Diners' Choice: Good for special occasions restaurants in San Diego

OpenTable

Updated 05 May 2025

Looking for the best special occasion restaurants in San Diego? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyses nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you book, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Parma Cucina Italiana

4.9

4.9 (135)

$30 and under

Italian

Hillcrest

About the restaurant

Known for the Best Lasagna in San Diego, Parma Cucina Italiana is a charming and cozy family run Italian restaurant in the heart of Historic Hillcrest.

Our traditional Italian cuisine is inspired by generations of home cooking, fresh ingredients, and simple presentations. Our specialties originate from Northern Italy. The must try lasagna is decadent layers of Bolognese and béchamel sauce. Or try our tortellini with cream and prosciutto, or our pappardelle pasta tossed with slow braised short rib and porcini mushrooms.

We have an extensive wine collection with wines from the best regions of Italy. And an Italian meal wouldn’t be complete without our homemade desserts. We suggest tiramisu and profiteroles alla nutella.

Top review

James

Dined 3 days ago

Had a table of 8 to celebrate my college graduation. Very impressed with the service and overall speed. Food was very, very delicious and paired well with the drinks. From the ambiance, to the people, to the food, it was the most authentic Italian restaurant in San Diego. Would come back here 10/10.

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Little Victory Wine Bar

4.9

4.9 (12)

$30 and under

Wine Bar

Carlsbad

About the restaurant

Little Victory Wine Bar is a natural wine bar in Carlsbad, California. With indoor seating accommodating 24-28 guests and an outdoor patio offering 18 additional seats, Little Victory Wine Bar is intentionally scaled to foster intimate and meaningful interactions, cementing its role as a significant addition to Carlsbad Village’s growing culinary community.

Little Victory Wine Market is located at 505 Oak Avenue, Suite B, Carlsbad, California, 92008, and will operate Wednesday through Sunday from 4 - 10 p.m. Visit the website or follow along on Instagram at @littlevictorywinebar for future updates.

Top review

AnneVIP

Dined on 12 May 2025

Great space. Feels like a real neighborhood bistro. Just what the area needs! Will keep coming back to make it through wine list

Gregorio's Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (386)

$30 and under

Italian

Carlsbad

About the restaurant

Gregorio’s Restaurant serves the Carlsbad community with heart, flavor, and a sense of home. Located in the heart of downtown, we bring people together over fresh, high-quality ingredients and timeless Italian recipes.

Our approach is simple: create delicious, comforting food in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Whether you're here with family, meeting friends, or enjoying a quiet dinner with a glass of wine, we want Gregorio’s to feel like your kitchen away from home.

Every dish is carefully crafted, using only the freshest ingredients to deliver bold, authentic Italian flavors.

We invite you to join us, relax, and become part of Gregorio’s family—where good food and good company are always on the menu.

Top review

VERONIQUEVIP

Dined 7 days ago

Fantastic local restaurant, food and service were great! Strongly recommend, portions are very big especially if you get the full entree!!

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4.8

4.8 (263)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Bonsall

About the restaurant

Harlow's Cocktail Lounge is a unique restaurant focused on traditional classics with modern reinvention. Through the use of specialized ingredients and techniques, international influence and attention to detail, Harlow's offers adventurous creations rooted in comforting familiarity. Our shareable menu and bar selections are crafted for our guests enjoy on any occasion or outing. Come enjoy the lounge, bar, restaurant and private dining areas with friends and family. Harlow's stage features weekly live music showcasing local talent. Call or visit harlowslounge.com for more details

Top review

Ashley

Dined 3 days ago

Overall it was a good experience. The food was great! A bit pricey for the quality, but good. We had meatballs, pork belly, ahi sliders (the favorite) and empanadas for apps. Quail, hangar steak and burrata salad for entrees. Our server was nice and helpful. The live music was great! The only poor part of the evening was the hostess. She was not very pleasant, we arrived ~15 minutes early and she told us “to go wait in the lounge, I have no space for you at the bar.” Not offered to get a drink while we waited. There were open dinner tables, about 5 empty tables and 3 empty stools in the bar area. We waited in the lounge for 15 minutes before deciding to go get a drink and listen to the music. As we waited for our drinks she came up and told us “just order drinks at your table” when we said we had already ordered she said “well then you need to close out IMMEDIATELY before I’ll seat you so come find me when you’re ready.” She was just very unpleasant and basically rude … not a good first impression!

Rare Society - Solana Beach

4.8

4.8 (18)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

Solana Beach

About the restaurant

Sink your teeth into Rare Society - a modern homage to the golden age of the American steakhouse. Chef and owner Brad Wise reimagines vintage upscale dining with a bold, contemporary edge: a wood-fired grill fueled by red oak, an in-house dry-aging program, sustainably sourced seafood, and a progressive cocktail menu that nods to the classics while pushing boundaries. The space hums with energy - smoke curling from the grill, the scent of fire and flavor wafting through the air. It’s easy to picture a Rat Pack-era dinner party in full swing: elegant, indulgent, just a little unruly. Rare Society doesn’t just pay tribute to steakhouse tradition - it revives it, reinvents it, and serves it with just a little bit of swagger.

Top review

Vince

Dined 1 day ago

Just wow! We had a reservation at 8. We were at the zoo all day and got off the coaster around 5. Snuck over and asked to sit at the bar and eat. We had a great meal. Chopped wedge salad, Lamb lollipops,tuna tartar, beef carpaccio and Brussels. Sooo good. All the servers were delightful. Trying to talk my wife into sneaking in for happy hour apps and wine tonight!

Miguel's Cocina - 4S Ranch

4.8

4.8 (31)

$30 and under

Mexican

Chula Vista / Bonita

About the restaurant

Coming Soon!

Top review

Susan

Dined 5 days ago

Lovely evening to sit on the patio at Miguel’s. All 7 of us enjoyed our meals and ambiance. Service, quality, and value excellent. Great spot for a family meetup.

31ThirtyOne

4.7

4.7 (25)

$31 to $50

Regional Mexican (Baja Med)

North Park

About the restaurant

31ThirtyOne by Deckman's is a culinary gem in North Park, San Diego, known for its commitment to sustainability and exceptional Baja-Mediterranean cuisine. Led by Michelin-starred chef Drew Deckman, the restaurant features fresh, seasonal ingredients and innovative techniques in a warm atmosphere.

The "zero-kilometer" philosophy at 31ThirtyOne emphasizes locally sourced ingredients from nearby farms and fisheries, ensuring fresh flavors while supporting local communities and minimizing environmental impact. The menu changes daily, showcasing the vibrant culinary traditions of Southern California and Baja.

Diners can embark on a culinary journey with an “À-la-carte” menu.
Experience the essence of sustainable dining at 31ThirtyOne, where every meal is a celebration of freshness and flavor.

Every evening, from Tuesday through Saturday, you are invited to unwind and indulge 31ThirtyOne’s “Happiest Hour and a Half” - just a little longer, a lot more special, from 5 to 6:30 PM!

Top review

MaryVIP

Dined today

Great food, great staff, great service!! Highly recommend this restaurant!!

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Experience

Dining Room Reservation

Experience

Chef's Counter 7 Course Tasting Menu

Experience

Sunday Supper at 31THIRTYONE

Seaview

4.6

4.6 (351)

$31 to $50

American

Downtown

About the restaurant

'California coastal' sophisticated and comtemporary design with views of the courtyard and marina set the tone for a delightful dining experience. Join the family for a relaxing meal on our outdoor patio while planning another exciting day of activities in America's Finest City. The spacious setting of our indoor tables allows you to easily convene with colleagues or entertain a client while enjoying Seaview's Grand Breakfast Buffet.

Top review

Maurio

Dined on 29 Mar 2025

Very good food and good service, definitely worth it

En Fuego Cantina and Grill

4.6

4.6 (294)

$30 and under

Mexican

Del Mar

About the restaurant

En Fuego Cantina & Grill in Del Mar is one of the original restaurants in the Village. It was established in 1995 and has been serving delicious Mexican cuisine and amazing margarita's ever since. Open daily for lunch and dinner, serving Happy Hour 7 days a week from 4pm to 6pm and Taco Tuesday every week from 4:30 till close.

En Fuego Cantina and Grill has an expansive menu with classic favorites like fresh guacamole and chips, carnitas, fajitas and enchiladas. Try one of the house specials like the Chile rellenos, a traditional recipe, with battered and stuffed Anaheim chilis topped with tomatillo sauce and a three-cheese blend.

Top review

Annie

Dined on 12 May 2025

The restaurant was really cool where most of the seating was all outdoors with a couple of levels. The food was filling, well-priced, and came out quick! Service was a little slow since I think they were a bit understaffed but overall, a great experience.

P.F. Chang's - Chula Vista

4.5

4.5 (236)

$30 and under

Chinese

Chula Vista / Bonita

About the restaurant

We are an Asian & Chinese restaurant offering dine-in, takeout, to-go, delivery, and catering. Make a reservation online to dine in. Order Asian and Chinese food delivery, takeout, and catering online or through the P.F. Chang's mobile app. Let us cater the perfect feast for you - corporate office catering menus are also available. P.F. Chang's offers a variety of signature Asian, Thai, Korean, Japanese, Mongolian, and Chinese food dishes including Chicken Lettuce Wraps, Chicken Pad Thai, Signature Lo Mein, Fried Rice, Mongolian Beef, Chang's Spicy Chicken, and Pork and Shrimp Dumplings. Order online for sushi delivery and takeout. Many gluten-free and vegetarian menu items are available. Try our seasonal cocktails and seasonal menu items.

Top review

RobertVIP

Dined 7 days ago

The go to place for high quality Chinese food, good wine, and excellent service.

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