Take us to Vinarius

When looking for places to eat in any city, it’s hard to pass up any section named Little Italy. Lisa went online and found the Vinarius Wine Bar and Restaurant, located just on the inner border of San Diego’s Little Italy. We’re not wine drinkers, but the five-star rating drew us in. Once again, the critics were correct, and Vinarius didn’t disappoint.

After being seated, we were impressed by the very friendly and lively waitress/ bartender from Spain. With her hands flying while she spoke and her constant smile, she made us feel as though we were part of her family. After constantly having leftovers from meals we never finish on trips away from home, Lisa and I decided to split meals and not be such gluttons. It sounds like a good idea, but we ended up skipping it this time.

The Fettuccine Alle Vongole caught my eye, and I knew I wanted it. With the menu description, “Clams tossed in a spicy cherry tomato wine sauce,” I had to have it. They had me at clams. Lisa went with the Lasagna Bolognese with the homemade veal ragu. Before the entrees, we got the basket of garlic bread, which was a great start to our meal. Crispy and seasoned well, we filled up on the bread. It put us in such a good mood for the meal. The lasagna was outstanding. Lisa put a little cayenne pepper on it and kicked it into gear. I loved my clam dish. The clams were fresh, as though caught that morning. Note that if you sit with me for a meal and I close my eyes when I have a bite, that is a good thing to eat. I finished my large plate, including those cherry tomatoes, which are a vegetable in my head (not a fruit). I knew I could come back to this place again and again. In Lisa’s words, She thought she might explode trying to finish her lasagna.

Complimentary Limoncello capped off our visit, and we walked out full and with big smiles. According to the locals, you can enjoy any restaurant in San Diego’s Little Italy. You should put Vinarius first on your list. Buon Appetito! Mangia! Mangia! Enjoy the moments everyone!