The Haven Pizzeria

Ana did a wonderful job in making a sweet Shirley temple drink that is non alcoholic and delicious. The wrapped dates is probably the best appetizer I’ve ever had (think when Harry met Sally scene when Meg Ryan had a sexual orgasm at the table) . The chicken Parmesan was cooked well done and I savored all of it. my first experience at San Diego continues to be an absolute success. I am truly enjoying the beginning of 32.

Placed a take out order today. I placed the order in person and was helped right away. It was a 30 minute wait on a Friday night not bad at all as they were busy with clients and pick up orders. Highly recommend the haven twists with the haven honey and roasted garlic sauces. The pesto bruschetta was delicious! Spinach salad with chicken. I appreciate the chicken was packaged separately and the dressing was on the side. Thank you for the friendly service.

Valentine’s Day Dinner Date with my Hubby. Picked up, with a salad and desert. Sadly disappointed 😔 was barely warm. Ordered for pick up at 5:45, arrived a bit early and it was already ready……pizza crust was flat , literally and figuratively. Toppings were decent however, was expecting a bit more creativity with the “onion mix”. Vegan antipasto salad also very flat and lacking in creativity. But the dressing was good! Only there was not enough for the entire salad. Bummer😟 Not sure if I would throw my $$ this way again.

Oh my goodness! 5/5 Best pizza I’ve had all year. The righteous pig is the bizzness! Sweet savory and oh so delicious. I can’t wait to try the rest!

Had the Cortez pizza and it was fantastic! The addition of the arugula salad on top added another dimension to the already flavorful pizza. Along with that, we had some sort of Bolognese pasta that was to die for. Great service and a decent drink menu. Check this place out for some wonderful food and service!

Hidden gem in Kensington! One of the best Italian restaurants I’ve been in San Diego. Loved the pizza toscana, feel like every bite I had was better than the last. The best alla vodka with bacon I’ve had in over ten years, couldn’t stop eating it. We sat on the dog friendly patio which has heaters. The service was excellent and food comes out quick. Must go!

We ordered to-go and really enjoyed the food. The twists were very good and the garlic dipping sauce was on point. The Righteous Pig was delicious, smoky, salty, sweet! The staff during pickup was very friendly.

The Haven Pizzeria in Kensington continues to impress with its cozy ambiance, friendly staff, and comforting Italian-inspired dishes. This was our second visit, and it’s clear why this spot is a local favorite. From the moment we walked in, the welcoming atmosphere set the tone for a great dining experience. The staff provided excellent service, always checking in with a smile and ensuring we had everything we needed. We started with the Mushroom Soup, and it was absolutely delicious. Creamy, rich, and full of earthy flavors, it was the perfect way to kick off the meal. As a soup lover, I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting. It’s clear that The Haven takes care in crafting each dish, and this soup was no exception. For our main courses, we tried the Popeye Pizza and the Traditional Lasagna Pasta. The pizza, featuring roasted garlic sauce, fresh spinach, chicken, mushrooms, mozzarella, and goat cheese, had potential but fell a little flat in the flavor department. While the ingredients were fresh and well-prepared, it just didn’t pack the punch we were hoping for. That said, the crust was excellent, and I’d be eager to try a different pizza on our next visit. The Traditional Lasagna Pasta, on the other hand, was an absolute standout. Layers of marinara, ricotta, mozzarella, mushrooms, onions, and ground beef came together in perfect harmony for a hearty and flavorful dish. Adding garlic bread was the icing on the cake, and I’d easily order this dish again. It’s comforting, classic, and exactly what you’d want from a lasagna. Overall, The Haven Pizzeria is a delightful spot for anyone craving great service and hearty meals. While the pizza didn’t quite hit the mark for us this time, the lasagna and soup more than made up for it. With its welcoming vibe and diverse menu, we’ll definitely be back to explore more of their offerings. If you’re in the Kensington area, this is a spot worth checking out!

Been here a few times now and it's becoming a staple! Great place to stop for lunch or dinner. The staff are friendly and have great recommendations. It's a lovely, cozy corner restaurant in Kensington with a pet-friendly patio. The chicken tequila pasta is incredible. Good selection of drinks. They have a specials menu that changes but you can't go wrong with those options. Pizzas are delicious as well. I always look forward to my next visit!

I went in on a rainy Friday afternoon and sat by myself at the bar seating. I got the traditional bruschetta and the alla vodka pasta. The bruschetta was tasty, I wish there was a bit more balsamic on it. For the price point, I don't think I'll get it again, but I'd try the other bruschetta. I didn't love the pasta when I ate it in the restaurant, I think I ate 1/3 of it. Left it in the fridge overnight and reheated it, one of the best things I've probably had in a while, so that was a nice surprise. I got a glass of pinot noir which complemented the food well. Service was great. The server I had was really nice and friendly! (I forgot her name, but she has very short hair).

The toast alone on the bruschetta makes it worth going here. Small indoor seating with equal patio sidewalk covered seating to enjoy the beautiful San Diego weather and a great view of the sunset sky. It was nice to order go to a spot that automatically brought out a wine chiller for our bottle of Sauvignon Blanc we ordered. We got a large Popeye pizza and the size to price ratio was nice to see. This is a very nice spot to pop into while strolling the beautiful Kensington neighborhood.

My family came in for dinner this past weekend & really enjoyed our experience as a family. We ordered the Spud pizza, lasagna, & Brussel sprouts. Food was delicious & service was great. Will definitely come back to try the Opa pizza! I also liked how it was so family friendly & they had crayons & coloring sheets available for the little ones. Great ambiance! Totally recommend this place. Also the new manager Arturo introduced himself which was nice & welcoming.

this is a cute little restaurant that is perfect for a casual first date, a catch up with friends, or a place to treat yourself to a dinner and glass of wine. I come here often with my friend who has a gluten and dairy intolerance and they have a whole vegan menu which can be put on a GF crust! I've had a few traditional pizzas and also tried a vegan pizza and was pleasantly surprised on how amazing the vegan one was - I think I liked it more than the diary one! the pizzas are large enough that I usually take home a few slices, which is great because I love leftover pizza. The GF one is a tad smaller and is a perfect size to eat all in one sitting. They offer a happy hour menu with a few bites and discounts on wine, so make sure to get here early to take advantage!

We used to get takeout during covid from haven. We were content with the pizzas and pastas they have as take out. But, you must try it fresh from the oven. We had the wild mushroom pizza, it needs a sonata. When you byte in, you smell the fresh truffle oil, the sweetness of caramelized onion perfectly balanced the fontana cheese. The texture of the onion adds to it. But the metaphorical crescendo is when you just take it in, the whiff of the wild mushroom lingers there for a little moment before it gets to diminuendo. I know it is not authentic Neapolitan style, but does anybody remember who sang first Whitneys cover 'I will always love you". (It was Dolly Parton btw). Both were legendary and both creations are masterpieces.

My family and I eat here regularly. We have enjoyed the pizzas found regularly on the menu as well as the specialty pizzas. The servers are kind, and offer great service. Our kid also enjoys the food. Definitely recommend

They have one of the best pizza I've ever had, tastes so good and fresh. We ordered the Margherita pizza and the pesto pasta. So good. Even my drink, the haven hurricane, was very enjoyable. Their service was friendly and really fast, and the place felt very cozy and welcoming. I wanna go back for the panna cotta.

Great pizza and salad!! They even delivered it to me at Mission Brewery while I was there having a drink. My wife and kids enjoyed all the food. They also have gluten free options which we also ordered. Great place definitely give them a try.

It has been too long since we were last at The Haven. We love sitting outside but also inside in the when the roll-up door is open. Food was excellent and service was lovely, attentive yet not overbearing. It's a great neighborhood spot.

QUICKIE REVIEW Create your own pizza if you don't want the standard options up front. FOOD This is what I tried: Wild Mushroom Pizza Wedge Salad Waitress recommended the wild mushroom pizza so had to give it a shot. It was good. You can also spruce it up a notch and add protein (or any other topping) if you feel it is a little on the light side. PARKING Nope, street parking. SERVICE Good, waitress gave solid recommendation. PRICE Around $40 for two. TIP/OTHER THOUGHTS Came here around 4pm and got immediate seating. Wasn't long after until the dinner rush came in--it filled up quick. Would recommend coming at 4 or earlier if you are looking to sit down right away.

Awesome pizza spot! They had a verity of vegan options. Pasta was fresh and hot and they even have kids size cheese pizza. Bathroom were nice and clean. The garlic bread is to die for. Will definitely be coming back to try the rest of their menu.

I love that you can get free delivery over to Mission Brewery. We were there playing trivia and hungry! We ordered the Righteous Pig pizza which has pesto, prosciutto, goat cheese and arugula. It was super tasty. We also ordered the antipasto salad. I was definitely a fan of both.

This is the third time we went to Haven. I have eaten all three vegan pizzas on their menu, I think there may be four but I can't remember. My husband had their vegan meatballs with pasta which is also quite good I stole some bites. This is probably the BEST vegan pizza I've had in San Diego so far and I've had a lot of them. They don't overdo the cheese and give you options for some tasty cheeseless pizza too, you won't miss the cheese I assure you. Nice happy hour with those delicious bread knots I've included here which we ended up taking home to go with the dinner I cooked last night. Nice atmosphere although it was a little chilly in there (this review wa.)s written in January 2024) so next time I will bring a sweater. Mission Brewing was closed but I believe they allow you to bring food from restaurants in there, KBC did. We don't usually come to Kennsington but since it's so close to our YMCA we will make it over once in a while to get some delicious pizza and pasta! Lot's of meat stuff too and more traditional carnivore options, I only am writing about the vegan and vegetarian menu because we don't eat meat. Try their house Chianti with a bowl of their pasta and their knots. Nice pairing and quite delicious!

Great pizza. Great service! We loved every minute of it. Arturo took good care of us, and our server was sweet and attentive. Check them out, you won't be disappointed.

Valentine's Day Dinner Date with my Hubby. Picked up, with a salad and desert. Sadly disappointed was barely warm. Ordered for pick up at 5:45, arrived a bit early and it was already ready......pizza crust was flat , literally and figuratively. Toppings were decent however, was expecting a bit more creativity with the "onion mix". Vegan antipasto salad also very flat and lacking in creativity. But the dressing was good! Only there was not enough for the entire salad. Bummer Not sure if I would throw my $$ this way again.

TL;DR: Good pizza, thicker-than-preferred crust (although very light), meh wine, modern decor, good service Order: - Righteous Pig pie (MVP 4/5): the combination of flavors provided by the specialty toppings were delicious and worth coming back for. The crust, although soft and light, was too thick for our liking and filled us up pretty quickly even avoiding the ends - Wild Mushroom (2/5): while truffle oil usually overpowers all other flavors, the pie we got was very underwhelming. The mushrooms seemed to be all the same (not a 'mix' as the menu stated) and even the truffle flavor seemed lacking. We ended up boxing it, taking it home, and adding our own mushrooms, egg, and truffle oil to spice it up - would recommend Wine: Chianti tasted alright but definitely not getting again Staff and service were welcoming and quick - no complaints :) Overall, I'll be back because it seems we hit one and missed one on the Haven's creations and because it's so close to home Cheers, Haven!

Haven twists were okay. I like that they give you the option of two different sauces but overall it's just normal bread. Pizza was really good! Very nice and quick service

The best pizza and pasta in town! Great service and ambience! 10/10! The spud pizza Chicken and tequila pasta Sangria

The service is amazing and Mallory our server is so nice! Love this spot in Kensington! The pizza is so good! lLisa the manager, hooked us up with some great food for the Mission Haven Matchup UYE yesterday, so after the event was over we went to Haven and tried the shrimp. Sitting outside on there patio was fun with our dog.

Pizza is very good in fact I was craving it the following day. We ordered from the neighboring Mission Brewing and paired it with a good beer and fun Trivia hosted by DJ HokieNick.

Phenomenal pizzas and pastas here! Cute spot and friendly staff. I really love their honey pie pizza and the alla vodka pasta. There's really yummy options for all and vegan options as well.

Friday night out for family dinner. We had brussel sprouts with bacon, buffalo chicken pizza and vegan meatballs with spaghetti. The service was great , our server was warm and welcoming. It's a family friendly place, good for groups, or a date place. Would definitely recommend for pizza and pastas. Cute place that I like to check out from time to time.

Came here for a business lunch last week and it was great! The service was very friendly and accommodating and the food was delicious. Standouts included the Wild Mushroom pizza and the Caprese salad. I'd love to try some of their appetizers and vegan offerings next time.

From the food to the service, this place has gotten better and better over the years! Every staff member is always on their game and making sure we get a great lunch/dinner. Our favorite waitress is Chelsea!! Always top notch!! Give this place a try!

We LOVE The Haven! Food is delicious, but most importantly the staff is amazing! Attentive, friendly, customer-service oriented...the best! Cute, clean, friendly. Amazing!

I'm in the habit of writing good reviews. But this was just too bad not to put it out there. It's Valentine's Day. We had a tough day and decided to order take out from our local pizzeria. Big mistake. Terribly disappointing. The pesto pizza was fair and bland containing microscopic pieces of tomato and barely any caramelized onions. The "wedge" salad was actually wilted butter lettuce - not a wedge at all. The brussel sprouts were way, way overcooked AND, we had to pay an extra $4 for "candied" bacon that resembled something other than bacon. I suppose if you envisioned you were eating boiled cabbage, they would be barely ok. The next time I go to The Haven will be too soon. Oh and yes, we tipped BEFORE we picked up our food.

This IS quality pizza! The created pies from Haven are great. We had the Righteous Pig and The Biz. Both were thin crust with quality dough that made want to even eat the crust. The balsamic glaze reduction that went on the Righteous Pig was incredible and a great addition to an already tasty pizza. We have been looking for a good pizza place in San Diego and this will now be a family favorite. We took it to go and therefore didn't experience any of the service or ambiance.

The food is absolutely incredible! Honestly some of the best pizza and pasta I have had. So flavorful, so many options, and great portions! It's so cute in here and everyone takes such great care of you. 10/10 recommend coming here!

Amazing New Year's Eve! Took my 90 year young neighbor to dinner and we had the most incredible pizza and beer to close out the year! Our server was Mallory a recent hire to this wonderful place we stared with some amazing appetizers the Brussel sprouts were recommended by our server and she paired the best beer for the pizza. The sausage is flown in and was out so this world. We will return because Mallory was fantastic and a great server!

Good food but crappy job verifying delivery order. Nice salad but it isn't quite the same without dressing. Cmon folks. It's just not that freaking hard to verify that a salad comes with dressing

Just had my birthday party on Sunday. Everything was wonderful! The staff was very friendly and accommodating for our large group. Thank you for making my birthday so special!

Hi Lauren, Thank you for responding to my email. I appreciate you speaking with the kitchen staff regarding the salad. I look forward to eating at your establishment again soon. Cindy

Went in on a weekday evening and ordered some of the Traditional Bruschetta and a Popeye pizza. The food was average, wasn't super hot when it came out and honestly was a bit soggy. The best part about our meal was the chicken that came on the pizza, super tender and seasoned well. The service wasn't great. Even though our server was nice, It took them 15 mins to even acknowledge us, we didn't get water refills even though asked throughout the whole meal, they forgot one of our side dishes, it was just not the best experience. It's just another average pizzeria, nothing special. Food: 3.5/5 Service: 3/5 Ambiance: 3/5

Because the people running The Haven are so nice, I promised myself that when I reviewed the place, before I talked about the food, I'd say something positive, so here goes: When you tire of having your dignity assaulted and appetite denied by the staff and kitchen at Cucina Sorella, you won't have to travel far to find a meal; you can walk next door to The Haven. There it is. And now comes the hard part: While it's easy to write about good or bad food, I'm not sure where to look for new ways to say "mundane." The Haven's menu is straightforward. Pizza, pasta, some salads and a bunch of vegan stuff form the bulk of the restaurant's offerings, but though the list resembles that of a Roman pizzeria, nothing I've eaten at The Haven - indeed, nothing I saw on other diners' tables - bore any reasonable resemblance to anything I've had in Italy. You may protest, "But we're not IN Italy!" and that's fair, and it brings me to my second point: There is such a thing as California-Italian cooking, pioneered by Jonathan Waxman and served in his Manhattan restaurant, Barbuto, and though The Haven's menu strikes me as a sorta-kinda version of that cuisine, it's much less Barbuto and much more California Pizza Kitchen, delivering every disappointment that the comparison implies. For instance: Depending on the type of pie and where it's made, a pizza's crust and cornicione should be brown-to-charred, maybe crispy, and it should taste to some degree of tangy fermentation. The pies at The Haven have none of those distinguishing features; the five I've tasted rested on what were essentially Kaiser rolls stretched into discs, then baked at a low temperature. Toppings were generally of good quality but were provided sparingly, as though to show off... I don't know what, exactly... the bread below? As for The Haven's pasta: Sauce should be the star of any pasta dish, and, at least for the dishes The Haven sells, the pasta should be turned in its sauce so as to coat and cover it. But at The Haven, most pasta plates were loaded with various shapes, then lightly topped with one sauce or another, as though the kitchen was concerned about running out before service ended. This, it seems to me, is a very efficient and thrifty way to serve insipid food. I have no experience of The Haven's salad, nor of its gluten-free or vegan things, but the menu seems proud of them, so I'll just say that if The Haven is primarily intended as a home for such preparations, its signage should plainly say so, in order to save the time and effort of people who might have come there for a substantial meal. Overall, The Haven is a perfectly nice place, staffed by perfectly nice people, but its pizzas and pasta dishes suffer by comparison to most San Diego restaurants serving similar dishes. That's really saying something, given the dismal state of Italian cooking in "America's Finest City." On the other hand, it isn't Cucina Sorella. ********** Cucina Sorella: https://bit.ly/3TzITDW

"Best pizza place in San Diego." Probably something people would trade punches over, but, no joke, Best pizza place in San Diego. They've got a good selection/variety of pizza's, like a lot of places. But, they do pizza better. Far better. As in, all my life someone told me a lie about how a pizza was supposed to be. How so? Crust, not thin, not thick, not doughy, not like day old bread. Crust was perfect. Ingredients - great slices of prosciutto that were thinly cut, but not overcooked. Seriously, some places put prosciutto on a pizza and then bake it a 3 trillion degrees, leaving you with something that was prosciutto. Not at Haven. Cheese. The right amount of cheese. Listen, I don't want to have an oil spill at the bottom of my plate when I have a pizza. I don't want to look a lake of oily cheese leftovers. Goat cheese perfectly blended in to get the flavor but not so much that you're overwhelmed. Walnut pesto to wrap it all into one nice circle of happiness. AND THEY CUT IT AND IT CAME APART IN THE MIDDLE AS SLICED. Because no one likes to feel robbed when part of thier pieces is attached to another slice because the pizza couldn't be cut. Conversely, no one likes to look like a thief for having one slice plus 1/3 of another because the pizza couldn't be cut. Hazen's cuts even, smooth and clean. It's a sign of perfection, really. Great service, quiet relaxed atmosphere. They've got the roll up doors so you can people watch too. Service is great, there when you need them and magically doing other pizza things when you don't. Best pizza place in San Diego - I'm saying it.

Always great service always great food! Wish they would bring back the Sicilian type pasta special with Italian sausage, which I rarely ever eat. My best friend and I absolutely love it! Looking forward to next time!

Nice little restaurant, good service and delicious food. I would definitely go back. The tiramisu was amazing.

Good food. Nice outdoor dining. Lots of menu options. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

We've visited Haven countless times since moving to the area years ago. The food, service and quality are consistent. The dining in experience is also nice. Large open air roll up door in front. Small sidewalk seating area. Even when crowded it feels spread out and too close. Good selection of largely local beers and adult beverages. We have a lot of good options for pizza nearby. Haven included.

Visit this establishment as soon as you can!! The pizza is amazing and the pepperoni tastes so fresh! The owner is delightful and personable. I have some dietary restrictions that they always accommodate.

There is much more to this place than just pizza, even though the pizza is thin crust and truly delicious. The other items I have tried, such as the marinated shrimp skewers were wonderful. Large, tender shrimp. and they also will serve pizza to Mision Brewery next door! That's a win-win.. Highly recommend this place.

Let's start by saying that this would have been a 4 or 5 star review if the service had been better. We went in around 5pm on a Tuesday. Waited more than a few minutes to be seated, as well as for someone to come help us. We sat outside, our dog had accompanied us. The server never offered any water for the dog (most places in Kensington do, happily), she didn't listen to our drink order and we had to ask her for a wine bucket, it was a pretty warm summer evening. I also do not believe she ever came back to see how our food was. The food is definitely 4 or 5 stars! We ordered the Haven Twists, which were amazing, warm, soft yet crunchy and the honey and garlic sauces rocked. We both ordered salads, they come in small or large orders, we got the larges. Ingredients were all very fresh, the flavors of the ingredients all went well with each other and the amounts were almost too much.

Absolute terrible service, though that's not the fault of the wait staff, they need more staff to cover tables as it felt like many of the servers felt overwhelmed. People standing in random corners is also an issue, there needs to be a designated spot for waiting for pickup away from patrons as it ruins the ambiance. I will not be coming back

The Haven offers excellent Gluten Free & Dairy Free options - a rare combination for a pizza place. The flavors are well-crafted, and the kitchen will really work with you to accommodate your dietary needs. My wife is GF / DF against her best wishes so it's really great to find a quality pizza restaurant that can satisfy the whole family. Definitely recommend.

Perfect. Perfect, perfect, perfect. Came across this little gem via Yelp and was pleasantly surprised. The food is reasonably priced and was very good. I created my own concoction and I'm so glad that I did. Their spicy honey was a great addition to the pizza. It was not too spicy, just right. Definitely recommend this place. The server was very friendly and my soda was never left empty. I enjoyed the patio seating with a heat lamp on this chilly evening. There is a parking lot adjacent to the building and it's free.

I would highly recommend them.. they have the best vegan pizza, vegan meatballs and breadsticks!

My wife and I have been going to Ken Café and their sister restaurant, The Haven Pizzeria, for years. Their delicious food, kind staff, and involvement in the Kensington community is what makes Ken Café our go-to brunch spot and Haven our favorite lunch or dinner date location. When we got engaged we wanted to have a low key legal ceremony with family and a small cocktail-style reception with family and friends. It was important to us that we stay in the neighborhood and that we choose a location for the reception that meant a lot to us as a couple. When we reached out to Lauren and Lisa to see whether hosting the reception at Haven could be an option, we were met with the excitement of two close friends. At our first meeting, Lauren and Lisa closely listened to our vision, asked great questions, and walked us through the steps of hosting an event with them. We already had a good feeling going into the meeting, but by the end, we knew that this was exactly what we wanted. To accommodate the size of our group (that grew to 80 attendees!), we decided to hold the reception after hours at Ken Café and to cater food from Haven. Lisa graciously offered to create an assortment of decorations, including crafting beautiful floral and light centerpieces. Lisa also patiently walked us through a thorough tasting of appetizers, salad, pizza, pasta, and dessert, ensuring we could work around the many food allergies found within our attending party. Lauren, Lisa, and the Haven/Ken Café team absolutely went above and beyond! When we arrived on the evening of the reception, we were awestruck to see how all of the thoughtful ideas came together to create the perfect night. Every one of our guests raved about the food, drinks, decorations, and staff. Parker, Chelsea, Meg, and Rocky who worked the event are the textbook definition of "dream team." The entire team somehow elevated an already perfect day. Everything was flawlessly set up. We had a mix of the café indoor and outdoor tables with chairs as well as high top tables. Lisa ensured that the sound system was ready for our reception playlist. Parker tracked down scotch tape to surreptitiously tape down a few outdoor signs to keep them from blowing away in the breeze. Chelsea and Meg even checked in with me and my wife throughout the night to see if we needed drink refills! And Meg did a spectacular job creating fresh flower arrangements. We are so thrilled that we had Lauren and Lisa to work with in the lead up to the event and that we had Lisa, Meg, Chelsea, Parker, and Rocky to create a seamless party. We had heard that the wedding day can be a hectic, crazy blur of a day. But this was not the case at all. The Ken Café/Haven team made everything easy, affordable, and a TON of fun. There are not enough stars in a review to accurately illustrate just how incredible this team is. They put so much care into coordinating and hosting our event. We cannot thank them enough!

The service has really gotten bad over the last few years. The last time I eat there I was seated and ordered a half hour before they closed. Then at exactly closing time they began cleaning up and made it a point to make a lot of noise. The worst part was when my date had asked for another drink the waitress rudely said the bar was closed and sat back in the kitchen till we left. Fortunately the other waitress was more professional, but this will be the last time I spend any money at the Haven.