Charisma Cucina Italiana

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Charisma Cucina Italiana
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Charisma Cucina Italiana

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Address:
142 University Ave.
San Diego, CA 92103

Neighborhood:
Hillcrest

Getting there ›
Cuisine:
Italian

Price: $30 and under

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More Details ›

Charisma Cucina Italiana Details

Dining Style: Casual Dining
Website: http://www.charismacucinaitaliana.com
Email: info@charismacucinaitaliana.com
Phone: (619) 209-3636
Hours of Operation: Lunch: Daily: 11:00am - 4:00pm; Dinner: Nightly: 4:00pm - 10:00pm
Payment Options: AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Cuisine: Italian, Mediterranean, Comfort Food
Dress Code: Casual Dress
Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
Additional Details: Beer, Cafe, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking Area, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Personal wines welcome (corkage fee applies), Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine, Wine Bar

Getting there

Cross Street: 3rd Avenue
Public Transit: 10, 11, and 1 buses
Parking: Street Parking
Parking Details: Street parking and local lots are available.

A word from Charisma Cucina Italiana

Charisma Cucina Italiana is an intimate, family-owned Italian restaurant, located in Hillcrest.

Charisma Cucina Italiana

4.1

16 $30 and under restaurant

Featured Reviews

More Reviews ›

Reviews from OpenTable Diners Learn More

20 Current Reviews

Summary of Diner Ratings & Reviews

Overall

(Outstanding) 4.2 / 5

Food

(Outstanding) 4.3 / 5

Service

(Outstanding) 4.3 / 5

Ambiance

(Very Good) 3.9 / 5

Noise Level

Moderate

20 Current Reviews

Summary of Diner Ratings & Reviews

Overall

(Outstanding) 4.2 / 5

Food

(Outstanding) 4.3 / 5

Service

(Outstanding) 4.3 / 5

Ambiance

(Very Good) 3.9 / 5

Noise Level

Moderate

Filter Reviews By:

Diners classify this restaurant as:

neighborhood gem(11)
fit for foodies(6)
romantic(6)

special occasion(6)
great for lunch(4)
late-night find(2)

Current OpenTable.com Diner Reviews (20)

Overall rating

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Neighborhood gem

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 03/31/2012

2011

Dined on 03/31/2012

2011

Food

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Service

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Ambiance

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Noise Level

Moderate

"Great service and excellent food. There is not much meat in the pasta list but the gnocchi and the tortellini were outstanding"

Dined on 03/31/2012

2011

Special Features: fit for foodies, special occasion

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Overall rating

(Very Good) 4 / 5

the panacotta with Nutella

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 03/25/2012

2010

Dined on 03/25/2012

2010

Food

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Service

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Ambiance

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Noise Level

Quiet

"the panacotta with Nutella was AMAZING!!!"

Dined on 03/25/2012

2010

Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, romantic

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Overall rating

(Good) 3 / 5

The service was terrible starting

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 02/16/2012

2005

Dined on 02/16/2012

2005

Food

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Service

(Poor) 1 / 5

Ambiance

(Fair) 2 / 5

Noise Level

Energetic

"The service was terrible starting with being ignored when we walked in. The food was good, but we were never told the specials and they were out of several items early in the evening. The tables are very close together, and a group next to you can make it impossible to talk."

Dined on 02/16/2012

2005

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Overall rating

(Very Good) 4 / 5

A real neighborhood gem...

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 02/17/2012

2007

Dined on 02/17/2012

2007

Food

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Service

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Ambiance

(Good) 3 / 5

Noise Level

Energetic

"Second time we eat here, this time with friends. Authentic Italian food, its authenticity being heightened by its atmosphere: dark, unpretentious, genuine Italian waiters..... Good menu, good wine, definitely a neighborhood favorite in our books"

Dined on 02/17/2012

2007

Special Features: late-night find, neighborhood gem

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Overall rating

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Had a great time on Valentines

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 02/14/2012

2011

Dined on 02/14/2012

2011

Food

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Service

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Ambiance

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Noise Level

Moderate

"Had a great time on Valentines day. Food was great so was the service"

Dined on 02/14/2012

2011

Special Features: romantic, special occasion

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Overall rating

(Good) 3 / 5

Read good reviews on Charisma,

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 02/14/2012

2009

Dined on 02/14/2012

2009

Food

(Good) 3 / 5

Service

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Ambiance

(Good) 3 / 5

Noise Level

Quiet

"Read good reviews on Charisma, so we were hyped up for Valentine's Day dinner. What we didn't know was that they were having a fixed menu that night...very disappointing. Food was just OK...better Italian options in Hillcrest."

Dined on 02/14/2012

2009

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Overall rating

(Fair) 2 / 5

Food is OK, basic Italian

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 02/11/2012

2005

Dined on 02/11/2012

2005

Food

(Good) 3 / 5

Service

(Fair) 2 / 5

Ambiance

(Poor) 1 / 5

Noise Level

Energetic

"Food is OK, basic Italian fare that is prepared reasonably well. Menu not very creative; daily specials better.
Very small space with few decent tables (four tops) along walls or window. Tables for two are in the middle and in pathways or kitchen door banging proximity. When dining on Saturday night, restaurant was mostly empty (two-thirds), so requested a larger, better table after being told by bussboy to "sit anywhere". Snippy host (owner?) immediately came by and refused that request, saying they had "reservations" for larger parties, which never materialized during our dining time. Later arriving guests (two tops) were given those better, larger tables. Snippy host came by and moved our small tables together to "appease" us?"

Dined on 02/11/2012

2005

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Overall rating

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Great experience! This was

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 02/11/2012

2009

Dined on 02/11/2012

2009

Food

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Service

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Ambiance

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Noise Level

Energetic

"Great experience! This was our second time here. We had a fantastic meal the first time, and even better this last time. Everything we ordered was amazing. The service was prompt and attentive. Italian restaurants where the staff all speaks Italian adds to the authenticity. My wife and I walked away saying we have a new favorite restaurant in San Diego."

Dined on 02/11/2012

2009

Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion

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Overall rating

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Really authentic Italian food.

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 12/31/2011

2007

Dined on 12/31/2011

2007

Food

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Service

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Ambiance

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Noise Level

Energetic

"Really authentic Italian food. You can tell they use excellent ingredients - e.g., a simple pasta with olive oil tasted a heck of a lot better than other places, we're guessing b/c they use high quality olive oil. Small restaurant, we went there with a group but would be a great date night place too."