Serves meat, vegan options available. Italian-run restaurant in San Diego's Little Italy since 2015. Menu has a vegan section offering items like spinach ravioli, lasagna, fettucine, fried mushrooms, and cheese substitute. Vegan gelato and tiramisu for dessert. Makes pasta in-house. Open Mon 12:00pm-9:30pm, Tue-Thu 4:00pm-9:30pm, Fri-Sat 12:00pm-10:30pm, Sun 12:00pm-9:30pm.
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1845 India St (at Little Italy), San Diego, California, USA, 92101
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- Outdoor seating
- Accepts credit cards
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Last update on 05 Jan 2022 by Vegnrnr
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Added by mutant_pie on 11 Jun 2015
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114 Reviews
First Review by vsvihla
NikiaGray
Points +50
Mixed Feelings - Edit
I hate giving restaurants that support a vegan diet bad reviews but I really have mixed feelings about this place. As other reviewers mentioned they do have a vegan section of their menu and both the bread and gelato were great. My linguine al la verde was not. Essentially it was linguine with pesto so it’s a fairly simple dish, meaning the ingredients need to be top notch. They definitely were not using top notch ingredients. The pesto tasted like it came from a jar - bad and bland. Pesto is basically olive oil and basil - you can’t mess it up - unless you get it from a jar…and the sun dried tomatoes had not been reconstituted or soaked in oil so they were hard and tasteless. Just disappointing.
Read moreAlso they had the doors wide open when it was only 50 degrees out. I don’t know if that’s a California thing, but it meant I ate my dinner in an icebox.
MilesVeganEats
Thank you for your honest review!
Read moreGuest
MartynaKumarka
Points +446
Great and true Italian - Edit
Amazing vegan options. I got the homemade gnocchi and my partner said they were better than his meat-dish. Delicious, true taste of Italy
Read morePros: True Italian, Delicious vegan options, Nice stafg
Guest
mmmloveplants
Points +29
Delish vegan options - Edit
The restaurant had a vegan section on their menu that had many delicious-looking options. My friend (not vegan) thought some of the vegan items looked better than the rest of the menu. We shared two vegan dishes - lasagna and gnocchi, and a salad. They were yummy. The lasagna was good, but the gnocchi was amazing and rivaled any non vegan gnocchi I have eaten before I became vegan. A must-have dish if you like gnocchi. The service was great, even though the restaurant was VERY crowded. Prices were fair for the location. I would definitely go back there again. They have had a vegan section on their menu since 2015.
Read moreIf you are planning to eat there on a busy night, make reservations and plan extra time to find parking (pricey and limited options for parking).
Updated from previous review on 2022-12-05
Pros: Many vegan options, Good service
Cons: Popular place, reservations a must
Guest
NicoleParks
Points +1553
Amazing - Edit
I love that this is a fancy italian place with a vegan menu, I go here for my birthday a lot and loveeee trying the new things. They have such a creative menu and their bread is so good. I got the ravioli the last time I went and the gnocchi a few days ago, WOW definitely recommend the gnocchi it was amazing. Also had the cannoli but I didn’t really like it, I’ve never had cannoli before though so I don’t know what it’s supposed to taste like.
Read moreGuest
ErikaSebastian
Points +67
Cute spot - Edit
The vegan food was hit and miss. We got the caprese and it was incredible. The best vegan mozzarella I’ve ever had. The gnocchi was pretty good. The sauce was very tasty. The fettuccine was not the best. The pesto sauce was lacking. It tasted more like oily noodles. I had to ask for some salt to bring the flavors out. It was nice to be able to go out to a nice Italian restaurant and actually have some good options.
Read morePros: Caprese, Service
Cons: Hit and miss
Guest
JakeFuller
Points +1270
I was expecting more - Edit
It’s not that the food was bad, it was decent by most standards. The fact that I was able to eat vegan gnocchi and cannolis was impressive. My dish wasn’t that hot, however, it was served to me outdoors in the evening. The cannolis were tasty, but somehow not exciting. I’m glad for the fact that I had options whilst dining with a bunch of meat eaters.
Read moreGuest
·X·
Points +18563
Civico 1845 - Edit
Decent place to get vegan Italian food while dining with non-vegans. I wasn’t able to pop by during this trip, but have eaten here a few times in the past. Pictures to follow below. 🍝
Read moreGuest
doubtfulfox
Points +270
5 stars - Edit
If it was an option, I’d give them 5 stars! The vegan menu 😘
Read moreGuest
MandiEats
Points +56
Great vegan options! - Edit
It felt like they really cared to make great Italian food that just happened to also be vegan. I’d go back to try all of their options.
Read morePros: Several vegan options labeled clearly , Friendly staff, Quick service
Guest
alexandra.winer
Points +58
really delicious food and great service - Edit
went here as a family with others who aren't vegan and it was nice to find a spot where everyone could get what they wanted. it is a higher price point, but the prices are clear on the menu online before you go in. the focaccia they brought out immediately was amazing, and I loved that their drink menu included mocktails which is perfect for me because I'm unable to have alcohol right now. I spoke with half a dozen different employees here and they were all super kind and helpful.
Read moremy husband and I split a caprese, and he got lasagna and I got the gnocchi, which was perfectly pillowy with eggplant chunks that were downright silky 🤤. the red sauce mine came in was garlicky and had little strings of melted mozzarella incorporated, and I honestly don't think if someone who wasn't vegan tried it and didn't know it was vegan, that they would have any idea the dish was vegan. my husband enjoyed his lasagna, but didn't love the sauce it came with and said it was a little beyond meat-forward. the caprese we shared was so delicious too, it was thin slices of heirloom tomatoes drizzled with balsamic with slices of the vegan mozzarella and topped with pesto. my in-laws got the dairy caprese and they commented that our caprese looked even better! and they were right 😂 all in all a great experience and I would come back again especially for the focaccia, caprese, and gnocchi!
Pros: thoughtful, well-developed vegan menu, excellent flavors, kind staff
Cons: pricey, but clearly marked
Guest
BeckyCampo
Points +36
Delicious - Edit
I ordered the vegan lasagna, it was really good. They have some great vegan options on the menu. I’d visit again.
Read moreGuest
voyagerpma
Points +154
Good portions but pricey - Edit
Enjoyed everything ordered including the bruschetta, gnocchi and linguini! Very filling and enjoyable. Also got a mocktail which was delicious. It was pretty expensive all together but if they expanded the vegan menu I’d definitely come back.
Read moreGuest
critterfreecuisine
Points +46
Limited & Lackluster Vegan Offerings - Edit
Very limited vegan options, tried a variety of the offerings and all lacked flavor significantly. Across the 3 different items we ordered, you could hardly tell a difference in taste or ingredients. The descriptions make the dishes seem unique with a promise to be artful & flavorful, when they arrive they are either missing ingredients or have very little of the ingredient sprinkled on top not actually cooked into the food with any intention.
Read moreGuest
PDXTarah
Points +20
Undercooked food and indifferent service - Edit
We were excited to find a place with a vegan menu in Little Italy, and our visit started out great with a quick seating outside and really good focaccia and basil oil. We ordered a vegan fritto plate with a combination of things (aroncini, fried dough, and fried mushrooms) and a vegan lasagna. The antipasto came before our drinks, which was a little weird and felt rushed. The aroncini were pretty good. The fried mushrooms were ok, but under-seasoned. Everything came with an aioli of some kind that had a soy milk-y taste that was a little off-putting but not terrible. The fried dough, however, was completely raw inside. As in, I tried to cut it open and it smeared onto the knife. When our server asked how it was, I said it was good except the dough was raw, and he made a frowny face and asked 'are you sure'? I showed him the knife and he said something like 'bummer' and walked away without any effort to address it. The lasagna flavors were good (except another soy milk-y taste to the bechamel) but the pasta was underdone and mushy. They probably should just not try to make it in-house. Anyways, we were charged in full for our inedible appetizer without any accountability, were rushed through our visit, and the lasagna pasta was not good. If they had addressed the uncooked dough appropriately it would be 3 stars but either way we wouldn't go back or recommend it.
Read morePros: Pretty good drinks., Good focaccia.
Cons: Raw fried dough (and charged for it anyways)., Rushed and indifferent service., Under-cooked and mushy lasagna noodles.
Guest
JJ773
Points +98
Rare Vegan Italian Options - Edit
There are few Italian restaurants I’ve found with a dedicated vegan menu. I’ve been here twice. The first time I had the best ravioli of my life. The second time the ravioli wasn’t on the menu so I had linguini with pesto sauce. It had an unusual bitter flavor, which I am not sure was intentional. Definitely wasn’t as good as the ravioli. Both times I had tiramisu for dessert, which was heavenly. Service on the most recent visit was a little hurried but the restaurant was very crowded. Definitely worth a visit but skip the linguini.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2022-06-07
Guest
brianchenault
Points +80
Love the separate vegan menu! - Edit
Good atmosphere and plenty of options.
Read moreGuest
chocolatespy
Points +336
My favorite spot in little Italy - Edit
Their vegan menu is pretty fantastic.
Read morePros: So many great vegan choices. , Separate section of menu for vegan items, Really good food.
Cons: Menu on instagram and online wasn’t current.
Guest
LiesbetDilissen
Points +126
Amazing vegan food! - Edit
The vegan lasagna was to die for! Amazing!
Read moreGuest
raissadiniz3
Points +81
The lasagna and the balls with oyster mushrooms are bomb! - Edit
The balls with oyster mushrooms are greasy but delicious 🤤 it comes with bread and side of pesto, lasagna is mild spicy and very very good too. Definitely coming back!
Read morePros: Lots of options
Guest
MileneLingiardi
Points +143
Very vegan-friendly! - Edit
I really recommend this place to vegans as they have a separate menu with plenty of (great) vegan options for appetizers, entrées and desserts! I came to this place to try their Vegan Lasagna Bolognese and was not disappointed. It’s the best lasagna I’ve ever had! The second time, I also tried their Vegan Caprese and Vegan Cannoli and both were really good, but the Cannoli was to die for! They also serve bread, which comes warm and tastes delicious (and is also vegan). I’ll definitely be coming back to try the other options from their vegan menu!
Read moreGuest
AleeshaLynn
Points +961
Dedicated vegan menu - Edit
Cute ambiance and delicious italian food with a whole vegan section on the menu. The gnocchi and calamari mushrooms were delicious! Also the bread and pesto they bring out I was told was vegan and were both really good. Definitely recommend!
Read morePros: Vegan menu, Nice place, Great food
Cons: Pricey
Guest
KaleSeitan
Points +129
Outstanding Vegan Italian in Little Italy - Edit
Very friendly service w a menu designed to accommodate Vegans. The Chef / Owner was a formal vegan straight from Italy - love my food
Read morePros: Middle of the menu is all yours , Service by Vegan Natalie is the best in town, Get the lasagna
Cons: Not cheap, Worth it tho, Bring an appetite
Guest
LucienSea
Points +255
Designated vegan menu - Edit
Proudly displays a vegan selection- with options for every course. Many items are vegan counterparts of main menu items, with all efforts and portions the same as non-vegan options. As good as it gets in Little Italy.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2022-03-09
Pros: Real care and attention given to vegan options, Dessert options
Guest
Forakora
Points +491
Oh wow - Edit
This place is amazing! They have a vegan chef who added a vegan menu, and oh my, is it good!
Read morePros: So many options, Seriously delicious
Cons: Not fully vegan :'(
Guest
lost_21
Points +184
Amazing Food - Edit
We got the vegan meats and cheese board, mushroom calamari, and gnocchi and it was amazing. The sausage in the gnocchi had a wonderful flavor and texture and the vegan mozzarella in it even had a small amount of pull to it. I would absolutely come back next time I’m in San Diego
Read morePros: Great vegan options
Guest
Wanderfuljen
Points +68
Excellent vegan menu & ambience - Edit
I had the gnocchi with vegan sausage and focaccia with pesto (just olive oil and basil). Very filling and made for two meals. The ambience here is 5 stars and I go every time I am in downtown San Diego. The manager is so friendly and will ensure you have a lovely dining experience.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2021-12-27
Pros: Vegan menu, Ambience, Management
Cons: Meat on menu, Drunk people outside the restaurant, A little pricey
Guest
yogaaddict.me
Points +107
Authentic and delicious - Edit
Very clear vegan menu and even has gluten free options. So delicious! Even the bread was vegan.
Read morePros: Clear vegan menu
Cons: A bit pricey but worth it!
Guest
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