Asti Ristorante — Restaurant in San Diego

Asti: Old World Italian Elegance in the Heart of San Diego

By : Sidd Captures

There’s something about Asti, nestled in the pulse of San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, that feels like a well-kept secret—a portal to a different time, a different place. Maybe it’s the white tablecloths, the warm glow of candlelight against dark wood, or the way the staff moves with the effortless precision of a restaurant that knows exactly who it is. You don’t just stumble into Asti; you arrive, ready to be transported.

The Start of Something Beautiful

The calamari here isn’t just fried and tossed onto a plate. No, it’s golden, crisp, impossibly light, served with a marinara sauce that whispers of long-simmered tomatoes and a hint of heat. Then comes the octopus salad, a dish that, in lesser hands, can be a rubbery disaster. Here, though, it’s tender, charred in all the right places, balanced with a bright citrus dressing that cuts through the richness. It’s a masterclass in restraint, in knowing when to let an ingredient speak for itself.

A Love Letter to the Sea

Then there’s the lobster fettuccine—the kind of dish that makes you pause, mid-bite, just to take it in. The pasta, silken and just the right side of al dente, cradles tender chunks of lobster, all swathed in a sauce so decadent you’d swear it was the work of a chef raised on the Amalfi Coast. And the crab linguine? A revelation. Sweet, delicate crab tangled in a garlicky embrace, kissed by the sea and just enough chili to keep you coming back for more.

Wines That Tell a Story

Here, wine isn’t an afterthought—it’s an affair. The 2023 Sonoma white Chardonnay is a stunning companion to the crab linguine, its crisp minerality cutting through the richness like a well-timed symphony. And then, there’s the Super Tuscan red, a wine that doesn’t just sit in your glass but tells the story of the Italian countryside, of sun-drenched vines and soil rich with history. One sip, and you’re there, on a hillside in Tuscany, feeling the weight of centuries in every note of cherry, leather, and spice.

The Grand Finale

By the time dessert arrives, you’ve already surrendered. But Asti doesn’t just end a meal—they craft an experience. Their desserts are delicate, precise—each bite a lesson in balance. A tiramisu that feels like a cloud laced with espresso and mascarpone. A panna cotta that quivers just so, teasing the spoon before yielding into something dangerously silky.

And then, the espresso. Pure gold. The kind that reminds you why Italians don’t mess around when it comes to coffee—deep, rich, a final punctuation mark on an evening well spent.

Final Thoughts

Asti is not just an Italian restaurant—it’s a transportive experience, a love letter to the kind of old-world hospitality that lingers long after the plates are cleared. The service is seamless, the atmosphere electric yet intimate, and every dish tells a story. It’s the kind of place you’ll return to, not just for the food, but for the feeling—the memory of a night where everything...

It is very rare to have a 5 star dining experience. I have been wanting to dine at Asti for many years. I needed a special restaurant to celebrate a special occasion and Asti was the first restaurant that came up for my Restaurants. Com gift card. A last minute reservation on a Thursday evening was no problem.

Asti has a prime location on 5th Avenue in the Gaslamp District in downtown San Diego. Parking is difficult, especially since 5th Avenue is now a pedestrian boulevard and closed to cars. I circled the area twice, then gave up and found paid parking at Horton Plaza. I was nervous because I couldn't calculate the charge, but it ended up to be a reasonable $16.

We chose to sit inside instead of the large outdoor patio on the street in front of the restaurant. The inside was empty with only 2 other tables of diners. More people were dining outside, but the restaurant was alarmingly empty for a usually busy Thursday evening. It made me a but nervous but I was determined to give Asti a chance. I'm so glad we did.

Asti is an old school fancy Italian restaurant. It has a charming ambience and a lovely decor dominated by two huge murals on either side of the space. I didn't care for the silk flowers on each table...a few stems of an inexpensive flower on each table would be a huge improvement at minimal cost. I also didn't care for the slightly too loud modern music. They should play Italian opera or Frank Sinatra.

The menu was formally presented in a heavy binder, just like the old days. I missed this so much during and after Covid. There was an insert listing specials without any prices. I have been burned by this before and asked how much the appetizer we were considering was. The burrata with heirloom tomatoes and procuitto was $25. I think that's an expensive appetizer, but it was very good. The first time I've had such delicious tomatoes in years.

A bread basket with butter was provided at no charge to start our meal. The bread was warm and very good. We also enjoyed a large Pelegrino.

I had the gnocchi with Alfredo Sauce and my guest had the spaghetti with meatballs ($28 each). I usually order the gnocchi if it's on the menu and this was the best gnocchi I've ever had. My guest enjoyed his dish. Portions were generous enough that we both took leftovers home.

We considered dessert, but decided we were full.

Dinner was $100 for an appetizer, 2 entrees and the large Pelegrino. A good value for an excellent meal.

Service was friendly although a bit casual for a "fancy" restaurant. Diners were not dressed up at all. I think they should have been.

The women's bathroom was beautifully decorated. One of the nicest restrooms I've been in. The paper towel dispenser wasn't working though. I informed the bartender.

I highly recommend Asti. The waitress said it was unusually empty. She said the prior night was...

We gave this place a try because of the free dessert special they were offering. On first impression, the place was nice and the waitress was nice and friendly. The food was also good. However when we received our check, we were charged $8 per bottle of still water and charged extra for dishes that were shared amongst our group. We kindly asked the waitress what the charges were for as we weren't aware why we were charged. Regarding the water issue, she said that she asked us if we wanted still water, sparkling water or tap water. However my entire group did not recall her asking whether we wanted tap water. Her response with an attitude was " I always say this everyday when I work here. It's still water, sparkling water or tap water." If we had known that still water was extra, we wouldn't have gotten them. She might have said them every day, but we're positive that during our service, she didn't mention tap water at all. Yes they came in a glass bottle that was then poured into our cups, but I've been to many restaurants now that offer tap water in a glass bottle, so we didn't know they charge extra for it here, especially considering it seemed like a nice restaurant. Regardless of that, after we finished the bottle of water, the other waiters didn't ask us if we wanted another bottle of water, they just gave us another one and charged us for it again. Then for the food, we got a few entrees and wanted to share them amongst our group. We were fine with the food coming in its own plates, but the waitress offered to split it since we were sharing. We thought she was kind to do that. However when the bill came, she charged us "split charge" fees for all the dishes we split. It's not a large amount and its not like we can't afford it, but i just think it's scummy that they would charge us these little fees here and there without letting us know about it beforehand. For a nice restaurant, you would expect them to offer an extra empty dish without charge, especially when we spent $50 on a lobster dish. When we asked her about this, she said "you need to read the fine prints on the menu, its on there." We didn't give her attitude, we just asked her what the fees were for kindly and that was when she was no longer so kind. I understand she was running around and was probably just stressed from work but I feel it should be policy for them to mention these little things. Had we known beforehand, we would have been fine with the charges. It's the way they did it slyly under our noses that I am giving...