Lupi Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in San Diego

Restaurant Review: Lupi Vino

Rating: ★★☆☆☆

If you're in San Diego and find yourself drawn to a restaurant that promises an upscale Italian dining experience, Lupi Vino may catch your eye. However, my recent visit left me underwhelmed and questioning its reputation.

The evening started with the appetizer, which featured a lovely olive oil served with prosciutto, burrata, tomatoes, and arugula. It was pleasant enough, but ultimately, it didn’t leave a lasting impression—just good, not something to rave about.

The real disappointment came with the main courses. The carbonara was a grainy, goopy mess that I wouldn’t write home about. It lacked the creamy richness that this classic dish is known for. Then, there was the shrimp and scallop fettuccine. For $30, I expected something special, but the baby bay scallops tasted frozen and far from fresh. With only three shrimp on the plate, it felt like a poor value proposition for what should be a star dish.

As for the ambiance, it left much to be desired. Despite the restaurant being heavily staffed, our server seemed overwhelmed and inattentive, making me feel more like a lower-class patron than a valued guest. The constant barking of orders from the single server to clear tables was distracting and felt out of place in a restaurant that markets itself as high-end.

On the bright side, the restaurant’s proximity to where we were staying was a plus. However, that alone isn’t enough to recommend Lupi Vino. If you're seeking authentic Italian cuisine in San Diego, I suggest looking elsewhere. There are definitely better options out there that offer both quality food and a more welcoming atmosphere.

In summary, Lupi Vino feels like a pretentious Olive Garden, and unfortunately, it falls short of delivering an exceptional dining...

We just moved to the neighborhood and excited to try it. We stopped by on a whim on a Saturday night at about 5:30. We were the second table to be seated. We promptly ordered as everyone was hungry. The artichoke appetizer came out cold (three artichoke hearts for $17) and pizza was ok neither worthy of a good or bad review. 6:30 comes by and we inquire about the status of our food and he said it was started. 7:00 comes and we ask again and he says it should be out shortly. 7:30 come and he says it is on his way. At 7:35 come back and says the food won’t be ready for 15 more minutes. Over a 2 hour and 15 minute wait for the pasta special. At which point we asked for the bill as he said our food still wasn’t started.. We were charged in full for appetizers and drinks and no apologies or explanations were given. If it wasn’t for the amazing company it would have been one of my worst dining experiences ever. It was truly bizarre. The waiter was inattentive but very nice; he seemed nervous at the end. I don’t know if there was an issue that they weren’t telling us about or purposely made us wait long because we were dressed casually or some other reason. Disappointed because this seemed like a good option that is walking distance. We went to Oscars on the way home. The smoked fish taco can’t be beat. ...

We spent the day at the beach and felt like Italian for dinner. Based off the high star rating, we settled on Lupi. We were immediately seated and received water. Soon after, our waiter came over and provided some meal suggestions. We placed our order and received our food in a timely manner. Based off the photos other people have posted, I have no idea what we received. The Caesar salad appeared to have been from a bag mix and I would bet on my life we received a frozen cheese pizza with basil leaves added (we ordered a Margherita). The crust was burnt on the outside but doughy in the middle, the cheese wasn't melted, and there was nothing authentic about it. The sauce on my chicken parmesan lacked flavor, the small pasta portion was watery, and the vegetables were lackluster.

I used the restroom and was overcome with a dusty/old smell that made we wonder how often it was cleaned. After returning to the dining room, I happened to look up and the decorative Chinese lanterns were also caked with dust and cobwebs.

I'm not sure if it was an off night but our experience did not align with the rating. I would encourage other potential guests to read all of the reviews before dining here. Had it not been for our waiter, Juan, I would have been comfortable giving them a...