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CUCINA urbana, San Diego, CA
Award-winning

CUCINA urbana

4.7 (7203)
$30 and under
Italian
505 Laurel St., San Diego, CA 92101

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 42 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Neighborhood gem
  • Great for fine wines
We are a wine shop inside of a restaurant | Dining and design form the perfect union at San Diego's highly acclaimed CUCINA urbana, a California-inspired Italian kitchen and wine shop, located in the heart of Bankers Hill since 2009.

The restaurant boasts comfort and familiarity, welcoming diners to a country farmhouse with the added whimsy of a contemporary art installation.

CUCINA urbana is the originator of the CUCINA retail wine program where each dedicated shop allows guests to hand select wines at a retail price, either to enjoy with their meal for a minimal corkage fee or for purchase to-go. The wine list is comprised of many familiar labels as well as rare and small-batch gems, with an emphasis on Italian varietals.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Italian, American, Mediterranean
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Tim Kolanko
  • Catering
    URBAN KITCHEN CATERING provides four star, stunning events with menus unique to your occasion. For more information check the URBAN KITCHEN CATERING link on our website www.urbankitchengroup.com or call Alison at 619.239.2222 extension 2. Or if interested in restaurant buyout opportunities, please contact Tiffany Tassano at 619.239.2222 extension 4.
  • Private party facilities
    From birthday celebrations and corporate dinners to graduation celebrations and wedding receptions, our space is perfect for your dining event. Our Wine Shop offers an intimate semi-private space for smaller functions, while larger groups are welcome to host their event using our entire restaurant as a private venue. We offer: wine specialists, who will design pairings for your meal, personalized printed menus, table decorations, specialty to-go gifts, and more.
  • Award-winning
    1. MICHELIN Bib Gourmand 2023
    2. MICHELIN Bib Gourmand 2022
  • Neighborhood
    Banker's Hill
  • Cross street
    5th avenue
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Complimentary Old Globe Shuttle

    Multiple dates available
    Headed to The Old Globe? Let us do the driving. Dine at CUCINA urbana before your show time and add a complimentary shuttle ride to Balboa Park. No matinee shows | advanced booking required Available on evenings during regular Old Globe show schedule.
    Complimentary Old Globe Shuttle Photo

What 7,203 people are saying

CUCINA urbana reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.4Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
CUCINA urbana offers "amazing food" and "fantastic service," with standout dishes like squash blossoms and whipped feta. The atmosphere is vibrant, complemented by a knowledgeable wine selection. While some found the noise level challenging, the "friendly service" and creative Italian cuisine make it a "top-notch" dining spot in San Diego.
7,203 Reviews
  1. Jose Alfredo

    San Diego1 review

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful, love it! Service is great, food is great.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Gina

    San Francisco Bay Area8 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had such a great celebration dinner here. The food was fantastic and the selection of wine amazing. Our server Bella took great care of us. We arrived early and got to sit at the bar and share a pizza and cocktails. The bar staff made us feel at home. Wonderful people all around. I highly recommend this restaurant for a celebration or a fantastic dinner out!

    Is this helpful?

  3. Jordan

    Houston1 review

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Absolutely an amazing experience! Family of 4 and LOVES IT. Highly recommend and will be back for future trips to San Diego.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Joanne

    Atlanta1 review

    5.0

    Dined on June 9, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food, service and ambiance for a small team meeting.

    Is this helpful?

  5. robin

    San Francisco Bay Area16 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 9, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Loved the $16 specials! The chopped salad is my absolute favorite! Thx

    Is this helpful?

  6. Ryan VIP

    Orange County2 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on June 9, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Overall a very underwhelming experience the pasta was not flavorful and the special dishes were lacking

    Is this helpful?

  7. Jane

    San Diego1 review

    5.0

    Dined on June 9, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing food—everything from their Italian salad to the pizza and apps was delicious. Service was amazing and such a great spot to go before watching a show at the Old Globe. Highly recommend!

    Is this helpful?

  8. Sofia

    San Diego1 review

    5.0

    Dined on June 8, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Everything just great! The pasta is amazing and the service very friendly.

    Is this helpful?

  9. George

    San Diego10 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on June 7, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    This was an outstanding dinner experience, unfortunately our recent experience was significantly below par (mainly due to food options and taste). Im would be hardly compelled to drive 30 minutes for this level of dinning experience. Server was great!

    Is this helpful?

  10. Droo

    San Diego1 review

    5.0

    Dined on June 7, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Lovely place reasonable on price, great staff. Perfect experience

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

CUCINA urbana offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (619) 239-2222.

CUCINA urbana is rated 4.7 stars by 7203 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. San Diego
  4. San Diego
  5. Banker's Hill

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 42 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for CUCINA urbana

505 Laurel St., San Diego, CA 92101

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Award-winning
    1. MICHELIN Bib Gourmand 2023
    2. MICHELIN Bib Gourmand 2022
  • Cross street
    5th avenue
  • Neighborhood
    Banker's Hill
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Italian, American, Mediterranean
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Tim Kolanko
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
  • Catering
    URBAN KITCHEN CATERING provides four star, stunning events with menus unique to your occasion. For more information check the URBAN KITCHEN CATERING link on our website www.urbankitchengroup.com or call Alison at 619.239.2222 extension 2. Or if interested in restaurant buyout opportunities, please contact Tiffany Tassano at 619.239.2222 extension 4.
  • Private party facilities
    From birthday celebrations and corporate dinners to graduation celebrations and wedding receptions, our space is perfect for your dining event. Our Wine Shop offers an intimate semi-private space for smaller functions, while larger groups are welcome to host their event using our entire restaurant as a private venue. We offer: wine specialists, who will design pairings for your meal, personalized printed menus, table decorations, specialty to-go gifts, and more.
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