Authentic Italian flavors in the heart of Hillcrest, San Diego.
Tavola Nostra Pizzeria e Cucina offers a warm, inviting atmosphere with authentic Italian cuisine made from fresh, high-quality ingredients. Located in San Diego's Hillcrest neighborhood, this restaurant is known for its excellent happy hour, soul-warming dishes like pasta marsala and lasagna della mamma, and friendly, attentive service. With a dog-friendly patio and consistent five-star reviews, it's a favorite spot for casual dining, anniversaries, and family meals.
1040 University Ave B101, San Diego, CA 92103, USA
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Dine-in experience with traditional Italian dishes, house-made pasta, and fresh ingredients in a warm atmosphere.
Handcrafted pizzas and pasta dishes, including favorites like lasagna della mamma and pesto pasta.
Enjoy discounted drinks and appetizers during happy hour, praised as one of the best in San Diego.
Convenient meal takeaway and food delivery services for enjoying our Italian cuisine at home.
Host anniversaries, gatherings, or parties with attentive service and customizable menu options.
Outdoor seating on our patio where you can dine with your furry friends in a welcoming setting.
Overall rating
Nathan Gomez
We came for our 9 anniversary dinner and we were not disappointed. The atmosphere, the service and the food all 10/10. Food so good I ordered 2 plates! Ellee was super attentive, quick and gave great recommendations. She took great care of us and the owner Jeff has knocked it out of the park! Has become our favorite place and we will definitely becoming back!
David Deckert
This was our first stop since arriving in town. The wife and son had tried it on an earlier trip and wanted to share it with my daughter and I. This has got to be one of the best Happy Hours in San Diego. Everything was excellent including both the food and the service. It was a quiet evening and we enjoyed it very much. I hope to be back to enjoy the many regular menu food items.
LA Tran
I love the super delicious arugula salad and spicy house-made pasta with the side of house-made sausages! The shareable crostini was super fresh with perfectly seasoned tomatoes. My gf, who got the pesto pasta, and I had a wonderful experience, with their professional and friendly staff and uplifting music, during lunch!
Megan Malave
Tavola Nostra is one of our favorite spots in the neighborhood. The food is consistently excellent — we especially love the Pollo alla Parmigiana (crispy and tender), Sicilian meatballs with flavorful tomato sauce, and the light, refreshing arugula salad. The atmosphere is great inside or on the patio (dog-friendly!), and the staff is always friendly. Mark has been our server a few times, and he’s fantastic — attentive and helpful with recommendations (try the tomato bisque, it’s a favorite). Good selection of beer and wine. Just note: non-alcoholic options are limited, and they don’t offer refills on sodas, Italian sodas, or iced tea.
Scarlett Letter Show
My partner and I recently had the pleasure of dining here, and it was absolutely fantastic! From the moment we walked in, the warm and inviting atmosphere set the tone for a wonderful evening. The staff was attentive, friendly, and made us feel right at home. Every dish was bursting with authentic Italian flavors. We started with the Brussels sprouts, hands down the best I’ve ever had. Perfectly cooked with a slight crunch on the outside, soft on the inside, not too sweet or burnt, truly addicting. The calamari was equally impressive: light, not too greasy, and beautifully balanced in flavor. For our main courses, I enjoyed the creamy, rich pasta marsala while my partner had the lasagna della mamma. Both were outstanding. My partner, who’s Italian, even said it was healing her soul because it tasted just like the one her mom makes. We paired our meal with a crisp glass of sparkling rosé, and ended the night with their homemade tiramisu, which was the perfect finishing touch. You can really tell they use fresh, high-quality ingredients. Overall, it was a memorable dining experience and I can’t wait to come back. Highly recommend for anyone looking for authentic, soul-warming Italian cuisine and excellent service in the heart of Hillcrest!
