preparation would be decent. No, this pasta was the worst pasta all of us have ever tasted. We could make better pasta than this for a fraction of the price! Why are there so many BEANS in the pasta??? Why was the vodka pasta so salty and full of peas??? Why did the seafood Alfredo taste nothing like seafood and has random mushy mysterious meat that looked like blocks of cheese??? None of us could even finish our pasta , it was disgusting and disappointed after an hour long wait. Furthermore, the service here is especially slow. It took forever for them to cut my cake and bring it out, it took eons for them to deliver the check, it took ages for them to process it. 1/5 I do NOT recommend this place. I hope the manager takes this review into account because I am so disappointed especially because this was my Birthday dinner. Regardless of whether or not it was a special occasion, extremely slow service and bewilderingly subpar food like this is unacceptable.

Love love love the vibe of this place! Did the 3 for $39 deal which I thought was a very solid deal, did the arancini, the spaghetti and meatballs, and the budino pudding. Ended up adding an order of the classic Caesar as well. The Caesar was delicious, dressing was perfectly tangy and there were thin slices of Parmesan rather than shredded, which I love. Arancini and budino were just as impressive. Unfortunately I didn't find the spaghetti and meatballs as impressive as the apps and dessert. It was good, but nothing extraordinary, the sauce and the meatballs were a bit plain. Overall though, really enjoyed my meal here. Would order the Caesar, Arancini, and budino again but would probably switch it up for the entree.

Lavo exceeded all expectations!! Firstly - the service is top-notch (a rarity today). The Wagyu meatball was massive and was one of the tastiest and most flavorful appetizers I have ever enjoyed. The mozzarella sticks had a unique twist with prosciutto inside! The bartender made us the perfect dirty martinis. All in all, I highly recommend Lavo for a great dining experience. Favorites: Waygu Meatball "The Meatball" Mozzarella Sticks

In the heart of the Gaslamp District, LAVO's chic vibe is as well suited for large parties as it is pour deux. Our reservation was right at opening, and service began fantastically, but became a bit less so as the restaurant got busier. Warm foccacia, olives, and marinara made a welcome appearance practically as soon as we were seated, and my Albicocca Royale (Malfy Gin, Gifford Apricot, Prosecco, Lime) was refreshing and deceptively strong. The Calabrese Jumbo Shrimp was outstanding with a spicy kick from shishito peppers, and I seriously would have licked the plate had our sweet server Jared not graciously provided a few extra slices of focaccia with which to soak up that delectable white wine sauce. The Tuna Tartare was good too, but fairly standard barring the unexpected addition of black olive dressing. We both ordered Steak Frites, but thought the 10 oz. ribeye was cut too thin - medium rare unfortunately turned out medium well on mine. The peppercorn sauce was delicious, however, and I loved the earthy flavor of the accompanying truffle fries. By the time our Nutella Budino and Tiramisu arrived, I was stuffed, but couldn't resist that divine chocolate hazelnut pudding with crushed pistachios and sea salt adding savory balance so the dessert never came across as too sweet. Saved the Tiramisu for breakfast the next day - the espresso in it pretty much makes it coffee, right? :P

LAVO far surpassed my expectations! My girlfriend and I recently visited and we were blown away by the food, the service, and our drinks! I have to admit, I read about LAVO when I was looking for a romantic, intimate restaurant for our anniversary, and I don't think it should have been on that list. Yes it's classy and upscale, but not super intimate. They have a bar with sports on the TVs and to me that not super intimate. Overall it gave me a touristy-business-trip-colleague-dinner vibe, which is awesome just not what I expected walking in. I was a little skeptical to order off the prix fixe menu based off a few reviews I read, nevertheless I went for it and was very happy I did. I had the prosciutto mozzarella sticks as the starter, the penne alla vodka (added a wagyu meatball) as my main and the gelato as my dessert. My girlfriend had the local field greens salad, the penne alla vodka with chicken and the sorbet for the dessert. Everything was top tier. We also got the truffle french fries that were crispy and full of flavor. The garlic bread they serve complimentary is top tier. One reason I was hesitant for the prix fixe $39 menu was because I figured the portions would be smaller, but our waiter was sure to clarify that they were the same size as if I were to order any entrée. We had a couple Lavo-lini cocktails and the Bubbles and Berries cocktail. The Bubbles and Berries was alright, it wasn't the favorite of the night, but the Lavo-lini... INCREDIBLE. They pour you a little in the glass and leave the shaker at the table, pretty cool. 10/10 recommend LAVO!!

We were able to get a reservation online for a group of 10. We grabbed a drink at the bar until our party was all present. We started as/ appetizers, garlic bread, mozzarella sticks, meatball, and calamari. All good and plenty to share. I had the spaghetti and meatballs and added basil. Good all around! My crew also got the ribeye w/ sides of fries, Brussels sprouts and spaghetti. All were tasty. Topped it off w/ the 20 layer cake! Good stuff!

In town visiting, service and music was great. The mozzarella sticks were cold and for the $32 price tag on the chicken Parmesan, it was burnt and did not include pasta (an extra $19).

This place is amazing! I came here as I was attending an even in Gaslamp so I was trying to find a place to dine in. I was able to find parking easily in one of the pay lots nearby and walked to LAVO. I came here on a Friday night and it was busy! I think the wait for a table was going to 9pm. However there was no wait to sit at the bar so we were able to find seats as soon as we walked in. Once we walked in, we were greeted right away and the bartender helped us out with drinks as well as ordering food. We ordered the Wagyu Meatball, Reginette Seafood Pasta, and Layer Cake. Everything was delicious! I especially liked the layer cake. The cake was 10 layers with peanut butter flavor and chocolate! Super decedent but I was definitely too stuffed after. The drinks were amazing as well!! Overall I'll definitely be back when I'm in Gaslamp. This place is just too good.

Came here with a group of ladies for a night out celebrating the bachelorette! It was a beautiful atmosphere to celebrate with steps away from the fun! They accepted reservations, and were speedy about seating us. I ordered the seafood Alfredo dish. I love seafood but this plate was way too "fishy" for my taste, and I never complain about this usually. The meatball was delicious and that made up for everything. The cake was monstrous and was delicious. Next time, I highly recommend everyone share a plate and eat family style to taste everything. The portions are huge!!

This is not my usual review where I try to look on the positive side but in this case the situation was atrocious. Once our server realized it was a business dinner all he saw $$$. The up sell on wine to a higher bottle after I had selected an appropriate bottle (we were getting many) was obnoxious. I will give him credit that he was knowledgeable but the offset was over the top pushing of the highest price items. When we finished dinner and shared many desserts he decided to ask the table if they wanted to order more dessert to take away for later. Lastly upon reviewing the bill I noticed a high cost bourbon pour ($80) on the bill. The table of 10 only shared bottles of wine so no bourbon should have been on the bill. When I brought this to the attention of the server he simply shrugged it off and stated must have been from another table and removed it. Now under normal circumstances I would assume an honest mistake but because of the pushiness, I feel this was more than a mistake. Lesson learned review your bill before handing over payment. The food was very good but the entire experience was brought down by the obnoxious, pushy and "mistake prone" server.

AMBIENCE The moment you walk in, the first word that comes to mind is "dope". We were seated quickly which was great and service was quick. PARKING There's street parking and there's structured parking. Park on one of the side streets - it's not as crowded FOOD We were not really hungry so my husband and I decided to split an item on the Brunch menu. To give you some context, I'm married to a big guy with big, hungry muscles, so me suggesting we split something was a big sacrifice but we did it. I liked the Eggs Benedict with hollandaise sauce ($24) but for another $10, you can get a side order of Bacon or Sausage, which (as I mentioned in the attached picture's caption) tasted like something that's not even edible. Lavo, you have to try Claro's (Tustin, CA) Italian sausage, they have a melt-in-your mouth, great tasting sausage. I'm just going to be honest, $10 for a side of sausage is a lot of money for the regular Jane like me, but we'll do it. We just want to know it surpasses our expectations, even if it's just a side dish. It's like going to Ruth's Chris and being reminded how unforgettably good their side order of creamed spinach is, y'lnow what I mean? ARE WE COMING BACK? Yes I'd like to try other dishes and this is one of those places where I'd like to give it another chance so I can write something that will make you go, "hmm...I think I want to try this place"

Gr8 place for a Malbec to start your night. Bar staff is chill and helpful. The items I've had are always yummy tasty goodness. I'll have to pop in and try alll the menu has to offer.

Been here a couple of times for happy hour now and something about this place keeps us coming back for more, week after week. As soon as we sat at the bar, the bartenders greeted us and introduced themselves. All of them are really nice and made us feel welcome. This place is beautiful! Gives you that Vegas vibe. We tried their french fries and margherita pizza. French fries were nothing to rave about, however brick oven pizza was literally the best pizza I've ever had. The crust was so fluffy and airy. I could literally eat it on its own. Can't wait to come back here for more and try other items.

Went here for a business dinner on Monday. The ambiance is nice and it's decorated nice as well. We were a big party so we ordered a lot of different apps to start. Also had cocktails. The cocktails were delicious. The apps were pretty good too. The meatball is a must! The fresh bread with the 3 different sauces was also good. Calamari was some of the best I have tasted. For the entree I had the crispy chicken. It was good, but the potatoes that accompanied it were a bit undercooked. Other than that, the service was good and all of the workers were kind and polite. I would definitely return.

Their kitchen is open late (think 10:30 pm!) which was amazing for us since our travel plans changed and we showed up really late. The ambiance is very nice- has a hip vibe, the type of place you'll meet an old friend or a new one. Started with the mozzarella sticks and the complimentary bread. Both were pretty good- hit the spot. I had the tomato and basil pasta, which I didn't enjoy as much as my husband's spaghetti and wagu meatballs. Luckily the portions were huge, so I got to enjoy a lot of his dish. Service was also great - and our server was willing to answer questions and tell us about the entrees.

Really disappointed in my experience here. Ate at the bar, which was empty besides one other couple. Was ignored for a few minutes and then finally given a menu and "what do you want to drink" Asked for the prix fixe menu and could hear the audible sigh. The food was good, never was given fresh parm for my pasta, the cannolis were a bit soggy. The pasta was delicious, but not sure worth the attitude of service. Never was offered another drink...which at $20 you think you would want them to make that offer. Local and disappointed, so many other places in Gaslamp.

LAVO easily accommodated our group of 14 on a Friday night. It was our waiters recommendation to try the vanilla cream foam espresso martini- A+. We had several. We started off with garlic bread, which came with 3 dipping sauces (10/10), burrata (7/10) & mozzarella sticks (7/10). I decided to share the Caesar salad (10/10), the shrimp and scallop pasta (9/10), and the chicken parm (7.5/10) with two other girls and it was the perfect amount of food. They brought out a celebratory ice cream for our bachelorette. Our waiter was great! I would definitely recommend this spot for a large group.

Everything was phenomenal! I especially enjoyed the tuna tartar and our extra enthusiastic server. She was so much fun- I can't remember her name. The pasta with prosciutto was good but very little prosciutto compared to the rest of the dish. The cannolis were okay- they had a strange after taste that I wasn't loving. The wine was fantastic. I give the overall experience a 9/10 and I will be returning!

Celebrated my daughter's birthday last night. Let me say, right up front, that the service was exceptional. No water glasses ever went dry or below half. The server was friendly, knew the menu, and checked on us at the right intervals. The appetizers were all exceptional. We ordered the tuna tartare; so fresh with a generous amount of avocado. White pizza with prosciutto and arugula was a special that night, but it deserves to be on the regular menu; cooked perfectly. Truffle fries were hot and crispy and good for picking at in between bites. Couple of small misses...I ordered the Linguini fra Diavolo. Flavors were on point but the lobster was way overcooked and too rubbery. Also, the presentation was blah. It looked like the food runner skidded across the kitchen floor and saved my plate but everything was settled on one end of the plate. Finally, the server knew it was a birthday celebration. After dinner was over, she handed a dessert menu to my daughter, who ordered the 20-layer cake. The cake itself was delicious, but when we received the bill, we were charged for the cake. I don't know if it was supposed to be on the house or not, but what's the point of recognizing a birthday if you're not going to do anything special. Not a big deal, we paid and were happy with our meals.

So we came here for Valentine's Day. Got a super small table and I had a reservation from a month ago a girl with some little red In her hair look like she was miserable. Look like she actually got broken up this day because she came in and just said do you need water and it sounded like she was hating life. I felt bad for this girl. The server though was great. She was very tentative and helpful. The appetizer the wagyu meatball for $31 was pretty good and probably the star of the show. We did pay $17 for the garlic bread it was OK. I didn't get to penne, vodka,, pasta it comes with prosciutto. The server asked me if I was OK with that I said no I asked if I could get chicken instead. I thought they were gonna substitute the pork for the chicken but boy was I wrong. They charge me an extra $12 for that chicken. The boyfriend got some type of pasta that was bland my pasta taste like you could get it from Olive Garden for half the price because it was $29 plus an extra $12. We also got the famous 20 layer cake, and it tasted like caramel more than anything else, but it was a dissapointment. They also started having a DJ play and we were right next to that DJ booth on Valentine's Day. Pretty much sucked. There are way better Italian places than this place. It'll probably be gone in 2 to 4 years just like searsucker.

We had a wonderful experience. We had a reservation because we had a party of 9 for a Bachelorette party. The restaurant is absolutely beautiful. It was a great way for us to start the night. The ambiance the people, etc. our service was above and beyond especially for a big party. I wish I could remember names but it's a little loud so hard to hear the server and runners. Food... what can I say, Muah I personally had the wagyu meatball as my dinner and had to take more then have home with me. It's was so delicious, moist and the sauce was great as well. I can't speak to what each person had but I do know all the ladies with us really enjoyed the dinner and the time in the restaurant. A++ in my book. It's really been a long time since I was so impressed by a restaurant as a complete package. Thank you Lavo for a wonderful evening.

Pasta cooked perfectly. Healthy portion sizes without making you feel stuffed & having to waddle out the door. Staff is friendly and works as a team. Open area seating plan with booths, tables & full bar area Nice option for brunch or date in Gaslamp district. Walkable from Padres Stadium & the San Diego convention center.

LAVO Italian Restaurant in downtown San Diego is so good! Before I get started on why, let me preface this review by stating that I have also eaten at their Vegas location, but this one far exceeds Vegas by leaps and bounds. Stopped in for dinner Monday night around 7pm, and the place was packed. I was quite surprised because it was a Monday night, but that did not make a difference, as the service was 5 star for sure. Once we were seated, our server was friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. He gave us great recommendations regarding the menu. And let me just say, we were not disappointed in his recommendation. I chose the $39 pre fixe menu, not because of the price, but because of the selection of offerings. And don't let the pre fixe price fool you in thinking the portions are small, they are not. Everything is full size. I was stuffed! We started with Prosecco of course, and the aranciinis to share...both yummy! But as for my dinner, I did the 3 courses of Caesar salad, penne alla vodka, and the mini cannolis. The cannolis were a little blah, but everything else was exceptionally delicious. Parking is a pain, but that is everywhere in downtown San Diego. LAVO does not have their own designated lot. Do yourself a favor and take an Uber, I promise you will not be disappointed.

This is a beautiful restaurant to stop in and have a drink. My Mom and I found it and it was a good place to stop from walking and chill. The staff here were really great too!

If you find yourself paralyzed at the number of restaurants in the Gaslamp Quarter, GO HERE. I cannot recommend it enough! The big meatball was huge enough to split across four people and it still filled me up. It tasted amazing and really felt homemade. The giant pasta dish I ordered (unfortunately I don't remember the name of it) was so good that I finished every last bit of it. Give it a try and you won't regret it. - AT

Beautiful ambiance, great food and a great date worthy restaurant are all the ways I'd describe Lavo! We absolutely loved: The Meatball-perfect for sharing but it's so delicious you probably won't want to share! Linguine fra diavolo - if you're a seafood lover, I highly recommend ordering this dish as it's is packed with Lobster, Shrimp, Scallops, Manila Clams and Calamari. Despite their vast drink menu, we opted for an old Fashioned. I'd highly recommend this drink if you're a fan of whisky We had a great experience here and can't wait to dine here again!

Server: Rod, and he was excellent! Answered all our questions, made sure our waters were always filled, and was very attentive to our needs. I always have such a great dining experience when I come here. The food, the service, the ambiance-- amazing! They have a very extensive drink selection so there are so many options to choose from. I was able to turn a craft cocktail into a mocktail :) I've also tried the espresso martini on a separate occasion and it's easily become my fav espresso martini in San Diego. We ordered Burrata, Carne Pizza, Spaghetti and Meatballs, Linguine Fra Diavolo. The ingredients were so fresh and each bite was flavorful. I would order the Burrato 5x more if I could!! Thank you Rod and LAVO! :)

Im from NY so have been to that location as well as the Vegas one. Lavo in SD did not disappoint and lived up to my high expectations. It is a beautiful restaurant for a date night or girls night out. Im not sure what the vibe is on weekends bc I came on a Weds. The other locations get clubby and have a DJ. On Mon, Tues and Weds they offer a 3 course prix fixe menu for $45. Come for this! They did not skimp on the portions either. Between 3 friends we ordered: Apps: Arancini (amazing and cheesy), Burrata (looked incredible), and tuna tartare (lacked citrus kick and flavor but tuna was fresh) Entree: Branzino (soooo good) and penne a la vodka (one of the best Ive tried and cooked perfectly al dente) Dessert: all 3 of us went for the tiramisu and YUM! Light and not overly sweet. The biscotti-like wafer on top is airy and melts in your mouth. (Side note: even the table bread was delicious!) The deal makes it well worth it but I would have paid full price for everything. I am definitely returning for this prix fixe deal and would also like to check out happy hour during the week which they offer from 5-630! The cocktail menu has some interesting choices which Id like to try. Service was also great. Will be back soon!

excellent service, highly recommend the baked clams for starters. We enjoyed the meatball, penne seafood alfredo, linguine diavolo and spaghetti tomato basil. everything was delicious and the cocktails and dessert were great too!

All I can say is OMG LAVO! My friend picked this upscale downtown Italian restaurant for us to go to for Restaurant Week (9/25-10/2). Just want to take this moment to THANK HER for making the executive decision since we had quite a list of potential restaurants to choose from. I never heard of this place until she put me in the know. After that exquisite delicious 3-course meal that filled my tummy for the next two days, I thought to myself... geez, this place was worth the drive from North County and unfortunately the parking ticket I got (I guess I was too hungry to pay attention to the signs). Anywho, KUDOS to our waitress who didn't miss a beat. She was very professional and attentive. And, LOVE the staff's attire...very stylish. I felt like I was an extra in a Hollywood movie. As Arnold S. would say, "I'll be baaack!!"