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Ristorante Arrivederci
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian
3845 4th Ave(between Robinson Ave & University Ave)
San Diego, CA 92103
Neighborhood: Hillcrest
(619) 299-6282
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- 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:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Debra S. said: "I can only say that all the other 4- and 5-star reviewers are spot on in their description of Savlatore's. Our multi-generational group of six were personally greeted at the door by the host who told us about the history of the…" read more »
631 reviews for Ristorante Arrivederci
Review Highlights
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"The black linguine was cooked perfect al dente." In 46 reviews -
"I had the lobster ravioli and it was amaaaazing." In 52 reviews -
"There is a nice wine bar next door as well." In 11 reviews
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- A Yelpy Insight: Vegetarians go nuts for this spot. See more places they like.
631 reviews in English
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Review from Jenn T.
Swtiched up from my regular lasagna and got the penne with tomato sauce and eggplants- the name escapes me at the moment, but it's not on the main menu, it's on the folding paper one- and O M G.
Best pasta dish I've ever had.
The sauce was delicious. The eggplants were so fresh. It was all just delicious. Add some fresh bread, delicious calamari, and a glass of wine and it was a perfect meal.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/29/2010
My roommate and I were dying for italian food one night so we yelped places near us and… Read more »
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Review from Rachelle G.
San Diego, CA
Yes, parking is kinda hard, and yes, there is usually a wait but YES it is totally worth it!
This is now our favorite place to eat Italian food. My fiance does not really crave Italian food, but he craves this one. The place is small, but hey, that's how Italian Trattorias are usually like in Italy. We've been here a few times already, and we would definitely recommend the lasagna. The flavors of the sauce are so fresh and intricate, it's like having a party in your mouth. The veal osso bucco was delish and savory, while the pork osso bucco in port sauce was sweeter and more intense. The black linguini was a'ight to me, but I should've known to get a red sauce as opposed to the creamier sauce. The calamari was good, and so were the sardines. We have yet to go at a time where we end up not stuffing ourselves and have room for dessert. Order the house chianti, you can't go wrong. Can't wait to come back again! -
Review from B. S.
Del Mar, CA
5/13/2012
Ensalte salmon, calamari fried or sauteed one in onions, red sauce, with spinach, and pork oso buco to die for!!!!! I love this place and everytime friends or family are in town, I always take them here!!!
It gets crowded as the seats are so close and space is limited but theres outside seating as well. The seating outside are close to other tables as well. I usually find parking in their lot behind where they waive the first hour if you are eating there. -
Review from Kelly H.
Chula Vista, CA
5/25/2012
Love the food. It's romantic and quaint.
Only drawback is how incredibly packed it gets on a Saturday. I made a reservation and quickly discovered I would have to wait over 45 minutes for our reserved table. The lady at the front told me they couldn't control that people were staying so long..but I could tell they overbooked and took a lot of walk ins at the expense of us who planned ahead.
It was so loud that we could barely talk to each other. I will only go there on a weekday going fwd. -
Review from Angela L.
5/4/2012
This is my favorite place in San Diego for Italian --- yes, I know it's not in Little Italy, and there are a lot of great places to choose from but I love this place.
It's what I would consider to be an "authentic" experience --- small cozy tables where waiters weave in and out with skill (many of them speak Italian which I love). Great bread and pasta, as well as pizza.
I can't get past the lobster ravioli on the menu --- I have had other things, but once I had this it seems to be the only thing I want to order. I always try what everyone else is having (yes, I am that person) and it's always great, but I LOVE the lobster.
Great place for a date night, or a quick stop off to pick up some take home pasta after shopping in Hillcrest.Listed in: Craving San Diego kind of day
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Review from Sharon L.
4/25/2012
It's been about 8 years since I've eaten here. Why have I waited so long to return?! Overall, solid choice for Italian food in San Diego.
I ordered the orecchiette with rapini and sausage. It was alright - the flavor was relatively bland and the bitterness of the rapini overwhelmed the dish. Also, the pasta was overcooked and disintegrated after some time. Hmm. I wish I stuck with ravioli or the squid ink linguini.
Nonetheless, I bumped the rating up because I had a few bites of the pesto gemelli pasta with chicken and mushroom. The pesto had a bit of a smokey flavor. This dish was really great!!! I'm even thinking about coming back tomorrow to order it to-go. -
Review from Tina H.
Goleta, CA
5/14/2012
Came here for my friend's birthday, and they couldn't have been more accommodating! I was highly impressed by the level of service, food, and general care that was shown to my party. Highly recommended! They seated 18 people in their private party room with no problem, and we all had a blast. They even stayed longer as we continued our festivities, and didn't rush us out the door which was greatly appreciated. Definitely coming back!
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Review from Mariko K.
San Diego, CA
4/30/2012 1 photo
Came here for a nice Sunday dinner date last summer after a nice day spent strolling around Balboa Park. Arrived just before 6pm and the dining room as well as most of the outside patio were already packed, but luckily we were able to snag the last 2-top on the patio.
The wait staff seemed like they were short about 2 people, and were fairly busy as they delegated the waiting crowd to the attached wine bar next door (smart business move if you ask me) in between serving tables. We got a nice Chianti and shared some appetizers, but what made it for my date and I was the spicy seafood linguine, with the red sauce. It was delicious, the pasta was muy al dente, and I would go back just to have it again.
This is a great place to sit and have a nice dinner with a date or friend, and I would recommend sitting on the patio for optimal people-watching on a nice day. Ce vediamo, Arrivederci! -
Review from Lin G.
4/10/2012
If you are the type to enjoy a nice plate of pasta with a glass of wine, let me introduce you Ristorante Arrivederci.
It was authentic! The servers spoke with sexy Italian accents (maybe they were just Mexicans, lol).
The food was delicious. We had a carpaccio and I had the pasta with seafood, linguine mediterraneo. I also enjoyed a glass of sangiovese. The restaurant was cozy and very lively. On a Thursday night, it was pretty crowded but in a good, atmospheric sort of way.
The service was very friendly and there's just something about the place that makes me feel like I could be in Milan or Rome, after a long day, enjoying some good food in my little corner of the world. -
Review from Andy D.
4/10/2012
The other week, one of my amazing Yelp friends told me she was coming down to San Diego, so we decided to meet up for dinner. I originally wanted to go downtown, but it was opening day for the Padres, and I thought it might be a mess down there. I figured North Park or Hillcrest would be a good option.
I originally planned to go to a Thai place up the street, but it was dead. Luckily, I scouted this place earlier, and noticed it was pretty lively when I walked past.
There was a good crowd, but we were seated right away. It's a nice cozy place. I probably could have reached my arm out and touched the people next to me, but it didn't matter.
The service was excellent. The waiters made some great suggestions. We split an anti-pasta, I think it was caprese or carpaccio. I had the black linguini and shrimp. The food was delicious. I'm half Italian, but really don't eat a lot of Italian food besides pizza, but I think I'm going to start doing this more often. I've had a bunch of places in Little Italy bookmarked for a while now. -
Review from Debbie O.
3/31/2012 4 photos
You know when you move to a new city and your friend gives you a list of places to try, but you forget about it and after a year you dig up that list and realize you've been missing out the whole time? Well, if the list is short and your friend has lived here for over six years, you better listen to her and try every damn restaurant on that list. PRONTO.
Here I am kicking myself a year later for not trying Arrividerci sooner. I've been missing out on Italian deliciousness, and if you know me, you know I'm a pasta lover, which makes it embarrassing for me to say I live in SD without having tried this place. My friend Christine J. sent me her fav restaurants in SD and by golly Arrivederci was her fav Italian on the list. If you're reading this, Christine, I bow down to you. Thank you for recommending this place because it has become my favorite Italian restaurant, outside of Italy of course. Now onto the actual review...
The place was packed on a Saturday night, but service seemed fast and people were out of there in no time. We were seated in fifteen minutes like promised, and bread and tomato sauce were brought out immediately. The bread was warm; crusty on the outside but soft inside. Boyfriend and I devoured the whole loaf plus all the sauce within minutes, even before our server came to greet us. It did take a while before the server came, but it was inevitable for us to ask for seconds. The restaurant itself is quite small. We sat to the right of the hostess desk, and I literally could hear every word of our neighbor's convo; they weren't talking loudly either. It's just that kind of restaurant'; cozy with your neighbors but intimate with your party. We ordered the Salmon Carpaccio, Gnocchi with pink sauce, Black linguine with seafood cream sauce, and tiramisu.
The food was amazing. I would give is ten stars if I could. I heard the Classic Carpaccio was a must try, but since the boyfriend doesn't eat beef, we opted for the Salmon Carpaccio ($8.75). The salmon is served on a generous bed of arugula bathed in a vinaigrette. Capers also accompany the smoked salmon. The portion itself is quite large. There had to be about ten slices of salmon piled on a mountain of arugula. Our server gave us oil and vinegar when he brought the carpaccio so we thought there was no dressing yet. We drizzled some of both and squeezed the lemon slices, but we quickly realized it was way too sour. There was already a vinaigrette dressing on the salad, so vinegar and lemon were not necessary. Nevertheless, the smoked salmon paired amazingly with the arugula, and we left no traces of food on the plate.
The gnocchi with pink sauce ($14.75) was good but I probably wouldn't get it again because of the sauce... it was nothing spectacular, and I've had the same vodka pink sauce a thousand times at other Italian places. However, the gnocchi was cooked to perfection. It was the melt-in-your-mouth texture that you dream about as a pasta lover. I have to say, one of the best gnocchi dishes I've had even if the sauce was just ordinary.
The Black Linguine ($19?) is by far my favorite. I'm even going to say it's the best pasta dish I've ever had. The squid ink linguine has a different taste than your regular linguine, but it's not too pungent or strange either. It tasted like homemade pasta and was so fresh. The sauce it came in was even more spectacular. A creamy seafood sauce with lots of bay scallops, red bell peppers, onion, and three jumbo shrimp. I can't remember if there were mushrooms in it, but the sauce is just perfection. The cream sauce was not heavy at all, and it was just the perfect combination. After taking the bread and dipping it into the leftover sauce, I had to stop myself from licking the plate clean; it was just that good!! If you love pasta, you will LOVE this!
Lastly, I had to try the tiramisu ($6) after seeing all the delicious pictures on yelp, and I'm so glad I did. The mascarpone cheese was whipped so light and airy; it was like eating spoonfuls of sweet puffy clouds, if you can even imagine that. It just didn't seem heavy or too sweet, like sometimes whipped cream is. The tiramisu was just delicious, and even though at that point I was stuffed like a rice roll, I would have gladly eaten another one if it were presented to me.
Overall, I would gladly come back again and again. This is now my favorite Italian restaurant on the west coast. It also doesn't hurt that they have a validated parking lot next to the restaurant. We had to pay $1 after validation, but in a neighborhood like Hillcrest, we were just glad we didn't have to walk far or spend too long looking for parking. Christine J., I owe you one; better late than never, right? -
Review from Tyler J.
San Diego, CA
5/8/2012
Stepping in to Arrivaderci brings me right back to Italy. The staff could not be friendlier though. Something that I wasn't always treated to when in Como or Firenze. Order some food for pickup and arrive a little early. They won't let you just stand around without a complimentary glass of vino and some friendly conversation. They already had me and we haven't discussed the food yet, which clearly is the main event here. Rigatoni Picante is to die for. Spicy peppers onion and mushrooms with sausage and tomatoes. They know my number. Their Minestrone is a must with any dish as was their asparagus soup I've had before. I have yet to try anything here that I did not like. Kick back and enjoy a lovely night out with a Birra Moretti and be thankful we have such a lovely italian place like Arrivaderci in our neighborhood. You take people here and they will be impressed.
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Review from Steven W.
Centennial, CO
5/3/2012
This is the first Yelp review that I have ever written, because I feel compelled to let others know of the extraordinary experience we had at Ristorante Arrivederci. While in San Diego on a personal holiday / business trip, my wife and I decided to look for something different for a dining venue after several mediocre meals. We used Yelp to look for something in the Hillcrest area, as it was close to the hotel we were staying at. The first restaurant listed was Ristorante Arrivederci. We both love good Italian food and this place seemed to fit the bill.
It was the best choice we could have made. We both started with the Cream of Asparagus soup. The soup had a good balance of the asparagus, cream, seasonings and croutons. It was a WINNER. My wife ordered the Risotto with Mushrooms and I ordered the Pork Ossobuco with Port wine reduction sauce with mushrooms and Risotto. We were both overwhelmed by our dishes. The pork was perfectly cooked to fall-off the bone tender and the Risotto with Port wine reduction was the perfect balance. My wife's Risotto was properly cooked with Parmesan slices covering the top. We finished the night with the Tiramisu that was light and a great way to end this wonderful dinner. Julio, our server, made the meal and night very special. We will tell everyone we can about this restaurant and the excellent service we received. If I could give six stars, I would. Cheers. -
Review from Matt A.
5/3/2012
Definitely one of the better Caesar salads I have had in Sam Diego. You can tell the dressing is homemade and isnt one of the creamy concoctions you find at a chain restaurant. The pastas were very good but i felt that at least the orchiette special was overly salty. The veal Milanese was good and tender and the Napoleon dessert suggested by our waiter did not disappoint.
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Review from Blake R.
San Diego, CA
5/21/2012
After trying numerous Italian Ristorantes this is hands down my favorite. I keep coming back and getting the lasagne with eggplant and tomato sauce. The prices are very reasonable and the service was fantastic! I've found my new favorite Italian restaurant in San Diego- Ristorante Arrivederci.
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Review from Harrison M.
San Diego, CA
3/22/2012
I love this place. Have been multiple times and had different dishes:
Gnocci al Pesto, sauteed artichoke, prosecco, sea scallops. My food and the service has been excellent every time.
Had to edit this to add the Carpaccio (molto yummy!)
The one time something went wrong (table next to me was unwashed smokers), they did everything they could to make it right.
What pushes this to five stars is that there is something for everyone. My mom, who's idea of Italian starts and ends with red sauce, loves their lasagna. I prefer lighter fare and that is here as well.
Parking is included which in Hillcrest is a godsend and the patio is kept warm on cool nights but not overpoweringly so.
Bravo! -
Review from Alexander M.
Santee, CA
4/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
Now I really enjoyed this place. I've heard great things about this place, and decided to go try it out. I took my date here to try it for the first time with me. Immediately he exclaimed "this place is fancy" which translates to "wow this place is really nice". The seating arrangement is very close quarters, just an arm's length away from another table in every direction. The dim lighting really sets the mood, or would have rather if the light would have stopped flicking.
As for our food, both plates were kinda on opposite ends. I ordered a chicken breast with a tomato mousse. While the mousse was exquistite, the chicken was underwhelming. The fillet was a very thin slice. Yes, it was a wider thin slice, so I thoroughly enjoyed it. The chicken was cooked to perfection, flaky and tender. My potatoes and vegetables seemed fresh, and were cooked appropriately. My date's food, however, was not up to par. He ordered the Fettucine P- Cleopatra. Forgive me for not really knowing the menu names for these orders. His fettucine seemed a little on the al dente side. It was tough, but not too tough that we needed to take it back. The sauce was very bland. It was a mushroom sauce I believe, that had no kick, no lingering flavors, and nothing to boast about. My glass of wine, an older Cab, was nice. It tasted like an older, freshly opened bottle, but again, the name escapes me.
I really enjoyed my food and my wine, but my date's entree was sub-par. I would defiinitely recommend this place to a friend, and maybe suggest sitting in the patio. -
Review from Gordon E.
Canton, CT
5/12/2012
I LOVE THIS RESTAURANT!!!
This is a wonderful restaurant in the heart of Hillcrest. The quaint feeling enhanced by native Italian wait staff is a delightful to experience. The ambiance is italian with stucco walls, exposed brick, wine bottles covering the building, pictures of Sofia Lauren, etc.) The seating is limited so a reservation is recommended on traditionally busy nights.
The food is exceptional. As I said, the staff is "off the boat" Italian. You will get an authentic meal. Enjoy my favorite, the home made gnocchi in white sauce. You will not be disappointed. Their Marinara sauce is awesome. Any of the Mediterainean meals will delight you. The portions are solid (not too large and definitely not to small). The wine selection is very good for all pallets.
The service is fast and friendly. The waiters zip around and pay close attention to customers. They don't skimp on little things (i.e. lots of bread and marinara, cheese toppings, etc.) I go here every chance I can to enjoy the food and service.
ENJOY, ENJOY, ENJOY!!!! -
Review from Tarrah C.
This little diamond of a restaurant was probably the best find on our trip to San Diego!!
This food is outrageous! I seriously think I didn't really know what real Italian food was until eating here. All seven of us in our group fell in LOVE....everyone wanted to cry it was so good!!! We loved it so much, we went back the next day for lunch before heading back home!!
I had the potato gnocchi with olive oil and garlic and fresh tomatoes and arugula with goat cheese....I was in HEAVEN....I'm seriously ruined, I'm never going to be able to eat Italian food again!! The gnocchi almost melted in my mouth, and yet had the perfect chew, and the flavors were just to DIE FOR!!!! (I really wish I lived near this place, but I eventually I wouldn't be able to fit through the door, and that would be bad, so perhaps it's better I don't live nearby...) Everyone who had seafood on their plates were raving about how perfectly cooked the shrimp was, the lobster raviolli, and the black linguini pasta nearly made my husband cry, lol.......
The bread and sauce they serve at the begining of the meal is enough to keep me coming back whenever we're in the area!
I don't know about the other reviews, but we had great service!! Both for dinner and for lunch. Our party of 7 was seated right away both visits, and the waiters were very accomidating with my dietary needs, and definitly know their menu!
We'll be back!!!! -
Review from David M.
San Diego, CA
Updated - 3/24/2012
Went here on a last minute Saturday night. We were told walk-in time for two was a fifteen minutes so we went next door to the wine bar to wait for our table. After a glass of wine, our table was ready and we were hungry.
We decided on a bottle of Malbec from Argentina which was good. Our antipasti consisted of Bruschetta and Portobello Oreganata. The pesto on the bruschetta was good and the tomatoes were fresh. The portobellos were good and cooked well!
For entres, Veal Ossobucco and the black linguini with shrimp, scallops, and a cream sauce. The veal was tender and well cooked, it flaked off the bone with a fork. The fettuccine was fresh and the marinara was delicious. The black linguini had a smoked taste to it which was fantastic!
One downside was that we asked for oil and balsamic for our antipasti three times and never received it. This is bush league, and I know that the staff is better than this. Still really good food and affordable prices!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/7/2012
Saturday night dinner date with no reservation. Overall, great service, really good food for the… Read more »
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Review from Mark Sherwin E.
San Diego, CA
3/25/2012
Sunday nights have the best night air. This night was like any other sunday, much like the restaurant like any other italian restaurant. That's what would make this place forgetful. Nothing stood out for me. The restaurant was dimly set, with italian music playing the background. The table were placed in family style seating, or should I say italian style seating for big families. But honestly I probably wouldn't be able to point out Ristorante Arrivederci out of a line up between it and Bucci de beppo.
But I guess thats just my experience from most italian restaurants. Nothing ever stands out to me. The food was decent, but again forgetful, I ordered the Ribeye steak served with peppers, onions and mushrooms over the steak. Not to sound too presumptuous but I would have been able to grill the same steak at home.
I'm still waiting for that one special italian place to wow me. But for now, I am not impressed, but I'm not disappointed either, I just am. -
Review from Carlos A.
El Centro, CA
4/3/2012
I am always on the prowl for a good to great Italian restaurant in this burg.
Sadly, Arrivederci fails to deliver greatness, despite the prices! I ordered the lasagna, always a deal-maker/breaker in ANY Italian establishment, other than the veal marcella. They don't carry the VM, so I backed into the lasagna. Hmm. Soft, boiled lasagna pasta. The only cheese I could taste was the mozzarella, no ricotta, no parmezzan or provolone. Usually, lasagnas come with two or three cheeses. The meat was delicious, cannot complain. It contained diced zucchini which is always a plus. The tomato sauce was not bad. Just the right amount of salt.
The Domino (house?) brand cabernet was not bad. I would have preferred a chianti but the house brand was a bit dry. Pity.
The Caesar salad was not bad, hit the right notes on the garlic and cheese. Not too vinegary/lemony which can overwhelm the buds. The house bread with the tasty ragout dip was good. Love that dip.
The house minestrone takes getting used to. Most places go overboard on the salt, pepper and tomato. This one had a subtle greens and herb flavor. Not bad!
The veal scaloppini was just right. The side of cubed potato was good and the garnish al dente cooked carrots came as a pleasant surprise.
For dessert, the ever-delightful cannoli. A bit on the sugary side, but not bad. Very subtle cinnamon and nuanced stripes of hot chocolate hit the spot. The cappuccino is first rate. Again the cinnamon and the chocolate-lined cup gave it an exquisite flavor that gently complemented the espresso.
The dim lighting is not bad, but that generic upbeat/rock music has got to go. I don't expect the generic, bland Mantovani but a more subtle instrumental or even soft jazz would add to to ambience.
After reading other reviews I expected to be overwhelmed. The only overwhelming I got was the check. Those are 4 to 4 1/2 star prices!
All I can give this place is three stars. Sorry. -
Review from Nida K.
1/31/2012
I've always been a fan of Italian food, but it's never tasted THIS good. Ristorante Arrivederci completely blew it out of the water and raised the bar for Italian food.
It doesn't look like much on the outside, but the line out the door should spark some interest as to what's going on in here. I came here for dinner and it was already packed. We sat on a table all by its lonesome in a little corner facing the street. I loved the privacy we got even though the restaurant was absolutely jam packed.
Fried calamari was well textured and delightfully seasoned. The lobster ravioli was to die for. The pasta was succulent and full of flavor. It was cooked to perfection and the wine I got just added to my wonderful evening. The service was impeccable even though it was extremely busy. I had an amazing experience here, and I cannot wait to go back!
Ciao bella!Listed in: Date Night (SD)
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Review from Aaron Y.
Tustin, CA
Just an amazing place. First off, the menus look like envelopes! They have a great menu, but then you look at their special menu and get blown away. My date, and birthday girl, and I split Deep fried calamari and zucchini, which was really good. Fried very nicely and bettered just right. She got the Black linguine with shrimp, bay scallops, leeks, and tomatoes in a cream sauce. Well balanced and a good amount of ingredients with the black linguine!
The dish of the night was the Mezzelune All'aragosta, which is lobster ravioli with a saffron cream sauce. Holy cow, I had to stop and pinch myself after the first bite because I think I just wet my pants! Super tender lobster wrapped in delicate pasta and topped with a flavor-filled saffron cream sauce. Not only would I love to eat this every day, but I'd drink the sauce! The black linguine was good, but the amount of flavor in this ravioli seems impossible to achieve!
What was really nice about this restaurant was that I called on a wednesday for a reservation that Saturday for a party of 16! It's not a big place and they get super crowded, but they had no problem accommodating the party! They have a bar right next door that they use as part of the restaurant and it was big enough for all of us plus another table of 4. The decor was very cool and made me feel like I was in another country. The service here is also top notch! I'd highly suggest this eatery to all those I love and to those that hate me. They will love me after trying it! -
Review from Aurora A.
San Diego, CA
5/8/2012
I went to go have dinner with my husband on a busy Friday night and the wait was pleasant at the bar. Good atmosphere, a happy environment, and the scenery made the room romantic. The staff was pleasant and seated us within fifteen minutes. The waiter knew the menu to detail and was able to recommend a dish that we would enjoy. We do not mind paying for quality and in this case, quality is very affordable, plates range between $10 and $20. The pasta is made from scratch and the ingredients are combined perfectly. My favorite dish is the ravioli filled with goat cheese with Alfredo sauce. The place is cozy the environment is perfect for a date. The walls are decorated with antique murals reflecting the life in Italy many years ago. The wine racks that decorate the ceiling lining are beautiful. The only negative thing that I could think of is that they need two restrooms for the women instead of one. The place is located in the heart of Hillcrest so the parking is a hit and miss (unless you want to pay for private parking). What is also cool about dining there is that when we are done dinning we take a stroll through the specialty stores that surround the restaurant.
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Review from Kristin G.
San Diego, CA
2/2/2012
I've been planning to eat here for a while now, but kept forgetting! I'm really sad I've been missing out all this time
Good god - pork osso bucco with port reduction, mushrooms, and truffle oil risotto! So rich and flavorful...I could eat this every day
Also got to try the lobster ravioli with saffron cream sauce. Delicious!
Even the bread came with this deliciously spicy tomato/red pepper sauce.
I can't wait to go back! -
Review from Matt P.
1/9/2012
Ive been debating since october on whether I should write this review or not. Ive finally decided to. Before I begin, Let me first say that we had a great meal here. It is one of the best restaurants in Hillcrest, right? It has a wonderful menu, great wine list, good ambience, real Italian. They have a menu of fresh daily specials just like in Italy.
I found stuff in my food. twice. First, we get an order of calamari fritti. Awesome stuff. until we find long hair like strands in it. We are grossed out, as it appears to be a few. We wait until the waiter came back to our table, which took a while. We only saw him a couple of times with loooong intervals between visits. He takes it away and gets us another. He mentions something about the halloween decorations getting in the food. it clearly looked fried in with the calamari which really made me wonder how it got there. No problem, I asked for it to be taken off the bill.
Other than that snafu we had a decent meal. My friend had an amazing gnocchi, my better half had the pork osso buco, which was fantastic. I had black pasta with a seafood cream sauce. Extraordinary. I ask for a box to take my leftovers in.
The next day, I go to reheat my leftovers up for lunch at home. I notice a white object in the pasta after I take it out of the box. It was hard and at first I thought it may be a crab shell fragment or something. After im eating I notice it looks cylindrical and may not be from food. Sure enough its a piece of plastic that Ive seen on restaurant equipment before. Yikes.
So pretty much there was halloween spiderwebs and a piece of plastic in my meal. I wont be returning. The food was actually good, but that has completely turned me off from ever trying them again. I know this was probably a complete mistake, but I wont be coming back. -
Review from Natalie M.
San Diego, CA
2/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
I came here for a congratulatory lunch for a coworker and it was delicious. I split the Trecolori salad that was topped with goat cheese and walnuts and it was so good that I wanted the entire thing to myself. For my entree, I tried the Penne with a vodka sauce and it was also very tasty. I defiantly want to go back and try some more dishes because everything at our table looked amazing.
Ristorante Arrivederci would be the perfect place for a quaint date night. -
Review from Hannah P.
San Diego, CA
4/18/2012
This place is pretty inside, but it's a little too crowded for my liking. The bread and marinara was very delicious. Service was fast and friendly- always a plus! I ordered the gnocchi, which was a good choice. My date and I had so much leftover because the portions are huge. We definitely ate the leftovers over the course of lunch and dinner the next day. Overall, good quality italian, fast service, decently priced.. Validated parking is right next to the restaurant, which is convenient. I wouldn't go here if you get claustrophobic- but otherwise, I'd definitely check this place out.
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Review from Maria G.
1/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
SUMMARY: Best Italian restaurant in San Diego: great tasting Italian food; cosy and intimate atmosphere; fantastic service (they treat you like family); private lot with validation.
DETAILS: This is my favorite Italian restaurant in all of San Diego!! The food is amazing and so is the service! The best part about this restaurant is the fact that you pay Olive Garden prices for a wonderful dining experience.
The restaurant is small and may be described as cramped, but the small, tight fit adds to the big family, small home atmosphere that I love about Arrivederci. I've been to this restaurant so many times, and felt like family almost instantly. The more I went the more and more I loved it and the more familiar they got with me. On special occasions, they definitely are impressive. They dimmed the lights for me and brought me a dessert with a candle.
As far as parking, it is a bit of a hassle. There is a private lot in the back that usually charges (Arrividerci validates) but the lot is usually full and the metered spaces are usually occupied, but the experience is worth it!
Finally, the wait. Arrivederci is a great restaurant, and more people than you think recognize that so it's usually packed. Even if you call ahead of time and make a reservation, be prepared to wait a little bit on top of that. I usually just head to their wine bar, have a glass of wine, and enjoy dinner after. Most places aren't worth much of a wait, but you'll regret it if you give up and fail to experience Arrividerci. -
Review from Patrick B.
Hanover, MA
4/17/2012
Ate here the other night while visiting San Diego from Massachusetts with a party of 7. We called ahead and were promptly seated within 10 mins of arriving. Place is noisy but that's because everybody is enjoying themselves. Food was AMAZING. I had the ravioli. The sauce was to die for.
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Review from Adrianna V.
San Diego, CA
4/17/2012
I went here for my birthday and from what I saw on yelp, I was expecting it to be pretty good. I had a group of about 12 or 13 people, and it was a really tiny place. The servers were really nice and helpful. I didn't really enjoy my food though. I got the gnocchi and that day they had a white cream sauce with peas. The gnocchi didn't taste very fresh and the cream was kind of watery so it didn't look very appetizing. I ended up taking most of it to go. They also brought out a birthday tiramasu which was nice of them, and although I didn't eat any my friends said it was super good. This is a nice place and I haven't tried anything else on the menu, so I might be back sometime to see if anything else is better.
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Review from Judy Y.
San Diego, CA
5/8/2012
It's hard to find parking in this area since there's no private parking facility and it's located in the middle of a slew of other eateries in Hillcrest. The place is small and quaint, making it a cozy date place. They really try to jam pack as much tables as they can so it can get pretty tight. The food was standard italian fare and in decently sized portions but not family style except the appetizers. We ordered the melon prosciutto and calamari which came out plenty and delicious. And our party ordered the salmon ravioli, sea scallops, jumbo shrimp and artichoke, black linguine, and linguine with seafood. Although no one really raved about their dishes, no one complained about it either. So, basically you can't go wrong coming here if you're craving for italian and don't want to be disappointed.
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Review from Tiffany Y.
Alhambra, CA
2/13/2012 1 photo
Believe me, I was never an Italian food fan, until this.
All you need is black linguine pasta. -
Review from M K.
San Diego, CA
2/18/2012
Probably the worst service ever!!
Made a reservation, arrived early, and was seated after 40 (yes, 40!!) minutes of standing outside waiting.
So really, what was the point of the reservation?
It's always a ZOO in there, the food is good but overpriced and not worth waiting for! (it's not THAT good).
The manger was super rude and told us he would "take care" of us but really didn't. He could have at least comped our drinks! The only nice person was the girl standing up front seating people, and she clearly takes the heat for them overbooking. It's really sad to see a restaurant more concerned about making money than treating their costumers right.
If you sit on the outside patio you get no privacy since there are always 20+ people standing in line waiting to get in.
I will never go back here, there are so many better places! -
Review from Victoria G.
Buffalo, NY
4/5/2012
Good place for pastas. Actually I would say perfect place for all kinds of pastas as their menu is incredible and everything tastes good! I loved the location (Hillcrest). Parking was easy and you get it for free if you dine at Arrivederci.
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Review from Thomas D.
San Francisco, CA
12/27/2011
Ristorante Arrivederci was packed on a Tuesday evening. It's an inviting place with a nice energy. Dinner was served by Italian speaking waiters.
Hearty bread with a marinara sauce for dipping was brought to the table before we ordered. The sauce is tasty and had a bit of a kick to it!
We had the Ravioli All'Arogosta to start things off. (ravioli stuffed with lobster and served with a saffron cream sauce) They were very good. We split this dish and each had 3 good sized ravioli.
For the next course we had the Veal Piccata and the Chicken Millegusti.
These were just ok--the veal dish was a much better choice than the chicken dish which was not very tasty and covered in mushrooms. Potatoes and carrots came on the side with both of these entrees.
The mango flavored panna cotta that we ordered for dessert was so-so. Too thick, not cold enough and lacking in flavor would describe this dessert.
I still really liked this restaurant and would love to go back and try other dishes. There are many choices to think about next time.Listed in: Mamma Mia!
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Review from Trang L.
12/3/2011
s0ooo.. this place is amzing. My friend took me here to celebrate my birthday and oh man, I'm so glad we came here. We had ordered the polenta with mushrooms for starters and I'll be honest- I'm not such a big fan of polenta in general.. but the mushroom sauce was to die for. I would eat it as soup- that's how good it was! YUM!.. For my entre I had ordered the pork osso and OMG... AMAZING! I did not realize how HUGE this piece of meat was and how rich in flavor too!
I can see why this place is always packed and why the ratings are so good. Mutha funkin amazing I must say. Definitely coming back here. Fo sho! xP xD :)Listed in: My Favorite Restaurants
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Review from Donna M.
San Diego, CA
1/22/2012
I usually don't write reviews on Yelp since it takes up time (and I get lazy), but this restaurant really deserves 5 stars. This is hands down the best italian restaurant I've ever been to thus far. After doing some intense research on Yelp for restaurants to go to for my 21st birthday (I guess it can be a pretty big deal... hm), I have decided to come here.
I am so glad that I did, because after my first experience here, I absolutely cannot wait to come back. I still can't stop thinking about the pasta. My friends and I thoroughly enjoyed our meal while our wallets were also happy in the end.
Upon arriving at the restaurant, I was surprised to see the ambiance was actually really nice and the place was smaller than expected, in a good way. The photos posted on Yelp played tricks on my eyes! I thought the place was going to be super casual, because of the interior and the checkered table cloth, but the dimmed lighting transformed the place. In my opinion, this place can be both date and family-friendly.
After reading up on all the rave reviews on the black linguine, I decided to get it and it was wonderful! The ratio of noodles to seafood was well-balanced, the noodles tasted fresh, and the sauce was not too heavy. I especially liked that the shrimp was fairly large -not some skimpy lil shrimps. Most of my friends got this dish too, while others got the lobster ravioli which they also loved. One of my friends actually came back here to get the lobster ravioli again.
Side note: The manager (?) allowed me to try the sweetest white wine they had for free. Of course, weakling me couldn't tolerate the taste from that one sip, but the manager was totally cool with it, even when he poured the glass half-full! Brownie points!
Also, this place validates parking for up to 2 hours in the parking lot right next to it. One of my friends didn't know this and paid for the parking, but she got her ticket validated after and got a full refund. -
Review from Sarah W.
Honolulu, HI
12/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Fantastic food! The bread they originally bring out is fantastic, and fresh.. I had the tortellini with peas and ham in a cream sauce (thats how it is on the special menu) and it was fantastic! They gave you so much! I ate half of it and took the rest home! The BF had the gnocchi and asked for it in marinara sauce, and it was delicious! The best gnocchi I have ever had!
The service is lacking, but the environment is nice.
