Diners' Choice: Neighborhood gem restaurants in North San Diego

OpenTable

Updated October 05, 2024

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighborhood gems in North San Diego? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Rosina's Italian Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (1177)

$30 and under

Italian

Poway / Rancho Bernardo

About the restaurant

Rosina's Italian Restaurants is traditional, casual and family friendly. We prepare our pastas and sauces fresh daily. Rosina's is a great place for a business meeting in our larger additional dining room, special gathering date night, or family dinner.
Hand Made for 30 Years
We serve healthy, Mediterranean recipes the Italian way: homemade soups, fresh vegetables, classic Italian cuisine from the heart of Italy. Our family has prepared meals for San Diegans for almost 30 years.
Find out why your neighbors are calling both of Rosina's locations hidden gems, and make sure to try the nightly dinner specials!

Top review

Sylvia

Dined 6 days ago

Best fuscilli a la coda with large shrimps I ever had. Great salad, great dipping sauce for bread.

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Popular dish

Fettuccine Mare e Monte

Urbana Del Mar

4.8

4.8 (150)

$30 and under

Contemporary Mexican

Carmel Valley

About the restaurant

Its ‘Dia de los Muertos’ every day at URBANA, the Skydeck's most colorful restaurant. Farm Fresh Mexican Chef inspired plates. Complementing the menu, URBANA’S sexy departure on craft cocktails featuring Tequila and Mezcal favorites as well as top shelf agave spirits. Massive smiling murals a tribute to owner Javier Cuadra's Michoacán upbringing where ‘Dia de los Muertos’ is celebrated to define URBANA.

Top review

Randyvip

Dined on Sep 28, 2024

Every single food item was super flavorful, and the drinks were generous. We sat outside because inside was very noisy, and it was lovely!

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Experience

URBANA hora feliz

Dolce

4.7

4.7 (694)

$30 and under

Californian

Rancho Santa Fe

About the restaurant

Dolce is a high quality, inviting atmosphere and the perfect Ranch neighborhood hideaway. Intimate and lively, Dolce offers delicious local, rustic wine-country inspired cuisine, fine wine and occasions for joyful gatherings.

Top review

Jessicavip

Dined 1 day ago

I come in from out of town for business. It has great food, relaxed atmosphere, lovely staff and a very nice manager / owner. Perfect for business or any occasion dining

Wrench and Rodent Seabasstropub

4.7

4.7 (1361)

$30 and under

Sushi

Oceanside

About the restaurant

Please call for reservations of 7+ (760) 453-2738

Founded in 2013 by Davin and Jessica Waite, Wrench & Rodent is a space for culinary exploration and collaboration. This cozy, eclectic restaurant quickly became a destination for those who appreciated Chef Davin’s creative approach to celebrating local and responsibly sourced fish and produce.

In addition to a set sushi menu, Wrench offers an omakase as well as a list of specials that change daily. The team is committed to reducing waste and enhancing flavor by elevating all cuts of fish and veggies, as well as featuring a diverse range of species. Many menu items are simple, fresh and creative, with a lesser-known fish species complimented by ingredients from the backyard garden. Byproduct utilization drives the menu as well, and recent explorations with aging techniques have led to a dry aged fish program. Plant-forward preparations are also celebrated, and a vegan omakase is available upon request.

Top review

Mayavip

Dined on Sep 29, 2024

Some of the best sushi I’ve had in my life. I’ll be thinking about that meal for a while

Vittorio's Italian Restaurant- San Diego

4.7

4.7 (631)

$30 and under

Italian

Carmel Valley

About the restaurant

Italian trattoria and wine bar.
Favorite neighborhood Italian restaurant

Top review

Brigitte

Dined 5 days ago

Awesome Food and Service as always. Vittorio's has been our favorite Italian restaurant for a few years, it's always an excellent experience

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Experience

Tuesday Date Night

West End Bar & Kitchen

4.6

4.6 (953)

$30 and under

American

Del Mar

About the restaurant

Nestled across from the beautiful lagoon at the Torrey Pines State Reserve in Del Mar, West End Bar & Kitchen matches the scenery with contemporary American updates to world food, a true ‘melting pot’ cuisine.

Enjoy lunch or dinner served with casual professionalism on our covered patio or in our dining room, both with spectacular views of the lagoon.

Choose from our extensive lists of handcrafted cocktails, local & regional craft beers and eclectic wines from around the world to complement your food, or just watch nature play out for you as the sun sets.

Top review

thomas

Dined 6 days ago

This place is a hidden gem. The food is creative well prepared and matched with great service.

Same Same

4.6

4.6 (9)

$31 to $50

Thai

Carlsbad

About the restaurant

Inauthentic Thai, Jungle Vibes, Eclectic Drinks.

We are located on the second floor of the Carlsbad Village Faire Shops at the top of the east staircase.

Same Same has the perfect space for birthday bashes, holiday parties, corporate events, wedding festivities, and more!

*Reservations are for Dinner guests only, our bar is always open seating!
*Grace Period for reservations is 15 mins

Top review

shawn

Dined 7 days ago

Great tasting food with a Thai twist. Everybody raves about the drinks, they were okay, food was the best.

Shimbashi Izakaya

4.5

4.5 (973)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Del Mar

About the restaurant

Shimbashi's theme is based on the Izakaya, a Japanese tapas restaurant. We offer a multi-faceted menu that can be used as a pairing with sake for the light eater or sophisticated dinner entrées served in the Japanese tradition. Our menu changes with the season making each dining experience a new adventure.

Top review

Erin

Dined 6 days ago

Found this restaurant through open table and I am so glad I did. Service was fantastic, food was delicious.

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Popular dish

Omakase Sashimi

Le Papagayo Encinitas

4.4

4.4 (2243)

$30 and under

American

Encinitas

About the restaurant

Le Papagayo blends New American and Pacific Coast cuisine to create an amazing fine dining experience. The Chef and Myself combine the freshest of local ingredients and flavor to create a unique character for each meal created from scratch.

Dining at Le Papagayo is a full experience that will delight all your senses.

Amazing food and a warm and inviting dining room which looks like an art gallery are all part of the experience.

We also offer a heated patio and unplugged live music every night.

Top review

Kristen

Dined 2 days ago

We've been coming to the restaurant since 2008 for family dinners and birthday parties and it's the best!! Last night didn't disappoint and even topped our prior experiences for my mom's 83rd casual happy hour birthday party. The owner sat us down, the manager came over twice to check in on us AND they gave her a signed birthday card with a free dessert! Blown away and still so happy to support this local staple.

The Cork and Craft

4.3

4.3 (201)

$31 to $50

American

Poway / Rancho Bernardo

About the restaurant

Located in Rancho Bernardo, The Cork and Craft elevates traditional cuisine in a manner we call, Refined Comforts.

We are San Diego's only restaurant, winery and brewery in one. Why all three? Why not? We have a passion for food, wine and beer; what better to do than create a business that revolves around all three in one place? This enables us to borrow techniques and leverage the different facilities to create truly unique products to satisfy a wide gamut of taste buds.

The Cork and Craft boasts 40 taps and an extensive wine list so our guests can sample some of the best beer and wine from around the world. Our food is focused on bringing refined plates in a casual environment.

Top review

Kim

Dined on Sep 6, 2024

Service was fantastic. Beer is always good, and the food is excellent

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