Vinarius Wine Bar & Restaurant

It's clear why this restaurant has such high ratings. The staff is exceptional, providing a very warm welcome. While it can feel a little crowded due to the small space, the food is truly amazing. I had the special Chilean sea bass dish with risotto, and it was cooked to perfection.

What an amazing chef, superb customer service, and comfortable environment. This place is amazing, and the attention of detail the staff provided was excellent. Please try this place out. You will not regret it. My wife and I celebrated our 19th anniversary. They made it extra special for us.

We were excited to try this place with fantastic reviews! We were welcomed like old friends. Pala was absolutely fantastic in helping us select the perfect wine. The owner, Joe, went above and beyond with his recommendations for both food and drinks. By the end of the evening we were giving him hugs like we'd known him our whole life. Every aspect was outstanding—the food was delicious, the service was amazing, and the ambiance was relaxed. This is the kind of place where you arrive as strangers but leave feeling like family. Without a doubt, this was the highlight dinner of our trip to San Diego. A million percent would recommend, and we will absolutely be back!

Little ways off the main hustle and bustle of India street this little wine bar rivals all of its nearby competitors. The food is very good, the cocktails are on point and the wine list both by the glass and bottles is decent. With all that said the star of the show here is the service, specifically Paula(sp?) — she is one of the best service bartenders in San Diego. She’s definitely the best in Little Italy. Seating is limited but they do offer outdoor as well. Don’t sleep on this place, definitely recommend checking this place out.

Great spot! Delicious food and amazing wines from all over. Both indoor and outdoor seating. I've been a couple times now and will surely be back.

They really do their best to deliver good service from beginning to end. Food was well seasoned and fresh. Fritto misto was really nice - not overcooked and very lightly breaded. Tiramisu and pistachio ricotta desserts stood out.

A cozy spot for date night with some amazing food! We started with the burrata which was so creamy. For the entrees, we got the pollo al rosmarino and the lasagna. Both were absolutely delicious but my favorite would be the chicken. It was so light and refreshing with the lemon and rosemary. The chicken breast itself was cooked to perfection and paired well with the sauce. Loved every single bite!

We recently dined at Vinarius Wine Bar & Restaurant to celebrate my son’s birthday, and I can confidently say — this was one of the best Italian meals we’ve ever had. The food was absolutely delicious. We started with the Diavola pizza, which had the perfect balance of spice and flavor with that classic crispy crust. The Penne Al Singhale was a standout — rich pink sauce paired with wild boar sausage made it truly unique and memorable. The Pollo al Rosamarino was another winner — tender, juicy, and packed with flavor. What really elevated the entire experience was the exemplary service. The staff was attentive, kind, and made sure everything was perfect for our special occasion. The owner personally welcomed us with such warmth, making us feel like family from the moment we walked in. This place is a gem — we will absolutely be back! 🍷🍝🍕

Great place, good ambience. I went there for my father's birthday and we really enjoyed it. The staff is professional and knows what they are talking about, plus a great whine selection. Will be back definitely.

Several years later & this place is just getting even better! For sure our favorite spot for the best Italian food in San Diego! It's hard to pinpoint one favorite dish, but some of my personal faves are their Caesar salad (one of the best if not THE BEST around!), the meatballs (appetizer), funghi ripieni (appetizer), risotto al funghi, salmone al vino, pollo al rosmarino, & the osso bucco special are some of my go-tos although it's always very hard to choose. And don't get me started about their wines by the glass! There are so many great options- primarily Italian of course- & they are so great about helping you find the right one. Service is always on point here! Don't forget to end your night with some limoncello. I'm already dreaming of my next visit!

I was looking for a good happy hour spot last minute that was close to a friends job and I stumbled on this spot. I will make a bold statement to say that this the best Italian spot that I've been to in San Diego for the overall experience. We were greeted with smiles after confirming our reservation. They have a patio in the front with heat lamps but we opted to sit inside. We were sat quickly and greeted by our server which provided us with the specials for the night. To be as busy as they were, I did not expect to get the level of attentiveness that was provided (excellent job). The inside is more intimate and it felt like a family/friends dinner as we interacted with the tables around us. After a lot of deliberation, I decided to go with the waitresses suggestion of the seafood fettuccine. It was originally a red sauce but they were able to make a cream based for me which was impressive. The plates were portioned nicely which included shrimp, scallops, mussels and other. I also requested to have the tail removed off the shrimp which they did. The flavor was on point and the seafood was cooked to perfection. They did not skimp at all on the sea meat. lol the only thing I would critique would be the sauce because it was thick enough but the flavor and spices were there! Plus it was made on the fly so kudos to the chef. My friend ordered the lasagna and mind you, she never finishes her food when we go out however, she did that night. She said it was the best lasagna she ever had (unfortunately I didn't taste it). We finished our dinner off with a complimentary shot of coffee ice cream which went well after our meal. As we sat, my friend decided to try the crème brûlée which I am not usually a fan. I will be confident to get it here because it was also really good. Perfect texture with just the right amount of sweetness. Overall, I am very happy to have found this place and will easily be a go to for the future!

Second time here and it was just as amazing as the first. The staff is so warming, welcoming, and friendly. Paola definitely made our night! She is the hardest working person there. She never made us wait for a drink, and had our food out super fast. The staff there is top notch. Despite being a busy restaurant, we never felt neglected. She was very attentive, friendly and fun! We are definitely coming back. This is the experience we should be getting anywhere we go, unfortunately it is not. And this is why this place stands out to us.

Wonderful Italian spot in downtown San Diego. The mom and Pop feel definitely makes it cozy and the menu is to die for! The lobster ravioli pasta I had with some of the best I've ever encountered and the beverages were great. They also have an expansive wine menu for those that indulge and a fully stocked bar if wine is not your thing.

As always, The food was pure perfection! The presentation beautiful! The service was impeccable! The ambiance is comfy, cozy, romantic! We had Caesar salads, garlic bread, and fettuccine with clams! Complimentary shots of Lemoncello to complete a 5+ Star evening at Vinarius!

We are walking distance to here from our stay. We made a reservation and were a little early We split a salad and ravioli dinner with pesto. We added grilled shrimp as a treat. Absolutely the best pesto i have ever had. And I told the owner so. He checked on us a couple times to see if we liked our dinners. Italian ambience and a kind waiter direct from Rome. For a while, I was in Italy

Service was great, nice wine selection and food was delicious! It is such a cute place!. Definitely a local favorite!

This is a lovely restaurant to take a date to. It's a has great food and the flavors are amazing. The hospitality from the servers and the staff are one of the best. Their serving staff are very attentive and make excellent suggestions. Their cocktails were tasty great for the ladies and a nice selection wines from Italy. It's a must try restaurant. I usually don't write many reviews. I felt this restaurant deserves to be recognized. Go and enjoy an amazing night with spouse or other half.

This small Italian restaurant was amazing! All of the meals we ordered were delicious and the service by Mark was outstanding. When I get back to San Diego I will definitely return to this restaurant.

We flew down from northern CA to try this place as we received a recommendation from friends. Food: we ordered the Pizza Salsiccia (appetizer), garlic bread, and split an order of the pappardelle ragu and funghi pasta (one order of pasta is HUGE, splitting one for 2 people was already filling). The pizza was yummy, the garlic bread was crispy and buttery (soooo delicious) and the pasta was divine (perfect pasta chew with veal and mushroom). Although I wish the pasta sauce on the pizza and pasta was a bit more flavorful and add a bit more salt (but still delicious)!!! Service: we were greeted by the owner? and was super friendly. Servers and owner were very attentive and checked up on us frequently. They replaced our plates and utensils after the appetizers and filled up our waters. We also got complimentary limoncello shots which were strong and tasty! Total came out to be around $100 for 2 cocktails, 2 appetizers and a pasta which is very generous in this economy. Overall my party and I felt at home and cannot wait to be back!

Stopped in here on a whim while waiting for someone. I asked the gentleman standing outside if they've got happy hour and he happily brought me inside. Inside you'll find a cozy, intimate wine bar stocked with all sorts of wine, liquors, and cocktails. The ambiance is nice. You could come here for a date or to catch up with friends. The booth style seating is a nice touch. The only oddity are the bright orange seats at the bar, which don't fit the otherwise warm vibe. Service was great -- all three gentleman that I interacted with were welcoming and helpful. On to the happy hour. It isn't advertised but they've got it from 4-6PM and it's got a host of well priced small eats. There's a house red, a house white, beer, and a couple of spritzes. This is a sore point. It's a miss for a wine bar to have only 2 wines on happy hour when the industry standard is at least a few different types of wine or a flat discount on all wines. The house wine tastes like a red blend -- nothing special but it does the job. Overall, this is a good spot. There's room for improvement but I wouldn't hesitate to come back.

This place continues to be my #1 spot to visit in Little Italy. Cozy vibe, amazing food, and amazing drinks by bartender Paula. Must try if you're in the area!

Delicious food. Abundance of amazing wine. Fantastic service. Perfect ambiance! Everything about this restaurant was perfect. I got the ravioli filled with crab and topped with a lobster tail. Absolutely delicious. Perfect sauce pairing. Also got an appetizer, stuffed mushrooms. Stuffed with CRAB. So freaking yummy, highly recommend. The husband also loved his dish. He ordered a glass of wine, from Italy of course, and it was super smooth. Lots of flavor, without being bitter or overshadowing the food. He also got a cocktail, paper crane. Probably the best paper crane I've had before. I 100% recommend this place if you're looking for a romantic date, a dinner by yourself, a dinner for the family or just some great food while catching up with a friend.

Have you been to southern Italy yet? I mean, southern Little Italy...LOL! Met up with friends to celebrate a birthday, and she suggested here. I had never been...didn't know about it. What a great little gem! We didn't have a reservation, but a group just left and the owner said we could take the front table. They have an extensive wine list and I chose a great Italian red. I did start with a dirty martini which was perfect! Eri started with a delicious Manhattan. We ordered an capricciosa salad, fritto misto, and the polpette to start...all sooooo good! A great way to start the evening. I ordered the lobster ravioli which came with a lobster tail, and it was soooo delicious! Everyone ordered something different and couldn't be happier. I can't wait to explore the menu more. It is a cozy little spot, with tables and wall seating. There's also a bar that you can sit at. They have a great happy hour menu!

Wow. Best meal of the year. We showed up at 8:10 PM and they close at 9 o'clock. This is local mom and Pop type place and while they politely let us know that they were closing soon, they were happy to see us in a spot outside under the heater. Service was prompt yet unrushed. Very gracious and did a great job of explaining the specials for the day we both opted for the Oso Buco with mushroom risotto. What an awesome choice. It was the best meal I've had this year. Their suggestion of garlic bread was spot on and really rounded out the meal Cocktails were delicious, although the Manhattan was a little heavy on the vermouth for my personal taste. A nice shot of lemon cello to finish the meal, and was the perfect end to an excellent meal. While I am at the type of person that likes to try a new place every time, I would definitely come back here next time I am in town.

Found this spot while perusing the Yelp Top Restaurants to eat. What caught my eye was the happy hour special! They have an amazing Happy Hour special (4-530) where you can get: Flatbread Margarita Pizza Fried shrimp and calamari (this was nicely breaded and crisp) Sicilian meatballs Crostini bread Your choice of 2 glasses of house wine or 2 spritz! You sit at the bar, which has only about 7-8 stools. Unfortunately, you cannot partake in the happy hour if you are seated at the table. My recommendation, come when they open so you have a seat! Nice deal for 2 ppl, and the restaurant is far enough from the crowds in Little Italy but close enough to walk if you want some dessert or drinks.

One of my favorite spots in Little Italy, if not, the best! Great, authentic staff, amazing food and drink options. 10/10

10/10 ! This place is the place to go when you want THAT experience. Not only are the people so nice, the food amazing, the advice on wine , the wine so rich but the environment overall gives you a feel good experience. I decided to get the seafood special after the description said me convinced me I needed it. If you are looking for a place for the perfect date night please come here you will not be disappointed but will want to come back the next day.

My wife and I came out to this restaurant on a Saturday night. The service was fantastic! It was quick, yet provided an intimate feeling for my wife and I. We were extremely satisfied with the food, drinks, atmosphere, and service. Highly recommend this place ! We will be back soon enough!

No other place I would like to go too, the food is scrumptious + the outstanding service is a YES for me. The owner is very friendly and attentive! I recommend you check it out for yourself, you will not be dissapointed. Staff are on top of it and very kind and make you feel at home and welcomed. Kuddos to the kitchen, always on point with the flavor & quality of the food is excellent. Portions are great! I dont know about you, BUT I prefer quality over quantity!! Its small space but very open environment, the music not too loud but relaxful. The light is not too bright but the perfect shade for dinner where you can see the plate infront of you. I can't get enough!!!

Omg what a gem! Ambiance was very cozy and intimate. Wine selection was impressive. Very much enjoyed the artichoke appetizer and the Burrata! I enjoyed the sea bass special and my wife loved the chicken rosomarino dish she had. Service was very good. Oh, make sure to not miss out on the pistachio gelato and lemon cello cake...So Good!

Was welcomed as we walked up to this restaurant and sat inside. The menu looked amazing and the service was great. Seemed very authentic and every bite was delicious. The waiter even brought us a shot to close out the night. I would definitely go back. It's hard to find good Italian food with bursts of flavor but I guess you can't go wrong if you hit up Little Italy. Check out what we ordered in the photos.

Outstanding. Food was absolutely delicious. We feasted on the artichoke app, garlic bread, sea bass with risotto, chicken parm and pistachio and ricotta cake. Highly recommend all dishes. The portions are generous, we definitely took some home. The wine list is adventurous, as a wino, I enjoyed seeing and trying so many new wines/varietals. Jacob our server was attentive and knowledgable on the wines to help guide our choices. The interior is decorated nicely and sitting outside is good too to people watch.

Great Italian food isn't hard to find in Little Italy and I'm happy to add Vinarius to the rotation! Initially, I was drawn to their incredible happy hour only to realize it didn't happen over the weekend (which should've been obvious to me!) Even then, we enjoyed drinks and a delicious penne pasta! Their cocktails are delicious and I had a fun lemon drop martini. The pasta itself was very good! Definitely a quality dish. Service was attentive and kind. Be aware that this is a small restaurant so there is limited space inside. I'd recommend making a reservation if being inside is necessary for you. If not, enjoy the San Diego weather outside!

Great visit here! The owner greeted us and showed us to our table. Great atmosphere, old Italian feel. Nice cocktails. The garlic bread starter was excellent. Two of us had the seafood pasta special which was fantastic!! Outdoor seating available but we were inside. Great server and staff. Excellent experience.

Food and service and ambiance was great! It was my second time returning to this restaurant and will be back in the future!

Absolutely incredible food, wine, service and atmosphere. Feels like you are in Italy! I had the wild boar pasta with peas - it was phenomenal. Perfect date night spot.

Honestly, I am not sure where I should start. okay, so let me start with the exemplary customer service, absolutely superb. To explain, it was like visiting long distance family who love you for the first time, very authentic and very welcoming. The food, we started with the charcuterie board. We are pescatarian, and this restaurant was able to accommodate. We had imported various cheeses from Sicily, where the owner was born. phenomenal customer service provided by Francesco and Jesus. The icing on the cake was the owner Greeted us personally and was very welcoming. We appreciate the FLAVOR, the quality, the attention to detail, the ambiance. of greater importance, authenticity, the team effort, the vibes, past reviews do not lie, a MUST experience. Will definitely return to try more menu items.

This was our first night in Little Italy in a long time. Since there were no reservations available online, we called and were told that outdoor seating should not be a problem. When we arrived, they seated us with enough space for our dogs, who were fine under the table. The food was delicious and the wine was excellent. We started with bruschetta, which was perfect. My son ordered calamari as usual and loved it. The boys also had meatballs, which they found very successful. Our entrees were pasta dishes. The boys shared a lasagna, which they said was really good. I debated between the Primavera and the Ravioli alla genovese. While I prefer tomato sauce to pesto, I love spinach and mushrooms. I asked about the chef's selection of vegetables and was told the primavera comes with a lot of broccoli, which can overpower the pasta. Don't get me wrong, I like broccoli, but I prefer variety and don't want to search for the pasta on my plate. My son even said, "Mom, this is the first time I've heard you say there are too many vegetables in a dish!" This dish, however, was the perfect combination with some broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, and other vegetables, all served with perfectly cooked al dente pasta. We finished with sorbetto al limone, which was very light and exactly what we needed.

Hands down the best restaurant in Little Italy, food and service top notch! Small place, so reservation is always recommended.

Absolutely loved the food, the service and the ambiance! No wonder it's such a popular restaurant! Will definitely go back when we are in San Diego again! A great find!!! Beware! The portions are large! We shared a burrata salad and one pasta dish, and still had leftovers! And OMG, their bread is amazing!!!

Quiet and peaceful ambience good for date nights or catching up with friends. If you choose to go here for happy hour, you have to sit outside or at the bar to be able to receive the happy hour special. This place opens at 4 PM. They have excellent food and drink options. The service is a bit slow, but they make up for it with their friendly service and excellent food .

I have not reviewed the wrong restaurant! You should address the quality of the food.

Paola was an amazing server. It's a charming restaurant and bar with excellent food and service. They were super friendly and accommodating. We had a stroller with us and they helped us make it work. If they minded they certainly did not show it. The lasagna was out of this world. At end they gave us complimentary lemoncello shots for our party. We were taken aback and grateful for such a warm welcome and outstanding food and service. Generous portions to boot!

A fantastic little gem in Little Italy. First and foremost, the service and the staff are phenomenal, especially the server, Paola and the manager Giuseppe, both of whom treated my family and I like family and took amazing care of us. The ambience is wonderful. It feels like you're in a tiny little bistro, but with amazing food and an especially impressive bar. They make fantastic martinis here, and I highly recommend getting a proper mixed drink, something I don't say with most Italian places. The food to bottom is really good. My osso Buco was basically perfect and everyone in my family loved what they ate, whether it was lasagna or ravioli or pizza. This is just a place that seems to do everything very well and when you combine it with the location and the staff, you've got a perfect place for any kind of dinner.

Recommended to us by our friends at Go Postal. They found us a spot immediately without reservations- seemed fortunate becuase the little place packed out quickly. We ordered seabass and sea linguini from the specials. The meal was actually quite good- I was impressed with the seabass cook. Service was just right as well. The price was a little hard on the wallet but I recognize we are paying for location and in the middle of four year "left" season ‍ An easy five stars.

This place is amazing! Fantastic service with smiles! Great ambiance! Great drinks and wine! Food is exceptional! Really a phenomenal place! Pace of dinner was spot on! A fantastic experience and I'll be back!!

From the moment you walk in you realize this is a special place. You are warmly greeted and realize this is a cozy but friendly place. Limited seats so we were glade to have made a reservation. Excellent service on finding a perfect wine and recommendations of food. The wine and expresso martini was delicious. The food, chicken parm & the pappardelle ragu and fungi were to die for. Highly recommend both. We also got the garlic bread which was a notch above the rest. Complimentary lemon cello shots were brought which was a great for then us to order some gelato. I loved my pistachio. Absolutely will be back. Seemed like a family joint with welcome to newbies like us. Loved it.

Very hospitable, great service and very enjoyable dinner. The evening special of Seafood Pasta was well prepared and delicious., Thank you.

Food is incredible, we had the burrata, lobster ravioli, and pizza and everything was so delicious. Presentation is great. Service is great. Ambiance is great if you're looking for a place with the right sound of music but still being able to hold a conversation. Price was really reasonable for the service and quality of food - and again the taste. Will come back next time in San Diego.

Completely blown away by this small but mighty Italian eatery. So intimate yet robust. We made our reservation via Yelp and we were. Greeted and seated promptly. Imagine being transported back to Rome in a small but beautiful atmosphere where seats aligned the perimeter of the restaurant and a beautiful bar was the center of attention. My husband and I can confidently say that we have frequented Italy and this spot is true form of our dining experience while in Rome. The service we received from Paula ( role of in house bartender and server ) and Jesus ( her right hand man) was so so so welcoming and traditional. Traditional in the sense that we were able to enjoy our drink(s) and appetizer without a rush to order our entrées. Paula was so patient yet attentive and Jesus was equally accommodating as well. We started with the artichoke appetizer and a bottle of their finest Brunello. Followed by the meatballs and garlic bread. For the main course we shared the house special: the seafood pasta dish that was full of scallops, mussels and topped with a full lobster tail. Absolutely shareable and delicious! The custom coffee drink made by Paula was the cherry on top. I highly recommend VINARIUS in little Italy for your intimate date night rendezvous ( insert wink emoji )

I love this place - it's the best Italian restaurant in the area. The service is friendly and welcoming - they give great wine recommendations. The food is impeccable- you can't go wrong. And do not miss on the ricotta & pistachio cake (I think it's better than the tiramisu, if someone forced me to pick between the two!)

Just wow! Great location, the service was fabulous, and the food blew me away! This used to be a cute wine bar before COVID, so I was happy to see it was replaced with another wine bar. I've been coming to Little Italy for over 9 years, and there are so many options when it comes to dining, and I will most definitely be returning to Vinarius after tonight's experience. Cute wine bar & restaurant in Little Italy! The food was fresh and so delicious! I ordered the Salmone Al Vino (Wild salmon served over sautéed spinach, shrimps finished with a Chardonnay wine sauce), and also ordered one of the featured specials, which was fettuccine with scallops, shrimp and lobster (in an unreal creamy sauce). I didn't have a reservation (went on a Wednesday evening for dinner, and we were quickly seated and taken care of). We got so lucky dining in on a Wednesday, and got to enjoy LIVE MUSIC! Since Fridays and weekends are busy, it would probably make sense to make a reservation in advance. PROS: * fantastic location in Little Italy * menu with a variety of options (fish, pasta and pizza) * fresh ingredients * delicious food * plenty of wine options (duh) * water on the table as soon as you are seated (love this for anytime dining, but especially when having drinks with dinner) * HAPPY HOUR * excellent customer service from all (we have 3 people stop by to check on us, refill water and bring food) CONS: * parking can be tricky (but so worth it to find a parking spot!)

Everything about this restaurant was amazing! My husband and I felt like we had been transported to Italy. The best fettuccine Alfredo I've ever had! To die for!!! Beautiful ambiance and excellent service! The owner, Guiseppe, greets you at the door and all of the servers were extremely attentive and so friendly. We will definitely be back!!!! Thank you!

Absolutely perfect. The food was incredible and the service could not be better. I got the seafood pasta special!

very impressed with the food and the service here, for sure sets the standard for downtown. we enjoyed our sea food dishes and didnt expect the desserts to equally be as good! Bartender makes some great cocktails and spritz's! live music is played throughout the week and both inside and outdoor areas are great, lots of parking options nearby.

Amazing Italian Restaurant in Little Italy, San Diego. This restaurant feels very homey. Great customer service. We had a reservation and chose to sit outside as it was a great night out. Food options were great and the food was freshly prepared. Unfortunately they didn't have house made cannolis but overall a great experience. Looking forward to going back!

Wonderful experience tonight with a friend of mine, who came again to this place from the Bay Area. She recommended it and we had a great experience. Warm, attentive, personable staff, delicious food and wine, and excellent customer service. Authentic Italian cuisine with a nice vibe. Will be back and would recommend to friends and family.