Award-winning

Catania

Name: Catania
Address: 7863 Girard Ave Suite 301, San Diego, CA, United States, 92037
Telephone: (858) 551-5105
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.7

4.7

2056 Reviews

$31 to $50

Italian

Make a booking

2 people

24 Nov 2024

7:00 pm

Booked 23 times today

Good for special occasions
Neighbourhood gem
Great for outdoor dining

Inspired by an Italy road-trip Chef Ryan and I (Arturo) took back in 2008, we’re pleased to introduce Catania, the newest member of the Whisknladle Hospitality family. Here, we’ll be featuring simple, seasonal and authentic Italian Coastal Cuisine (None of the Italian version of TexMex you see most other places). Our commitment to authenticity will be evident in our use of wood burning ovens and grills, an all Italian wine list as well as an exclusively craft Italian Beer program. (Yes, Italy has an amazing craft beer movement nobody’s heard about.)

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Italian, Contemporary Italian
Hours of Operation
Lunch Sat, Sun 12:00 pm–3:30 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–8:30 pm Fri, Sat 3:30 pm–9:00 pm
Phone number
(858) 551-5105
Website
http://www.cataniasd.com/
Payment Options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive Chef
Ryan Johnston
Private party facilities
Whether you’re planning a party or a meeting, enjoy the attentive service and personalized touches that take the average private dining experience to the next level with Whisknladle Hospitality. With four restaurants to choose from & a wide selection of menu options, the possibilities are endless. Email events@wnlhosp.com for more info.

Location
7863 Girard Ave, Suite 301, San Diego, CA 92037
Award-winning
1. MICHELIN Plate 2022
Area
La Jolla
Cross Street
Girard and Wall
Parking details
Street Parking
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Popular dishes

Pizza FocacciaUSD 7.00
olive oil, sea salt, rosemary, chili flake
Green Salad**USD 14.00
meyer lemon vinaigrette, pistachio, black pepper, pecorino toscano
Apple Salad**USD 16.00
radicchio, arugula, chicory, shaved fennel, gorgonzola, almonds, aged balsamic vinaigrette
Kale SaladUSD 15.00
treviso, chickpeas, celery, parmesan, anchovy vinaigrette
AranciniUSD 12.00
saffron risotto, parmigiano reggiano, tomato sauce
Wood Roasted Cauliflower**USD 19.00
whipped ricotta salata, fresno chili salmoriglio, pomegranate, red onion, pistachio
Charred Savoy Cabbage**USD 15.00
crispy garlic, shallots, mint, basil, calabrian chili, miso mustard vinaigrette
Crudo**USD 20.00
local yellowfin, beet puree, blood orange, basil, poppy seed, meyer lemon
Crispy Octopus**USD 22.00
chickpeas, lamb sausage, chili oil, capers, herbs
Smoked Duck Liver CrostiniUSD 15.00
golden raisins, currants, dates, almonds, pickled shallot, parsley

Secondi

Pan Seared Scallops*USD 41.00
honeynut squash caponata, carrot puree, prosciutto, golden raisins, pepitas
Whole Roasted Branzino*USD 44.00
clams, garlic butter, white wine, charred broccoli, chili flakes, breadcrumbs
Grilled Mary's Duck BreastUSD 35.00
farro salad, roasted apples, charred treviso, shallot vinaigrette
Rotisserie ChickenUSD 33.00
honey mustard, baby carrots, almonds, mint, garlic butter
Abita Ranch Wagyu Beef ShankUSD 37.00
fennel radish gremolata celery root-potato puree, porcini jus

Pizza

Italian MeatUSD 24.00
fontina, pecorino, sausage, soppressata salami, pancetta
Sicilian PistachioUSD 23.00
burrata, pecorino, pork mortadella, pistachio pesto
MargheritaUSD 21.00
mozzarella, basil, tomato sauce, garlic
Wild MushroomUSD 25.00
burrata, fontina, garlic confit, chili flake, sherry vinegar, thyme
DiavolaUSD 23.00
mozzarella, tomato, spicy calabrese salami
Pear & GorganzolaUSD 24.00
pancetta, pecorino, rosemary, honey balsamic, arugula

Pasta

Gluten free pasta available

Aglio e Olio PeperonciniUSD 21.00
spaghetti, evoo, chili flake, parsley, parmigiano reggiano
Tagliatelle alla PortofinoUSD 24.00
basil pesto, creamy tomato sauce, parmigiano reggiano
Butternut Squash RavioliUSD 27.00
hazelnuts, sage, parmesan, brown butter, aged balsamic, brussel sprouts
Duck Sugo OrecchietteUSD 29.00
braised duck, tomato, porcini mushrooms, juniper, parmesan
Bucatini alla'AmatricianaUSD 26.00
pork cheek, tomato, calabrian chili, pecorino sardo
Spaghetti & ClamsUSD 27.00
clams, garlic, white wine, chili flakes, breadcrumbs
Shrimp Risotto**USD 28.00
fennel, tomato, fresno chili, parmigiano reggiano

Cocktails

$16

Aperol Spritz
aperol, prosecco, soda, orange - served tall on the rocks
Isola
mezcal, bourbon, pineapple amaro, orange, lime juice, simple syrup - served in a coupe
Collina
vodka, cocchi americano, apple cider, lemon, apple-cinnamon simple - served on the rocks
Bacchus
vodka, cocchi rossa, lemon, simple, grapes, soda float - served in a collins glass
Verde Colada
rum, vanilla liquor, pineapple, matcha, macadamia nut orgeat, lime - served on the rocks
Succosa
bourbon, yellow chartreuse, pear & rosemary simple, st. george pear, lemon - served in a coupe
Moncalieri
malfy gin, mediterranean fever tree tonic, orange and sage - served on the rocks
Santa Maria
fresno chili infused tequila, lime, dimmi, ginger, agave - served on the rocks
Melograno
pomegranate, tequila, ancho reyes, lemon, amaro sirene, walnut bitters - served on a large rock
Vestito
mezcal, amaro D'arancia rossa, yellow chartreuse, lime, grapefruit soda - on the rocks
Corvo
rittenhouse rye, baltamoro coffee amaro, frangelico, crème de banana, bitters, nutmeg - served on a large rock

Bianchi

Pinot Grigio | Fasoli Gino | VenezieUSD 13.00
lemon, lime, crisp green apple, and floral honey suckle
Sauvignon Blanc | Scarbolo | Friuli Venezia-GiuliUSD 16.00
melon, yellow flowers, and lemon zest with a clean and refreshing finish
Gavi di Gavi | Villa Sparina | PiedmontUSD 15.00
crisp, refreshing, lemon, pear, and minerals
Zibibbo | Donna Fugata Lighea | SiciliaUSD 15.00
orange blossom hints of citrus, exotic fruit, mineral finish
Chardonnay | Talbott | Santa Lucia HighlandsUSD 20.00
rich aromas toasted oak, tree-ripe pear, and apple with touches of brown sugar

Spumanti / Rosato

Prosecco | Bisol | NVUSD 12.00
dry, crisp, toasted hazelnuts
Rose Brut | Bisol | VenetoUSD 14.00
floral, berries, currants
Rose | Benanty | SicilyUSD 15.00
pomegranate, rose petals and citrus
Lambrusco | Bruno Zanasi | Emilia RomagniaUSD 14.00
dry, red fruits, violet

Rossi

Schiava | Kaltererse | Alto AdigeUSD 13.00
red fruit dried herbs, light earth, spice
Barbera d'Asti | Michele Chiarlo | PiedmontUSD 14.00
purple flower, berry, supple tannins, fresh acidity
Pinot Noir | Siduri | Santa LuciaUSD 16.00
dark berry, cherry, espresso, candied flowers
Sangiovese | Nunzi | ChiantiUSD 15.00
violets, cherry, minerals
Super Tuscan | Le Difese | TuscanyUSD 20.00
ripe raspberries and cranberries, notes of violet and vine-ripened tomatoes
Cabernet Sauvignon | Austin Hope | Paso RoblesUSD 25.00
layers of vanilla, coco powder, juicy cherry, baking spices and signature tobacco

Birre | 10oz

Pilsner | Modern Times 4.8%USD 9.00
balanced palate with mildly bitter with lemon and floral notes
Blonde | Gravity Heights 5.2%USD 9.00
pleasant hop flavors, clean, refreshing
Oatmeal Stout | Fremont 8%USD 9.00
dark, yet silky oatmeal stout balanced by a firm hop handshake
Hazy IPA | Gravity Heights 6.8% ABVUSD 9.00
balanced citrus rind bitterness and tropical aromas

Bottiglia

Lager Bionda | Menabrea | Piedmont 4.8%USD 9.00
light with hints of citrus and fruit
Amber | Menabrea | Piedmont 5%USD 9.00
malty, hops, citrus
Blonde Ale "Birria Nazionale" | Birreria Baladin | Piedmont 6.5%USD 14.00
chamomile, citrus fruits, and gentle bitterness of Italian hops
IPA | Birreria Baladin | Piedmont 5.5%USD 14.00
citrusy notes of tangerine are complement ed by notes of melon and mango
Witbier "Isacc" | Birreria Baladin | Piedmont 5%USD 14.00
citrus, flower, spice
Saison "Wayan" | Birreria Baladin | Piedmont 5.8%USD 14.00
hazy, spice, fresh pepper
Non-Alcoholic German Lager | Erdinger | GermanyUSD 7.00
lemon, grass, malts
Hard Seltzer | High Noon | California 4.5%USD 7.00
peach

Analcolica

PressatoUSD 8.00
fresh grapefruit, thyme, ginger - served on ice in a wine glass
Italian SodasUSD 8.00
Birreria Baladin | Piedmont. Mela Zen- Apple and Ginger; Agrumata – Citrus and Bergamot

What 2,056 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.7Food
4.7Service
4.7Ambience
4.5Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Catania in La Jolla offers a "fabulous dining experience" with "delicious food" and "superb service." Guests rave about the Italian cuisine, including standout dishes like Duck Sugo Orecchiette and crispy octopus. The "beautiful ocean views" enhance the dining ambiance, making it a "must-visit" for both locals and visitors.

2,056 Reviews

P
Patricia
New York City
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
Excellently executed food. But cold even indoors.
Is this helpful?
M
Mary Kay
San Diego
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Catania is a local treasure. The food always delicious and innovative. Lovely wine list. Wonderful staff.
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K
Kami
San Diego
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Service was incredible for a birthday celebration for 6 of us. Duck Crostini and Lamb Ribs were outstanding.
Is this helpful?
M
Moonjung
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Made a reservation for my mom's birthday. Loved the ambience. We were able to sit on the balcony side watching the sunset which was beautiful. It does get chilly when the sun sets; however, they did have heat lamps which helped. The service was absolutely fantastic. Everybody was attentive. The food was AMAZING. My mom and I ordered arancini, mushroom pizza, tagliatelle pasta, and the panna cotta. The higher price value was expected, so no surprises there. The pizza was good, it was the thinner crust style. But what my mom and I really enjoyed was the pasta. It is quite creamy. We liked the nuttiness of the pesto. And the panna cotta was SOO good. Overall great experience.
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J
JC
San Diego
34 reviews
vip
5.0
34 reviews
Dined on 16 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
If you really want great modern Italian then Catania is the perfect place! The food is always delicious, the service impeccable and a fun atmosphere!!
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A
Ashish
San Diego
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 14 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 2
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The restaurant is situated in a prime location, offering a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere. However, I was a bit disappointed to find that the vegan options were more limited than I had expected. Before visiting, I had called ahead and was assured there were plenty of vegan choices, but upon reviewing the menu, I found it to be fairly restricted. That said, I was still excited to experience a Michelin-starred restaurant. The Antipasto was a standout — the cauliflower dish in particular seemed to be a crowd favorite, as I noticed several tables ordering it. In terms of flavor, it was one of the better dishes of the meal. Unfortunately, I had to give the overall food experience 2 stars because the dish I ordered was overly salty and oily, which impacted the enjoyment. Despite the initial promise, the balance of flavors in my dish didn’t quite meet the standard I was hoping for.
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P
Patricia
Western NC
40 reviews
vip
5.0
40 reviews
Dined on 10 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent food, selections and outstanding service…..we eat here often and have never been disappointed. It’s always the right choice!
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D
Diana
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 10 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
This is a must visit restaurant in La Jolla! We ordered the crispy octopus, duck sugo pasta, mushroom pizza, and dessert trio. Everything was fantastic but the dish that you must order is the crispy octopus!
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T
Tori
San Diego
13 reviews
5.0
13 reviews
Dined on 10 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We enjoyed an excellent meal at Catania. Service was on point, we weren’t rushed through our meal, and every dish we had was unique in flavor, beautifully presented and absolutely delicious. We shared every dish- here was our line up: Arugula Salad w/ Persimmons, Pears, Gorgonzola, & Candied Pine Nuts - Excellent, light, split was still generous serving. Duck Sugo Orechetti - Super Savory, Duck was flavorful, pasta is made on-site…a little outside of we’re used to with authentic orechetti, but still delicious and excellently executed. Wood Fired Pork Chop w/sweet potato purée and butter greens-So, so good. Get it, you won’t regret it. It’s sweet, savory and bitter, the perfect Agrodolce dish. We paired it with the wood fired cauliflower appetizer, which was the perfect main meal. Highly recommend this dish too! Desserts were amazing. Semifreddo had a delicious crust on the bottom which was unique and offset the rich dessert. Chocolate flourless cake was perfect-rich and chewy, like it should be. The Panna Cotta with huckleberry reduction was my husbands fav-silky, not sweet and love the huckleberry topping. The Manager on site was lovely and our server was fantastic and very attentive to us. I will definitely be going back and highly recommend. To note: the ambiance is more elevated casual than fancy. We wanted to sit on the patio to enjoy the sunset (which they kept at a perfect temp with tons of heaters) but possibly inside would be more intimate if that’s what you’re looking for.
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D
Denise
Austin
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on 10 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
This was our favorite dining experience during our trip to San Diego. The restaurant is located in a very charming building. The balcony seating was nice and you could see the ocean. But the food was so delicious! We loved the tuna crudo was amazing with the beet puree. My husband really enjoyed the crispy octopus. We also loved the pizza and the rigatoni. But the best part was the branzino - the sauce was unreal! Will definitely be back if we travel to San Diego again!
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FAQs

You can order delivery directly from Catania using the Order Online button.

Catania is rated 4.7 stars by 2056 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people

24 Nov 2024

7:00 pm

Booked 23 times today

Order delivery or takeout

7863 Girard Ave, Suite 301, San Diego, CA 92037

Additional information

Award-winning
1. MICHELIN Plate 2022
Cross Street
Girard and Wall
Area
La Jolla
Hours of Operation
Lunch Sat, Sun 12:00 pm–3:30 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–8:30 pm Fri, Sat 3:30 pm–9:00 pm
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Italian, Contemporary Italian
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Street Parking
Payment Options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive Chef
Ryan Johnston
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.cataniasd.com/
Phone number
(858) 551-5105
Private party facilities
Whether you’re planning a party or a meeting, enjoy the attentive service and personalized touches that take the average private dining experience to the next level with Whisknladle Hospitality. With four restaurants to choose from & a wide selection of menu options, the possibilities are endless. Email events@wnlhosp.com for more info.

Catania

Make a booking

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Duck Sugo Orecchiette

Crispy Octopus

Pizza Focaccia

Antipasti

Pizza FocacciaUSD 7.00

Green Salad**USD 14.00

Apple Salad**USD 16.00

Kale SaladUSD 15.00

AranciniUSD 12.00

Wood Roasted Cauliflower**USD 19.00

Charred Savoy Cabbage**USD 15.00

Crudo**USD 20.00

Crispy Octopus**USD 22.00

Smoked Duck Liver CrostiniUSD 15.00

Secondi

Pan Seared Scallops*USD 41.00

Whole Roasted Branzino*USD 44.00

Grilled Mary's Duck BreastUSD 35.00

Rotisserie ChickenUSD 33.00

Abita Ranch Wagyu Beef ShankUSD 37.00

Pizza

Italian MeatUSD 24.00

Sicilian PistachioUSD 23.00

MargheritaUSD 21.00

Wild MushroomUSD 25.00

DiavolaUSD 23.00

Pear & GorganzolaUSD 24.00

Pasta

Aglio e Olio PeperonciniUSD 21.00

Tagliatelle alla PortofinoUSD 24.00

Butternut Squash RavioliUSD 27.00

Duck Sugo OrecchietteUSD 29.00

Bucatini alla'AmatricianaUSD 26.00

Spaghetti & ClamsUSD 27.00

Shrimp Risotto**USD 28.00

Cocktails

Aperol Spritz

Isola

Collina

Bacchus

Verde Colada

Succosa

Moncalieri

Santa Maria

Melograno

Vestito

Corvo

Bianchi

Pinot Grigio | Fasoli Gino | VenezieUSD 13.00

Sauvignon Blanc | Scarbolo | Friuli Venezia-GiuliUSD 16.00

Gavi di Gavi | Villa Sparina | PiedmontUSD 15.00

Zibibbo | Donna Fugata Lighea | SiciliaUSD 15.00

Chardonnay | Talbott | Santa Lucia HighlandsUSD 20.00

Spumanti / Rosato

Prosecco | Bisol | NVUSD 12.00

Rose Brut | Bisol | VenetoUSD 14.00

Rose | Benanty | SicilyUSD 15.00

Lambrusco | Bruno Zanasi | Emilia RomagniaUSD 14.00

Rossi

Schiava | Kaltererse | Alto AdigeUSD 13.00

Barbera d'Asti | Michele Chiarlo | PiedmontUSD 14.00

Pinot Noir | Siduri | Santa LuciaUSD 16.00

Sangiovese | Nunzi | ChiantiUSD 15.00

Super Tuscan | Le Difese | TuscanyUSD 20.00

Cabernet Sauvignon | Austin Hope | Paso RoblesUSD 25.00

Birre | 10oz

Pilsner | Modern Times 4.8%USD 9.00

Blonde | Gravity Heights 5.2%USD 9.00

Oatmeal Stout | Fremont 8%USD 9.00

Hazy IPA | Gravity Heights 6.8% ABVUSD 9.00

Bottiglia

Lager Bionda | Menabrea | Piedmont 4.8%USD 9.00

Amber | Menabrea | Piedmont 5%USD 9.00

Blonde Ale "Birria Nazionale" | Birreria Baladin | Piedmont 6.5%USD 14.00

IPA | Birreria Baladin | Piedmont 5.5%USD 14.00

Witbier "Isacc" | Birreria Baladin | Piedmont 5%USD 14.00