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Best Restaurants for Foodies in University Heights

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38 restaurants available nearby

A photo of Animae restaurant
4.7
Exceptional(3243)
Price: Very Expensive
• Contemporary Asian • Downtown
Booked 57 times today
ANIMAE’s eclectic West Coast cuisine, layered with Asian influences, comes to life under Celebrated Chef Brian Malarkey. Applying a California cooking style to ANIMAE’S traditional coal-fired oven and grill, Chef Malarkey’s menu is as thoughtful as it is refined, elevating local produce and seasonal ingredients to create a lively and progressive culinary program.
A photo of Cellar Hand restaurant
4.7
Exceptional(111)
Price: Expensive
• Farm-to-table • Hillcrest
Booked 15 times today
Nestled in the heart of Hillcrest, San Diego, Cellar Hand embodies a commitment to sustainability, craftsmanship, and community. Through a farm-to-table approach, our menu showcases hyper-local seasonal fare. Our extensive wine list highlights the diverse terroir of California, serving as an extension of founder’s Pali Wine Co. Santa Barbara County winery. By fostering deep connections with local artisans, farmers, fishers, and stewards, Cellar Hand strives to be a destination where guests can savor the essence of California’s bounty in every bite and sip.Enjoy our exposed kitchen, an indoor-outdoor bar, outdoor fire pits, and artwork by Nick Perr. Opened Wednesday - Sunday with daily happy hour specials and Sunday brunch!
A photo of The Smoking Goat Restaurant restaurant
4.8
Exceptional(2643)
Price: Moderate
• French American • North Park
Booked 36 times today
The Smoking Goat is an award-winning California-French bistro located in the heart of North Park, San Diego. We have received the Gold Medallion for the best French Bistro in San Diego three years running. Inspired by his European Farm-to-Table up-bringing and culinary training at Le Cordon Bleu Paris, Executive Chef and Owner Fred Piehl, marries classic French cuisine with the bounty of San Diego in a way that is rustic, yet refined, imaginative, yet unpretentious. The dinners served feature in-season local, sustainable and organic ingredients and provide guests with a unique culinary experience, reminiscent of the European countryside. Boasting a carefully selected wine and beer list and chef and bartender attention to select spirits to create craft house cocktails, The Smoking Goat assures there is always the correct pairing available.
A photo of Herb & Wood restaurant
4.7
Exceptional(6477)
Price: Expensive
• Californian • Little Italy
Booked 114 times today
A timeless, sought-after dining escape, celebrated Chef Brian Malarkey opened Herb & Wood to instant acclaim over four years ago. In that time, the restaurant has become an icon, a dining destination that has helped to propel San Diego's culinary reputation to new heights. By focusing on rustic, wood-fired dishes, Chef Malarkey's menu elevates humble ingredients such as carrots, beets, and chicken, incorporating Mediterranean flavors and a California ethos of seasonality and sustainability.
A photo of Cowboy Star restaurant
4.9
Exceptional(4756)
Price: Very Expensive
• Steakhouse • Downtown
Booked 67 times today
Located in the heart of the East Village neighborhood of San Diego, Cowboy Star is dedicated to providing an unmatched attention to detail and a level of service that immediately sets us apart. Cowboy Star guests are the number one priority and guest satisfaction is the base upon which our entire concept is built. Our level of service is only matched by our celebration of regional American heirloom recipes offered with genuine neighborly hospitality. We are committed to supporting local and regional farmers, fishers and producers by cooking food that recaptures the simple and pure tastes found in locally grown, natural and organic ingredients. We strive to raise awareness of a more sustainable food future, while helping to restore a sense of community that brings us back to a more homegrown time.The Cowboy Star Menu features the finest in select natural products including Niman Ranch all natural beef from the nation's leading Certified Humane Angus herd.
A photo of Coasterra restaurant
4.6
Exceptional(7580)
Price: Moderate
• Mexican • Harbor Island
Booked 112 times today
Coasterra is San Diego's premier bay front dining destination! We are an innovative and modern restaurant, lounge and floating event center, featuring Mexican cuisine.
A photo of Nobu San Diego restaurant
4.6
Exceptional(3746)
Price: Very Expensive
• Japanese • Downtown
Booked 68 times today
Nobu San Diego is a foodie hotspot known for its award-winning 'New Style' Japanese cuisine. As per reviews, the food is consistently and exceptionally delicious, with each dish being a work of art, beautifully presented and bursting with flavor. The ambience is described as sophisticated yet lively, with a warm and inviting atmosphere. It's not just about the food, the service is equally praised, making it a fantastic dining experience.
A photo of Bleu Boheme restaurant
4.8
Exceptional(3549)
Price: Expensive
• French • Kensington
Booked 25 times today
"World travel and its pleasures; items brought back from different places for décors; great stories shared with others; and very importantly, simple, yet delicious recipes from different cultures. Our mission is humble. It is simply for people coming to our restaurant to be transported around the world, and to travel with us for an evening, to a place of well-being and happiness."Bleu Bohème is designed to create a feeling of France's past generations. It mixes the Bohemian and artistic free spirited left bank of Paris with the roots and tradition of the rural areas. Bleu Bohème is a neighborhood restaurant that serves accessible, affordable and comforting French cuisine.
A photo of One Door North restaurant
4.5
Awesome(504)
Price: Moderate
• American • North Park
Booked 15 times today
At One Door North we host a New American Bar and Eatery that pays homage to the outdoors with the spirit of adventure, serving only fresh farm to table cuisine. Come enjoy the adventure with us, we look forward to serving you.
A photo of CUCINA urbana restaurant
4.7
Exceptional(7108)
Price: Moderate
• Italian • Banker's Hill
Booked 76 times today
CUCINA urbana is a foodie haven, offering a unique blend of contemporary art and a country farmhouse ambiance. The reviews rave about its 'exquisite food and ambiance', 'exceptional and exciting food' and 'delicious food options'. It's also noted for its 'excellent service', 'interesting flavors', and 'creative and delicious food options'. The restaurant's wine program, which allows guests to hand-select wines for a minimal corkage fee, adds to the foodie experience.
‘About the restaurant’ descriptions have been generated using an artificial intelligence model comprised of OpenTable proprietary data that has not been independently verified by OpenTable. The content is presented as-is, for informational purposes only.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you
From verified diners like you
  • Angie
    San Diego •1 review
    5.0
    Dined today
    The ambiance is very classy. All the food we ordered are exceptionally flavorful. They really elevated Filipino/Asian cuisine. Highly recommended are Pork Tocino, Taiwanese Chicken, Kare-kare, and Turon Tart. Lastly, service is outstanding. We didn’t have to ask for anything because the staff are on top of things. We’ll definitely be coming back for more awesome dining experience.
    More info
    AnimaePrice: Very Expensive• Contemporary Asian• Downtown
    4.7
  • Kathleen
    Phoenix / Arizona •5 reviews
    5.0
    Dined 3 days ago
    Simply put, one of the best meals I have had the privilege of enjoying! Delightful server, Calvin, was very in tune with the timing of our meal and our needs. The fixed menu was perfect for Christmas Eve, as it kept the meal flowing and decision-making to a minimum. Every course was delectable from the scallop crudo, the creamed mushrooms, and the sea bass, to the date cake with walnut ice cream! Mezcal hibiscus cocktail was creative and tasty, as well! I will definitely be back!
    More info
    Herb & WoodPrice: Expensive• Californian• Little Italy
    4.7
  • Mike
    San Diego •13 reviews
    5.0
    Dined 4 days ago
    The food was fantastic. All their steaks are great but try the bone in wagyu rib eye. Best steak ever. And we have eaten at most downtown steak places. Matt’s drinks were perfect. As usual. The service by Luis was great, but a special thanks to Ruby for taking such great care of us.
    More info
    Cowboy StarPrice: Very Expensive• Steakhouse• Downtown
    4.9
  • Chad
    San Diego •9 reviews
    5.0
    Dined 7 days ago
    From the moment we were greeted by the hostess til time she was telling us to have a good night on our way out, our entire experience was truly on point! The food was spot on, we had roasted mushrooms and cauliflower for an appetizer, the duck and prime rib for our entree… all of it was as good as we’ve ever had it. The service was attentive, fast, friendly, and it seemed like we didn’t have to ask for much, he was just prepared and had enough foresight to ensure we were taken care of. Overall, an excellent experience! I cannot offer a criticism which is rare. We will definitely return.
    More info
    The Smoking Goat RestaurantPrice: Moderate• French American• North Park
    4.8
  • scottVIP
    San Diego •5 reviews
    5.0
    Dined on Dec 15, 2024
    The food was amazingly fresh. Overall a great experience.
    More info
    Cellar HandPrice: Expensive• Farm-to-table• Hillcrest
    4.7
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