Lucrezia La Jolla — Restaurant in San Diego

My wife and I came here for our anniversary. This was our first time here. The place is nice and we liked the concept. Our reservation was at 6:15 pm and at this time the restaurant was probably at its busiest. Or it seemed like I guess. Food is nothing special to write about. It’s decent at best. The mixed drinks were good though. There was a highlight and a disappointment to our night. I’ll start with the highlight. Our server was very friendly and courteous. She gave us recommendations and was attentive at all times. The dissatisfaction came from the table we were given. Our reservation was for an anniversary, so you know, most people would like a nicer quiet table that’s a little more private. I would have liked the hostess to at least try and accommodate any of these requests. Instead, she sat us at a corner table where it was so loud, I had to lean over the table to be able to hear my wife’s conversation. I didn’t like anything about it. It was next to the bar, and next to the entrance and restrooms, so it was none stop people traffic. I went over to the hostess and asked her to please move us. I even suggested a corner booth that looked perfect for our occasion. She said that booth was for larger parties and she could not do it. She said to give her a minute and she what she could do. She never came back. Great customer service there. Then a few minutes later, she sat a party of 3 in that booth I asked for. So 3 was good enough but not two for a special occasion. Wow! I was there to celebrate so I didn’t feel like going back and forth trying to get a new table. We had dinner the best we could but I don’t think I will return here unless is for a more...

First time at Lucrezia and came with high expectations since it took over our favorite Larsens Steakhouse spot. Ambiance is a perfect 5 - beautiful restaurant, perfect location, trolley stop and street accessible, mall parking nearby, lower level handicap friendly. The lighting and plants make it a beautiful restaurant to look at.

But the wait staff- inattentive, as other reviewers have mentioned. We had dirty cups, took forever to bring new ones. Pasta came with no large spoons to twirl the pasta, took forever to get one. I asked for ice for my water, never got it. The water choices are still or sparkling. Is tap water an option because I'm fine with tap and ice. That still water in nice glass bottles cost $8.50!! And we were not told. And the bottle was not opened at our table which means they can probably just fill it with tap and charge customers $8.50. Ridiculous, buyer beware.

The menu selections are meh. Really not anything spectacular to mention so we chose the usual to stay "safe". They were out of meatballs so we got calamari. I'd say the tastiest thing I had all night but not much of it. Good crisp, good seasoning, nice dipping sauces. I ordered the tagliatelle - decent but average meat sauce always reminds me of barf. I also ordered a second sausage salsiccia which was spicy as heck I couldn't eat it. As other reviewers mentioned, really nothing worth mentioning as far as food dishes go.

IF I ever returned, it would be at the bar for drinks and snacking on calamari because the dining room food experience isn't worth a return visit. there are plenty of really good italian restaurants in Little italy to...

We had a disappointing evening here. I’ll start off by saying the decor and vibe here is gorgeous but the food lacked depth and flavor. I understand this is a new spot still, but our waitress seemed too green to handle simple tasks. Our drinks took a long time and by the time they did come everyone noted that they tasted watered down probably from sitting at the bar. Our waitress seemed very uncertain of herself walking up with the tray, spilling some of my friend’s cocktail out of the glass and proceeded to ask her to take it off the tray herself because she was afraid of spilling it. Multiple times throughout the dinner I also bussed the table myself because it became too crowded with people’s empty drinks and plates.

We all disliked our food. The only item we collectively enjoyed were the arancini. The beet starter was flavorless and all I got from it was the earthy taste of beets. Even their pizza bread managed to be bland. I had their pesto with burrata. The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente, but again somehow they managed to deliver no flavor to this dish. It seemed to me like there weren’t nuts in the pesto recipe. The only flavor I did get was saltiness.

For what it costs to eat here I think it’s simply not worth it. If you’re in the area or at the mall I think it’s worth stopping in to get a drink at the bar, but I don’t...