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Acqua Al 2
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
322 5th Ave(between K St & J St)
San Diego, CA 92101
Neighborhoods: Gaslamp, East Village
(619) 230-0382
Announcement
Join us on Nov. 2 at 6:30 p.m. for our next Uncorked Wine Tasting: Local Flavor Featuring California Wines!
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 2 pm
Mon-Thu, Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 11 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy, Upscale, Touristy
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
152 reviews for Acqua Al 2
Review Highlights
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"Florence is known for its exquisite cuisine." In 26 reviews -
"...Aceto Balsamico - A hand carved fillet mignon topped with a..." In 3 reviews -
"As for the Lombatina ai Funghi Porcini." In 3 reviews
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151 reviews in English
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Review from Sami M.
Moreno Valley, CA
2/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
My boyfriend and I came to San Diego on our Anniversary and came to this restaurant per recommendation of our hotel's entertainment services concierge. I'm not one for Italian food, but decided to give it a try.
He and I got chef's choice: 5 sample entrees of First list (pastas), 3 sample entrees of Second list (meats), and 4 of desserts. I've got to say, I've never had such exquisite food! and I don't even like pizza! So me saying that this Italian food is better than ANY food I've ever tasted is saying something!
Service wise, they are very polite and somewhat knowledgable of the food.
Ambience wise, (we sat outside) it was a nice candlelit dinner. It is in a good spot. It's in the gaslamp district. So take it as a good thing as far as being Sunny San Diego. Down side, because it's in the gaslamp district, few cars blaring music and motorcycles being hogs.
Overall, the food and service is 5star worthy, but the placement (take it as good or bad for yourself) brought it down a star. -
Review from Saeed R.
Chicago, IL
Happened here for lunch during a conference and at the suggestion of the waiter ordered the Filetto al Mirtillo (Fillet with rich currant sauce). Not too bad, and rather pleasant lunch, however, in retrospect, I realize I'm not much of a meat and sweet guy when it comes to my filet. The 5 pasta sampler was a real treat and I definitely enjoyed it.
All in all, it's really traditional, authentic food from Florence. -
Review from Maryann C.
San Diego, CA
1/30/2012
First course was the Fusilli Lunghi ai Mascarpone e Funghi (creamy mushroom pasta) and a broccoli pasta with white sauce that's not on their online menu. Second course (entree) was Filetto al Aceto Balsamico (filet mignon with balsamic sauce) and Petto di Pollo ai Funghi (mushroom smothered chicken with white wine sauce). To drink, we had specialty coffees; the Acqua al 2 specialty (with Amaretto di Saronno and cherry liqueur) and the peppermint patty (also not on the official website).
The filet mignon was incredibly thick and therefore a bit rarer in the middle than expected. My Acqua al 2 coffee was extremely potent, it needed a full pitcher of cream to make it drinkable to me (although once it was lightened, it was excellent). It was all a little saltier than expected. Other reviewers have complained about the bread, and I echo their complaints. It's served stone cold with no butter, and it's so hard and crusty that it barely even serves as a sauce mop. I actually hurt my mouth with it.
Still everything (except the bread) was very tasty and we were full to the point of bloated. The service was also excellent, friendly and attentive but casual and not hovering.
But here's the thing. We had an inconveniently wobbly table, the paper towel dispenser in the women's restroom was broken, there was some repetitive music playing, and the food was good but not magnificent, let alone perfect. There were only two of us. We didn't have an appetizer or dessert. We didn't order the most expensive courses on the menu. We had a $100 gift certificate, and went $40 over including tax and tip.
For prices like that, a restaurant should hit somewhere between excellence and perfection. Acqua al 2 doesn't even come close.
The kicker is that there must be a dozen Italian restaurants in the Gaslamp. I honestly don't know how Acqua al 2 is competing. Maybe it's the wine list, or the authenticity. But if you walk half a block, the Old Spaghetti Factory is right there. Their food isn't as specialized, but of a comparable quality, and for a third the price of an Acqua al 2 entree, you'll get three courses and a drink in a much cooler setting. If you're looking for something fancier, you won't find it at Acqua al 2, but they'll be happy to charge you for it.
Bottom line, Acqua al 2's prices make promises that the food and setting don't keep. -
Review from Bryce p.
Boise, ID
3/21/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Great food! The service was excellent!
-
Review from Ernesto G.
Fountain Valley, CA
12/28/2011 3 photos
Solid 3.5 stars for the filet mignon!
Came here with my best friend one Friday night and had a tasty filet mignon. Cooked perfectly (medium rare) and the balsamic vinegar glaze was great...never had a filet mignon with a glaze before, but I definitely liked it.
We were too full for dessert, but will try some next time. -
Review from Josh B.
Hackensack, NJ
3/16/2012
So what everyone goes here for, the blueberry steaks, is something I did not get. I went pretty safe and got the Fusseli with mushrooms and cheese, which wasn't bad,. but not the best I've had. The appetizer we had of ricotta and spinach balls with marinara was amazing though.
Even though they had a great staff that was very friendly and helpful with tips on other local places for bars and such, I still can't say I highly recommend this place unless you're going for the steak. -
Review from Geoffrey L.
San Diego, CA
10/29/2011
I wrote a Union Tribune review on this place two years ago, and it still has not improved. In fact, it is worse. It is still overpriced by $10 to $20 per dish, especially for the mundane pasta dishes. The steaks are cooked right, but not worth the money. The anti-pasta and wine are about the only good things I can mention. (Indeed, Wine Spectator magazine gave it high ratings for its wine offerings).
But the service was atrocious and slow. The waiter took almost 20 minutes to bring our cocktails. We complained to the manager, who did not seem to care. The waiter then sprung into action but brought the wrong drinks. The second round of drinks took just as long. Even the busboy seemed to be stoned as he peered out into space pouring water into our glasses while we tried to make eye contact and ask for more bread, completely non-responsive. And this was not a busy night.
The two YELP stars are rightly deserved. Despite the promotions and Groupons this place desperately circulates, I fear it will not last the winter. -
Review from Ice C.
Los Angeles, CA
10/11/2011
The worst dinner experience ever.
Prior to being seated, the hostess and manager took our name at the door (after ignoring us for a few minutes). They then turned both their backs to us to face the computer. After another minute of myself and my company awkwardly waiting there, they showed us our seats in a most unwelcoming manner.
The drinks menu was presented to us on an iPad and the bread is served from a brown paper bag. What a terribly uneven juxtaposition. It was annoying to look for the drinks I wanted from the iPad thanks to the ugly and terribly designed user interface. What a horribly stupid gimmic.
As the waitress began to introduce herself, she was interrupted by another waiter. We waited a minute for the conversation to end. This was really rude of both of them to not realize that we are the customer. We don't do the waiting. She then continued to tell us about the menu. Apparently all their specials are "like, really awesome" and "like, also like, really awesome". What a moron. I wanted to walk out, but I didnt make the reservation to this terrible dinner.
The seating and decor is unappealing. I felt like I was sitting in a dimly lit IHOP.
When paying the money you do to eat the food there, you would expect at least some nice interior design or good looking waiters/waitresses. False. They are all so unappealing to look at.
To top it off, our waitress was a complete and utter idiot. I understand a busy night, and things like that as I have worked in the food industry for over 7 years. I understand the difference between a busy night and an incompetent wait staff. The wait staff was incompetent. The waitress forgot to bring us bread after requesting it from her 3 times. Her bussers also could not seem to meet the simple request. No apologies from them at all.
I got so frustrated that I ordered a Scotch, Macallan 16 year. She forgot to bring it to me, she admitted after I waited for more than 10 minutes. Once she brought it to me, it was a.) served in the wrong glass b.) served watered down, so clear that it didn't have any liquor in it.
So, she and the bartender are retarded. I didn't say anything, because I would have just blown up. So I tried to relax on the two sips of liquor that existed in my little watered down expensive Scotch.
After the drink was finished, the waitress spilled cheese all over herself RIGHT next to me. She giggled like a kid, as if it was funny, instead of acknowledging any bit of embarrassment at the mistake. Nor did she apologize to the woman who had cheese down her leg and dress. I-D-I-O-T.
So, please don't waste your time and earned money at this restaurant. There are many, many other places in Gaslamp District that are well worth the money. Heck, I wouldnt even go to this restaurant if it was 75% off.
For the cash you spend here, treat yourself to SEARSUCKER, across the street. -
Review from James R.
Santa Monica, CA
2/3/2012
My rating is really 2.5 stars but that's not an option...5 starts for the Blueberry or Balsamic Filet, but 1 star for the service, food prices, pasta sampler, wine prices, and wine list on an iPad gimmick.
To be fair, having been to the Florence location a couple of times, my expectations for the San Diego location may be a bit unrealistic. That said, they invite the comparison with many references on the website as well as in the restaurant and use the connection to the Florence location as a selling point, so I think the comparison is justified and they fall far short of their Italian counterpart.
I recently visited the San Diego location for the second time at the request of a friend who wanted to give it a try, and as with my first visit, I was underwhelmed. The past sampler is one of their most popular selections, and while it is fun and interesting to sample five different dishes, they are virtually all mediocre. A few people in our group compared the pasta dishes to things like Kraft mac and cheese, and Chef Boyardee pasta...upscaled versions, but not exactly what you expect from a high-end Italian restaurant. The wine list is extensive, but overpriced although their house wine is very passable for the $30 price. I do however hate the wine list on an iPad trend which they have adopted...it's a personal issue, but it bothers me to have an iPad on the table at a supposedly upscale restaurant.
The saving grace however, is the filet. Both the Balsamic and Blueberry filets are 5-star cuts of meat, cooked perfectly and truly delicious. I would have only given 1 star for the overall experience for the price if the filet wasn't so good, but it really is.
Unfortunately the service was another letdown. Our waitress seemed to be on medication and was very slow and forgetful. Very nice person, but just strange seemed out of it the entire time.
Ultimately, it's worth a visit if someone else is footing the bill and you want to try the Filet, but overall there are many better places to spend $100/person on dinner in San Diego. -
Review from Robert F.
10/15/2011
I lived in Italy and frequented often the Acqua Al 2 there, which by the way is just a slightly better than average place over there. However, I have had decent experiences there as well as here. But for the most part, I would say something was lost in translation.
To be honest, it has been a bit since my last visit. I will say that I love the concept of the Assaggi. Nowhere else does this and I like to taste multiple dishes if possible, and with these you get a chefs choice of something you may have otherwise not ordered. I also think the balsamic glazed filet is pretty good, even if a bit over sauced.
In regards to many comments, the bread is actually very Tuscan, and that "flavorlessness" is very much how it is supposed to be and is in almost every restaurant in Tuscany. I think they need to update their food program here, but you can still get a pretty good meal with the right order. -
Review from Stephan Vladimir B.
San Pablo, CA
8/21/2011
Mediocre food. Poor wine selection. They ran out of more than 50% of the entrees on the menu but didn't tell us before we already ordered wine (by the bottle only, by the way). So they hooked us into staying, then told us there was basically nothing left to eat. Pathetic.
Once we got the food it was bland, uninspiring, and not necessarily cooked how one ordered it (it wasn't inedible, but it was basically diner quality food at date-night prices).
Will never return. -
Review from Dave B.
7/6/2011
Wouldn't have tried this place based on the 2 1/2 star rating, except it is dog friendly and we were desperate as we were staying at the Hotel Solamar with our lab.
Our waitress was a bit flighty, but we sat outside near the hostess station and she (the hostess) gave us a good tip on the menu. Get the pre-fixe menu ($50) for one, which is chef's choice of multiple pasta, protein and dessert items, but have them double up on the pasta course for an extra $13. Perfect!
First we had the pasta course, which is the chef's choice of five different pasta dishes. They were all cooked perfectly - al dente - and were the star of the meal. Penne Vodka was my favorite, but here was what we got:
Farfalline ai Funghi Porcini - Bowtie pasta with sauteed porcini mushrooms and imported mascarpone cheese. As above, pasta cooked perfectly, good sauce taste.
Rigatoni alle Melanzane - Tube shaped pasta with a tomato eggplant sauce, mozzarella and parmesan cheese. "Martin's favorite". Yum - tasted like a light mac and cheese.
Maccheroni alla Vodka - Penne pasta with a milk and vodka sauce and a touch of tomato sauce. Perfectly cooked pasta in a fantastic vodka sauce.
Topini al Radicchio Rosso - Small potato dumplings(gnocchi) with our house tomato sauce, Italian red cabbage, mascarpone cheese and Parmesan cheese. I love gnocci, but most places screw it up by overcooking it. The cabbace made it a little tangy. Yum.
Fusilli Lunghi ai Pepperoni - Long fusilli pasta with a tomato and bell pepper sauce finished with a touch of cream. I am not a huge fan of bell peppers, but this added a lot to the pasta.
Next we had the protein course - which is three three ounce portions:
Filetto al Aceto Balsamico - A hand carved fillet mignon topped with a balsamic vinegar glaze. The reduction was great but the the filet was a little fatty and slighly overcooked.
Fileno al Mirtilio - A hand carved fillet mignon topped with a blueberry sauce. The steak was cooked to perfection - medium as requested - but the blueberry sauce was too sweet, as I had originally feared. But my wife loved it.
Petto di Pollo alla Griglia - Grilled chicken breast on a bed of arugula, served with cherry tomatoes. Boring and not a lot of taste. Kind of like chicken on skewer.
Finally the dessert course -
Pannacotta - Cream Custard with fruit coulis. The star of the desserts in my opinion.
Torta di Cioccolatta - Floureless chocolate cake. Too dry.
Cheesecake - Ricotta cheesecake with a walnut crust. Meh...kind of boring.
Tiramisu - Ladyfingers dipped in espresso, topped with light mascarpone cream. Also good.
The food was surprisingly good, we liked the location, tand hey were very good to our dog. All the food above, plus a Sapphire martini was $77. Great deal and really good food. Give it a try. -
Review from Jennifer P.
San Diego, CA
3/22/2011
I'm still bitter that I didn't hear about Acqua Al 2 until days after my return from Italy. I would have loved to try out the Florentine restaurant during my visit, but, alas, not to be. However, I am thrilled to have discovered Acqua Al 2 while in the throes of severe Italian cuisine withdrawal. This is as good as it gets stateside, and it's damn good. I'm already planning my next ten dining adventures here (and many more after that), all hopefully within the next ten days (wishful thinking).
This place is seriously awesome. The bread tastes just like it did in Italy, thanks to baking it without salt, and the food lives up to every salivating memory I have of true Italian dining. Dee.Lish.Us.
I wanted to eat the entire menu, but since that didn't seem responsible I settled instead on the gorgonzola gnocchi (having tried the same dish while in Florence) and it was as good as I remembered. So delicious and creamy and highly addicting. Second course was the balsamic-glazed filet mignon, which was incredible. I ate up every bite that I could fit in!
My partner-in-delicious-dining had the orrechiette with broccoli cream sauce and it was also amazing. I might have to order that next time! Also chicken in a mushroom sauce that was delicious as well. I don't think you can order badly here. I plan to return and do thorough research to ensure this fact, but it just doesn't seem possible.
Shared the dessert sample plate and it was the perfect amount -- four small bites of different desserts (cheesecake, chocolate cake, tiramisu and my favorite panna cotta).
Service was excellent, prices were more reasonable than expected, and food was better than I could have imagined. I'll definitely be frequently this spot until I can get myself back to Italia. -
Review from Michael W.
San Diego, CA
9/2/2011
Pretty good! I'd likely give it 3.5, but when I was there, I was craving vegetables, and they really don't have much in that way (except salad).
I had the Petto di Pollo al Porto, which was quite tasty, but not amazing. I should probably have tried the pasta, but i had just had it for lunch. Doh! I will try it next time, and will edit my review then.
It was a bit pricey, too, but maybe that's just downtown. Also, when I was ready to go, it took a looooong time to get the check. Still! Not too bad. -
Review from Jen K.
Chicago, IL
6/2/2011
As soon as I figured out that this restaurant was affiliated with the one in Florence, I was on a mission to try it the next time that I was in town.
I got the tasting menu which came with 5 different samplers of pasta- AWESOME. And 2 small fillets, the favorite balsamic glazed and a blueberry one. The balsamic was amazing, and the blueberry was pretty good.
Service was outstanding, our waiter was the best. -
Review from mark s.
San Diego, CA
1/8/2011
Don't have time for a lenghty review, but I'll touch on some quick points...
Bread in a paper bag at this price point... REALLY??? ...and the bread tastes like it came came from VONS. The Five Pasta Sampler... I'm sorry, but I can make better pasta at home with sauce from a jar.
We also split a filet with the Balsamic Glaze.... or should I say the Balsamic Glaze SOUP with a Filet floating in it !!!
If they own another restaurant in Florence, all their cooks must be on vacation there indefinitely.
Sorry Acqua, keep trying, but at this point you don't make the grade.... -
Review from Adeline F.
San Diego, CA
12/14/2011
I was surprised when I saw that Acqua Al 2 had so few stars. I ate here for lunch and it was delicious. I got a traditional Italian dish and I found it quite tasty. I am usually a hard judge of Italian food as I grew up with amazing homemade Italian all my life. The service was definitely relaxed, but more so you could enjoy your dining experience as rather than the servers just being bad at their jobs. It is a little pricey, but I would absolutely go back if I were craving Italian for a special occasion or maybe just a girls night.
-
Review from Jessica Q.
San Diego, CA
3/28/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I love Aqua. I have been several times and for several different events/ occasions so I am going to review all of them.
My very favorite event they have is the monthly wine tasting. The lady who runs it (sorry I forgot your name) is so informative and really breaks down the wine for you. This was my first wine tasting experience and I LOVED it and can't wait for them to come back again this year.
Next up is the Thursday night happy hours. This is a "date night" staple. We love grabbing bottle of wine and feasting on the different appetizers until we are stuffed. I almost don't want to review this part of it because I don't want people to know about this a ruin our nice quite time together, but it's wonderful.
Finally, dinner. Ahhhh. I love the pasta sampler dish. Due to my extreme pickiness I was a little nervous about this one initially, but I have NEVER had anything that I wouldn't eat. They are all delicious. Next up the steak, oh my gosh, the steak is amazing. My husband loves the blueberry while I prefer the balsamic. Both are beyond delicious. Follow it all up with a slice of the AMAZING cheesecake (and I'm not usually a cheesecake person), the Crème Brule, or the Tiramisu and you can't go wrong.
To top it all off, we have never had a bad serving experience; which is as, if not more important than the meal. From the hostess to the bartenders, from the servers to the managers, this place is doing something right with their staffing. -
Review from Justin B.
Austin, TX
12/11/2011
Professional behaving but inattentive servers. (eg tea was empty for more than 15 minutes twice during my visit) Pollo funghi porcini was bland and the chicken breast was incredibly leathery. Didn't send it back as I was in a quick lunch with a collaborator. Overpriced for this level of service and quality of product.
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Review from Kim N.
San Francisco, CA
8/27/2010
The bill of this place is like that of a 5 stars restaurant-however the quality of food and service belongs to that of a one star. We ordered the pasta appetizer and I never thought I would say this, but there was too much cheese in those dishes. The flavor taste was nothing like that of Italy.
I ordered the New York steak w/arugula and tomatoes-the only tasty part of that dish was the arugula and the tomatoes. My steak was blackened, dry and tasteless.
The waiter kept wanting to take away our plates-I am not sure if there was a long line waiting outside, or maybe he already charged us for the automatic tips b/c we were 6+ and wanted to get rid of us. Regardless-don't go here, unless it is just to have a glass of wine. -
Review from Kara H.
Irvine, CA
3/22/2011
I thoroughly enjoyed my meal here. I thought the bread in the paper bag was a neat touch (read: warm!) and all of the food was very fresh and tasty. One of the better Italian restaurants I have eaten at.
I would, however, give one star to our server, who was a complete dud. I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt because he said he was new but I think that was his cover for being an idiot. Horrible Italian accent (I was embarrassed for him as I was dining with true Italians) and didn't have any answers to our questions either about the food or the restaurant. He actually placed a wine bottle on our table and left it there unopened for at least 5 minutes after walking away.
And I will give two stars to their attempt at serving a plain marinara dish. It was spicy and inedible for the member of our party allergic to anything remotely spicy. -
Review from Frank N.
Newport Beach, CA
6/6/2011
My filet was overcooked (I asked for medium and got well-done). The blueberry sauce on top was amazing. Kudos for trying something different.
We had a salad appetizer that was fun... Three different types of salads, each small. That was good.
Atmosphere was good and location was good.
I'd give them a higher rating if the filet wasn't overcooked. -
Review from Natalie G.
San Francisco, CA
7/20/2010 1 Check-in Here
So your sister store is in florence... Do you want a cookie for that?
Checked this place out after a couple friends raved about it when they went to the Florence spot in Italy, but unfortunately, I was sadly disappointed. We ate outside, which was not so bad, and not as loud as I expected it to be. Unfortunately, the food was nothing to be excited over. I had Fusilli Lunghi ai Mascarpone e Funghi which was alright. The pasta seemed fresh, but the sauce was just a little lacking in flavor and overall bland. It felt very hamburger helper esque? My friend had the seabass over risotto which was a special and that was tasty. The bread is served in a bag and the server made this big deal of shaking the brown bag for one reason or another that I didn't quite understand. The bread itself was MEH.
Why such a MEH review? Honestly, it was just MEH. It seemed all so contrived, trying to be something, that it really wasn't. It wanted to scream being Mom and Pop, but in the end it was all corporate. Which is ok, just own it then. If you're gonna fall into the category of Olive Garden.. Go ahead! Just own it. Service was mediocre at best and our server was nothing to rave about.
All in all. Not the best experience, but not the worst. Just nothing so special.
**7/23/2010: I was recently contacted by the owner and manager to follow up on my experience. They did apologize for my mediocre experience and to contact them if I dine again. So, that was nice. -
Review from Jimmy B.
San Diego, CA
5/31/2009
Two reviews.
1. For San Diegans: Yuck. The restaurant shares exactly ONE THING with its mother ship in Florence, Italy--its name. Apart from that, those of you middle aged former poor students wanting to relive your backpacking-around-Europe-Let's-Go-Italy days after college, remembering having stumbled upon a terrific little trattoria called Acqua al 2 (pronounced "doo-way") on Via Acqua in Florence, stuck between the incredible rice gelato place and the leather store, will find the food at AA2SD about as gustatorially faithful to the original as Del Taco is to Mexican food. Actually there is an analogy to be found here: When I ate there, the food in AA2SD had a curious Mexican bent. Was that cumin I tasted in the pasta sauce? And Jack cheese on the lasagna? Possibly not , but it sure was suspicious. IMHO, AA2F should come to AA2SD and demand the return of their name.
2. For Conventioners visiting The Gaslamp: This place is awesome! The best Italian food you will ever have. The Spaghetti alla Suga Messicana is to die for. And make sure you try the molten chocolate cheesecake for dessert! Viva Italia! -
Review from Mariah C.
San Diego, CA
9/22/2009
Don't ask me how my husband and I were sooooo clueless that we didn't realize it was restaurant week last week in the Gaslamp, but somehow we were!
Friday night we hit the town, hoping to start the night with a great dinner. To our wonderful surprise, every single restaurant had at least an hour wait. UGH! So we walked all the way down to the end of 5th and found Acqua Al 2 with no wait! SCORE!
Uhhhhh yeah, that thought soon changed!
So, we're seated, we're served water and then we wait.... and wait.... and wait... and wait... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....
FINALLY a bus boy comes by the table with a bag of bread. Cool, I think, a bag of bread! It must be tasty! Nope. Cold, semi-stale, flavorless.
More waiting... finally we get our waiter. He was about the same as the bread... cold, flavorless, no emotion, didn't care to tell us about the restaurant week specials they had, barely spoke two words to us. So we ordered of the regular menu, and in keeping with the theme of the night, my food was cold, flavorless... you get the point by now.
So anyway, about 5 minutes after we ordered our food, another party was seated at a table behind us. A waiter appears at the table almost instantly with tons of character, totally hyping up the restaurant week menu. My husband looks at me with astonishment and asks "Is that our waiter?!" I nod my head in disbelief.... but yes, this was the same guy. Oh well...needless to say, we won't be going back to Acqua Al 2. -
Review from Susana L.
8/8/2009
Walking around the streets of Gaslamp, I was always drawn to the warm ambiance of this Italian restaurant. I insisted on a special dinner to this quaint spot.
However, I was thoroughly disappointed. First of all, while I was excited to soak in the ambiance, we were given a terrible table. Between the french doors into the patio, my boyfriend was sitting inside while I was sitting outside. We had come by about an hour before to put our names down for a table, and at 10 pm, this is the best that they could do? Just unacceptable.
We were then served by a bored and rude waitress (with an accent for added authenticity!). If there is anything redeeming in this menu, then she did not make any recommendations. I had a mediocre pasta while my partner ordered the most disgusting peppercorn steak he has ever had in his life.
The problem with this restaurant is that the blasé food is not worth the hefty price tag. I will never come to this wanna be place ever again.
Are you kidding me? Is the twin restaurant in Italy also a shameless tourist trap? What a joke of a restaurant, and the yelp rating affirms this.
AVOID AVOID AVOID. -
Review from CJ Y.
Los Angeles, CA
9/7/2009
Seriously?! If this restaurant claims to have a twin in Florence, Italy--this place is definitely the Danny Devito of the two. In other words, it leaves something to be desired.
We came here thinking it was going to be a great experience, and were completely let down. We ordered the pasta sampler, and i swear, we had better food at the UCLA dorms in college than what they served up. It tasted like something you get from a buffet line, rather than a nice Italian restaurant.
The blueberry steak was actually "OK," but somewhat gimmicky. I feel like i could've put a nice filet on my grill and topped it with jam--no biggie, and really if you want a good steak, go to Ruth's Chris or a real steakhouse rather than this touristy joint.
I will say, however, the service was great and it has a nice ambience (the ONLY reason why this place got two stars versus just one), but the food seriously needs to be improved. -
Review from Kat M.
La Mesa, CA
6/28/2010
I bought a coupon from Daily Deal, as a previous reviewee. I was not familar with the restaurant so I went on-line to see their menu etc. and read the reviews here. Seemed like the reviews were s0-so.. a mixed bag..of good to not so good. But I have found to take them with a grain of salt.
From the menu, I planned to try the blueberry filet but thought since I was dining during lunch, the price would be reduced. Nope! The only difference between the lunch/dinner menu is that at lunch they serve panni's,otherwise it is the same.
I had made reservations via Open Table for 2:00pm..thougt it would be nice to go after the lunch rush and have a relaxful afternoon..like the italians do..but I received a call at 11:30am to come earlier as the kitchen closes at 2:00pm..huh? Thankfully my guest could bump up their schedule as well and we got there at 1:30pm..
There was a perfect spot in the outdoor seating area, with sun ( for me) and shade for my guest. I didn't see any diners inside or out which was a surprise!!! Apparently we were the only ones? One waiter said they would treat us like "queens" which they did!
Bread came in a bag, was warm but not hearty italian. Oil and basalmic vinegar was on the table for dipping..Based on the reviews here, I decided to not try the pasta unless it was something I don't make at home so we ordered antipasta for 2 and spinach/cheese canneloni baked in a crock.
I wish I had my camera because the antipasta was beautiful in taste and presentation! It had italian meats I never had before. They were made into big flowers, casading onto the bed of fresh greens with tomatoes, cheese, green apple etc..and no oil or dressing! Perfect..Loved it. What a great starter. Wine by the glass was smooth, a merlot-cab mix. Then came our main entee which was piping hot and tasty. The sauce didn't have as much flavor as I expected, ( a robust tomatoe with spices) but was different, lighter. Is that the tuscan way?? Afterwards, I wanted something chocolate so ordered the flourless chocolate cake to share. Different consistency but delivered on the chocolatey taste and wasn't too heavy!
Overall the experience was ENJOYABLE but felt a little rushed as the kitchen closed at 2:00pm..and the meter was running out in front..not a lackadaisical aftenoon as I hoped for..and the prices were more than anticipated ( paying for the real estate..LOL.) for lunch. With tax and tip it came to $102.00, thankfully I had my $50.00 coupon!!
Would I go back? maybe..but still my favorite Italian restaurant is IL Fornaio..in Coronado and or Del Mar.. -
Review from Joe A.
San Diego, CA
1/1/2008
Weekday lunch is my only experience, but I was pretty impressed. Both the carpaccio appetizer, and the pasta entree (vodka something or other) were very good. The only thing holding them back from a 5th star, based on my single dining experience, was that our server was a bit overbearing at the beginning of our meal. This guy went on for what had to be 5 minutes, about how their the best in the Gaslamp, how well-known they are in Florence, etc.
Tap the brakes, buddy, just keep the vino coming. -
Review from Heather W.
San Diego, CA
12/17/2008
Enjoy dining outside here, but the service is very, very slow, and the staff seems a bit disinterested unless you're speaking Italian. Sorry, I only speak Spanish.
The chef's tasting is a great way to go, so you can sample a lot of the fare-to include wine and the desserts. The food is actually quite good, and the filet with blueberry sauce or the filet with balsamic sauce are both good choices.
The bread in the paper bags...not so great. -
Review from Ginger E.
Los Angeles, CA
8/5/2007
Disappointed.
Last Fall I studied in Florence for a semester, and Acqua Al 2 was the restaurant of choice for my friends and me. The pasta and meat sampler were unbeatable deals. We were so excited to find out that the Florence restaurant had a sister location in my hometown of San Diego. We promised ourselves in Florence we would make it a point to go to Acqua Al 2 in San Diego and we finally made it tonight. What a let down...
The service was awful. From the unwelcoming hostess at the front, then the uninformed busser, right to the uncharismatic waitress...a bunch of UNs! The servers made us feel like a bother and told us we were not important enough to paint a plate. Apparently you have to be VIP like Tommy Lee, a recent patron of the restaurant.
The food was served cold and was of little comparison to the Florence location. My soup came out the same time as my plate and the bread was microwaved.... oh and so overpriced!
I could go on but I would just be blabbing. This experience was just such a let down because the other location is so wonderful. They need to hire new staff and get on it, because there could be a lot of potential here. My friend had the courage to politely speak to the manager so if there is a next time it better be better! -
Review from Mira K.
San Diego, CA
11/3/2009
I'm really sad to give Acqua Al 2 only two stars because my first experience here about a year and a half ago was exceptional. So exceptional, in fact, that I have been back three times in hopes that they would redeem themselves. Sadly, it seems the first time was the fluke, and the bad food and service is the standard.
The first time we went, we had an exceptional meal all around. The pasta sampler (or whatever they call it) was awesome, and provided great variety. Everything seemed fresh and home made, and the flavors were spot on. The proteins were a little lacking, which was a little disappointing. They promptly redeemed themselves with one of the best desserts I've ever had - the flourless chocolate cake. This cake is the reason I've tried coming back numerous times.
Since the first dining experience here, I have been heartily disappointed every time I have been here.. The pasta and sauce are mediocre, the meat is bad and the flourless chocolate cake which I so fell in love with seems out of a box. It doesn't help that we were served by the same snooty bartender who thinks he's too good for that job. If you don't like where you work, freakin' leave; no need to stay and be a jerkwad and act like you're doing us a favor by serving us store-bought chocolate cake.
Very disappointing indeed! -
Review from Ana C. A.
11/1/2010
For all the bad reviews, I really thought I was going to hate this place, but I was very pleasantly surprised. I went with 3 friends one friday night. We were seated very quickly, our server was really attentive and nice. I can't complain about the service at all.
The food was really good, we had the tour of pasta, which is a selection of 5 pastas dishes in small portions, they were all good. We also had the steak sampler, that is 2 palm size pieces of steak and one very small portion of chicken. The chicken, even when it was breast, it was really juicy, but the best was the steak, cooked to perfection, soft & very juicy, one had the balsamic sauce (my favorite) & the other the blueberry one. Must try dishes.....
The downside.........the price $$$$$$$$$$
But it is worth a try.... -
Review from Mario B.
San Diego, CA
9/27/2009
Food: My steak was like eating a Ferragamo shoe sole at best...the meat was old and the sauce couldn't mask it either...Very poor...the bread was absolutely stale and upon my complaining of it, I was told the following:" You see in Italy they don't use salt in their bread and thats why is APPEARS to be stale" HaHa...ok wait....I mean....have I been to Italy before? Ehhh well yes like 50 times....did I eat bread there? Ehhh well Yes...was it stale? Only the next day, Salt or No Salt....
Drinks took 20 minutes to get to table and the food actually took 1.3 hours....
Service: Well lets just say that she tried.....
All in all I would never go back although I have been meaning to come here for 6 years now....
PLUS: The Host was Very Very Nice I must say....(the big fella) -
Review from Y D.
Rochester, MN
2/5/2012
Nice place for lunch during the conference.
-
Review from Vanessa F.
Bremerton, WA
6/12/2010
I tried this restaurant last week with some friends after hearing really good things about it.
My 2 friends and I walk in and wait at least 5 minutes for the hostess to turn around and acknowledge us. We should have left then but we thought that had to be the worst of the experience. Unfortunately, this was not the case.
We waited at least 15 minutes for the waitress to come over to take our drink order (this was a Thursday night and NOT busy) and when she did, she she still didn't bring the menu's (oh yes, a downside to this restaurant is that they don't give you menu's when you're seated...You have to wait for your server to bring you a menu and when they're slow, as ours was, it greatly prolongs the process). So, from the time we walked in the door to the time we finally ordered our food half an hour had elapsed. That might not normally be so bad except that my friends had a flight to catch. On the upside, we had PLENTY of time to catch up before their mini-vaca.
When our food arrived, it was room temperature, at best. For the wait, we'd certainly expected the food to at least be hot. And it wasn't just the temperature that was off...I can honestly say I can make better pasta at home (and I don't even cook very often).
Interestingly, my friends and I were seated next to a couple other friends who we were surprised to find dining there that evening. There experience was even worse than ours as one order was completely wrong and the other was so cold she had to send it back! Misery loves company though so at least we all shared a common experience.
The venue is nice so it's really a shame the service and food were such a letdown. =(
Now, Old Venice in Pt. Loma on the other hand....YUMMY! -
Review from John L.
Irvine, CA
4/14/2007
In the summer of 2005, my ex-girlfriend and I were in Florence and tried this restaurant since it had been recommended by my Let's Go Europe book. The food at the Florence location was unbelievable, so when we discovered that they had a San Diego location, we were excited to try it out.
My favorite dish is the Fileno al Mirtilio, which is "a hand carved fillet mignon topped with a blueberry sauce. " I initially thought that blueberry sauce with my steak wouldn't taste great, but I was mistaken. Although the San Diego location wasn't quite as good as the Florence one, this place holds a special place in my heart (and stomach). -
Review from Kush M.
Los Angeles, CA
8/24/2007
Roaming the Gaslamp Quarter on a Friday nite without agenda, we luckily walked into this fine establishment for dinner. I'll admit I was a little skeptical as it was pretty late, sitting at 10pm. In fact, the hostess kinda gave us a half-ass welcome and bolted for the door to party down the street even before she properly seated us. I guess it turned out to be a blessing in disguise that we decided to stick it out because the food was magnifico.
The portions were perfect, not too little and not too much where you felt like a super beefy heifer after. I had the Fusilli Cord agli Spinaci (Spinach Fusilli) with a glass of San Giovese '03 which was absolutely delightful. The Fusilli Lunghi a! Mascarpone e Funghi (Mascaropone Fusilli with Mushrooms) was equally wonderful. But the one dish ordered among my group that I will definitely be coming back for was the Topini al Gorgonzo! (Potato Dumplings with Gorgonzola Cheese Sauce). Ahhh, the smile on my face... Ear to ear baby!!!
And in case you're wondering about the name of the place... Aqua Al 2 is the actual address of the ristorante in Firenze, IT (via dell' Acqua Ni 2). If you're in the mood for Italian, put this one in your GPS navi... Buon appetito!!! -
Review from Katie W.
Silver Spring, MD
3/8/2009
I REALLY wanted to like this place. My fiance's sister ate at the Florence location a couple of months ago and raved about the steak with blueberry sauce, so when the opportunity came to go to a wine tasting we made reservations. The whole experience was like being on an uncomfortable date. The tasting started about 30 minutes late, which was no big deal, but in that time we were not offered water or even the option to make a drink order. The staff seemed like they had no idea what was going on. When we made the reservation, the price for the tasting was $15 and included 6 tastes of different Italian wines made by women, along with a food pairing for each wine and a gift bag. It sounded like an incredible deal and we planned to stay for dinner after the tasting. It turned out to be $20 for 4 tastes, underwhelming food, and NO gift bag.
The first food pairing was essentially the porcini white wine sauce listed on the menu as an accompaniment to a chicken dish, on a piece of bread paired with a white wine. Terrible mouth feel, ok flavor. It was like spreading mushroom jelly on toast and serving it lukewarm. Bizarre. And the pairing was no good.
The second food taste was veal ragout on polenta. Great flavor, but cold. Decent pairing. The third was a tough, fatty piece of ribeye with parmesan cheese on top paired with a super tuscan. If it is possible to pair beef with a bold red wine and come out with a mismatch, then these folks did it. And I generally love super tuscans! The dessert taste was a vanilla panna cotta with a pice of a CANNED peach on top. Seriously friends, canned peaches on panna cotta in a nice Italian restaurant with a sister establishment in Florence? The muscato paired with the panna cotta saved the day for me. I bought a bottle to take home.
We were so incredibly disappointed. Marco, the gentleman who led the tasting was a joy, as was the chef and owner, which made disliking their food even more upsetting. More disconcerting, however, is that it felt like a missed opportunity. This was an excellent chance for them to showcase their menu and they put out crap. Tiny tasting portions of items on the actual menu may have given this experience a little life.
Again, I really wanted to like this place so maybe I will give it another try, but certainly not anytime soon. -
Review from David G.
San Diego, CA
1/20/2012
The food in this place is good. The service is OK. The last time I went there the waiter apparently thought I had not tipped enough and added to it after I left. At least the amount on my credit card statement does not agree with my receipt
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