North Italia — Restaurant in San Diego

I rarely leave negative reviews, but this time, it was too blatant to ignore… From the moment I walked in, I was greeted by a man who was as arrogant as he was incompetent, borderline insulting in his attitude. Honestly, he looked like he was on a mission to chase customers away rather than welcome them. A true masterclass in how NOT to do customer service…

The terrace was completely empty, and since it was a bit chilly, I politely asked if I could be seated in the sun. A flat-out refusal, with the excuse that they supposedly “didn’t have a server available for that section.” Strange, considering the place was far from full… I hesitated to leave (and in hindsight, I really should have), but I had been wanting to try this place for days.

A few minutes later, another server – a brunette with curly hair, incredibly friendly and professional (unlike the first guy) – walked by. I asked him the exact same question, and to my surprise, he immediately said yes and seated me without any issue. His expression said it all—he genuinely looked confused as to why I had been refused in the first place…

And then, the final slap in the face: I watched as Mr. Arrogant seated other customers—who just so happened to be noticeably lighter-skinned than us—right in the exact spot he refused me, all while giving me a cold, smug look. So, how am I supposed to take that? Blatant racism? In 2025, this is still happening?!

To top it off, I couldn’t help but notice something else that made the whole experience even worse: this guy’s hands were absolutely filthy. The kind of hands you’d rather not see on someone handling menus and seating customers, especially in a place that serves food. Honestly, it was disgusting.

And if you think that’s bad, wait for this: during my meal, I saw multiple people leave the restaurant because of the way this guy was seating them. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who had an issue with him. It’s actually impressive how one person can single-handedly ruin an entire dining experience for so many customers.

Oh, and the cherry on top? I actually saw him ask a customer for a piece of nicotine gum. Seriously?! Not just any gum, but nicotine gum—right in the middle of service. What kind of professional behavior is that? I was honestly shocked. Imagine going to a restaurant and watching an employee beg for nicotine like it’s some underground deal. Absolutely embarrassing.

This is absolutely disgraceful, and I have one piece of advice for management: fire this guy immediately before he completely ruins your restaurant’s reputation. He is the definition of bad PR and has no business working in hospitality. Unless, of course, this aligns with the restaurant’s “unspoken policy”?

Bottom line: North Italia San Diego is a place to avoid if you don’t fit into their narrow-minded standards. Terrible service, hypocrisy at its finest, and an overall disgusting atmosphere. The only saving grace was that one decent server, but after such a humiliating experience, I will never set...

We had an absolutely enchanting evening at North Italia in Fashion Valley, and I must say, it was truly a night to remember. As we stepped into the restaurant, we were immediately enveloped in a warm and inviting ambiance that set the tone for a fantastic date night. The décor was sleek and modern, with subtle nods to Italy's rich history and culture.

Our server was incredibly attentive and knowledgeable, guiding us through the menu with ease and making expert recommendations along the way. We started with the burrata appetizer, and oh, it was love at first bite. The creamy mozzarella and fresh tomatoes were perfectly balanced, and the accompanying basil and balsamic glaze added a depth of flavor that was simply divine.

For our main courses, we opted for the pappardelle Bolognese and the spaghetti carbonara, both of which were cooked to perfection. The pasta was al dente, the sauces were rich and velvety, and the portion sizes were generous, to say the least. But what truly elevated our dining experience was the exceptional wine pairings. Our server expertly selected a few glasses that complemented our meals beautifully, and we thoroughly enjoyed sipping on each one.

The ambiance and environment of the restaurant were truly special. The lighting was dim and intimate, with soft music playing in the background to create a romantic atmosphere. The outdoor seating area was beautifully landscaped, and we loved watching the sunset while we dined.

What impressed us most, however, was the exceptional service we received. Our server was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable, and the entire staff seemed to be working together seamlessly to ensure that our experience was nothing short of fantastic.

All in all, our experience at North Italia in Fashion Valley was truly unforgettable. The food was exceptional, the wine pairings were superb, and the ambiance was romantic and intimate. If you're looking for a great place to take your significant other on a date, look no further than North Italia. We'll...

My dining experience here was much below average. To begin, I arrived at a timely hour and despite the fact that there were open tables, they still made me put my name down and said that the wait was half an hour. I sat in store and waited, keeping my eye on the tables that were still empty. 25 minutes later they seated my party of two and took our orders. We waited, saw people seated after us getting served and our waiter went inside to check what was up as they were surprised as well that our food had not arrived.

After exactly an hour we got our three dishes: a basic salad, a breaded eggplant and a pesto chicken pasta. The food was, as the rest of the experience, very average. The salad was simple and could have been served way earlier. The cherry tomatoes were completely green and should not have been served, the eggplant was very thick and could have been made thinner, breaded finer and taste more eclectic. The thickness of it made it soggy on the inside instead of crispy. The cheese on top added insult to the injury. As for the pesto pasta, it was to be expected. Average sauce, chicken strips and curly fusilli style pasta.

Despite the great ratings of this place and the atmosphere of a more sit-down fine dining restaurant, it was quite far from that. The prioritization of deliveries and to go orders delayed focus on actual people sitting and dining. The reserved spots that were never filled made one feel stupid for waiting. And the worst thing was the price. At the end of the day, paying 60 dollars plus tip for three dishes that shouldn’t have been more than 40 dollars was absurd considering that one can have a better meal at a smaller local restaurant.

I was left quite disappointed and could not even finish the eggplant as it was deep fried and would probably cause an upset stomach. Would recommend...