About CUCINA urbana
Welcome to CUCINA urbana, a casual Italian American Neighborhood Kitchen and Wine Shop located in the heart of Bankers Hill. The menu highlights the cuisines of various Italian regions with a distinct California ‘farm to table’ flair for which the Urban Kitchen Group has become known. Chef Joe Magnanelli is excited to share his Italian heritage and create dishes that are fresh, simple and seasonal. Items include: antipasti, artisan pizza, pasta and piatti. Enjoy wine by the glass or visit the wine shop and select a bottle from over 100 selections at retail price ($9 corkage fee applies). The space features contemporary elements and vintage artifacts creating the feel of a modern Italian kitchen combined with the history and comfort of an old rustic country farmhouse.
San Diego, CA 92101
Dining Style:
Casual Dining
Cuisines:
Italian, American, Mediterranean
Hours of Operation:
Lunch | Tuesday – Friday | 11:30am – 2pm
Afternoon Snacks | Tuesday – Friday | 2pm – 5pm*
Dinner | Sunday + Monday | 5pm – 9pm
Dinner | Tuesday – Thursday | 5pm – 10pm
Dinner | Friday + Saturday | 5pm – 10:30pm
Bar Only | Friday + Saturday | 10:30pm – midnight | pizzas + vasi*
*Walk In seating only, no reservations
Cross Street:
5th Avenue
Dress Code:
Casual Dress
Price Range:
$30 and under
Payment Options
AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Phone Number:
(619) 239-2222
Website:
http://www.urbankitchengroup.com/cucina-urbana-bankers-hill/
Catering:
URBAN KITCHEN CATERING provides four star, stunning events with menus unique to your occasion. For more information check the URBAN KITCHEN CATERING link on our website www.urbankitchengroup.com or call Alison at 619.239.2222 extension 2. Or if interested in restaurant buyout opportunities, please contact Tiffany Tassano at 619.239.2222 extension 4.
Parking Details:
Street parking & Valet available
Public Transit:
CUCINAurbana offers nightly shuttles to and from the Old Globe Theatre.
Executive Chef:
Joe Magnanelli
Additional:
Banquet, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Menu, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine
Special Events & Promotions:
EVERY DAY 5-6pm Monday + Saturday | 3-6pm Tuesday-Friday | 4:30-6pm Sunday enjoy our food and drink specials.
drink | house red or white wine $7 | moretti draft $4 | seasonal sangria $6 | well drinks $6
food | burnt brussels sprout $3.75 | parmesan fries $3.5 | margerita pizza $7
Restaurant Photos
CUCINA urbana Ratings and Reviews
food
4.6
service
4.6
ambience
4.5
value
4.3
Noise
Moderate
Met a long time buddy out for casual dinner. waitress pointed out everything worthwhile on the menu. We had gnocchi, bucatini, triangoli, and the branzino.
Triangoli and bucatini were amazing, everything else very good. Cooked to perfection, interesting mix of flavors - showed skill and creativity.
Would come again. Incidentally I noticed the ambience would make for an awesome date experience - will bring a pretty lady instead of my bud next time.
Fantastic! The hostess accommodated our request for a booth table, so we were able to sit back and watch the lively bustle of the restaurant and still able to hear ourselves talk as it is moderately noisy (like any big restaurant). Divided room makes it feel more intimate in a large space, the service was top notch and the food was wonderful as well. We shared small plates - highly recommend the brussels, burrata, truffle fries, and the fig salad. Will be coming back here again and again! So much more to try.
We arrived too early for the reservation and took a chance to see if we were able to get seated. Ashley, the hostess pleasantly explain the situation which was understandable and within a few minutes manage to seat us to a table. Needless to say, from the get-go my wife and my experience here is outstanding!
Our server acknowledge the occasion and made our dinner experience wonderful and so very memorable. Her recommendation from concoction, appetizers, and entree was on point!
I will be a frequent diner base off the staff professionalism alone.
Thank you so much for the positive dining experience.
4 people, 3 different main courses. I had your "special" Papredelle and short ribs. (3rd time and was not a charm). Too many mushrooms, not enough short rib and gravy. Carrots and pasta undercooked. Very disappointed. Other main course dishes were very good. Fig salad and brussels sprouts were also very good.
Noise level off the charts.
So many other nice restaurants in town to try so wouldn't go out of my way to return.
Absolutely wonderful, as always. I usually get the same dish (Short Rib Parpadelle) but that night I ventured out and I got what the waitress recommended (Triangoli) and now I can't believe I had anything else. The food was beyond amazing, and my friend and I had the absolute best time. Thank you!
Cucina Urbana IS my Favorite Restaurant in the San Diego. I have demanding requirements coming from NY and living overseas in Italy and eating genuine Italian food and Cucina Urbana I would recommend to all my colleagues, friends and relatives. Great food, great service, friendly accommodating hosts and worthy of coming back over and over. They never let you down.
First, our server and her assistants were outstanding. My sons had the skirt steak which was good but a bit tough. The raga bean accompaniment was flavorless. My wife's Salmon was excellent but again the rest of the food on the plate was dull. My sausage and pepperoni pizza was excellent. The Duck Sausage Gnocci appetizer rated 4/5 but was just enough for two average bites for three of us. $205 with A generous tip for the great service. Probably won't go back. Overall value a bit below my cut off.
Great food. Overall dinner took less than an hour, including wine, appetizer and main entree. You have to ask for the house bread, but it is very good! Servers worked different areas of restaurant, so we kept running out of water. Eventually I just got up and grabbed a small bottle of water to keep at the table. Recommending it! There was a couple there on an anniversary and a large group of girls for a birthday, we were there for simple date night of Italian food.
Love Cucina Urbana. But this time, our food was served lukewarm instead of hot. A little disappointing since i had a friend in town and had raved about this restaurant. Food was just OK. Guess i ordered the wrong stuff although the server recommended both dishes.
We arrived for an early dinner and sat in a widow seat. It was a bit quieter, as the main part of the restaurant can be a bit loud when it's crowded. However, we love this place. The service is always wonderful, and the food is great! Good for after the theater or just an evening out!
Loved Cucina Urbana! I've been dying to try this restaurant for a couples years now and came with my mom and sister-in-law for Restaurant Week. Our waiter was really great and helped us make some really awesome choices on the menu. We had the Bucatini which was really good (a little spicy) and the Triangoli which has fresh cilantro and mint. Amazing! Burrata and stuffed squash blossoms for appetizers. The other really neat thing about the restaurant is you can go to the back and pick out your own bottle of wine. They are supposedly market price and then you pay a $9 corkage fee. The wine list was very reasonably priced!
Cucina Urbana exceeded expectations in all ways! They have a friendly staff, great selection of wine, as well as a sophisticated Italian menu. We got the whipped goat cheese appetizer to start and it was fantastic. Then, for dinner, my girlfriend and I shared the date, bacon, and arugula pizza and an order of spaghetti! All fresh and you could tell it was homemade. Will be returning!
Everything I ate was delicious. I had the chop salad, the Octopus salad, and the whole roasted Branzino w/ fennel, boned yet whole fish. Perfectly cooked.
Particular kudos to Priscilla, bartender, who should be called Jennifer. She was attentive, social, and charming in addition to being conversant with the whole menu. Fantastic Service.