Kettner Exchange Reviews

Beautifully designed interior, lots of fun, delicious menu and awesome service. They took good care of us and our 2 year old twins. The interior was beautiful and had a nice nightclub vibe upstairs with a live DJ and outdoor patio. The menu and food was impeccable. We had the smoked salmon tartar and steaks. All were amazing. I honestly believe this was the best restaurant steak I've had. That is a serious statement. We will be back!

Kettner Exchange is one of our go to restaurants when visiting San Diego. It is a bit on the eclectic side both in terms of the decor and the menu, but there are interesting menu choices and the food is well prepared. Service was attentive.

Arrived with prompt service from the valet, seated quickly by friendly hostesses at an upstairs booth with a beautiful view of the bay and greeted immediately by our attentive server who recommended tasty libations - OFF TO A GREAT START!! We had the grilled octopus, frog legs, and shared the New York strip which was generous as we took leftovers of the steak home. For cocktails, I had the "Spicy Gallagher" and another tequila & mescal drink that I'm not seeing on the menu now. THAT one was devine!!! I'll definitely be going back for drinks.

My husband and i had a lovely dinner here. The hanger steak was served with sprouts, onion rings and potatoes. The dipping sauce was terrific. The black cod with miso sauce was very tasty as well. Our server, Reggie, was wonderful. It was a lovely evening.

Love this Little Italy restaurant. Good appetizers! We had the corn in a cob, soft shell crab buns, porkbelly and octopus. We stayed with appetizers and it was enough for party of 2. Lovely cocktails too!

Our hotel recommended we take in the sunset from the rooftop of the Kettler Exchange. It wasn’t crowded, the heaters were going, and there were blankets if you needed (we didn’t). What a really fun spot!

One of my favs in San Diego. Such a good outdoor vibe. The food and drinks are really good! I would definitely come back!

Really good fresh tasting food. And drink. A table upstairs by the window is perfect for watching the sunset. Or outdoors in the upper courtyard on a warm evening.

Our party of 5 enjoyed an excellent business dinner last night at Kettner Exchange. My guests were Austrian and were thrilled to find their Stiegl Rattler on the beer list. Our waiter guided us through the tapas-style shared plate menu and we thoroughly enjoyed the seared tuna, fried snapper, duck meatballs (amazing) and the 40 oz Ribeye. The chocolate lava cake paired perfectly with the Illahe Pinot Noir.

​We loved the entire experience. From the Valet parking which was friendly, easy & reasonably priced to the delicious dessert. The Hostess made us feel very welcomed and let us tour the restaurant as this was our very first time here. Our waitress Katrina impressed us not only with her outstanding service but also with her knowledge of the restaurant and it's origin. The rooftop bar, the main dining area and overall ambiance is much to admire. Overall it was a wonderful experience and we can't wait to go back. ​Nice ending with the butterscotch pudding, caramel and sea ​salt​, mmmm yum​!

We had great food, our server was so nice, but the drinks were a little pricey. Loved the vibe though!

The trendy industrial chic decor at Kettner Exchange is a perfect backdrop to the cutting-edge American cuisine that Head Chef Brian Redzikowski prepares with panache. It’s hard to choose from the large selection of tantalizing selection small plates. The Foie Gras French Toast with a perfect balance of tangy savory-sweet flavors was delectable as was the Big-eye Tuna Pizza layered with thinly sliced melt in your mouth tuna.

The staff, ambitious and food was excellent! We sat at the upper level outdoor bar. Our bartender was Sterling. He was awesome! The drinks and food are unique and delicious! We had the tuna sashimi, lamb meatball, eggplant, and the hamburger. All were incredibly delicious!

The food is very confusing top order. One meal arrived 20 minutes after the other food. I definitely would not go back. Boring atmosphere and overpriced. Ordered a 22.00 drink and the ice was to the rim. three sips and it was gone. Too many other great restaurants in San Diego.

We came here after working at an event all day, and wanted somewhere with outdoor seating. We went upstairs to the rooftop, which was wonderful! The menu was interesting, and I struggled a bit to find gluten free options, but ended up with a burger without the bun and it was great. Everyone was happy with their food. I will say, it's a bar on the rooftop, so not great for conversation as it was a little loud, but overall, it was a fun place.

The food is excellent and i loved almost every dish - the spicy shrimp, the hamachi, the scallop harvest, the pork shoulder. And the cocktails were unique and delicious. But they ask you to put your entire order in at once, which I get, so they can manage the kitchen/expediting. it almost makes me nervous because you lose control of the flow and are reliant on an observant server. So mv caveat was please please course it slowly.... i dont want to be rushed. And basically it all came out gang bang style, which was a bummer. So we just took our time and slowed down, which meant stuff sat there a while. Good reminder for me -it never works out to do order like that... But the food was great.

Night Cap. With anti-social tendencies, this was a sweet spot for me. Think the movie "Hitch" with a twist of Italian zeitgeist.....Shaken not stirred.

Been to Kettner probably over a dozen times. Not a regular, but I attend and have spent multiple thousands of dollars at the bar/restaurant. Got turned away tonight because I was wearing sandals. Who do they think they are? This is freaking Southern California....and San Diego for that matter. Not like we’re at a Michelin Star restaurant in NYC. Get over yourselves and understand your clientele. You just lost a local.

We stopped in after dinner for drinks and to hangout on the rooftop deck. It was a beautiful night in San Diego so we wanted to be outside. The drinks are a bit overpriced, but I guess you're paying for the scenery. Kex is located in a great location. We were there on a Saturday night so the rooftop deck got a bit crowded after 9pm.

I ate here a few weeks ago and got the Bone In Rib Eye for two and I was making noises at every bite. I highly recommend checking this place out for food and pre or post dinner drink as well!

Kettner Exchange is typical of the emerging new normal restaurant in San Diego--large, somewhat noisy, pack-them-in, well-designed, artsy setting, with service that seems a little too "well-intentioned" and packaged, a bit on the inauthentic side. The cocktail list included two with mescal, one quite smoky, most in the $11 to $12 range. There were a small number of large plates, including one in bone steak, 40 ounces, at $90 per and a larger number of small (but not inexpensive) plates. The small plates and larger ones include elegantly presented food with different takes on traditional offerings such as Tikka Masala and stuffed quail. The Tikka was served with very thick Naan and a quite tiny serving of rice. The properly-cooked chicken had a mild sauce resulting in an Americanized version of a classic Indian dish. Desserts were in the $10-11 range and seemed a little busy. A tropical one with so-so coconut ice cream was served with a cut full shell with the coconut meat still in it. Alas, there was no utensil offered to get the coconut out. Coffee, robust, came in one flavor but it took 3 tries from two servers to get cream. As for the service, it seems that the staff have been through some kind of emotional intelligence packaged training resulting in service that appears to be engaged and responsive but a bit on the inauthentic side. Some time after delivering entrees, the server starled us with her "Is your meal wonderful?" query. What can you say to that? Considering that the restaurant tacks a 3% surchage onto a already hefty bill to pay for the help it would seem there are some opportunities to tone down the "canned engagement" and get the servers focused on being more natural and authentically engaged. (Time for EQ2 training?). Minor note: there is both outdoor and indoor seating. We were seated on the second floor and when we asked where the restrooms were we were directed to the first floor where there were only 2 unisex bathrooms (and a line). Surely they can do better than that and offer some facilities on the 2nd floor with a restaurant of this size.

The environment and service is excellent at Kettner Exchange, but the food was underwhelming. We tasted a wide variety of the food and I found most of it fried and not that tasty.

Wonderful ambiance, delicious food, great chef! We enjoyed the food very much. Late at night becomes club. Highly reccomended

I ate by myself while attending a wedding in San Diego, and this place was perfect. It's offers great food with great service in a setting that's different, pleasant, and interesting. The wine selection was very good and my steak was perfectly cooked, with tasty side dishes. Highly recommended.

We loved it !!!! We had a wonderful dinner. The place is absolutely lovely. Great ambiance !!!! The music was great. The service could not be better and the food was awesome !!!! Absolutely will go back soon !!!!

Went here with a large group, great service even for our large group. A bit loud since it is also a bar scene, but the food is fabulous. Order the Kale salad, by far, the best I have ever tasted. Pasta, salmon and ribs were good as well, but ah...the Kale salad. Also, some sort of pudding in a cup for dessert, that had a salted caramel flavor, I wanted to lick the bowl..

On March 23rd, a group of 12 people and I went to celebrate my wife's birthday on the rooftop of this restaurant, we arrived at the space at 10:45 and were kicked out of the place at 11:30. I arrived at the rooftop where they offer a more club-style service, to get a drink with all my friends, I'm a black man, and I went to the bar, as always full and a bit disorganized, the bartender, where they didn't want me passing the name, stated that I was displaying inappropriate “behavior”, so he went to the security guard, and requested that I be removed from the club, without any conversation or any kind of justification, the security guard pulled me in a totally arbitrary, aggressive manner, In front of everyone, including my 12 friends there, they hurt my wife and another friend, and forced me into the elevator, where they continued to attack me. The friends who stayed upstairs informed me that the bartender was laughing at the situation, thus proving that the whole issue was racial! To all the people who do not want to be associated, the racist practices that this restaurant/club practices, DO NOT FREQUENT, if anyone else has gone through something similar, contact me, I am adjusting the appropriate measures with my lawyer!

This is a very nice place to have a drink. The rooftop is great and offers a very cozy experience. Food is what you would expect from a place like this. Some things are good, some things are average, and some things sometimes are great.

We were hoping to have food here on a Saturday night but unfortunately left it too late to book and they were full. We decided to just go for a cocktail on the rooftop bar area and were very pleasantly suprised, the decor is fantastic and the cocktails were original and great. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone else visiting San Diego, just be sure to book!! (It's location in the middle of little Italy is also great for finding food after if you can't get a table.)

Double double, fish tacos, and avocado toast. DJ little loud for my taste in afternoon but people seemed to love it. Little pricey but food pretty good. By pricey, I mean I’ve had avocado toast for same or slightly less w diff/better ambiance. Would I return? No. If you’re the 30 and want to be trendy crowd go for it, I’ll stick to someplace more sedate and worldly

Dubbed Kettner Exchange, a Little Italy address and flowing indoor-outdoor environs prone to youthful crowds fueled by fancy Cocktails, Michelin’s idea of “Bib Gourmand” gets pretty convoluted in a setting where small plates top $25 and entrees for two include a $110 Steak. Named in honor of San Diego founding father William Kettner the Restaurant from Chef Brian Redzikowski focuses on bold global flavors while a two story space with views of the Pacific deserves the architecture awards it has won. Lined with glass, fireplaces and driftwood adjacent dueling bars, the upstairs approximating a Las Vegas club complete with cabanas, guests are invited to indulge in complimentary Popcorn while waiting for drinks that include a spicy Tequila “Dirty Verde” or smoother “Miami Slice.” Self-described as “Contemporary American,” though Redzikowski’s fondness for Asian flavors is evident across everything from Mapo Tofu to “Spicy Shrimp” with Shitakes, Birria Wontons come three to an order with bold Consomme further fortified by caramelized Bone Marrow. Not holding back with Garlic Noodles slicked with Chili Oil and tossed with Royal Red Shrimp, nor fried Frog Legs in Szechuan Glaze, Kettner Exchange’s Duck Meatball is a signature for good reason thanks to a loose grind and good Tomato Sauce atop creamy Grits. Increasingly a “scene” as the night goes on, though service is cordial and efficient, Desserts include a riff on Nancy Silverton’s famous Budino plus the more impressive Brentwood Corn Ice Cream from a mold with textural accoutrements.

This restaurant rose out of an old I-don't-even-know-what building just on the skirts of Little Italy. It's well designed with good food.... Has the kitschy hipster vibe, but that's ok. Food and drinks are good.

Food was tasty, but portions were too small to leave satisfied. Paid $4 for a cup of lewk warm coffee at breakfast and was not offered a refill. We would not go back

Kettner Exchange had recently been listed by the Michelin Guide as a "Bib Gourmand". So I wanted to check them out. It is located on the corner of Kettner and Grape with the entrance off to the side by a small valet parking lot. I was greeted and promptly taken upstairs to the dining room. My reservation was at 5:00 when they open and for about 30 minutes I was the only customer on this Monday night. When left at 6 pm there were about 7 customers. I started with a very good "Manhattan Exchange" which is their take on a Manhattan using Rye whiskey. I ordered two dishes from the small plate section of the menu. I started with the Tenderbelly Pork Wontons, with wild mushrooms, squash blossoms, Bloomsdale spinach, and Chile oil. This dish was excellent just the right balance of tastes. Next I had the Spicy Shrimp with frisee, arugula, shiitake mushrooms and chipotle aioli. There were lots of large shrimp coated with a tempura type of batter and this dish was spicy hot. For me just fine but if chili's bother you best order something else. I really liked it and there "small plates" satisfied my hunger. The dining area is very open and nicely decorated. It has a great feel. Service was good. I will return.

My wife and I went to KEX for an early dinner and sat outdoors in the upper part of the building. We enjoyed everything we ate, especially the pork belly buns and frog legs, which were cooked exceptionally well. Service was friendly and unrushed.

What an exciting and hip location with views and fabulous food!!! We took advantage of the valet parking which was a blessing. We also ate on the top floor, outdoors, but indoors would have allowed views of the bay. What a hotspot! We can see how this has become an extremely popular location to see and be seen.

My boyfriend and I had a dinner reservation at this place for a weeknight, but when we asked to be seated upstairs in the open air lounge, they said that was first-come, first-serve. Luckily, they checked us in for our reservation anyway (yesss, OpenTable points!) and we went upstairs and seated ourselves right away in a super comfy and cozy cabana facing the center of the rooftop. The decor is really pleasant, with romantic little tables surrounding an illuminated tree display in the middle and several booth-like cabanas around the perimeter - these can be privately reserved for bottle service as well, I think. We shared several small plates that were tasty - I think one was pork belly and watermelon bites - and a few cocktails. The atmosphere of this place is definitely the highlight, it claims to be the only rooftop bar in Little Italy and I believe it. I can't wait to come back here earlier in the day and enjoy the sunset! The only drawback we experienced was that our waitress had a bit of an attitude, like we were inconveniencing her by sitting down and ordering food, but that didn't ruin the night.

This place was amazing. Drinks and food did not disappoint. We ordered 4 small plates and two desserts. Small plates were each great: tuna tacos, Szechuan noodles, Thai rice salad and sashimi. Each had a perfect blend of flavors. Desserts we got: bundino and snickers. Bending was phenomenal. I wouldn’t get the snickers one again. It was mostly ice cream. Very little mousse. Drinks were fabulous!

We enjoyed a really wonderful evening at Kettner Exchange. Because of COVID they converted a valet parking lot into their dining room. There were beautiful umbrellas with tassels and lanterns. It was impeccably done. The menu has a lot of small plates so we decided to share a bunch instead of having main courses. This presented an opportunity to enjoy all the inventive flavor combinations. My favorite was the foie gras! My husband loved the pork shoulder. My daughter's favorite was the meatball. My other daughter ordered the gnocchi. Despite the waiter advising us that it was very spicy, she ordered it anyway. While we all appreciate a little heat in a dish, this was actually over the top. It was burn your mouth off hot and the only thing we didn't like. Drinks were great. The service and the environment were perfect. I would highly recommend the experience.

I can't afford to eat here for dinner...but the drinks I can. Cocktails are $11(plus tax, lame!), all of which were very tasty tropical feminine girly drinks, crafted by handsome and friendly mixologists(hipster-speak for bartender). $7 craft beers available too. Gorgeous chic outdoor patio, but for some reason it gets really loud, making it challenging to have a conversation...mental note for you folks meeting up via Tinder, or whatever. I'll be back for drinks and maybe brunch, which is my favorite of meal of the week.

It was our first time at Kettner Exchange and It will not be our last. We came to have dinner and some drinks. One of the first impressions is the lovely decor you have all over the restaurant. The food was well presented and the taste was to die for. The chicken and biscuits have to be one of the best food I have ever eaten. Our server was great he gave us great suggestions and they were all spot on. I can't wait to go back with friends and family.

I like trying new spots every time I go to San Diego, and this one was able to take our large group at relatively short notice. We shared a number of dishes. Everything was good, my absolute favorite was the super-rich cavatelli. Cocktails were great and creative, and there was a nice long list of California beers. Our server was patient, knowledgeable, and attentive. Even the desserts were good.

My wife and I stopped in for drinks and we liked them so much we decided to stay for dinner. I drank a specialty gin martini and she ordered a variation of the mai tai with a bunch of different rums. Both were very tasty. Our dinner was comprised of nicely prepared small plates that were actually pretty sizable. The roof bar has a hipster type tiki vibe while the dining room is more subdued. I’d go back the next time we’re in San Diego.

Loved the atmosphere and unique foods. This restaurant features small plates and limited entrees so it’s a different type of experience. Everything we tried was delicious. My hands-down favorite was the red royal shrimp and noodles dish.

The concierge recommended this place as a must go to. Short Uber ride from our hotel. The mood was very hip and the small plates were excellent. Loved the hamachi tostada, tuna tacos and the grilled octopus. Everything looked so good. Great find int he lit italy section of San diego !

We had a business event here where we rented out the rooftop and had dinner and drinks for an evening. They had a "secret bar" with a casino chip and while it was a bit windy, the heat lamps kept it warm. Dinner was Buffet style but the steak was delicious. The atmosphere is great for conversations, intimate encounters and taking some time to get to know someone. Plenty of craft beers on tap, specialty cocktails and great service.

I was in town for one night only on business and this place came highly recommended for the rooftop lounge scene. It was crowded so we had to sit inside. The outside lounge is first come first served. I ordered the Strip and forgot to take pictures because I was that hungry. It was late and we'd been working all day. It was well worth the price and had a great taste. The cocktail I ordered was pretty sweet and not as remarkable. The restaurant has a very nice ambience, modern design and furniture and gives you a hip downtown city vibe.

We visited KE on our first night in San Diego. Cocktails…creative and excellent. They offered a wide variety of small plates that were all very good. We had spicy shrimp and loved it. The duck meatball was very shareable and excellent. Farro fried rice and pork bai bun should not be missed. The bao was very light and fluffy and stuffed with the pork belly made a very satisfying bite. Everything we had was delicious including the desserts…butterscotch pudding…yum! I highly recommend Kettner Exchange for cozy small plate dinner.

My wife and I, with our 19 year old daughter, ate here on Wednesday night. We only reserved two restaurants, and Kettner Exchange fully met our high expectations. It is a bit hipsterish, but we did not feel out of place. The food, drinks and service were wonderful. We also appreciated the reasonable ($8) valet parking in what appears to be a very happening area. We will be back on our next SD visit.

Was in SD for a quick weekend getaway. Wanted to try a 'newer' (to SD) dining experience. Relatively convenient parking is often a hassle in this part of the city. Logistics aside, we were seated upstairs where the setting sun views were pleasant, the patrons less densely arranged and the noise levels considerably quieter than downstairs. Service was attentive and engaging. Food portions were large. I now see why many TripAdvisor reviews recommend the small plates.

Very nice ambiance, good service and super interesting food. Super chic decor and its good if we want to have a romantic dinner and is perfect too if you want to have happy hour.

We came in to celebrate our anniversary, and had a very helpful server called "Jackie". We asked for recommendations and were very glad to have gone with them! We hadn't considered the "Big-Eye Tuna 'Pizza' ", but since she recommended it, we tried it..WOW that was the best!! It was tuna carpaccio with some truffle oil and other ingredients on top of a tostada/flatbread (whatever it was, it went perfectly). I thought that was the best out of the plates we ordered. Jackie also recommended the duck meatball, and we hadn't considered that choice either (a MEATBALL?? really?? *REALLY!*)--honestly, have the meatball!! It was way better than we expected!! The tomato sauce (and the meatball itself) is perfectly seasoned, it has a little cheese but not too much, and the combination with the grits (I'm not even into "grits") was absolutely delicious! The other plate we chose was the Hamachi Ceviche, also very good, very fresh, and the yuzu sauce went very well with all of the ingredients. We should have stopped there because we were already full, but we were very curious about the "Big Eye Tuna Tacos"--NOT one of the recommendations, but it sounded interesting..Well, compared to the other plates, this was a bit bland; not that it wasn't good (and fresh), but the other dishes were so outstanding, it was like choosing between a chips ahoy and a homemade croissant (sorry, I'm in food mode)...! The tacos were good, but not after you have the outstanding dishes that were recommended by Jackie! Maybe we'll come back for dessert and get a donut next door (part of the restaurant)!

I came here with friends for my birthday and was blown away by their service and food. Not only were our meals incredibly good, but the waitress was super helpful and sweet. We'll definitely be back!

Came here based on the neighborhood and desire for a more upscale dinner. My friend and I both ordered from the cocktail specials - it was negroni week - and weren’t disappointed. They were magnificently created. We ordered 4 small plates to share - the duck meatball, szechzuan noodles, eggplant stir fry, and tuna tacos. The duck meatball and accompanying grits were heavenly and the Szechuan noodles were our other favorite. The atmosphere was upscale but relaxed. All the staff were great from the hostess to check. I’d definitely suggest this restaurant and would come back again!

I headed for Little Italy to dive into the Kettner Exchange’s highly touted foie gras dish and enjoy a few other pu-pus. I sat at the bar with Justin, bartender extraordinaire, and started with a cocktail he suggested that was no longer on the menu the “Jalisco Maid” made with blanco Serrano infused tequila, lime, simple syrup, muddle mint and cucumber, a good sprinkle of cracked salt and a cucumber slice and mint leaf garnish. Woohoo. From there it was on to my first nibbly, the spicy battered fried rock shrimp and shiitake mushrooms over frisee and arugula, smothered in a chipotle aioli. This was absolutely scrumptious. I had to have just one more Jalisco Maid. Then I ordered the pork rioja, braised Tenderbelly Farms pork, San Marzano tomatoe sauce over, Anson Mills grits, topped with red onion, Serrano chiles and arugula. Lawdy mercy!!! With that I ordered a nice pour of Atlas Peak 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon. To finish off the evening and accompany the rest of my wine I finally got to the dish I came fore, the foie gras French toast: Hudson Valley Foie Gras on a slice of cinnamon-raisin toast topped with quince jam and maple syrup. So wonderfully flavorful and beautiful presented.

We overnighted in San Diego on our way to a high end resort in Mexico, and couldn't have been happier than we were with our one night for dinner in San Diego. Kettner Exchange is a cool space (almost feels sort of SoHo-like) and the menu was appealing. Our dishes were delicious and the services was attentive w/o being intrusive. Can't wait to go back in better weather to enjoy their very cool rooftop deck/bar.

Went here back in November. The atmosphere was cool. Had a awesome waitress (sorry forgot her name). It was the first time i ever tried A5 wagyu and it did not disappoint! Also had the rib eye and its huge! We ate family style and shared everything so we could try more food. We did not have anything that we did not like. Highly recommend this place.

we went for lunch on a concierge's recommendation; this is in little India, so parking a challenge, but they offered valet for $8. we shared chicken legs, a kale salad and a brussels sprouts dish, all with an interesting Asian flair diverse lunch menu service was good;prices fair

We reserved a cabana for up to 25 people. The place, ambiance and food was awesome. When it got really busy service took a little longer than usual for service. Otherwise, they really did try to keep up with the crowd. Great for social gathering and date night. However, I don't see how 25 people could fit comfortably in the space allocated for us.

We ate small plates in the outdoor area. The food was delicious and the restaurant is beautiful. All the servers were wonderful--highly recommend!

We came here to celebrate my father’s birthday and it was incredible! My mother’s favorite drink in San Diego was here - the Spicy Gallagher. I had one of my favorite drinks as well, but I can’t remember the name - Come As You Are? Something like that. Food was fantastic and service was very good. We loved the chairs and the ambiance - there was a part of my mom who wanted to go lay down on the swing. My sister said she would absolutely head back here (since she lives in the area).

My title pretty much says at all. Ceviche was also first rate, and just different enough to be a little unique to this restaurant. Also a very good steak.

Kettner Exchange is an excellent place to eat in the Little Italy part of San Diego It has a great selection of food for all tastes, and I particularly enjoyed the fish tacos. There is also live music occasionally, and a nice upper area with an open roof which allows you to enjoy the balmy southern California evenings. When we were last there we also enjoyed a special wine tasting event they were holding. Take a tip, since the Little Italy area is a nightmare to find a parking spot, use the valet service at Kettner’s to make life much easier. It’s located on the street adjacent to the main street in Little Italy, which is one-way back into the city centre. BTW, the reception and security team were 1st rate professionals and extremely friendly, helpful and courteous.

If you have life threatening allergies avoid eating there. The drinks are good. The food is good. The menu doesn't seem to be labeled with all of the sesame or nuts in their dishes. A member of our family/group has been dining with us regularly for 5 years. We have had only a couple of problems in 5 years. He didn't eat any dish listed with nuts. He had a bad reaction. Sick all evening. We are not completely sure from which dish since they came out tapas style. We did inform our waiter and she didn't indicate that any dish without listed nuts had any allergens.

The food at Kettner Exchange was off the charts amazing! We stuck to small plates so we could try lots of things at our table. The Spanish Octopus, the Foie Gras Cubano, and the Spicy Shrimp were among our favorites. The Duck Meatball and the Sausage with Peppers were fine, but nothing exceptional. Our server was attentive and helpful, and especially knowledgeable about the wine list. We had a wonderful time and will definitely be back.

From the barman who talked us through the menu downstairs to the waiters to the fantastic food, this was a superb dining experience. It's definitely worth asking questions about the menu. The decor and ambience were spot on. Would definitely return and recommend.

We went there for a romantic dinner. 1st of all the restaurant is very cool and hip. Great outdoor section with music and lounge for a drink. But the best part is the food. Wow! Tuna and crab appetizers and the pork main dish that melted in your mouth. Fantastic! The only downside is that service is a little bit rushed because they want to give your table to other guests to make more money. So don't expect to be there more than 2 hours. But it's worth it for the extraordinary food.

This we our first time here and we loved everything about it. The decor was really beautiful and inspiring. Our server was awesome. Her name might have been Katrina, but don’t quote me on that. The restaurant and food were great, but she was the cherry on top. Two of us ordered small plates to share. My favorite was the fois gras toast. The craft cocktails were delightful and our server (Kristina?) we very knowledgeable about all the drinks. She recommended drinks for most of our table and we were not disappointed. The desserts were rich and decadent. I would highly recommend this restaurant. We were a group of 4 adults and wore jeans and nice tops. Parking was a bit insane and we ended up using the restaurant’s valet service.

A number of items to choose from while seated outside and in. A variety of items from quail, salmon to scallops and pizza. For the vegetarian the Grilled Eggplant was excellent.

The food was amazing. The ambiance was top notch. Our server, Juan, was the best! You can't go wrong with Kettner Exchange.

Located in Little Italy. Reserved a table in rooftop area out in the sunshine. Very good for selection of cocktails and beers. Yummy starters (pork belly dumpling buns) and Eggs Benedict were superb... lovely runny yolks. Dishes ordered by folks on surrounding tables also looked delicious. Great service and very friendly. Nice selection on menu. A range of seating options and lots of shade available if you want it.

Went for drinks on a Friday night. Great rooftop setting. Crowded, but we were able to find a nice corner table. Service was quick and friendly. Nice vibe. Good place to sit and visit over cocktails.

Great atmosphere, wonderful food, drinks and service. We went with a large group of 15 and they were extremely accommodating.

On a business trip in San Diego and was looking for a change from the usual steak house. What a great surprise! The 50/50 Martini is excellent and a great way to start the evening. I chose to go for multiple small plates and absolutely loved them. The Foie Gras is hands down my favorite. A true explosion of flavors coming together between the Foie Gras, the Swiss cheese, ham and mustard. Also really enjoyed the pork belly bun which is small but nice. The lamb noodles are spicy. Be careful. But very tasty. Just now enjoying the avocado toast. Definitely worth a visit, vibrant bar without being noisy and great food.

Kettner Exchange is in the hot neighborhood of Little Italy but is not an Italian restaurant. Instead, they offer a wide selection of very different and tasty small plates in a variety of settings both indoors and outdoors on the main level and upper level. One of the places in San Diego to see and be seen, particularly on weekends.

This restaurant has it all...great food, wonderful service and a rooftop area that brings all the mood. Can't wait to return.

Great ambiance and great food! Get a booth to celebrate a romantic occasion! Great views from the dining room upstairs, if they are offering the tres leches cake order two! I would go back just for that!!!

Beautiful space. Love, love, love the staircase. Make sure you have a look upstairs. The bar space is more than roomy and the staff more than friendly. Good menu selections and good food.

I found Kettner Exchange on Yelp--my daughter and I were staying in a hotel just two blocks away. The hostess was very welcoming, and the atmosphere is very appealing. The air conditioning was very strong (it was freezing!), and they adjusted it to a comfortable level at my request. I have some dietary restrictions, and the server was very attentive, suggesting a substitution that was very helpful and checking with the kitchen to make sure they could accommodate my needs. I had the "large plate" halibut, which was delicious. My daughter two "small plates"--the duck meatball with grits and the crispy brussel sprouts, which she enjoyed. Drinks were good, too! The restaurant is in Little Italy, and there are many Italian restaurants in the area. But if you are looking for something different, I highly recommend Kettner Exchange.

I was excited to dine here on 9/13. The decor is great. While waiting for the guest of 6. We grabbed a few cocktails. Had the Collins, MexIcan mule, vodka soda. Headed upstairs for our table. We ordered the kale salad, foie gras, salon pizza, and salmon tacos as starter. All was good. But did not like the idea of combining foie gras on cinnamon bread. A toast bread would have been sufficient. I ordered the 26 oz 36 Day old tomahawk which was divine. Cooked to perfection (don't let them slice it up). Alaskan cod, duck meatball, spicy shrimp, and lastly the pork chop which was by far the worst dish. Not sure what happened.. But it turned out to be very vinegary. I couldn't eat and even offered to my clients and they too declined. The server asked and check and it was obvious we did not like the dish but offered no alternative. Took it home, and tried to feed it to my pup.. He just walked away. It was that bad. Oh well. Overall, the ambiance was great, most of the food was good, I would avoid the pork chop.

I recently visited Kettner Exchange for a friend's birthday and it totally outdid my expectations! I have heard for a while now that Kettner is supposed to be a San Diego hot spot, but I had never actually tried it! From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere is incredible that reminds you both of the past and the trends of today. The food and drinks were incredible! The burger and kale salad were two of the best things I have ever eaten! There is also a fun rooftop with a dj and bar. If and when you are in downtown San Diego, give it a try!

I had two small plates for dinner. Shrimp was a fried carcass of its former life doused in some "sauce" that overwhelmed an otherwise properly cooked shrimp. Minus 1 star. The meatball on the other hand was incredible. Duck...omg duck meatball. Arguably the best meatball I've ever had. Service was good. Location was not prime for downtown but still essentially there.

The guy of the bar with the tattoos and european look treated us bad. Try to go to other places that are better than this one.

We were recommended this place and along with 11 other colleagues made our way for dinner only to be told the following (i.) since we were a group of 12, we had to agree to accumulate charges of at least $1,000 and agree to a tip of 20%, (2.) they would produce a single check, although we could indicate who was going to pay how much. We left without hesitation and quite surprised of their policies bordering on the ridiculous.

Dinner for four at KEX firstly for the cool architecture, and honestly, secondly for the food. The space was definitely interesting and inviting, and we ate downstairs, where it was warmer. We ordered six small plates to share, with standouts being the kale salad, the big-eye tuna pizza, avocado toast, and the lamb pasta. We also shared the chocolate cake and donut "holes" for dessert, with the latter being the clear winner. Service was attentive and responsive. Overall, we had a great dinner, and I would definitely return!

I'd pass on this one. So impossible to try to get a table. Waiters are aloof and unwelcoming. Lounge menu SUCKS, but you'll be stuck with that if you take a seat outside. Dietary restrictions not accommodated. You can't call them, you can't ask questions, no response from email. Food's ok, but the hospitalitiy experience is a joke. Go somewhere else if you don't want to be cheater or deal with rude staff.

Disclosure: I was an invited guest at a private event. I incurred no cost at the venue, as it was hosted by an apparent supplier of the restaurant. This venue is located in the Little Italy area of San Diego. It is consistent with the theme of trendy/hip/modern decor/bar scene. It would appeal to those who place a premium on the experience and are willing to pay accordingly. It is not a restaurant I personally would select, due to location, menu prices, and the restaurant design (noise level would be a problem during busy times, limited comfortable seating). Our group was 25-30 people. Our two assigned servers were skilled and efficiently served the pre-chosen food and beverages. I assume that the host made an effort to minimize the expense at the venue. The luncheon included salad, main course and a dessert. Salad and main course were served in the dining room; dessert was served on the very pleasant outdoor patio. The food was simple, presented with glamorous names, and well-prepared. First course was a salad (listed as "Ceviche"). Main course was oven-fried chicken ("Jidori") with minimal side dishes. Dessert was pudding ("Budino"). Portions were appropriate for a very light luncheon only, and were presented on shared platters. Requests from our table that were accommodated included provision of a vegetarian entree' and a cup of hot tea. Requests for bread or rolls to augment the light luncheon and a request to provide one dessert to take home (instead of a dessert consumed onsite) were declined. I assume the declined requests were consistent with the agreement between the venue and the event host. Suggestion for those considering for private events: buyer beware. Know exactly what you are getting for your money. Suggestion for those considering dining at this venue: if you are considering attending an event such as a wine dinner or Chef's Table, which have fixed prices, get the details. Number of courses, portion size, number of wine pours, ounces per pour. That could assist you in deciding if the pricing is appropriate for you. It's a personal choice! This was an interesting venue to experience. But I would not patronize the restaurant using my own money, based on menu prices and my personal critera that relate to value.

Perfect dinner, service, atmosphere. Alejandro was our waiter, and was fantastic. To our surprise, we started the meal with a popcorn basket. So much better than a bread basket! For appetizers, we split the Sugar Snap Peas and one Pork Belly Steam Bun. For entrees Hubs ordered the Sonoma Lamb Szechuan Noodles and I had the Duck Meatball - singular. One giant meatball on a bed of the creamiest grits you’ve ever had. To wrap it up we ordered for dessert a Budino, and a liquid dessert - Harbor Brew. Loved the live music. Will be back (hopefully for brunch!)

We weren't particularly hungry but wanted something close by, and as usual TripAdvisor did not disappoint. You can't go wrong with anything, though at first the selections look I want to say intimidating almost.

The rooftop terrace is very nice, the cocktails are great, the staff is very friendly and the place has an overall relaxed feel to it.

How does a cut rate slop bucket like this place stay open? Because it has a great setting and loud music? Sorry, but for those of us coming from places like NYC, Chicago, LA, we know what good food is. Serving tuna mush from a can and putting it on some crunchy rice does not make it tartare, even when you charge 15 bucks for it. 14 bucks for 5 dollar size box pancakes with cake toppings mixed in does not make it "gourmet". These guys could not even serve the fountain sodas right, flat and clearly a bad mix. The Szechuan noodles were a greasy mix of motor oil, limp bok choy, overcooked mushrooms, and chili oil. Gross. At least they were honest about their 15 buck chicken sandwich being no better than what you get at Chick Filet. The burger someone order? Mystery meat. A flat overcooked disc of donkey? Horse? Cat? Who knows? It had only the flavor of the secret ly disgusting sauce. This restaurant is singular proof that San Diego is not a restaurant city.

This is my third time at Kettner Exchange and it is every bit as fabulous as I had remembered. The food could not possibly be any better. The service was great and the rooftop seating is gorgeous. This restaurant is a must!

This restaurant is at the edge of Little Italy. We shared several small plates, and they were all very good. The grilled squash and tuna pizza were standouts. Service was excellent as well. While they have a very nice rooftop bar where you can eat, it was quite loud on the evening that we were there.

Just left the Kettner Exchange and I literally feel sick to my stomach, not from the food but from the arrogance & passive aggressive obnoxiousness of the waitress!!! Such a shame , the food had potential, all started over a Martini order & continued throughout the meal. Would NEVER return even if I lived in San Diego!!

What a Mother’s Day feast we had. The food was a delicious, creative concoction with every different item we ordered. The kitchen thought we had over ordered, but we finished everything. Loved the small plates, sharing style....after all we’re family.

We stopped in this restaurant on an early afternoon even though it was closed in order to view their menu. Lucky for us me meant Brian one of the chef / owners and he gladly showed us the menu for the day. Brain told us even though we didn't have reservations they could accommodates us if we arrived early. We returned at 5 pm since the whole restaurant was booked up for the evening. So glad we did go back at 5 pm. We were seated upstairs in the ( covered )roof top lounge. Chablis was our waitress and she was very very helpful in explaining the items on the menu, all of which are meant to be shared dishes. We ended up ordering the Spicy Shrimp, Chinese Eggplant, Sonoma Lamb Szechuan Noodles and the Thai Sausage. All were delicious! Another note, some items on the menu change daily.

Great food and craft cocktails. A big thank you to our server, Julie, who circled everything on the menu that was safe for me given my dietary restriction. My husband and I shared all our dishes which included the tempura Chilean sea bass, spicy tuna crispy rice, and the pork chop.

Had dinner here after attending a musical in downtown. I had heard many great things about the place and looking forward to the meal. The decor is beautiful, great views and ambiance. However the food is not so good. Evidently I was the only one in the group to make terrible choices in ordering. I ordered the roasted cauliflower which sounded interesting—toasted hazelnuts, caramelized fennel, Bagna cauda (anchovy sauce). Beautifully presented but lacking in flavor—there was a sprinkling of pepper flakes—served Luke warm and very bland. The other dish ordered was the Royal red shrimp garlic noodles. There is nothing royal about this dish. Also served luke warm and soupy. The dish was overwhelmed by the heavy handed coarse ground pepper—the rubbery shrimp tasted like it was cooked in the same water it was defrosted in. I could have prepared a more spectacular dish with better flavor from a package of top ramen and a can of tuna. I don’t know if the food was just terrible by virtue of the time we had dinner which was a little later in the evening and kitchen staff ready to call it a night. I will also mention that the unisex bathrooms on the first floor by the kitchen were horrifically filthy-lids up, wet floors and clearly used by men who were not properly potty trained or give a care that it’s a unisex bathroom. And clearly the establishment doesn’t care about keeping them consistently clean and sanitary for their paying guests. I have encountered much more sanitary and cleaner bathrooms at comfort stops in foreign countries. And I will mention again—these bathrooms were by the kitchen. Ambiance and decor get 5 stars but the food 1.

Great place to chill out, and enjoy eats and great drinks the bar area is great, as the restaurant setting. Bar eats better than restaurant regular menu

Charming restaurant in Little Italy area of San Diego. Server was fantastic (can't recall her name). She as very attentive--asked if we were celebrating a special occasion (we were) and brought out a dessert with candle at end of meal). We sat upstairs where the is also an atrium bar area. Food was superb! A nice, friendly place.

The Kuttner Exchange, in the Little Italy section of San Diego, is not the sort of place that I would normally go for Heavy Pupu's and drinks, but when a guest at a corporate party, it is hard to turn down free food and booze. Anyway, this is a very trendy and hip spot for those who are trendy and hip. The roof terrace bar was great and the food was amazing. The tako (Octopus) Grilled Spanish Octopus and the and hot oil seared salmon in the sesame cones and the duck meatballs were amazing. The beer selection was very good and the availability of local brews a real plus. I am not sure that I would bring my Wife here, simply because we are much more simply when it comes to eating out. A tasty experience at a place above my typical pay grade.

We came here for cocktails and food. Its very close to little Italy. We were sat on the roof top which was amazing. We had the kpk painkiller cocktail which did not disappoint. The food was also delicious! It was very chilled out and a really good place for cocktails and something to eat. there were little fires and heaters as well to keep warm. I would definitely recommend going here.

This is a very cool place in SD and also very popular. There is valet parking outside for $10. The menu is split in two halves; small plates and big plates. You can do a combination of options: just choose a selection of the smaller plates and share tapas style; order a small plate and large plate; or just go straight into the large plate and we were warned most of these are very generous in size so for example the baja bass is big enough for two people to share. We chose the first option. We originally ordered the grilled octopus (very tasty), the fillet-o-fish in a bao bun (mouth-watering), the soft shell crab bao buns (legs and claws included which you have to ignore but do taste nice) and the spicy shrimp (so good we ordered a second dish). For the two of us this was more than enough to fill us up. As we were celebrating we had the budino and the white chocolate panna cotta for desserts - a bit of over-indulgence that didn’t disappoint. Service is good, very helpful waiting staff especially around the menu and you don’t have to wait long for the dishes. Pricing was very reasonable. If you’re in SD then definitely worth a visit.

Went there for the first time and had a few drinks. The drinks were delicious, a little on the pricier side but it was worth it. The restaurant has one of the coolest interior design I've ever seen. One of my favorite places to go while in San Diego!

Walking around I was greeted and offered a tour of the restaurant Sat by the terrace. Original brunch menu. Chilly but sunny. Fantastic DJ. Food was very good. Recommmend the avocado toast. Service and mimosas great!

Was so excited to come here for dinner....wow, what a huge disappointment. To be honest, the service was the worst part. We were here on a Sunday night and there were 3 other tables besides us....so not busy at all....this is a type of place where you have the "shared plated"...and were told by our server "to place the entire order all at once since it's easier on the kitchen staff"....what....oh, I am sorry, if it's easier for YOU, then that's fine...we were told the food would come out at a nice pace....code word for FAST FAST FAST....we ordered 4 plates...they were all on our table within 15 minutes I believe....I wasn't even finished with my glass of wine when the last entree came out...come on...and the food wasn't even that good, it was average at best. Our server never really checked on us or to see if we wanted refills on our beer/wine....just a horrible experience all around. I felt bad about giving a "terrible" rating...so it's just "poor"...I would tell people to stay away from this place...so many better options in San Diego.

We stopped in here for dinner on a whim thinking that we'd head out to the rooftop bar afterwards. It was 5:30 on July 3rd when we walked up to the hostess who was less than attentive. We asked for a table for 2 for dinner. She told us the restaurant was completely booked up, but we could sit at the counter in the dining room if we wanted. So we did. We were taken to the upstairs level for our seating. As we went through the lower level it was 90% empty (2 tables only seated). Upstairs there were 3 tables taken out of 10. We were seated at a reasonably comfortable bar counter that looked down onto the 1st floor and which was on the access way to the patio. Some traffic in/out, but not to annoying. We ordered drinks and appetizers. The appetizers came before the drinks (took 20 minutes for the drinks). The waitress didn't come to tell us what was happening until the appetizers came. Bad form. The meals were fantastic (Halibut & Pork Chop). We were there for 1.5hrs. During that time one of the tables upstairs turned over and only 1 of the tables downstairs turned over. There were more empty tables when we left than when we came in. Clearly we could have been seated in either dining area with more comfortable seating, but the Hostess just didn't give a damn. The rooftop bar was very busy with a crowed that I could only classify as Yuppie. The space itself was very nice, but having to deal with the Dudes with polo shirts and sweaters on the shoulders, Ladies with low cut blouses, spike heals, and with tears in their jeans under their buttocks was just not the scene that we like to be part of. So we skipped it. Net-Net: Skip it. We wouldn't be back. There's plenty of really nice restaurants in San Diego with a better view and attitude with as high a quality of food and presentation.

Went here with a group of friends on a Friday night. I was surprised at the awesome vibe that the restaurant had. We did dinner and then went to the bar area afterwards. Meal and drinks were reasonably priced for what you get and service was great.

Great views from the dining room, beautiful bar space with fire pit. Great place to bring a group for drinks or dinner. Highlights were the duck meatball, hamachi tostado and a nice kale salad. Roasted cauliflower would have benefited from a parboil first or longer roasting; it was kind of undercooked to be billed as "roasted." Cocktail menu is good. Albariño by the glass was perfect.

We reserved a dinner table for 16 people and got a small lounge table which didn't even fit our drinks. Fortunately, we could move to a bigger table inside. Very overpriced and small portions. Service was average, the waiter just put 21% on tips on our bill although he didn't deserve it.

Went there for a bridal party with 10 woman and was reprimanded by the general manager because we cheered when bride received a bottle of champagne as a surprise gift and popped the cork. The manager was so mean to the bride, I was really surprised by the treatment. I get the sense this place is pretty snooty and above it all. Not the kind of vibe for a family get together.

We did not use the restaurant... Just the club which is their rooftop outdoor patio in the second floor. They usually have a DJ in the weekends and their drinks and ambiance are great! You can even see the ocean if you go into the restaurant upstairs

I have visited San Diego numerous times and consider SD my second home. Every time I get pick up at the airport from my friend. We always passed by Kettner Exchange. And every time...I always said, "I want to go there"...Finally, it happened. Last night I when they're with my 3 friends...2 of who has been there before definitely recommended. We had reservation at 8:15...got there a bit earlier and went up to the rooftop bar and has a couple of drinks. Dinner consider of a lot of tapas plate...We ordered the $25 Garlic Shrimp dish. It was absolutely poor presentation and...the dish was spaghetti noodles toss with olive oil, shrimp bits, and welded bok choy. It looks like it was another table left over that they forgot to take with them. At this point I have asked our server "Tempest" to send it back and I told her that the dish was a disappointment. Our server was not apologetic or even try to offer us something else and not that we would expect anything...She didn't care! I was polite, wasn't super mean The server had an "I don't care" attitude, she didn't care if we come back to the restaurant or not. At the end of dinner, we left not wanting to come back. Final conclusion, Kettner Exchange is a great place for drinks on the rooftop bar with beautiful decor. If you're going there for the "dining experience"...do not go. You will end up overpaying for your dinner and leaving disappointed. I feel that the kitchen's staff still has a lot of work on refining their menu. Food is overpriced and not consistent.

My daughter brought me here for a birthday dinner while we were in San Diego for business. Loved everything about this restaurant. Staff were great, atmosphere very inviting. And the food!!! I ordered the chicken and when they brought it out, it was a WHOLE chicken. Very tender and juicy and all kinds of veggies hidden under it. I had the painkiller cocktail and it was very yummy. Would love to come here again.

This restaurant was very interesting. The decor was beautiful and the waitstaff was friendly and knowledgeable. It was a little further off little Italy and this made it a little less crowded and crazy!! We ordered some lovely cocktails but the pomplemousse popsicle with white rum, st Germaine and grapefruit juice was divine. We ordered a bunch of small plates to share. Since we had already had a bunch of oysters at another restaurant we decided to only get 4 small plates. They were all very nice. My favorite was the duck meatball with grits. It was perfect! We also had the Szechuan lamb noodles which were very tasty but not spicy at all. The pork belly dumplings had amazing flavor and the soft shell crab with avocado and rice was very nice as well. My absolute favorite thing we had was the bodin for dessert which was a cup of real butterscotch pudding, caramel and sea salt. Holy moley, it was great!!! The plates were relatively inexpensive (about $14) and they were shareable and wonderful. We loved this place and i will look forward to going back to it.

We absolutely love Kettner Exchange—it’s easily one of our all-time favorites in the area! Whether it’s day drinks on the outdoor patio, celebratory dinners with friends, or Sunday brunches just the two of us, it never disappoints. The lively atmosphere, great service, and amazing food and drinks make every visit special. Highly recommend stopping in—no matter the occasion, you’re sure to have a great time!

Having eaten at some of what are considered the best restaurants in the world, Kettner Exchange just blew them all out of the water. Plate after plate was just incredible. Beautifully crafted, perfectly balanced. We went with the kale salad and it made me a believer as someone that typically does not like kale. It stole the night. Also had the whipped ricotta, spicy tuna with crispy rice, the pig mac (a whimsical take on a Big Mac), and the duck meatball. All just insanely delicious. Then we had dessert that made us almost slap our waitress it was so good. Cannot wait to go back and try more. What a treat!

My wife and I and our adult children visited to celebrate a birthday. The steampunk-like decor, graphic designs, lighting and music were all so inviting and transported us into the right mood immediately. We had a rooftop cabana and enjoyed cocktails and small plates. The Old Fashioned "Artichoke Hold" had no taste of artichoke and was quite possibly the best Old Fashioned I have ever had. Our favorite plates were the Pork Belly on steam buns, the spicy shrimp and the hot oil seared salmon all three of which are must-haves. It was an enchanting evening with plates sure to please any foodie. We can't wait for our next visit.

Reception staff told us there were two levels, top level you seated yourself. We chose seat yourself and fund out it was appetizers only on that level. The lower level you needed reservations. We were not told that until we asked for the dinner menu. We ordered off the appetizer menu, food was very odd. The double double was really raw hamburger and very mushy. The tuna tacos were mushy tuna and not appealing at all. Pork Belly must be there theme since it was all over the menus fixed in different ways...I will not return. Way too pricey for the type of mushy food.

On a recent visit to visit our daughter she recommended this place and we really loved it...we ordered several small plates and delicious crafted cocktails. Everything from the service to the food was just excellent. The restaurant is beautiful with a very cool vibe.

Loved the decor and ambience. Lots of creativity in food presentation and flavor. We ordered many small plates and I generally liked most but didn’t love. My favorite was the spicy shrimp. 4 stars for food 5 stars for creativity&design.

Short review: Some of the best food I've ever had. Service was perfect. Super cool atmosphere. Service was absolutely perfect (Thank you, Megan!). The food - the variety and quality were among the best I've had anywhere. My wife and I shared a kale salad (really big, very good) and then "small dishes" (that weren't all that small): a Big Mac with high quality ingredients in a steam bun (one of my favorite things I've ever eaten); a noodle and shrimp dish; and a giant duck meatball. I'm only in San Diego two nights and I want to go back.

Beautiful and nice place! Wonderful and different food! Fancy. It’s big but you need to reserve. Well located. Place to repeat!

We were steered towards Little Italy but the website menu for the restaurant told us this was not your typical Italian restaurant cultural meme. The space itself was about as far away from your average cucina as you could imagine. No doubt the rooftop bar is a big draw, but the dining space itself was well laid out; busy but not crowded. Our waiter was amazingly helpful not only handing out great cocktail advice but recommending Italian restaurants in the Bay Area. We don't know about the restaurant recommendation, but the smoky negroni recommendation worked for me. My food was great; avocado toast (Louis XVI of France style, i.e. over-the-top opulent) for starters and the Thai Curry appetizer. My wife had the brick chicken; slightly undercooked, but we thought it was a brave try. Vanilla ice cream was good but not great; might have been made on site. We thought it was a great experience; nice vibe, thoughtful menu, interesting food. Our waiter was excellent. Definitely recommend.

There are so many food offerings in this area, with this restaurant also offering a lovely upstairs deck. The menu is small, but plenty of good fare. Sandwiches, a few bowls, and some large salads. Dessert was also very good. Add a bloody mary or specialty cocktail for a refreshing lunch. The fish sandwich was great, and the capirenha (sp?) was a treat!

Had some cocktails on rooftop bar. Awesome metal work and overall decor. Drinks were great. A little pricey but well worth it.

We had a fabulous meal at Kettner Exchange last week. The Avocado Toast with buratta absolutely melted in one's mouth and the brussel sprouts were excellent as well. My pork chop was thick, juicy and tasty and my wife's Lobster Noodles were different and excellent. The restaurant, as the name suggests, is on Kettner, one of the new more hip areas of San Diego between the airport and downtown. The space itself is interesting and electic on two levels with a mix of indoor and outdoor options for eating and drinking.

We didn't have a booking, but they found us space. The waitress that was attending our table was absolutely fantastic. It's such a shame I don't remember her name to publicly praise her, but she has absolutely made our night. She recommended the food, which we loved - amazing Chef! The whole experience was absolutely top notch. And as a little cherry on top, Kunal Nayyar was dining next to us that night as well. Will definitely definitely be back when I'm in San Diego.

Met a friend visting from NYC. Great casual atmophere at the upstairs lounge. We had wine and three delicious appetizers—yummy Brussels sprouts, crispy wonton tacos, & spicy noodles. Everything was spot on, including the service. Our server Amy was a pleasure. Will be returning soon!

Food, cocktails... everything was so good. I wish I lived nearby so I could try more of the menu. Highly recommend!

Arrived with prompt service from the valet, seated quickly by friendly hostesses at an upstairs booth with a beautiful view of the bay and greeted immediately by our attentive server who recommended tasty libations - OFF TO A GREAT START!! We had the grilled octopus, frog legs, and shared the New York strip which was generous as we took leftovers of the steak home. For cocktails, I had the "Spicy Gallagher" and another tequila & mescal drink that I'm not seeing on the menu now. THAT one was devine!!! I'll definitely be going back for drinks.

First of all, this place is in a great location; valet is only $8 (if I remember correctly). We were seated promptly after having made a reservation for a group of 4 people. Our waiter had good recommendations on the menu and wine list. He was very courteous and quick to take our order and bring the food. I personally ordered the Spicy shrimp and duck meatball (waiter recommendation), both were delicious! My favorite was the spicy shrimp, but the duck meatball is pretty good as well. It can be a bit noisy but that's because there's a bar/lounge in the rooftop area with a DJ. We were there celebrating my friend's birthday and we asked for a small birthday cake, the waiter was happy to bring it and it was tasty!

It was a Friday night and no booking could be made but was put on the waiting list. Went back twice after 2 hours, We had 4 rounds of drinks and it wasn't that cheap and still on waiting.. It will be easier just then to tell, "there is no more table so just order your food in the lounge.!" Instead of making people wait. Over pretentious little corner place. And lounge food is little portion for that price "tapas style"!! And we took 9 dishes plus 2 desserts for 3 people.

Its an elegant bar that has a cool terrace, the bars cocktails are the hit there, they count with a very wide liquor menu. They aldo have a small one for red wine. The food isn’t bad at all but its mainly a place to drink and have fun. You can choose either sit at the terrace or inside but either of them are nice. Regular service from the waiters. They have a valet parking.

Saw that Kettner Exchange was a “San Diego People’s Choice” award winner and had to try. Glad I did. Food was phenomenal. Service was acceptable. The small plates appealed after a weekend of food and wine for a friend’s wedding. But first, cocktails. We arrived early, but were told that it would be a few minutes for our table; we could wait in the bar. Craft Cocktails made with quality ingredients – very creative combinations to tease the palate were the perfect way to start. Highly recommend. Waiter suggested 2 small plates per person. The Big Eye Tuna Pizza was served sashimi style on a crispy dough. Nice. The crispy Brussels sprouts had pork belly and a tasty dressing. Specials included a rabbit confit with tender beans and another dish. Dessert was an Italian buccatini (custard). Good wine selection by the glass. Pleasant setting, quiet with nice atmosphere in the upstairs open area dining room. Classy. There were other inviting and comfortable looking places to sit and have a drink and visit with friends. Overall a nice evening with exceptional food.

Four of us went out for dinner here on a Wednesday evening. The small plates offered as starters were the highlight of the evening .. would recommend the octopus, the duck meat balls, and roasted cauliflower dishes. The mains were good but not as strong as the starters. Two of us had the pork chop dish.. well sourced meat and cooked carefully. One had the scallop dish .. that could do with a rethink. One had the beef strip.. substantial. The service was reactive rather than proactive. Tending more towards expensive than value for money.

On a warm night there is no better place to enjoy craft cocktailing than on the roof of this place. I think that the cocktailing is up there with Polite Provisions and El Dorado... but this place serves amazing food as well. Big fan and the number one spot I recommend to friends when they come into town.

So enjoyed our experience at the rooftop lounge. Our favorite small plate by far was the foie gras, though we also liked the porkbelly steam bun and the seared salmon. The Alice Prosecco was wonderful and the Atlas Peak Cab! Superb!

We were only able to try a couple of menu items and both were excellent. Salad of perfect Persimmons, flavourful petit basque cheese was delicious and the rare steak cooked perfectly. Extensive wine list with Sauvignon Blanc from NZ and Malbec from Salta rather than the usual Mendoza. Good beer on tap, too. Would come again.

Experience was wonderful. Initially we were not sure on ordering small plates but the chef encourages to order small plates and share the different types of food. With the help of the waitress we ordered 5 types of small plates. Though it is small plates the quantity was big and was plenty between both of us. It was delicious. Also, the wine was very good.

I went here recently with my BFF for after dinner cocktails. It really seems to be a place to hang with friends, meet new ones and if your single perhaps meet for a first date. The place was busy but not uncomfortable. Plenty of room to stand or lounge. The drinks were delicious although pricey for an AZ girl, I soon found reasonably priced for the San Diego crowd. If you want a cool hipster vibe this is the place. If you are over 40 like me....you may want to pop in for 1 drink and keep moving like we did.

The rooftop bar/restaurant is very nice. Staff are very friendly. We ordered the burger, whole chicken, tuna pizza, and a few other things I cannot remember. The Burger was good, the big eye tuna pizza was surprisingly very good and light for anyone watching their diet. The chicken is literally a whole rotisserie chicken, and was a bit dry so would not order again. Overall this is a great venue for a date night, friends night out, or for any other reason. They have GREAT drinks and the ambiance, decor, and crowd make this a fun place to go. I'd def go back!

Enjoyed some small plates on the upstairs deck. No view but a well designed, interesting, modern space. There are just enough small plate options to come up with a vegetarian dinner-- you can request some of the non-veggie options be altered. Sadly no cider, reasonable selection of cocktails. Heat lamps when needed. Valet parking.

Was strolling Little Italy and decide to try this restaurant, the drinks and the food are delicious, we were kind of under dressed when we came in and sat in the bar since we don’t have a reservation, the bartender was obviously did not want to serve us, he gave looks like we can’t afford to dine here! Manager came in and sat us downstairs and apologized for his behalf! It’s a bit pricey but honestly it’s worth it! VERDICT: Maybe I will comeback :)

Just go! Food is great, portions are great, ambiance amazing! Had the kale salad and the black cod this time with rose sparkling wine. Great crowd also for after drinks at the sunroof terrace. Prices are very reasonable.

Right in the heart of Little Italy we found this beautiful spot serving delicious food, drinks and wine. The waiter serving our table, Patrick, deserves a special thanks for his special atention and patience.

Went here on the recommendation of a local. First attempt on New Years Eve failed (predictably!) Went back the next day with a booking and enjoyed some good wine and a selection of small plates. Particularly enjoyed the Kale salad.

The restaurant has a great vibe. Love the decor and set up. Food was amazing. I had the Kex Mcgriddle. We sat on the rooftop which was perfect for brunch and mimosas. Defintely would recommend this spot.

We had great dinner and drinks here last weekend! The service staff was very friendly and helpful! We had 4 people and did our meal tapas style, which was perfect because we were able to try a lot of the menu!

We recently enjoyed the outdoor patio area while sipping a beer before heading down the street for dinner.

Really good(but not gourmet) and in a great modern and fun atmosphere. Had the shashito peppers and kale salad to start. Both really good but the peppers could have been charred more with better salt. The peppers also had this funky (in a good way) fish skin in it which could be too fishy for some Really recommend the salad. The tuna tacos were also excellent (had a little spice but also in a good way). This restaurant is in the same league as Cucina Urbana (but probably a step behind). And definitely as foodie as Juniper & Ivy.

I had originally made reservations for a table downstairs. This was for a farewell party for a friend who was moving to Vegas, so we thought we wanted somewhere to sit and chat over food and drinks. But when we arrived (my husband and I walked there with the friend in question), he decided that he'd really like to sit upstairs. My husband ran up there to see if there was an open table large enough for our group, while I stayed downstairs to see if the hostess could accommodate our request. The hubs found a smaller table that could have worked, and we settled in. Our timing was lucky, in that the group taking up the large table up there cleared out soon after we sat down. Seizing the opportunity, we descended on that table, and were in good shape for our party of 11. Our waitress that night was spectacular. She worked with our request for separate checks, and kept a running (correct!) tab on everything that was ordered around the table. My husband and I both decided to try their burger, and the small group of us at that end of the table agreed to share an order of their spicy shrimp. And of course, booze all around! The burger was delicious, but also gigantic! I loved the fact that it came with the tiniest green salad, which made us all laugh (there were a few of us that ordered the burger that night). It was like they were trying to make you feel better about yourself, and the huge burger you were about to shove into your face. The fries were perfectly cooked - crispy on the outside, steamy on the inside. The burger was juicy and delicious, and way too filling. The shrimp, though, were the stars of my night. Crispy and covered in a delectable spicy sauce, they made me want to order several more to keep for my own! The only thing about this place is that it's very expensive. My husband was a little shocked and very dismayed to see our final bill come through (after we had sorted everything out). We all split the cost of our friend's meal and drinks, but our bill was already pretty high just on its own. This will have to become a "special occasion" spot for us, I think. I did love the food and the vibe, but I can't justify spending that much on one dinner if it's not a celebration.

I have been to Kettner on two different occasions. The first time I went it was a Friday night and the city was lit and exciting. Kettner also felt exciting. The food was unusual and the wine was good. The second time I went was on a Sunday afternoon. This time it felt airy and light. Interestingly enough, the feel of the environment changed with the feel of the city.

I had been here once before in their lounge for a short time and was impressed, but this time in the main dining areas but incredible. Our server made our dinner (Ariana) and we tried so many things and all were delicious. She coursed everything out for us and even recognized my anniversary on my profile without me telling the restaurant anything. Their chef really knew what he was doing with the Philly Toast and fish plates. I can’t wait to come back.

My husband and I are always fans of Kettner Exchanges ambiance and fun tapas style small plates. This time we got the Wagu steak on a rock which was a cool experience, they serve it raw so you can cook to your own liking on the rock . We also got the spicy shrimp and the ravioli (which in our opinion was the weakest link ). The dessert was a very cool snow globe looking ice cream dessert that had tons of dry ice so it was smoking . It looked like a snow globe. We were seated downstairs and prefer upstairs for next time . Better ambiance

Jett bee Exchange is a wonderful, stylish cool Restaurant in Little Italy in San Diego. The staff is great. Food and drinks are very good. A cool place to check out.

Very nice atmosphere in both levels of the restaurant. They also have a open terrace bar for after dinner. We order for appetizers the big eye tuna pizza and the hamachi ceviche. Both are to die for. For dinner we order the scallops that are very good. Also we order a special meat cut ( don’t remember the name ) but was just ok. Drinks and service were very good. This place is very nice to go with your couple or with a group of friends .

Updated review. The reason anyone should go to Kettner Exchange is for the food. It always tastes exceptional and is presented wonderfully. We were really looking forward to the Valentines Day special 5-course prix fixe meal with optional wine pairings. The food, as always was good. Everything else about the meal was off, however. 1. Food Allergies. I called ahead to state that one member of our party was allergic to tree nuts, and could not eat raw fish, due to a kidney replacement. Could they make substitutions? Answer once we arrived. No. 5 courses – take it or leave them. So one in our party was unable to eat the appetizer of raw fish or the dessert with nuts. The server or the kitchen refused to accommodate him. Had we known, we would have chosen another restaurant, but with a no reservation changes without a charge, the Kettner had us captive 2. Atrocious Service. The service was efficient – fast. No sooner had we finished one course when the next course was delivered. There were 3-4 people clearing our table, as soon as we ate the last morsel of each course. It was a real rush job. I asked the server to slow the pace. We were there to have a relaxed enjoyable dinner. That did no good. Course after course arrived in rapid-fire succession. It should have been obvious – the two women at our table still had wine left, when the next pairing arrived. By the end of the meal, the two women both had 4 glasses (of 5) that they were trying to drink. What’s the point of getting a wine pairing with a meal, if the wine cannot be savored and enjoyed. All told, we were out of there in less than an hour. Given the Kettner Exchanges refusal to accommodate food allergies, and the way we were hurried through the meal, it will be a long time before I go back. Yes, the food is well prepared, but if you can’t savor the experience because the servers and management turn a deaf ear to reasonable requests, there are other places worthy of our next special night out.

We went to KEX recently with a food club and we really enjoyed the dishes. The cocktails were inventive, and there were many good plates to share. We were also impressed that they had wines from the region in Spain where friends dining with us were from. Top dishes to try are: Grilled Quail, Fried Chicken and the Pork Belly - you won't be disappointed.

Ordered the fried chicken, tuna taco, eggplant, tuna pizza and spicy shrimp- so we had plenty to choose from and all was below average tasting- the place struggles with an identity- we had to ask for our water glasses to be filled and for our table to be cleared of plates and empty cocktail glasses -several times! Not worth the time- will not return.

**DRINKS REVIEW ONLY** Cool spot for drinks, although a bit pricey. My party of 8 stopped in here on whim because we were looking for a spot to grab a quick drink before dinner, on a Friday night at around 7. The hostess said that the only tables available were on the rooftop but required a $500 minimum, or something ridiculous. Luckily, we were able to just grab a drink at the bar which thankfully, was pretty empty. I had the Empress cocktail (Japanese whiskey, aloe, matcha green tea, honey, lavender bitters), which I really enjoyed. You could really taste all of the flavors without the lavender bitters being too overpowering. The food menu sounded pretty good too. Too bad we already had dinner reservations elsewhere!

My husband and I ate here our first night in San Diego. We shared several small plates, and all were packed with flavor. The Philly Cheesesteak Bao Buns and the Giant Meatball were two of our faves. It was a birthday trip for my husband, and they brought us a complimentary salted caramel dessert. It was a lovely surprise and SO SO good. Cozy vibe, delicious food, great service.

What a beautiful magnificent spot. Service was a 10 and food more if possible! Saturday is half price Rosè by the bottle so of course we had to!! Eggs Bennie were outstanding and the fish sandwich was the best I’ve ever had. Easy parking either on the street or valet. Service was just fantastic from the first call with Beth to our great server. So if your at the airport of just hanging out downtown this is the spot to be!! Loved it and highly recommend it.

Wow! What a great time I had with friends here this past weekend! I love places like this that offer rooftop seating while being able to enjoy great food and cocktails! Saturday nights obviously are the best time to come because when we arrived around 6PM it was busy but a few hours later it was PACKED! Our server I really wish I remembered her name but she was amazing! Excellent service and she made some strong recommendations off the menu! I've never even thought about trying Frog Legs until I came here! Somehow I was talked into trying an order with some friends! You know most people love to taste things taste like chicken lol but no in all seriousness the frog legs tasted like chicken lol! The rest of of appetizers and dishes we ordered were the ahi Tuna tacos, double double burger, and octopus! The only thing that wasn't all that good was the octopus! After about literally 5 drinks a piece we were feeling quite buzzed! The energy was great and music was even better! Lots of people started to come around 8:00PM! I will for sure be back when I'm in San Diego again! Btw valet is $8... so bring cash :-)

Cocktails: DO order the Spicy Gallagher and the PD Collins! Perfectly balanced cocktails. The grilled Spanish Octopus may have some cross contamination (gluten wise) but is otherwise gluten free without modification and SO DELICIOUS. We went to the roof top and got to enjoy live jazz with Miss Erika Davies and The Men! Such an amazing spot in Little Italy. Great service too.