Diners' Choice: Best Overall restaurants in San Diego

OpenTable

Updated February 05, 2025

Looking for the best overall restaurants in 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 favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

NM Café at Neiman Marcus – San Diego

5.0

5 (336)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Mission Valley

About the restaurant

THE NM CAFE located in Neiman Marcus SAN DIEGO has been recently remodeled and is now open 7 days a week, 11 am- 4pm.

Laid-back luxe. Experience delightful dishes in a casual, contemporary atmosphere at THE NM CAFE® SAN DIEGO. Muted lighting and understated, modern decor create the perfect environment for a midday retreat. Whether dining with a group or simply ordering upscale take-out, expect delectable food and exceptional service that is synonymous with Neiman Marcus.

Let THE NM CAFE® host your next Baby or Bridal Shower. We pride ourselves on creating the perfect menu and ambience for your event in our chic and inviting atmosphere. Pamper the glowing bride- or mother-to-be in your life with the shower of her dreams or a lavish luncheon.

Top review

Jay

Dined 3 days ago

We had a lovely Valentines Day lunch. Consistent excellent wait staff and also consistent food quality makes this a favorite place for lunch in San Diego

Wildland

4.8

4.8 (34)

$30 and under

Californian

Carlsbad

About the restaurant

WALK-IN'S ONLY FOR BREAKFAST AND LUNCH.

WALK-IN'S AND RESERVATIONS FOR DINNER.

Wildland is an all-day restaurant, bar and bakery inspired by the natural landscape and vibrant community of North County, celebrating the creative culture of California by bringing bold ideas to timeless traditions.

Night or day, this is a place for the every day.

We open daily at 8am, with counter service up until 4:00pm, inviting you all to come in and join us on a first-come, first-serve basis for breakfast and lunch.

Reservations are available every evening, and walk in guests are always welcome.

Private Dining Room reservations are available for parties of 12-18 guests.

Top review

Riley

Dined 2 days ago

Great experience, awesome waitstaff and friendly chefs. Drinks were fantastic and every dish was delightful and unique.

Ambrogio15

4.8

4.8 (851)

$30 and under

Pizzeria

Pacific Beach

About the restaurant

An authentic but unique Milano gourmet pizza, a special dough recipe, an innovative pizza-making process, high-quality Italian ingredients, a holistic approach to the food and beverage world, a focus on sustainable agriculture and farming, along with a deep love for Milano, where Andrea, Giacomo, and Luca grew up, and for San Diego, where they studied, worked and became who they are now. These are some of the concepts that make up the Ambrogio15 project. The idea was born in both Milano and San Diego, in the minds and the hearts of three young Italian guys who decided to leave the corporate world to begin a new adventure of passion, friendship, and a bit of foolishness.

Top review

DanielVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Great service, really appreciate the staff. This is our regular weekly spot for a reasonably priced high quality pizza & salads in a cool atmosphere. Feels casual but special and authentic at the same time. Even for Valentine’s Day, it was nice normal menu with a few specials, not a bad prefix like many others. Please support to keep this place thriving!!

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Popular dish

Caesar Salad

Tapas & Beers

4.9

4.9 (514)

$30 and under

French

Downtown / Gaslamp

About the restaurant

Located in Downtown San Diego's historic Spreckels building, Tapas & Beers is a French and Spanish Restaurant.

We offer a large selection of Tapas plates to share between friends & family
but also normal size dishes if you don't want to share !

Our beers on tap selection highlights breweries from San Diego County and our wine selection from all around the world will make any wine lover happy too !

Everything you will eat at Tapas & Beers will be made from scratch to order with fresh and mostly organic ingredients !

Discover why our place isso highly rated !

Cheers!

Top review

GayleVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Never disappoints, we will be back. One of our favorites near the Civic Theater

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4.9

4.9 (1090)

$50 and over

Speakeasy

Downtown / Gaslamp

About the restaurant

Our team has been busy crafting an exciting new beverage experience, and we can’t wait to share it with you soon! In the meantime, you can still indulge in our signature 90-minute, three-course cocktail experience for $67 plus tax and gratuity.

Starting February 12th, reservations will feature the all-new Youngblood experience: an elevated three-course beverage tasting, with a few delightful surprises, priced at $86 plus tax and gratuity. We’re thrilled to unveil what we’ve been working on!

Come find us.

Top review

SusanVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Expert bartending, great vibes, exquisite drink menu

Baja Betty's

5.0

5 (344)

$30 and under

Mexican

Hillcrest

About the restaurant

If you are in the mood for creative, Tex-Mex inspired dishes, the fun and atmosphere of Baja Betty's in San Diego, CA is for you. This popular eatery provides diners with a colorful and entertaining setting in which to savor a full array of dishes made from the freshest and most authentic ingredients.

The menu at Baja Betty's features many expected options, such as a comprehensive quesadilla menu and array of satisfying combination platters. However, diners can also enjoy a build your own burrito or bowl, an array of house specialties and tacos and some stunning signature margaritas to wash it all down. The menu at Baja Betty's also offers a long list of tequilas and mezcals, a full range of appetizers, nachos, soups, salads and the best Taco Tuesday in town!

Top review

Julia

Dined on Jan 19, 2025

great food and service v

LIPS - San Diego

4.9

4.9 (94)

$31 to $50

American

North Park

About the restaurant

Lips has been San Diego's ULTIMATE in Drag Dining for 25 years! Dinner, Drinks & fabulous Drag Shows, as well as Brunch on Saturdays & Sundays. Enjoy a great meal & cocktails served up by over-the-top Drag Queens.

DIFFERENT SHOWS WEDNESDAY THRU SUNDAY. Wed: Bithcy Bingo; Thur: Dining with the Divas; Fri: Glitz & Glam Dinner; Sat: 2 Dragalicious Brunches & 2 Glitz & Glam Dinners; Sun: 2 Gospel Brunches & Sunday Nite Showstoppers. ***Prices- Wed/Thur/Sun Dinner: $35.95(shoe & 3-course dinner, drinks additional); Sat/Sun Brunch: $42.95(Show, meal & bottomless Mimosas/Champagne/Bloody Mary; Fri/Sat Nite: $49.95(show & 3-course dinner,drinks additional)

All shows subject to 7.75%sales tax & 20% suggested gratuity; $12 celebration package for Birthdays/Bachelorette/Anniversary/Promotion/Graduation. 16+ to enter; 21+ to Drink. GOVERNMENT ID REQUIRED-ALL IDS CHECKED AT THE DOOR

Top review

Alice

Dined 1 day ago

Eggplant with pasta was very tasty. My friends got the chicken breast with mashed potatoes. They both said it was good. The most fun I have had in ages. Performers were fun and entertaining. I highly recommend it 👌 I will go back.

The WineSellar & Brasserie

4.8

4.8 (1013)

$31 to $50

French

Sorrento Mesa

About the restaurant

Established in 1988, The WineSellar & Brasserie is San Diego's premiere destination for fine wine and exquisitely crafted locally sourced, organic fare.

Consistently ranked among OpenTable's Top 10 local restaurants, The Brasserie has been honored with either Wine Spectator's "Grand Award" and "Best Of Award Of Excellence" every year since our inception.

With your meal, enjoy a bottle from the adjoining WineSellar boutique wine shop or choose a wine from our award-winning list. Either way, you’ll find an outstanding selection of unique small-production wines not found anywhere else. Not in the mood for wine? Choose from our rotating list of craft beers or seasonally available craft cocktails.

Top review

Eddie

Dined 2 days ago

Our server Sophia was excellent and the food was delicious!

Baci Restaurant - San Diego

4.9

4.9 (1920)

$31 to $50

Italian

Old Town

About the restaurant

Baci Ristorante offers diners a hint of old world Italian charm, with plush booths, white tablecloths, and gracious servers clad in tuxedos. While the decor is subtly modern, the menu is classic, celebrating Northern and Southern Italian cuisine. Specialties include classic pasta dishes, veal, and fresh seafood, with especially tempting daily specials offered by Executive Chef Domenico Alioto. In addition to the cuisine, the restaurant's charming and welcoming features--include an extensive wine list, elegant patio setting, and romantic main dining room--have made Baci a consistent favorite among locals for over 30 years.

Top review

DougVIP

Dined 4 days ago

The service was spot on. The food was excellent. They were able to make a dish that was not on the menu and it was perfect. A good selection of wines were available.

Vinarius

4.9

4.9 (401)

$30 and under

Italian

Downtown / Gaslamp

About the restaurant

Vinarius is an Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar in Little Italy San Diego. We offer an extensive wine list with wines coming from different regions of the world; the best meat and cheese board with Italian cured meats and different cheeses to pair with our wines. Our chef Alex makes homemade pasta enriched with our homemade sauces, entrees, pizza, different appetizers to choose from, and desserts that pair well with our port wines and after-dinner drinks. You definitely have to try our daily specials!
Our cozy full bar is also the perfect place to enjoy your drink and food while watching some sports!

Top review

rob

Dined 3 days ago

Paula was exceptional, and helped make it extraordinary from cocktail, to appie, wine pairing for our main. The food was authentic Italian, perfectly paired with the service

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