4 days in San Diego- 8/31- 9/3/2024

Day 3- Dinner at Cucina Urbana-9/2/2024

We are at the intersection of W. Ivy street and First street heading toward Bunker hill for dinner at Cucina Urbana when the sun began to set.

A perfectly round, bright yellow sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm orange glow over the city. Just then, I was surprised to see a plane flying unusually low, so close it felt as if it were skimming the streets of downtown.

We stood there watching as it passed through the city, its path traced right beside the glowing sun, an unexpected and beautiful moment to end the day.

San Diego International Airport (SAN) is only about 2.5–3 miles from downtown, which is extremely close for a major airport. When the planes are flying over downtown, they’re often only 400–700 feet above the ground.  San Diego is one of those rare cities where aviation and city life overlap so visually. Locals still stop and stare, especially at golden hour.

I selected Cucina Urbana because it is featured in the Michelin Guide with a Bib Gourmand designation,  meaning it’s recognized for high-quality, great-value Italian cooking rather than Michelin stars. The restaurant is located in a  modern, sleek setting with indoor-outdoor dining that’s perfect for enjoying San Diego’s mild evenings

The interior blends urban rustic with contemporary style, think reclaimed wood, ambient lighting, and an eclectic, relaxed yet polished design that’s welcoming whether you’re on a date night or out with friends.

Cucina Urbana is a popular place and it is consistently full because locals love its combination of lively atmosphere, quality food, and approachable yet thoughtfully crafted Italian classics.

Their wine program is notable: you can choose from 200+ bottles at retail price and enjoy them with a modest corkage fee, and the service team can help guide pairings.

Stacks of wine on display along the back wall of the restaurant.

Hamachi crudo with sliced of fresh cucumber, crispy rice, in a jalapeno cilantro emulsion and salsa verde sauce.

We started with the hamachi crudo, delicately sliced and brightened with fresh cucumber, crunchy bits of crispy rice, and a jalapeño-cilantro emulsion that tasted like a vibrant, herb-forward salsa verde. It was light, fresh, and quietly complex.

Roasted garlic focaccia, cultured herb butter and sea salt.

Next came the house-made roasted garlic focaccia, warm, pillowy, and impossible to resist, served with cultured herb butter and a sprinkle of sea salt that made each bite deeply satisfying.

Shrimp Puttanesca linguine, castelvetrano olive, caper, Calabria chili, tomato

For our main dishes, we shared the shrimp puttanesca linguine, rich and savory with Castelvetrano olives, capers, Calabrian chili, and tomato, bold, briny, and comforting all at once.

New York Strip steak with a demi glace red wine reduction, blistered Shishito peppers, was beans, and crispy smashed potatoes.

Alongside it was a beautifully cooked New York strip steak, finished with a red wine reduction and accompanied by blistered shishito peppers, wax beans, and crispy smashed potatoes that added just the right amount of texture and contrast.

We ended the evening simply, with coffee and tiramisu, the classic finish, light, creamy, and just sweet enough to close out a lively, full dining room buzzing with conversation.

As we are leaving Bankers Hill, the road dips and suddenly the city opens up in front of us.  From the higher ground, you can look down and see rows of houses stepping neatly down the hill, their windows glowing softly as evening settles in. Beyond them, downtown San Diego spreads out, illuminated and calm, the lights giving the city a warm, almost cinematic feel.

Little Italy

From there we are walking toward Little Italy and the energy slowly shifts.

The streets grow busier, and then we see it, the large illuminated “Little Italy” sign suspended above the street.

Before reaching the sign, we passed a Little Italy neighborhood map, almost like a quiet introduction, letting you know you’re about to enter a place with its own rhythm and personality.

We are now walking into Little Italy

From there, the streets come alive quickly. Shops and restaurants line both sides, their bold neon signs glowing against the night: Vincenzo, Mr. Moto Pizza, etc..

We are now on India Street and at night it is defined by a dense canopy of bistro lights.

Open-air wooden platforms that extend the restaurant seating right onto the sidewalk.

The Iconic Little Italy sign is located on India Street that marks the heart of the neighborhood.  This single sign is recognizable for its blue neon letters, nautical-inspired design, and mosaic tile work that reflect the area’s cultural roots as a historic Italian and fishing community.

Walking south into the district, we are essentially moving through a corridor of aroma, fresh garlic, wood-fired pizza, and the sound of clinking wine glasses.

This stretch is the culinary soul of San Diego, where old-school red-sauce joints sit side-by-side with modern, high-design eateries.

Little Italy is very lively, fun to walk around, and buzzing of energy.

The illuminated “Little Italy” sign on India Street isn’t just decoration, it’s a symbol of history and identity for this part of San Diego. It was first lit in October 2000 during the 7th Annual Little Italy Festal, a neighborhood celebration that helped mark a period of revitalization for the area.  The design reflects the neighborhood’s past as a center of Italian immigrant life and tuna fishing in the 20th century, when Italian and Portuguese fishermen made this area their home and helped establish San Diego as a hub of the tuna industry.

Over the years, that sign has become more than a marker, it’s a gathering point and backdrop for major neighborhood events. Celebrations like World Cup viewings and local festivals have taken place right beneath it, adding to the sense that you’re now in a lively, historic, and community-centered part of the city.

NEXT... Day 4- San Diego GasLamp Quarter

Filed under: Restaurants