Dinner in Little Italy

Hello, there! How was your weekend? I spent most of it lounging around which was thoroughly enjoyed. While relaxing, I somehow got sucked into a Bridezillas marathon. That show i

s addicting!

Anywho, I wanted to save the favorite part of my trip to San Diego for last. Our hotel was in walking distance of San Diego’s Little Italy. I actually didn’t know that such a place existed in San Diego so I was eagerly awaiting the dinner we had planned. Swanky boyfriend found a restaurant that got great reviews on Yelp. Boy, did he do good.

Our date night was right down the street from Date.

Little Italy was so quaint. I loved all the restaurants and store fronts.

Buon Appetito was the restaurant the boy had chosen for our evening in Little Italy. The weather was beautiful so we sat at a small table outside (with heating lamps for those people like me who are cold easily).

I had briefly looked online at menu options but when I started perusing the menu, my indecisiveness kicked in. There were so many delicious options to choose.

While deciding on an entrée, the server brought out bread served with a delicious marinara dipping sauce. The boy and I both agreed the marinara was such a nice change from either butter or olive oil and vinegar. After a slice, I realized that I needed to save room for my entrée.

Before dining, we had called the restaurant to see about a corking fee (which was only 15 bucks). The boy brought a bottle of cabernet sauvignon to enjoy with our meal. It was one of the wines we shared on our first date and he remembered how much I liked it.

Although I am no wine connoisseur, this wine is fantastic and very smooth. It was a really sweet thought too.

Alright, let’s get to the dinner!!

This food was a-m-a-z-i-n-g! Since we wanted to sample a few items, we started off with two appetizers to share.

The caprese was first among our choices. Give me fresh mozzarella any day!

Fresh mozzarella layered with basil and tomatoes drizzled with oregano infused olive oil and topped with sliced red onions

Although this is a traditional dish, I loved that they added a personal touch with the roasted peppers and red onion.

Leave it to me to choose a cheesy and creamy appetizer. Since trying my hand at making polenta at home a while back, I was not convinced I really liked it. This Polenta All Bosciaiola had such unique flavors combined with the polenta that I had to give it a try.

Grilled polenta served with wild mushrooms sautéed with olive oil, garlic and parsley and topped with Gorgonzola cheese

The creamy texture of the polenta pairs so well with the chewy mushrooms and pungent gorgonzola. This appetizer was outstanding. I can’t wait to try and recreate this at home. Polenta, you will get another chance in my kitchen for sure.

Clearly, we hated it.

The boy and I got all gussied up for our last night out. I just love date night!

Although going back and forth, I finally decided on one of their dinner specials for my entrée, Gnocchi con Carciofi.

Potato dumpling tossed in pesto cream sauce with artichoke and chopped tomatoes

These soft potato pillows literally just melted in my mouth.

I have never had a creamy pesto before but this sauce was lick-your-plate-clean delicious. The bites of tomato and artichokes added not only more flavor but different textures to the softness of the gnocchi. I am so glad I ordered this.

The boy was also in love with his dish. He is quite the foodie like me. He was very happy with his entrée choice, Fusilli al Ragu’ d’ Anatra.

Ragu of duck topped with shaved Parmigiano

We left Buon Appetito already planning our next trip back.

To walk off our meals (which we had to box up), we walked up and down Little Italy and check out the sights. I loved that the street was lined with lights. It added an Italian touch, in my opinion.

There were little reminders of Italy wherever you would look. How beautiful is this electrical box.

I loved getting a little taste of Italy while in San Diego. If you ever are in Downtown San Diego, I highly recommend visiting.

If you missed my last two San Diego posts, you can catch up on them:

Tony’s Half Marathon, Sea World, and Seaport Village

Staying at the Porto Vista, Seaport Village, and Mission Beach

Thanks for reading! Since I am officially recovered from my vacation (don’t you feel like you need a vacation from a vacation), I am getting back on track tomorrow with gym time, cooking, and cleaning.

How was your weekend? Have you ever been to a Little Italy?

Tagged as: buon appetito, italian, little italy, restaurant, san diego, vacation