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Lounge - LAVO Italian Restaurant - San Diego, San Diego, CA

LAVO Italian Restaurant - San Diego

4.5
4.5
316 reviews
$31 to $50
Italian
LAVO San Diego is located in the city’s historic Gaslamp Quarter. Featuring 235 seats and occupying a prime corner in the lively neighborhood, caters to locals and visitors alike. At LAVO San Diego, guests experience a boisterous, vibe-led dining experience of LAVO juxtaposed with a quintessential laid-back, yet chic, Southern Californian flair.

Tao Group Hospitality Chief Culinary Officer Ralph Scamardella has created a menu of LAVO’s hits like the infamous 1 lb Wagyu Meatball alongside brick oven pizzas and housemade pastas. The menu starts with Baked Clams Oreganata and a Chopped Antipasto Salad followed by Truffle Ricotta Cavatelli, Bone-In Veal, Chop Milanese and – of course – LAVO’s signature 20-Layer Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Mascarpone. And complemented by LAVO’s playful cocktails like the Bubbles & Berries with vodka, St. Germain, Strawberries and Frizzante as well as an extensive selection of new and old-world wines.

Make a booking

2 people

19:00


Booked 64 times today
Experiences are available.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style

    Casual Elegant

  • Cuisines

    Italian, Unspecified

  • Hours of Operation

    Mon–Thu 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:00 am–12:00 am Sun 11:00 am–9:00 pm

  • Phone number

    (619) 762-5286

  • Payment Options

    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

  • Dress Code

    Smart Casual

  • Executive Chef

    Chief Culinary Officer Ralph Scamardella

Experiences

  • $45 Prix Fixe

    Multiple dates available
    $45 Prix Fixe Menu All Night! Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday Enjoy a 3-course menu of Lavo Favorites!
  • Boozy Brunch

    Multiple dates available
    Saturday & Sunday, 11:00am-4:00pm. Join us for bottomless drinks, brunch classics, and a live DJ set! Brunch Menu: https://taogroup.com/venues/lavo-italian-restaurant-san-diego/menu/
  • Easter Brunch

    9 Apr 2023 only
    Sunday, April 9th 11:00am-4:00pm. Join us for our Easter Brunch with bottomless drinks, brunch classics, and a live DJ set! Brunch Menu: https://taogroup.com/venues/lavo-italian-restaurant-san-diego/menu/

Popular dishes

What 316 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5
4.5 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.2Value

NoiseModerate

Diners' Choice Awards

  • San Diego

    Most Booked 1000-Point Tables

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  1. AlishaC

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    My friends and I loved lavo. The whole experience was amazing. Most of us had the menu from restaurant week and it didn’t disappoint.
  2. atg136

    Los Angeles

    82 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    82 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    overall5food5service4ambience4
    Great food good service, would definitely recommend.
  3. Henry

    Los Angeles

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined 3 days ago

    overall4food5service5ambience4
    Great staff! Restaurant week did not disappoint try the tuna tar tar!
  4. Otero

    Orange County

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We regularly eat at Lavo’s at your Las Vegas restaurant as soon as we found out when was opened in San Diego immediately made reservations, and was not disappointed. We regularly eat at Lavo’s at your Las Vegas restaurant. As soon as we found out one was opened in San Diego we immediately made reservations, and was not disappointed. Our server was knowledgeable and attentive. We will come back for sure.
  5. winedineme

    New York Area

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on 22 March 2023

    overall5food5service4ambience5
    The mussels were out of this world. Drinks are spectacular specially the espresso martini and the margarita. Worth a return visit.
  6. MichaelG

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 22 March 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Staff was super helpful and personable. Music was a perfect volume, food was amazing and everything was clean. Great experience!
  7. micher99

    Dallas

    45 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    45 reviews

    Dined on 21 March 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Excellent! Food, service, ambiance were all excellent.
  8. Greg

    Indiana

    19 reviews

    4.0

    19 reviews

    Dined on 20 March 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience5
    Great atmosphere, food above average, prices fair. We would return here.
  9. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 19 March 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience4
    The food was really good, the drinks just average and so much noise
  10. OpenTable Diner

    Las Vegas

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 19 March 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Food was outstanding. The baked clams and meatball appetizer were delicious. Also had the beet salad which was great. It’s all pricey but tasty.
  11. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on 18 March 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Very good food and nice place!
  12. DawnL

    Philadelphia

    9 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on 16 March 2023

    overall5food5service4ambience5
    Was Awesome food but took a while each time we needed to order or check out.
  13. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 16 March 2023

    overall3food3service5ambience5
    The food was nothing special but service and ambiance were great. I recommend this place for cocktails.
  14. CharlesF

    Las Vegas

    43 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    43 reviews

    Dined on 15 March 2023

    overall3food3service3ambience4
    Our waiter tried very hard, but he flat out admitted he knew nothing about Italian food and had never served it before. He was “new”. I’m usually one to cut people some slack but my Shrimp Scampi was in a red sauce, even after describing to the waiter what I was asking for, to ensure he understood me. I had asked him about an Arrabiata sauce for another dish and he didn’t know what I was talking about, let alone how to pronounce various items on the menu. The food was mediocre at best and the wait staff were cordial and courteous but definitely needed more training. My family of 7 were disappointed to say the least, especially after having to dodge quite a few homeless people and parking two blocks away, just to get in the front door. This also includes stepping over animal and human excrement walking there from the parking lot. I have been going to the Gas Lamp district to eat, since the 90’s. I was so bummed in having to deal with the above parking and homeless people situation. So sad and no fault of this restaurant.
  15. LenwoodA

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on 12 March 2023

    overall3food5service2ambience5
    Great place for a date night, food is good, people are very friendly. Our server was slow, i ask for a lemonade , and never got it. waiting five minutes for him to pick up our check. But it was great.
  16. Elisabeth

    San Diego

    31 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    31 reviews

    Dined on 12 March 2023

    overall3food4service3ambience2
    An odd set of circumstances - some kind of leak prevented them from using a couple tables, so they wedged us into a makeshift setup in the bar area where we didn’t quite fit. We said we’d go elsewhere but the manager was nice enough to find something a comp two drinks but our next table ended up being super close to the parties on either side of us. Super noisy and hard to hear each other. The server was terrific and wished us happy anniversary but service was often slow. Food was delicious though.
  17. Bandit124

    Los Angeles

    60 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    60 reviews

    Dined on 12 March 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience3
    Our entrees - the Veal Saltimbucca and the Shrimp Spiedini - were both quite good. The 20-Layer Cake was big enough for maybe 6-8 people - simply huge. The Tiramisu was quite good. Service was excellent. The venue was very loud, but then again, it was a Saturday evening.
  18. Pegs712

    New Orleans

    5 reviews

    4.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on 12 March 2023

    overall4food3service5ambience5
    We had our pre-bachelorette party dinner here. Loved the ambiance and great service…definitely a good spot for large groups or even a date night! Menu didn’t have many options and would say the food was just mediocre.
  19. OpenTable Diner

    San Diego

    6 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on 12 March 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Tai is the absolute best!! Delicious food and awesome service. Can’t wait to go back again.
  20. EddieM

    Las Vegas

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 11 March 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Amazing food, great service, awesome atmosphere!!!
  21. OpenTable Diner

    San Diego

    10 reviews

    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on 11 March 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    This was my first time having brunch at Lavo. I had heard good things about it. I was brunching alone today. I do that when I go to a new place so I can give all my friends and colleagues a real review before we all show up. I sat at the bar. Nick was my server. He was great! Always made sure my bottomless mimosas stayed full! We’ll get to that in a second. I ordered the chicken and waffles. It was good, but not what I expected. It was a waffle with chicken “nuggets” on top. I expected chicken on the bone. A breast and a wing, or thigh. On top of that, they seemed to be oven fried , or air fried. They weren’t crispy at all! This dish has to have deep fried chicken! I told the staff about it. Hopefully, they fix that. It’s the main reason I’ve never eaten chicken and waffles outside of my “go to” place. Oh yeah! The bottomless mimosas. It’s a blend of orange, passion fruit, and pineapple juice. Very, very tasty. They have a live DJ playing music, but IMO, the music selection isn’t indicative of San Diego. It was mostly what you’d hear in most Vegas nightclubs. This isn’t Vegas. It’s brunch in San Diego. Where’s the reggaeton, hip hop, R&B, Latin dance music? Goodness, the DJ didn’t even have “Falling Back” by Drake. What DJ doesn’t have every Drake song ever released? The music wasn’t bad, just could’ve had a bit more of a brunching/party vibe. I’m definitely looking forward to returning. The menu had a few other items I’m interested in trying. The Nutella stuffed French toast, and the Breakfast pizza, to name a few.
  22. EDog

    San Francisco

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on 11 March 2023

    overall3food4service5ambience1
    Food was great. Music was obnoxiously loud. Conversation very difficult.
  23. DarienFoodGuy

    Chicago

    6 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on 9 March 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Wonderful price fixe menu options and value. Food quality was exceptional.
  24. MarcoR

    New England

    3 reviews

    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 7 March 2023

    overall3food3service4ambience3
    good restaurant, good ambience and service, italian inspiration for the food but only inspiration
  25. RickTeri

    Central Coast

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on 4 March 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    Would suggest to others. Very pricey for conditions downtown.
  26. SanDiego92101

    San Diego

    27 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    27 reviews

    Dined on 4 March 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We were a large group of demanding girls! AJ was the best! Patient, attentive and overall Great service! Food was good but service is the reason I’ll be back again! Thank you AJ!
  27. OpenTable Diner

    Hawaii

    1 review

    vip
    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 4 March 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great service
  28. OpenTable Diner

    San Diego

    4 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on 27 February 2023

    overall2food3service2ambience4
    Service was slow and inconsistent for a not so busy Sunday evening. Food came out at different times and was just okay. Overall not impressed.
  29. AmandaT

    Seattle

    1 review

    vip
    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 26 February 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Super impressed by LAVO. The brunch food was incredible and our waiter was amazing. He was attentive and also very aware of our dietary restrictions. They also have fantastic cocktails. We will definitely come back here every time we come to San Diego.
  30. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 26 February 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Great restaurant. Quality food and very welcoming staff. Will return
  31. OpenTable Diner

    Las Vegas

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 26 February 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    Great experience - a little pricey.
  32. Scott

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 26 February 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Outstanding service and food! Staff was excellent.
  33. OpenTable Diner

    Los Angeles

    1 review

    vip
    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on 24 February 2023

    overall2food5service2ambience4
    Food took an hour to come out, restaurant did last call on drinks after 50 minutes and we were left wondering when our food would arrive. I may return for a date, but never again a group meeting.
  34. GregZ

    Portland

    33 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    33 reviews

    Dined on 24 February 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great meal, drinks and service! Definitely recommend this restaurant.
  35. OpenTable Diner

    Fort Lauderdale

    3 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 23 February 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Prix fixe menu was outstanding. Great options to choose from and unbeatable price. Lively vibe, friendly staff.
  36. Time2FlyAway

    Oklahoma City

    41 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    41 reviews

    Dined on 22 February 2023

    overall5food5service4ambience5
    Excellent Italian food. We were there for business dinner and a little noisy for that,but the food made up for that.
  37. CqrlK

    Washington DC

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on 19 February 2023

    overall3food3service4ambience3
    Way Overpriced. Food was fine, not great. Had spaghetti/meatball (meh), seafood Alfredo (pretty good, a bit salty), manicotti (tasty). Server was very attentive. Thumbs up. House focaccia bread was delicious. Parking in gas lamp district is the worst. Not the restaurants fault, but makes it even harder sell to return or recommend. Happy to have tried once.
  38. OpenTable Diner

    Los Angeles

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 19 February 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    First time being here and it will definitely not be our last! Food and service was amazing Thanks Brian
  39. OpenTable Diner

    San Diego

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 19 February 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    If you’re dining at Lavo, ask for Mikey! The service was exceptional and the food was amazing. Mikey was friendly & very knowledgeable about the menu & checked on us at the right intervals. He always made sure that we were comfortable and enjoying our meal even though it was a very busy night & was catering to multiple tables with large parties. Overall, Lavo is definitely worth a visit and Sicilian approved!!
  40. OpenTable Diner

    Los Angeles

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on 19 February 2023

    overall1food1service1ambience3
    Spaghetti and meatballs tasted like overcooked noodles in an ashtray. Our server was beyond incompetent and that’s whenever we got to see her (which was very infrequent). I’m good on going here again. Y’all can have it.

Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitising

    • Surfaces sanitised between seatings
    • Digital, disposable or sanitised menu provided
    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily
    • Sanitiser or wipes provided for customers
    • Contactless payment available
  • Physical distancing

    • Limited number of seated diners
    • Distancing maintained in common areas
    • Extra space between tables
  • Protective equipment

    • Waiting staff wear masks
    • Diners must wear masks unless eating or drinking
  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

LAVO Italian Restaurant - San Diego is rated 4.5 stars by 316 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people

19:00


Booked 64 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for LAVO Italian Restaurant - San Diego

611 5th Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross Street

    5th and Market

  • Area

    Downtown / Gaslamp

  • Hours of Operation

    Mon–Thu 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:00 am–12:00 am Sun 11:00 am–9:00 pm

  • Cuisines

    Italian, Unspecified

  • Dining style

    Casual Elegant

  • Dress Code

    Smart Casual

  • Parking Details

    Street Parking

  • Payment Options

    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

  • Executive Chef

    Chief Culinary Officer Ralph Scamardella

  • Additional

    Patio/Outdoor Dining

  • Privacy policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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