Best Hot Spot Restaurants in College Area

We really like the options on the menu, different and new things to taste. The service was really good, but not outstanding. The place it’s kinda small, on the inside it’s very loudly, but in general it’s good. I would recommend it, pretty good option to choose in San Diego!

My wife and I had such a great evening at Giardino Neighborhood Cucina in Lemon Grove. The food was incredible – the Pappardelle Bolognese was rich and flavorful, the Tiramisu was perfect, and the wine selection really brought everything together. Roberto, our server, was amazing—so friendly and attentive. After dinner, we checked out Zest, the wine bistro right next door, owned by the same people as Giardino. Heather was working there and gave us great recommendations for wine, making it a perfect way to end the night. If you’re looking for delicious Italian food, awesome service, and a great spot to relax with a glass of wine, Giardino and Zest are a winning combo. We can’t wait to come back!

The great news: service was excellent, food spot on. We had bread (must have), beets, and a charcuterie plate to start, which was plenty for four of us. All was excellent, but the charcuterie was the standout: perfectly balanced, beautifully presented, and even came with notes so you knew what you were eating. For dinner, we had filet mignon, wagyu skirts, and a ribeye. All were superb and cooked exactly to specification. Desserts and drinks were also very good. The less fabulous: We asked for a quiet corner since it is a busy and crowded spot, and while we were in a corner of the private room in the back, so was a loud party of 6 or 8. We asked if they could do something, but nothing was done. Parking: Even at 5:30 on a Sunday, it was not easy to find a spot close by.. If there'd been valet, we'd have definitely used it. All in all, we'd do it again for a special occasion. The manager did listen to our noise issue, and acknowledged it impacted our experience tonight, so I don't expect it to happen again

AS ALWAYS EXCELLENT FOOD!! I HAD COD AS SPECIAL OF THE DAY,,,THE BEST!! WE ARE REGULARS AT THIS RESTAURANT AND HAVE NEVER BEEN DISAPPOINTING. THE COD WAS SUPERB, SERVICE VERY GOOD, ATMOSPHERE NICE FAMILY SETTING. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED WITH FAIR PRICING. YOU WILL LIKE THIS RESTAURANT VERY MUCH. ENJOY!!

We were there mid afternoon Christmas Day. It wasn’t to crouched and the service was good. Food was great. They have a nice patio dining area and an open air bar that were fairly quiet, but I did notice inside was kind of noisy due to all hard surfaces. Overall very nice experience.