Il Sogno Italiano Reviews

The service, the sangria, the pizza, the pasta… perfect! We dined outside and it was a perfect evening! The menu had a great selection and I wish we could have ordered more!

Excellent Italian food in heart of Gaslamp quarter of San Diego. The operetta that serenades us throughout our meal was incredible- what a voice. Highly recommend for a romantic dinner experience.

Lovely food. Great live music a jazz band and singer. The area is also really nice full of bars and restaurants. We will come back again next time we visit the USA

Amazing Italian gourmet food. Spectacular service and outstanding food menu. This place by far topped my authentic Italian home cooking. You if your are into life piano music amazing food and chilled restaurant this is the place for you. Enjoy!

Walking around the area on a Saturday morning nearing lunch time, was told about a happy hour at this restaurant by a very happy and friendly staff member. We decided to try it, ordering both drinks and wings. Both items were excellent and the service was the best we had in the couple of days we were in the Gaslamp area.

TL;DR: Excellent Italian food and good ambiance. Would definitely repeat. ***Ambiance**** This is a fine-dining Italian restaurant. Proper tablecloth with appropriate stemware and silverware. Seating is available both inside and outside. One very cool feature is that they have live music. Has a relaxed but chic atmosphere. This place is at a higher level than the neighboring restaurants on either side, so be prepared to pay up for the experience. ***Staff*** Both the check-in staff and the server were courteous and friendly. We had a reservation for outside seating and were seated promptly without any delays. Service was prompt and the server checked with us multiple times during the dinner. The server was also knowledgeable about the menu and had helpful suggestions for us regarding serving sizes and ingredients in a dish. ***Drinks*** They have a good selection of wine, but it was a hot day and I really wanted a beer. They have a small-but-adequate on-tap beer list. It is basically one of each style of beer, so you will be able to find something that you like. Most if not all of the beers were from local breweries. I got a blonde ale which was very good. It was crisp and was served in a pre-chilled glass which was very nice. I was deeply appreciative of the attention to detail by the bartender. ***Food*** Instead of having pages and pages of all possible combinations of pasta, sauces, and meats, they have a selective single-page menu. For example, you will not find the ever-popular run-of-the-mill spaghetti meatball and chicken parm in this restaurant. I got the sense that the food offerings are thoughtfully curated. Our table ordered lobster ravioli, spaghetti, carborana, beef tagliatelle, and penne bolognese [see pics]. All the food came out excellent. The presentation of the food was also excellent and they looked as good as they tasted. I would claim that it was one of the best pasta-and-meat dishes that I have ever eaten. We already had plans for desserts and did not order anything from this restaurant. Overall, it was a wonderful experience and I would definitely repeat. It is pricier than other Italian options in the area and you can expect to pay a premium price for an elevated culinary experience. However, if you have picky eaters in your party or people who are planning on ordering "what-I-always-get" at an Italian joint, I would recommend reviewing the menu first before you decide to visit. It is not your typical Italian joint and that's a good thing.

We ate here as a family of four and had high hopes but it was absolutely terrible. The pizzas were rock hard and inedible. The pasta had obviously been sitting around a while and the sauce dried out. The waitress was extremely rude and tried to push us into a 40% tip. This was by far the worst experience we had in 3 weeks in San Diego. Avoid at all costs, there are far better places to spend your money in this beautiful town!

After being disappointed by Union Kitchen across the street who changed their menu because it was "game night" for the Padres, we crossed the street to Il Sogno and were so glad we did! Everyone from the hostesses to the servers, busers and owner was very gracious and helpful! The cocktail I had (Paloma) was outstanding and everything on the menu sounded great! The bread and butter were perfect as was our food. They also have live music 7 nights a week, which was a piano singer tonight who was excellent! Not too loud and perfect vibe for a nice dinner. The only thing they could improve is the speed with which the food comes out OR they should set the expectation that a lot of care goes into the food so it will take a little longer. To end the meal, the owner recommended his mother's tiramisu and it was probably the best I've ever tasted, including on trips to Italy. Next time I will definitely have the pizza as they looked and sounded amazing!

Very nice atmosphere, not crowded on a Monday night. Very good server. Crab Cakes were some of the best I’ve ever had. Very crabby tasting. Good bread. Wedge Salad chopped perfectly as per request. The Ravioli with Shrimp and a cream sauce delicious. Spaghetti Carbonara received Hugh marks from my husband. The only issue was the waiter not pouring my beer into my glass. Thought that was strange. I would go back.

We had pizza. It was very good. plenty of toppings. Enjoyed the outdoor seating. The waiter was great and friendly. The meatballs on the pizza were actually diced meatballs instead of the usual ground hamburger meat.

We went as a table of 8. Great location downtown. Service was superb. Appetizers were excellent, all the meals were amazing. Nice wine list too. And the live music! Oh my. Wonderful. Can't wait to return!

Music: Fantastic! Wonderful quartet. Excellent music. 5 Stars Service: Slow Food: A very generous salad but over dressed. I had Fettuccine Alfredo. The pasta was poor at best. The sauce was very good, but there was not much of it. My wife can't remember what she had. It was not memorable. The cannolis were very good. Wine: Very good and reasonable (for California these days). Atmosphere: Very, very nice. Widely spaced tables. Comfortable. Excellent linens

Blown away by our experience here! We had a business dinner for about 50 people so we rented out the balcony section in the restaurant. When I first reached out for a reservation, the owner himself got back to me and assured me that we would have a great time - and boy did we! From that first phone call, I knew our experience would not disappoint. Multiple wait staff greeted us upon arrival and were extremely attentive, quick, and so friendly the entire service! They handled our large group with such ease! I had excellent help creating a pre-selected menu that was so delicious! We were all so impressed that everything we ate tasted like we were being served as a small group - you can tell the chef took time on each dish that went out the kitchen, no buffet-style vibes here! The meatballs were to die for - must have!! The wine was exquisite and the handcrafted drinks were top-notch! I will crave those homemade pasta noodles until we visit again! All of our guests were so impressed, giving compliments left and right! To the owner, the chef, all our staff who served and helped make our experience so wonderful that night - I sincerely thank you! Small group or large, you must try out this gem!

On of the best Italian restaurant with Live Music 7 nights a week Great Ribeye, Pizza, Squid Ink pasta etc Great employees, full bar and one of the best Tiramisu.

We are a family of 3, venturing from Seattle for a socially distanced vacation. So, we had a week of takeout dinners eaten in our hotel. Il Sogno provided a lovely meal! Everything was nicely packed for carry out. Started out with brussels sprouts. These were nicely roasted with pancetta, accompanied by high quality aged balsamic, the good, thick, syrupy stuff. The portion was very generous, would have been plenty for 4 people to share. Shrimp scampi was made with large, beautifully seared shrimp, generous scattering of capers, cherry tomatoes lightly cooked to tenderness but still holding some shape. Linguine perfectly cooked, held up well for the 3 block walk to our place. Our son had a pizza, the crust was crisp on the bottom with some toothiness, a little puffy at the edge in a really good way. Pepperoni was thin, excellent quality, almost crispy texture and not at all greasy. Would happily come again!

My friends and I were looking for a nice place to have an after dinner drink in the Gaslamp District. What drew us into Il Sogno Italiano was the crooning voice of the singer and old time decor. What kept us there was Arthur behind the bar. A great personality and a great mixologist. Watching the details he puts into his creations was very entertaining. Thank you for a pleasant end to our evening

My wife and I had the most incredible dining experience at Il Sogno Italiano recently! We had heard from friends who'd been there what a great time they had that we just had to try it. The ambience of the main dining room is intimately romantic (I saw that they have an intimate loft for private parties, too), our server, Eli, treated us like royalty, and the food was some of the best Italian fare I have had in our fair and finest city of San Diego. My darling bride 40 years had the Braised Short Rib atop a perfectly done risotto while I tried their Shrimp Fra Diavola, one of the best interpretations I have had, just the right spicy with a wonderful hint of saffron at the end. Their wine list offers an excellent representations of some of the best that Italy has to offer, as well as some very special California vintages; The wife wanted Chianti and their cellar has some of the best available. And the best part of the experience is that the pianist playing in the dining room that evening -- Lori Bell -- had played at our wedding reception! All in all, I would have given Il Sogno 10 stars if it were possible!

We liked the name Garden of Eaten for one of the pizzas, and it was excellent, with prompt efficient service. The downside – for us anyway – was the live music, which began at 7 p.m., and was schduled to go on until 10. I guess this is fine if you want to be entertained, but we were catching up with an old friend and wanted to be able to hear our conversation. Some of us have hearing loss, so it would be good if food outlets could respect that.

Stopped here for dinner this past week and was very impressed. Made a reservation the night before, but it wasn't crowded. We sat in the makeshift outdoor seating spot right in front of the restaurant. Our waiter was very nice and attentive, and the food was phenomenal. Best pasta primavera I've ever had; my wife got the shrimp carbonara and she also loved it. Would recommend if you like Italian food and are in San Diego.

Nice surroundings and over attentive staff in a very expensive restaurant serving mediocre food at over inflated prices. A pepperoni pizza for example is $24 and the quality was poor....crusty and burnt base, cheap pre sliced pepperoni whilst two glasses of wine were a sky high $32!!!

Il Sogno in San Diego was fantastic! The food was delicious—fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. Maya provided outstanding service, attentive and warm, making our evening truly special. Highly recommend for a memorable meal!

This review happened during CoVID (April, 2022). My wife and I visited San Diego for a short vacation. Visited this restaurant while visiting the Gaslamp District. The service was good and the wait staff was friendly. The food was great! I had the Prime Filet Mignon and it was cooked like I ordered and it was well seasoned. The sides were also good. My wife had the Spaghetti Cabonara and she liked it. She said it tasted good and very light sauce and the veggies were good. We both shared the Crab Cakes and they tasted great. They where cooked perfectly and had plenty of crab. We also had the Bone Marrow and it was perfect. It came out of the bone and it was easy to spread on the bread. It was lightly seasoned and it just had a great flavor.

The music drew my wife and me here. The food was very good, although it took a long time to come out, and the slow service led to customers getting their own water, and angry exchanges between waiters and customers. Getting hit by dashing waiters three times didn't help the experience. Hope things get better.

We had a craving for Italian food and ended up walking into this restaurant. I had the Lobster ravioli and it was delicious. Our server, Dylan, was fabulous. He was very knowledgeable. Asked us what we like and had great recommendations. He made me the best espresso martini I have ever had. If you are lucky enough to have Dylan as your server, and you like espresso martinis, make sure you get one (or two).

Had dinner here with our son while we were looking at colleges. Terrific food! The day scallops were enormous and the cioppino was excellent. Large portions as well. What really made the night was the band and jazz singer. They were amazing. We stayed for several hours enjoying the music. The tiramisu martinis were a big hit!

This spot is great for the atmosphere. Singer who was playing piano added to it and I guess was included in the restaurant food prices . However, food was average quality Chef special sea bass was served on a very big plate with table spoon of stewed spinach on top of the small piece of polenta.($48!) Brussels sprouts for app were crispy but bitter tasting ($17) 3 small home made garlic rolls ($12!) were delicious but burned on the bottom.

The Cioppino is AMAZING!! I walked by and looked this place up on TripAdvisor so gave it a shot. Sat at the bar and got off to a bad start. The vodka tonic was too much tonic and very flat! Caesar salad had very extra stale crotons! Strike 2. Had a slice of margarita pizza and it was amazing. Got the cioppino for main coarse and OMG… top 2-3 cioppinos ever. Comparable to a place in Boston that I visited several times. Highly recommend the cioppino!!

An Italian gem in the heart of Gaslamp District! We had a delicious burrata and one of the best pizzas of our lives! Cozy atmosphere with live jazz music. Wine on glasses were great with good californian choices.

Overpriced and food just OK. Cgarged $12 for a lemonade. Don't recommend. Live music at night was nice. Mistakes made by staff on ordering and Bill one night.

BOTTOM LINE: Quality food but need to work out some kinks in their service We stopped here late after a ghost tour. They had a jazz musician playing and she was fantastic. Really enjoyed the live music!! The food was good quality and tasty. I had the pasta primavera and the pappardelle was cooked perfectly. Someone in my party had the Prosciutto and arugula pizza and thought it was delicious. The challenge we encountered was with the service. First, someone ordered fettuccine Alfredo and they ran out of fettuccine and never asked us if a substitution was OK. Fettuccine with spaghetti is not the same thing. Sorry - it’s not! Our waitress was nice but she wasn’t attentive and she was slow. It took at least 20 minutes to get our drinks after we ordered them. Meal then took another 35 minutes. All the while, our waitress was chatting it up with some guy a table away. Took forever to get anything we needed from her. We asked for our bill and that took another 20 minutes (no kidding!). When we did finally get her attention and she was at our table, her guy friend came over to say goodbye, give her a hug and have a few other words! We’d give this place another go because the food was good, but we’d run the other way if we saw the same waitress!

Ate in the outdoor seating area. Attentive wait staff. Food was perfectly prepared and special request was accommodated. Great experience!