Operacaffe is an inviting restaurant in the Gaslamp District serving authentic, award-winning Italian cuisine. It is the history and experiences that make Operacaffe truly different than the many other Italian restaurants in this area. From the menu items to the romance of Italy that decorates the atmosphere, Operacaffe makes for the perfect restaurant for an authentic Italian experience.
Tuscan & Florentine cooking by a husband-wife team at this warm eatery with sidewalk seating. Based on 616 reviews, the restaurant has received a rating of 4.6 stars. Price $$
✔️ Dine-in ✔️ Takeout ✔️ No-contact delivery
Address:
835 Fourth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 234-6538
Social Profile: 
Hours
| Friday | 4–10 PM |
| Saturday | 4–10 PM |
| Sunday | 4–9:30 PM |
| Monday
(Labor Day)
|
4–9:30 PM
Hours might differ
|
| Tuesday | 4–9:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 4–9:30 PM |
| Thursday | 4–9:30 PM |
Menu
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Menu Photos
Photo Gallery
Order and Reservations
Reservations: opentable.com
Reviews
Ree Jax
It’s ok. The server was very nice but the service was slow. I would recommend if you go here not to be hungry and order drinks and enjoy your conversation. The salmon was cooked way too well done and had no seasoning. The risotto wasn’t cooked all the way. The vibe is cool so if you’re on a date … nice place. It’s a mix of casual and romantic so a sun dress is perfect.
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Justin Wolfman
Came with my fiancée for dinner on a Sunday evening around 6pm. Since it was Sunday, street parking was free, and we lucked out and found a parking spot just a few blocks away. We had a reservation, but it wasn’t overly crowded so probably would have been okay without it. The hostess brought us to our seats and gave us an overview of the menu and the specials, which included ossobucco paired with a saffron risotto. As soon as she started describing it, I knew I had to order it. The server started us off with some complimentary bread (seemed like focaccia to me) paired with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, which was quite good. Next we had the fried burrata, which was excellent – perfectly crisp on the outside, melty and creamy on the inside, and paired with a delicious tomato sauce. The ossobucco was divine – melt in your mouth tender, rich, veal that was braised all day long – and it went perfectly with the saffron risotto. We were pretty stuffed after the meal, but took some limoncello cake to go. All the staff was very friendly, and we really enjoyed the experience. Would certainly recommend this if you’re looking for some more upscale (but not overly expensive) Italian fare in downtown San Diego!
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Arcadio Mora
Amazing food! Freshly made pasta and bread. Staff was excellent! The whole restaurant was nicely decorated. But again, amazing food! The gnocchi was so good!v lobster ravioli was very good as well.
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Jason B
Truly delicious, authentic Italian cuisine. Their house made pasta is honestly one of the best we’ve ever had. Our waitress and all other staff were super professional and knowledgeable. My fettuccine with truffle oil was really good. Not too oily. I enjoyed it very much with a glass of red wine. We concluded our dinner with a dessert that was just right.
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Tony M
Excellent service, quick and efficient. The space was surprisingly more casual than I expected.
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MD Nguyen
The cioppino was good but the pappardelle duck ragu was just phenomenal. It was so sublime that everytime I go do SD, I have to eat it!! The orange zest touch was in perfect harmony with the texture of the pasta and the truffle oil. Definitely, one of best Italian dishes I have tasted in North America. Other great dishes include the Ossobucco, linguine tartuffo Nero and the ravioli with crab. Great service, friendly staff.
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Charmaine Marks
Superb dinner on our last night in San Diego. Read previous reviews and decided to give it a go. Wasn’t disappointed! Ravioli porcini was delicious! Homemade ravioli and you could certainly tell . My husband had Bucatini Mare e Monte which was also amazing. All well presented, flavoursome and well priced for the quality. Only gave 4* for the atmosphere as there was only one other couple eating at the same time as us but we were very early evening.
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Jesika Boaz
Wow! I didn’t even want to go here but the concierge raved about it. I’m so glad we came! Everything was unbelievably great! It felt like we were in the beat restaurant in Italy! Take me back! Yummmm! The drinks and dessert were amazing too!
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Tracey Oium
Let me start by saying this is the BEST Italian food I’ve ever had. It was beyond my expectations and absolutely incredible. The staff was so attentive and kind. My daughter and I went to dinner while celebrating her birthday. The restaurant is bright and cozy with a exciting vibe. We started with homemade bread with olive oil & balsamic to dip it in… amazing. Our appetizer was arancini with another dipping sauce… incredible. My daughter got the ravioli aragosta and it was delicious!!! I got the asiago pepper gnocchi that was pure pillows of love!!! We finished with cannoli and that was out of this world!!! But the experience was beyond the food. We felt like family and were treated as such. The entire staff took great care of us, thank you !!! If we lived in SD we would be here every week. I will absolutely be back to try it again. If you are in the Glass Lamp district and want an amazing meal stop by!!! You will not be disappointed!!!
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Sam
Friendly and polite! Gave great recommendations when me and my friends couldn’t decide what we wanted. The food was absolutely AMAZING! I can’t wait to come back!
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