San Diego Highlights: Caffe Bella Italia – Pacific Beach

The Rewards Canada family’s last vacation was spent in the San Diego area a few weeks ago and we thought to try something new on the blog outside of the usual hotel reviews, earning and redemptions stories that go along with those vacations and that something new is a restaurant review. Now of course we ate at lots of places, some were great and one was absolutely horrible but the one that probably stood out the most other than our favorite breakfast place called The Mission was our last night of the trip dinner at Caffe Bella Italia in Pacific Beach.

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We were staying at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay and didn’t want to travel too far for an Italian meal and weren’t being impressed by any of the restaurants that were showing up on Google, Yelp or Urban Spoon. So I did what I vowed not to do when I travel, ask the hotel concierge. The last time we did it was six years prior at this very hotel and the restaurant recommendation was horrible (and I think the concierge got a kick back) The concierge told us about Caffe Bella Italia and a quick Google search brought up very favorable reviews and a star ranking higher than those I had searched at previously. So what the heck we thought we would give it shot.

The charming little place was a quick 10 minute or so drive from our hotel in the heart of Pacific Beach (not on the beach, but more like downtown PB) and unlike many of the restaurants in that area it has its own parking lot which was nice to have as most of the on-street parking was full.

 The service was second to none and the restaurant went out of its way to make our dining experience great. When my daughter asked if they have Fettuccine Alfredo, they said it wasn’t on the menu but they would make it especially for her. Want the Gnocchi with sage butter sauce? No problem they made that as well. All four meals that were ordered, the Fettuccine Alfredo, the Gnocchi with sage butter sauce, the La Nostra ‘Matriciana and the Scaloppine di Pollo  Limone e Vino were all so delicious.

Gnocchi with sage butter sauce
Scaloppine di Pollo  Limone e Vino
Fettuccine Alfredo
La Nostra ‘Matriciana

The desserts were also impeccable, in particular the Panna cotta, which was divine!

Lemon Sorbet
Panna cotta

There it is, a simple review where the photos and the taste of the food speak louder than any words can. Hopefully this may help some of you when in the beaches area of San Diego who may be craving some Italian and want to know of a good place to dine at!

Link: Caffe Bella Italia