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Catania, San Diego, CA
Award-winning

Catania

4.8 (2159)
$31 to $50
Italian
7863 Girard Ave, Suite 301, San Diego, CA 92037

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 44 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
  • Great for outdoor dining
Inspired by an Italy road-trip Chef Ryan and I (Arturo) took back in 2008, we’re pleased to introduce Catania, the newest member of the Whisknladle Hospitality family. Here, we’ll be featuring simple, seasonal and authentic Italian Coastal Cuisine (None of the Italian version of TexMex you see most other places). Our commitment to authenticity will be evident in our use of wood burning ovens and grills, an all Italian wine list as well as an exclusively craft Italian Beer program. (Yes, Italy has an amazing craft beer movement nobody’s heard about.)

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Contemporary Italian
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Sat, Sun 12:00 pm–3:30 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–8:30 pm Fri, Sat 3:30 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Ryan Johnston
  • Private party facilities
    Whether you’re planning a party or a meeting, enjoy the attentive service and personalized touches that take the average private dining experience to the next level with Whisknladle Hospitality. With four restaurants to choose from & a wide selection of menu options, the possibilities are endless. Email events@wnlhosp.com for more info.
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Award-winning
    1. MICHELIN Plate 2022
  • Neighborhood
    La Jolla
  • Cross street
    Girard and Wall
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 2,159 people are saying

Catania 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

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.5Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • San Diego

    Italian

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Catania in La Jolla is a culinary delight with "amazing food and service" that consistently impresses visitors. Known for its "beautiful ocean views" and "creative cocktails," the restaurant offers a memorable dining experience. Guests rave about the "authentic Italian cuisine," featuring standout dishes like duck orecchiette and branzino. The attentive staff and welcoming ambiance make it a must-visit destination.
2,159 Reviews
  1. Doug

    Washington, D.C. Area15 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 1
    I live in La Jolla Village, blocks from the restaurant. I had family from out of town and wanted to share the experience of eating at Catania. We were seated in what has to be the worst table in the restaurant, a booth facing the kitchen. If the kitchen was visible, I think it would have been interesting and okay, but you’re only able to see the heads of people in the kitchen, so you’re staring at three small two tops and the heads of the chefs. We asked about outside ( there was a high top available, but that wasn’t an option for my guests) We asked if we could wait for another table and were told it would be an hour and a half. All this was at 5:45 pm when there were multiple tables unseated. Our food and service were fantastic! I would definitely return, but never again inside facing the kitchen. Such a disappointment for my out of town guests.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Tyeesha

    East Texas5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The ambiance is perfect for an intimate night out. The view is great on the patio. It was a little chilly that evening but they even have heaters that made it super comfortable. The food and drinks were excellent!!! We did wait quite a while for everything to come out but it was worth the wait for sure.

    Is this helpful?

  3. P

    Orange County8 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent service and food would recommend it highly

    Is this helpful?

  4. Ed

    Palm Springs / Palm Desert Cities2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent food and excellent service. What more can you ask for as a customer. Catania was our favorite Italian restaurant when my wife and I lived in San Diego. We just did a weekend trip back to San Diego and made sure that we went back to Catania. The food hasn’t changed one bit and the service was stellar. Meals like this one make us wish that we still lived in San Diego

    Is this helpful?

  5. Julia VIP

    San Francisco Bay Area19 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful. Service, recommendations, and food - always great. Thanks!

    Is this helpful?

  6. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco Bay Area1 review

    4.0

    Dined on June 5, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Overall great ambiance and location. However I find it strange they add an automatic addition of gratuity and then say that guests need to ask for it to be removed if they want it removed.

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  7. Stuart VIP

    Philadelphia County9 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on June 1, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Excellent service and very good food but not outstanding- limited menu

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  8. Lesley VIP

    San Diego13 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 28, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We always enjoy Catania and have an excellent experience.

    Is this helpful?

  9. Michael VIP

    Los Angeles2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 25, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    10 out of 10 food and service! plus a beautiful view of the ocean!

    Is this helpful?

  10. Kitty VIP

    San Diego32 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 24, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    We really enjoyed our dining experience at Catania. Food was great, ambiance was nice on the front patio, and service was excellent. They also have creative, tasty cocktails. We will definitely be back!

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

You can order delivery directly from Catania using the Order Direct button in Additional Information section.

Catania is rated 4.8 stars by 2159 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. La Jolla

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 44 times today
Google Map for Catania

7863 Girard Ave, Suite 301, San Diego, CA 92037

Additional information

  • Award-winning
    1. MICHELIN Plate 2022
  • Cross street
    Girard and Wall
  • Neighborhood
    La Jolla
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Sat, Sun 12:00 pm–3:30 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–8:30 pm Fri, Sat 3:30 pm–9:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Contemporary Italian
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Ryan Johnston
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Phone number
  • Private party facilities
    Whether you’re planning a party or a meeting, enjoy the attentive service and personalized touches that take the average private dining experience to the next level with Whisknladle Hospitality. With four restaurants to choose from & a wide selection of menu options, the possibilities are endless. Email events@wnlhosp.com for more info.
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