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The Godfather Restaurant, San Diego, CA

The Godfather Restaurant

4.7
4.7
1859 Reviews
$31 to $50
Italian

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 10 times today
  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
  • Great for fine wines
The Godfather, a Balistreri restaurant, is an Italian monument in downtown San Diego providing authentic cuisine from the hills of Italy. Established in 1974, The Godfather is a sophisticated and classy establishment that centers around generational recipes from both Northern and Southern Italy. Over the years, the quality of food and standard of service has never declined and thus garnered The Godfather a national recognition as one of the top twenty-five Italian restaurants in the entire nation. The menu is filled with classic favorites based in steak, chicken and pasta. For an intimate evening for two, try the Sicilian kiss prix fixe meal that includes a bottle of champagne.

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Seafood, Steak
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch Tue–Fri 11:00 am–2:30 pm Dinner Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–9:30 pm Fri 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (858) 560-1747
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Isidoro Balistreri
  • Area
    Kearny Mesa
  • Parking details
    Public Parking
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeaway, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 1,859 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
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.4Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Godfather Restaurant offers a charming old-school Italian experience with "excellent service" and "amazing food." Guests rave about the "generous portions" and "authentic ambiance," making it ideal for special occasions. While some mention noise levels and parking, the overall atmosphere and "fantastic service" keep diners returning for delightful meals.

1,859 Reviews
  1. Scott

    San Diego

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    My wife and I had not been there for years and I took her there for her birthday. We regretted that it had been so long since we visited because it was awesome. The service was wonderful and the food was AMAZING!! What more can I say?

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  2. Russell

    Phoenix

    2 reviews

    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 17 November 2024

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    Very disappointing. Food was average at best and overall poor value for experience. Maybe work it for steaks , not worth it for Italian food.

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  3. Sarah

    Phoenix

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 15 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful in all areas. Thanks to the new owners for keeping the transition.

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  4. Keith

    San Diego

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 12 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent dining experience from start to finish. Food was exceptional. Service was way above average! Can’t wait to go back and try other delicious dishes.

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  5. Marc

    San Diego

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 10 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Went here for my daughter’s 16th birthday. Waiter was engaging and cheeky, and made the dinner even more fun.

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  6. Tobi

    San Diego

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on 8 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The Godfather is always an enjoyable experience. Excellent service, ambiance fits the name, and food is delicious.

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  7. Jamie

    San Diego

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 7 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This is my all time favorite restaurant. The food is amazing and the atmosphere is exactly what you want when dining out.

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  8. Patrick

    San Diego

    34 reviews

    5.0

    34 reviews

    Dined on 6 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Whether it's a business lunch or a private dinner, The Godfather never fails to deliver on service, quality and value. Don't let the unassuming location fool you, this is a hidden gem!

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  9. Wanda

    San Diego

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on 6 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Fantastic service and an exceptional meal! We had the spaghetti carbonara with shrimp, the seafood crepe, and the mushroom ravioli, and all were absolutely delicious!!!!! Our server was wonderful as well, very welcoming, friendly and helpful. Can't wait to go back! Highly recommend!

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  10. Eric

    Orange County

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on 6 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was outstanding with some Italian dishes I had never heard of, great to try something different. A little pricey, but a better deal with the San Diego Restaurant gift cards. Was given an excellent piece of cheesecake for my wife's birthday. Atmosphere was great, old-style Italian restaurant with pictures, wine bottles, etc., decorating the dining room. Service was outstanding. Parking was a little difficult because we have a large vehicle. There was one loud table that kind of ruined the atmosphere a bit, but that's not the restaurant's fault, we just ignored them as best we could. Highly recommended!

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FAQs

The Godfather Restaurant offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (858) 560-1747.

The Godfather Restaurant is rated 4.7 stars by 1859 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 10 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for The Godfather Restaurant

7878 Clrmt Msa Blvd, San Diego, CA 92111-1621

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Area
    Kearny Mesa
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch Tue–Fri 11:00 am–2:30 pm Dinner Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–9:30 pm Fri 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Seafood, Steak
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    Public Parking
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Isidoro Balistreri
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeaway, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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