Piedra Santa — Local services in San Diego

There's a new Argentine inspired eatery in Little Italy, San Diego at the corner of Ash and India Street serving cuisine with traditional Argentine flavors with a contemporary approach.

My meal started with the Tuetano Beef Tatare with a creative crispy potato pave underneath topped with a prime filet mignon tartar mixed with a host if delicious ingredients. The bone marrow sauce on the plate leveled up the favorable experience to a new level. It was absolutely delicious and paired with with the tartar. This item is available on the regular dinner menu and the happy hour menu at a beneficial price. The black salt that garnished the plate was genius.

The other starter thoroughly enjoyed was the baked trio of empanadas. The flavors were a pork in chile verde, a chicken florentine, and the traditional ground beef with black olives. They were all quite tasty, but what really caught my interest was the baked pastry. It was very well prepared. I loved that they were crispy.

From the raw bar, I enjoyed the diver scallops tiradito served in a miso-citris sauce with thinly sliced radishes. The diver scallops were semi sweet and offered a nice kiss of the sea. This packed a little heat given the thinly sliced hot peppers a top.

The star of the evening was the entraña or 8 oz USDA prime inside skirt steak. The steak was perfectly grilled to a medium rare temperature with a great sear. The steak was beautifully presented on a Pierda Santa Board and came served with a roasted whole half of garlic and a trio of blistered tomatoes, chimichurri and a bordelaise sauces. Both sauce were outstanding. The quality of the skirt steak was something else. Slice after slice melted like butter as I ate it. Do recommend.

As a side for the steak, I had the "Humita." It was very good. It was roasted creamy sweet corn with a brûlée of turbinado sugar. The corn was really good. This side dish was definitely on the sweet side but it worked.

Finally, for dessert I had the Panna Cotta with a berrie compote. This was a wonderful way to end the already fantastic meal. The panna cotta was delicate and creamy, not to mention super tasty. I could not get enough of that delicious berry compote.

The service was top rate. It was attentive and friendly. They definitely want to make sure that you have enjoyed your meal. The interior of the building offers an old school appeal but with certain beautiful modern look. If you like dry aged exceptional beef and a well stocked raw bar, this...

We were so excited to see a new restaurant open in our Little Italy neighborhood, and knew we had to make a reservation to check it out. We went for a Friday date night, and it did not disappoint!

From the moment we walked in, the interior was stunning—a bright pink tree and glass wine displays greet you at the entrance, with striking murals above the bar, open kitchen views, and more glass displays showcasing cuts of meat and fresh seafood. It’s beautifully designed with an upscale but inviting vibe.

The service was excellent—we had a dedicated waitress, but several other team members, including the manager, checked in throughout the night to make sure we had everything we needed. It felt warm, attentive, and effortless.

We started with cocktails and were blown away by the presentation. Both the Levanta Muertos and Cobra Clutch were brought out on a cart, inside glass vessels filled with smoke—such a fun touch. Between the two, we both preferred the Cobra Clutch—a mezcal-based cocktail that was just the right amount of sweet and smoky. The Levanta Muertos, made with “navy strength botanicals,” was a bit strong for my taste, but gin lovers may appreciate it more.

For an appetizer, we had the Tuna Tiradito—thinly sliced raw tuna in a miso limonette sauce, paired with a jalapeño olive relish that was surprisingly balanced and flavorful. Even my husband, who’s not big on spice or olives, loved it. It was light, refreshing, and a perfect start to the meal.

For our main course, we shared the Parrillada for Two, which came with skirt steak, bone-in short rib, paisa chorizo, and morcilla sausage. We chose mashed potatoes and humita (a creamy sweet corn with peppers dish) as our sides. Everything was cooked and seasoned perfectly—so much so that the two sauces we selected (which come with the meal) were hardly needed, though the chimichurri was great!

The skirt steak was our favorite—tender, flavorful, and grilled to perfection. The short rib was so tender it fell off the bone, and the morcilla sausage (a traditional Argentinian blood sausage) was surprisingly delicious, even for a first-timer like me.

We left completely satisfied, with leftovers to enjoy at home. For the portion sizes, quality of food, and the experience as a whole, the price is incredibly fair—especially for a steakhouse in Little Italy.

We’re already planning our next visit and can’t wait to try more from the menu. Highly recommend checking this place out while it's still flying...

Piedra Santa offers a thoughtfully curated dining experience that balances elegance with warmth. The ambiance stands out right away — one side of the restaurant is lively and energetic, while the other offers a quieter, more intimate vibe. We opted for the livelier side, which made for a vibrant and engaging evening.

From our table, we had a view of the open kitchen behind a glass partition — a nice touch that added to the experience. The bar, situated near the center of the restaurant, was sleek and stylish, anchored by a striking painting of a woman that draws the eye. Just before that is the dry-aged steak room, a real centerpiece, showcasing massive cuts of meat that set the tone for what’s to come.

We started with cocktails and appetizers. The drinks were solid — well made, even if nothing particularly standout — but the appetizers truly impressed. The Scallops Tiradito and Beet Carpaccio were some of the best bites we’ve had in a while. Beautifully presented and bursting with flavor, both are easy to recommend.

For dinner, we shared a bottle of Malbec recommended by our server — a spot-on pairing with the steaks. As expected, the steak was cooked to the perfect temperature and seasoned just right. A couple of our party went with non-steak options — the pork chops and rack of lamb — and both were fantastic in their own right.

We added a few sides to the table as well. The broccolini could’ve used a touch more seasoning, but it was still perfectly enjoyable. The potato and mushroom gratin, on the other hand, was a standout — rich, flavorful, and comforting.

We wrapped up the night with a panna cotta. It didn’t steal the show, but it was a light and pleasant way to end the meal.

Overall, we had a great experience. The service was excellent — friendly, attentive, and genuinely helpful. While we thoroughly enjoyed the steaks, we’re already talking about coming back to explore more of the appetizers and non-steak mains. Piedra Santa is definitely a spot worth...