Allegro Restaurant and Bar Reviews

My wife and I ate here on the recommendation of the hotel concierge. Somewhat noisy due to low ceilings. Had a table on the patio. Ordered cocktails and gave our dinner choices and wine pairing. Told the waiter to hold off putting the dinner order in until we had our cocktails. But, the cocktails were delivered and less than two minutes later the entrees (caprese salad and orchietta pasta with Italian sausage), arrived ! When I talked to the waiter he seemed surprised that we did not want the entrees with the cocktails. He offered to remove the cocktails from the bill. The entrees were great and the wine pours generous. Too bad this restaurant is in such a rush to have diners order, eat, pay the bill and leave. This made the meal unpleasant. Could have been an outstanding meal, but was not. If I return, would have to have a cocktail first then order dinner. This supposes that the waitstaff cooperates. Overall good food, but execution lacking.

Three of us had dinner and while the dishes were tasty, they were not memorable. As another reviewer stated the main courses came too quickly. We were not finished with the appetizer and the mains showed up. Felt very rushed to get us out. Nice wine selection. We ate outside and enjoyed the atmosphere. Not sure I’d go again.

I came to Allegro with a few friends for happy hour oysters. We were excited to try the special, but from the moment we sat down, our server Marco C treated us with visible hostility—dirty looks, cold demeanor, and zero effort to make us feel welcome. Despite the poor service, I still left a tip of about 14%, which I felt was more than fair. To my shock, when I checked my credit card statement later, I discovered that they manually adjusted the tip and gave themselves over 30%. That is outright fraud, and I’m currently disputing the charge with my bank. This kind of behavior is unacceptable and unethical. Whether it was Marco C acting alone or a wider issue with the restaurant’s practices, Allegro should be ashamed. Between the rude service and the shady billing, I will never return—and I strongly warn others to stay far away. Customers deserve honesty and respect, not deception.

Excellent hospitality thank you Bebe for the amazing service! Allegro’s food is amazing and great taste! Excellent food

Our last night in San Diego and friends made reservations for 7 of us for dinner. Ate inside as outside tables were full. Several of us ordered the astronomically priced specials- $65 for a seafood pasta which included half a lobster and $51 for a mahi mahi over risotto with a lobster sauce. All tasteless and the mahi so overcooked that it tasted more like cardboard than fish. Expensive bad dinner - sad to say it left a bad taste in my mouth. Never again.

Restaurant in Little Italy. We sat outside, ultrafast service. I liked the octopus hors d'oeuvre , the main dish was ok. Unlike many other places it wasn't too loud, so you could have a conversation.

So we were visiting from just up north Orange County area and thought we do a getaway to the San Diego mission bay area. With an evening open before us and our favorite food being Italian we thought we try allegro. It looked interesting on the website. There were six of us so getting a table on our holiday weekend was not easy but they were very accommodating and we had one within minutes that was a great thing. It was a nice table and we dined alfresco. The good part is it the food was tasty but served lukewarm the service was left very wanting! Our server was AWOL most of the time and we had to actually ask the host for additional items. I ordered the carbonara which I’ve had many times at other restaurants. It was tasty but again served not hot enough and not the traditional carbonara. We noticed another table received bread we did not receive any at all. A small thing but when the service is not very good in general and everything else is just sort of iffy any little thing kind of gets to us. I probably will not dine in here again. I’m guessing maybe it was just a bad night for them. The place was very very busy and packed so I am assuming that they have a good reputation in general we were just a bit disappointed

Came for a wedding luncheon. The food was fantastic starting with the Sicilian Artichokes and the Cesar Salad. Also had the lemon chicken and the braised short ribs over pasta were so delicious. We had the lemoncello dessert was also excellent. Try it when you are in Little Italy. Enjoy!!!

I'm writing this review after a truly disappointing experience at this restaurant during my sister-in-law's bachelorette party. We were excited to celebrate and had high hopes for the food, but what transpired was unacceptable. Two of us ordered the linguini vongole with clams. After the first bite, my sister-in-law choked on a large shard of clam shell. I frequently order similar dishes elsewhere and have never encountered crushed shells mixed in like that. We rushed her to the restroom to dislodge the shell, which was terrifying. I immediately informed a server about the incident, and she was very apologetic, promising to find the manager. However, when the manager arrived, he showed little concern and simply offered my sister-in-law a limoncello shot as a way to make amends. We declined and requested he meet us at our table, but instead, we were left dealing with our server, Benjamin Z. He refused to remove her dish from our $700 bill, claiming it was a risk she took by ordering clams. There was no empathy or apology from him, which was incredibly frustrating. After repeatedly asking for the manager, the manager finally came back to the table and again offered shots, but all we wanted was for the dish to be removed off our bill! Eventually, he did fix it, then we left quickly, feeling disheartened. To top it all off, we later noticed that BENJAMIN Z had added a bottle of wine to our bill without our consent. We returned, and the manager resolved that without question. As someone who has worked in the service industry for over a decade, I'm shocked by how poorly this establishment handled our situation and the lack of care regarding food safety. I can't recommend this place to anyone based on our experience.

This restaurant had the upscale ambience with nicely set dining tables that felt special the moment we sat down. The waiter was very classy and sincerely helpful in the old fashioned way with his service. I got the Cumber Cocktail and it was very good, the Allegra pear salad with blue cheese along with Knotted bread to share with my husband. Then the Gnocchi was creamy, savory and rich. I loved it, the lack of texture was made up by the pear salad. My husband can’t have dairy and he was extremely happy with the chicken dish. We left thinking this was a 5 star Trip Advisor restaurant in San Diego, it sure scored with us! Thank you Allegro Restaurant and Bar San Diego!

Pros: - great presentation of food - very tasty appetizers, especially calamari - fair prizes - fast, attentive and knowledgeable servers - not as busy as other restaurants so no wait at all - nice inside ambience Cons: - relatively small selection of food

We brought the whole family, kids and dogs. They were very accommodating. Food and drinks were great. Attentive service by Bebe.

We had a nice table by the street. Very hopping area with lots of people out and about. Food and service was okay, just didn't wow us.

The decor was very beautiful especially the lemon trees on the ceiling. It was very busy and the music was pretty loud inside but not loo loud that you still have a conversation without yelling. They had lots of outdoor seating even for larger groups. Loved the vibe and ambiance. Service was kinda slow through although they were quick to fill up our water glasses but the entrees took about an hour to come out. We also ordered truffle fries which came out after about 20 minutes but were worth the wait. The bucatini carbonara was very delicious, pasta cooked perfectly although I felt that the pork belly seemed a bit out of place. The Ravioli all’ Aragosta (lobster ravioli) was also pretty delicious. Fettuccini scoglio was a spicier pasta with a good amount of seafood, the pasta was a bit overcooked but the sauce tasted really good. If you want the pasta in the cheese wheel they only serve it Sunday through Thursday. I saw this on the menu so wasn’t surprised since we ate there on a Saturday night.

great restaurant, very good and light food; very welcoming and pleasant staff. lo recommend. thank you very much to alessio, very nice and kind Italian waiter

Give Sunshine and Megan a raise! They were the best hosting& I’ll be coming back here for sure. The spritz was amazing and the food is top notch! I am going to say this again GIVE THEM A RAISE!

A nice spot in Little Italy, but everything was downhill from there. The service was horrible and the waiter couldn’t have cared less about what he was doing. We ordered a beer and then our meal and waited for the promised appetizer bread to arrive. We were hoping to have a nice evening out. 5 minutes later, our main courses arrived. Totally inappropriate timing. The waiter shrugged and blamed it on the kitchen. Told us the bread was in the oven and would arrive shortly. When it appeared, it wasn’t warm at all. The waiter had just been feeding us a line. Our plans for a nice evening out were ruined. Before it got any worse, we walked out (something we never do). If you have any interest in a nice evening out for dinner, look elsewhere! Allegro was a joke.

We went on a Monday and the true the food was not desirable , we order the parmesan wheel ( and it was like fettuccine alfredo with chicken, the flavor was more like when you order at Domino’s is supposed to be very tasty but it was a fiasco) another plate was the salmon and ot was overcook very dry ,also we ordered two plates of seared scallops and shrimp there it was soso but the scallops it two small ones and two medium shrimp. I believe the princess are high for what you got and the service it was also soso. I strongly not recommend this place there are better restaurants in little italy for same range of prices.

We stayed in San Diego and went to eat at Allegro restaurant, it was a great experience, we had a great time, great food and impeccable Service, we were served by Alessio, an Italian guy who was able to advise us perfectly, and was very kind. Even the girl at the Welcoming was kind. If you go to San Diego I recommend this restaurant.

This spot had a lovely ambiance. My boyfriend and I sat outside near the road (which can be a bit noisy, but fun to people watch), there was also heaters and a mini fire on the table to keep you warm. Service was great- water being topped up constantly, friendly and attentive. Food was delicious- I had the gnocchi, very creamy, 10/10, and my boyfriend had the spaghetti all a carbonara which he also said was very good. Overall great experience, the restaurant was very busy by 7pm on a Friday night.

Good food and a nice place to be the tables was a bit on the high side for the chairs that we used. But the chairs was very comfortable. They charged us full price for the items that where on happy hour. W where the first guests of the day. So be aware.

Awesome service, drinks not bland like most places. The waiter Bebe was very nice and took care of us. We will be back for sure

As a solo guest, Marco was on point. Had to pour my last glass of wine, but other than that, muah! Everything was on point! However, Honor your advertising on half price wine Wednesdays though. I will visit again and highly recommend this spot!

**Unacceptable Service and Disappointing/Dangerous Experience** I had high expectations for Allegro in San Diego, but unfortunately, the entire experience was a disaster from start to finish. We were in town celebrating a dear friend's bachelorette party, and this was supposed to be a special night. Instead, it turned into a huge disappointment. From the moment we sat down, our server, Benjamin, was visibly rude. He rolled his eyes when we ordered our drinks, setting a sour tone for the evening. But the worst part was still to come. I had ordered the clam linguini, and after my very first bite, I found a sharp object lodged in my throat. I became panicked and ran to the restroom to try to get the object out. It turned out to be a large broken piece of a clam shell, about 2 inches long. After a few attempts, I was able to force myself to throw up the shell. I stood in the bathroom stall in tears over what just happened. I immediately notified the manager, who shockingly asked why it was even an issue and suggested I take a shot of limoncello to alleviate the pain. This response was incredibly disrespectful and dismissive, considering how dangerous the situation could have been. We then asked if they were going to comp the dish, and instead of addressing the concern, our server argued with us, raising his voice and saying it wasn't a big deal. When we asked to speak with the manager again, Benjamin reluctantly agreed, only after more arguing. The manager returned and told us that pieces of clam shell in the pasta were "normal" and that was how the dish was prepared. Both the manager and the server said "that is the risk you take when ordering this dish", somewhat saying "order at your own risk!" The manager seemed annoyed that we were even asking for compensation for what was clearly an unacceptable mistake. After much back and forth, they finally agreed to comp the one dish--out of a $700 bill. To top it off, we later discovered they had added a $50 bottle of wine to our bill that no one ordered, likely trying to make up for comping the dish and hoping we wouldn't notice. For a restaurant that charges premium prices, the service and handling of this situation were beyond unprofessional. What was supposed to be a special night ended up being a stressful and disappointing experience. I highly recommend avoiding Allegro if you're looking for good service and a quality dining experience.

I’m not, by any means, a connoisseur of Amatriciana but it’s the best I’ve ever had. Sangria was killer, too! Yeah, service was slow, minus one star.

Such amazing food!! The Allegro Lasagna is soooo delicious, my new favorite 😍 Bebe was our server- very sweet and welcoming! Definitely made our experience delightful and will be coming back!

Bellissimo!!! I read an article in a local magazine and had been craving something Italian and super-delicious; I made a phone call and stopped in for happy hour to get half-price oysters on the half-shell. If the oysters had been any fresher, they would have slapped me. I nearly ordered another batch, but had my heart set on a Caesar Salad. And it was the most unusual, unexpected and perfect one I have ever enjoyed. At first it appeared to be "un-dressed." completely devoid of dressing. But I was mistaken-this salad was dressed so lightly and freshly I barely tasted it. How often is a simple salad pure perfection? Almost never. This was best described as deconstructed. It was magnificent and I would have licked the plate clean. Two exotic, attractive, and skilled bartenders took care of my every need. My beverages were never left empty. When I received the Tagliatelle Bolognese I almost cried from sheer delight. It was like a picture in a food-porn magazine. And I took a small forkful with anticipation building. when the deliciously cooked perfectly -sauced pasta hit my tastebuds they did a happy dance. This dish was like a warm hug from Nonna! I was unable to eat more than a few bites, but they gladly provided boxes and I also ordered Tiramisu to bring home...rarely is dessert a disappointment, but this one was an absolute mess. The addition of strawberries was not a good thing, and made the dish runny and just not good. Everything else was amazing and I wouldn't hesitate to dine here again. The room had an eating on the patio vibr indoors, with faux lemons hanging from the ceilings. And the cute shirts of the bartenders were lemon-printed, which added to the overall charm. Didn't notice what servers on the floor and outdoor area wore, but the place just oozed charm!

Yummy food, our waitress, Sunshine, made this experience better, the food was delicious and had good portions that we could eat it for tomorrows lunch. Would go again.

Excellent food and service! Good vibes and cocktails too. We had carbonara, Bolognese, and the capers appetizer. We also had wine and the lavender cocktail.

Walked in here for a nightcap. Super cute place with good vibes…reminds me of the Amalfi Coast with the lemons in the ceiling. We didn’t eat but had a drink at the bar. Peach Smash on the left (usually served with ice but I asked for it UP, and it was very yummy) and a Manhattan on the right. Didn’t get our bartender’s name but he was very nice, very friendly and def knows how to make a good cocktail. Would definitely come back again, and maybe try the food as well.

These restaurants should have to post a sign for this surcharge nonsense. We spent $300 at this place and they add a surcharge - for what? From now on I will be asking if there is this practice before going to a new place. Review before the surcharge nonsense would have been " Ambience was very nice with pretty lemon decor including the waitstaff shirts. Enjoyed calamari appetizer $19, shrimp pesto fettuccine $36, chicken dish $31 and ossobuco ravioli $28 and all were very good. Server was excellent and knowledgeable".

Sophia was an amazing server. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was great. The lobster ravioli is a must. Will definitely be coming back

We stopped here after flying in because we stayed around the corner. I got the pasta zucchini and my husband got a salad. Both were good! Our service was great and all of the staff checked on us and gave us recommendations for our trip. It was a great first impression of the city!

Dined here on a Friday night with a party of 7. We had a table under the lemon trellis that had a fire pit separating the two sides. We asked for it to be turned off because it was too hot. Our service was fine, in fact excellent. There were some timing problems though with one dish missing. As for food quality, it was bland. My gnocchi was light but not hot when served. It was bland. Others commented too that their food was nothing to write home about. The desserts we ordered were mostly cannolis. I have to say they were not good at all. So bland with tasteless shells which were too hard. The lemon cake was good. Overall, in spite of the good service, the prices and mediocre food flavor make Allegro not be a place we would visit a second time.

This was our first time to eat at Allegro and we'll be back! We went for happy hour and was amazed at the Happy Hour choices! We had red and white wine plus calamari, bruschetta and grilled artichoke - Amazing!! Soooo enjoyed all the Little Italy activity on the street, too! Our waiter, Massimo, was so special. We'll be back!!

We had been for HH before and decided to come back for dinner. We were early, so very attentive service. Not as crowded or noisy as other spots in Little Italy, but we thought the food, prices, and service were wonderful. Homemade pasta. Lots of outdoor seating as well.

First of all they changed our table without any reason, just because they wanted, food was neither good neither bad, personal went around us giving us strange looks and unbelievable the waitress that attended us apparently didn’t speak any english. Other waitress couldn’t take away used dishes to bring new ones so he just decided to shut them in the table. The most disrespectful thing was that they brought us the check when weren’t even close to finish our dishes and they was still a lot of people in the place, after that we decided to stay a little bit longer talking and the waitress just kept coming asking again and again if we were ready to leave, just within 2 minutes each time! They wanted us out of there so bad. Adding to the horrible experience personal kept talking italian in front of us and looking at us, plus they charged the tip to the check. Don’t waste your time and money in this place, they are so many better options with way better service.

We were a group of 11. At first, service was a bit slow, but then Mauritzio stepped it up. Cocktails were delicious and so were the appetizers. Bread was served with a garlic butter and was very fresh. I had the lobster pasta and it was one of the best things I ever ate. Wish I was local so that I could have taken my leftovers home. Sauce was spicy and flavorful, seafood was plentiful and the pasta was homemade. We skipped dessert to go to a local ice cream place, however, they did serve complimentary limoncello at the end of the night. My only complaint, no AC (or it wasn't on) and it was a bit warm.

R and G was unexpectedly closed so we opted for this nearby back up. What a great choice. Beautiful inside and outside restaurant. Comfortable seating as well as fantastic service staff. Food was delicious. Highly recommend the Caesar salad, Spanish octopus and Chilean sea bass, accompanied by Super Tuscan wine. The comp bread was also a winner.

Allegro had been recommended to us by a local. I had the carbonara and my wife had the lobster ravioli. My was so-so, not what I was used to in a carbonara. The ravioli was fishy tasting. Service was okay. Very disappointing, especially at this price point. Way over priced

Worst dinner ever! The food was absolutely disgusting. Very expensive. Several dishes on the menu were not availavle. Terrible oddor outside. Would not recommend it to anyone. Plus there are a great number of alternatives. We sat there because it is one of the first places you see and we awfully regret it.

Last night a group of 40 of us went to Allegro for a business dinner. The main problem was the food, it was simply not good. Specifically the octopus was undercooked and so rubbery, it was uneatable. The oysters were tiny and the calamari were not great either. For the main course I took the ribeye steak and was really disappointed. It was not served as requested and unfortunately was tasteless. No seasoning at all and was covered with an overcooked mushy porcini sauce. Finally two major fails on two different desserts, the cannoli and the limoncello cake. Both were sent back and were attempted to be charged anyway. Definitely not a repeat for me.

We went for dinner. We had pasta and seafood. The food was good but overpriced. Our waiter gave us the impression he was snobby. Most expensive restaurant we went to all week.

We had dinner and it was good.The service was great, the food was just okay, nice ambiance.The place is overpriced compared to the food quality.There is a much better restaurant in 2 blocks from Allegro-Bon Appetito and it’s cheaper with much better food. I don’t think I’ll ever go to Allegro again.

Saw a sign and decided to try their happy hour and oysters before dinner. Super. Personable staff. Great prices. Main dishes being delivered at tables nearby made us decide we will definitely come here for dinner next time.