Top 3 luxury bistros of San Diego’s Little Italy

A coastal city of Southern California, San Diego is known for its relaxed attitude, friendly people and—despite its modest size—a rather diverse selection of gastronomical delights.  Adjacent to the downtown city center is the beautiful neighborhood of Little Italy.  As one would expect, the area is home to the most authentic Italian food in town.  Additionally, other gems of restaurants have taken root in the community, rounding out the fine dining selection in one of San Diego’s most happening places to live, work, play and eat: Davanti Enoteca Situated right in the heart of Little Italy on India Street, Davanti is the kind of place that welcomes guests with warmth, complete with a disarming sense of familiarity.  True to its Italian roots, the bistro boasts a spirited atmosphere, superb cuisine and servers well-versed with its menu. Revel in the bistro’s central, outdoor patio made festive with rustic, cabana-like booths and strings of lights.  Start dinner the right way with wine and focaccia di Recco, a delicious flat bread stuffed with soft cow cheese and side of honeycomb.  For the main course, Riccio di Mare e Granchio will satisfy seafood cravings with its sea urchin and crab meat in a bed of linguine! Prepkitchen Overlooking the neighborhood from its second story perch, Prepkitchen beckons the famished with its uniquely urban street-front aesthetic.  Upon consumption of its famously seasonal, farm-to-table cuisine, expect a diner’s deal sealed with a culinary kiss.   While the restaurant keeps its downtown cool, it plays no games with regards to using fresh, quality ingredients.  In fact, its menu is known to change frequently, depending upon what is locally available.  Go in at the right time or call ahead to prevent missing out on the Charred Octopus Chorizo or Roasted Pork Belly.  For heartier cravings, try the Fusilli Bolognese, a flavorful pasta dish of beef, porcini, tomato, rosemary and Parmigian-Reggiano.  Fresh and flavorful, to dine at Prepkitchen is truly an urban delight. Extraordinary Desserts Nestled inconspicuously among lofty townhouses, Extraordinary Desserts is a romantic bistro specializing in small bites, salads, paninis and, no surprise, desserts.  Modernity and art must also be part of the house menu, as the ambience and design concept cannot be described without using both those terms.  The dining experience itself is a work of art; thoughtfully crafted menu items such as the Imported Italian Tuna Panini make for a scrumptious meal, especially when followed by a fresh fruit tarte.  Or, indulge on a Wednesday night, when the bistro sets up a buffet-style bar of imported and domestic gourmet cheese.  Of course, another option would be to simply end a promising first date by sharing one of the house’s gilded cakes.  And yes, you read that correctly — Extraordinary Desserts gives “the Midas touch” a whole new meaning! Grace Yco is the Digital Marketing Manager at ViX Paula Hermanny. If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.