Cucina Urbana goes for a rustic appeal in appearance, with the big barn-like doors welcoming you in, but the food leans more toward gourmet. The wait staff is friendly and warm and our waiter was extremely efficient during our visit.
My friend and I started off with stuffed squash blossoms, which turned out to be absolutely delicious. They stuff the squash with pesto and herb ricotta, then fry it, so when you take a bite, the ricotta cheese oozes into your mouth. I ate more than my fair share of the plate and I don’t feel bad about it.
For the main course, I decided to give the short rib pappardelle a go since I’d never had it before. Short ribs with pasta seemed like an odd choice to mix, but it ended up working surprisingly well. I will say that as someone who likes his sauce dripping from the plate, I was a little disappointed with how sparingly they delivered with the pasta.
That seemed to be a theme at Cucina Urbana, as the plates were smaller than both my friend and I were expecting.
My friend ordered a burger and truffle fries, and I’m glad he did. The truffle fries were a great treat, though my friend reported the burger was somewhat mediocre. I blame him for ordering a burger at an Italian restaurant.
He also ordered a cocktail called My Pear Lady, which I stole a sip of. It was passable, but not the best cocktail I’ve ever had.
Overall I had a pretty great experience at Cucina Urbana and look forward to returning again.
Cucina Urbana
505 Laurel St
San Diego, Calif. 92101
tel 619 239 2222
Read This Next
Top 5: Best Places to Dine in San Diego
North America
Oct 13, 2014All Reads on This Topic
Read Them All
#TrazeeTravel
Insta FeedAsia
Sep 7, 2026Canopy Opens First Hotel in Southeast Asia
Hilton’s Canopy brand made its debut in Southeast Asia. New Canopy Bangkok Sukhumvit opened last month.
Sponsored Content
GET TO KNOW TAP FORBIZ
Unlock flexible, refined business travel with TAP Air Portugal’s program, TAP FORBIZ. Developed for small, medium and large Companies, with options for corporate events, TAP FORBIZ offers exclusive advantages adapted to each type of business.
Hotel
Sep 7, 2026Crowne Plaza Opens New Flagship Hotel in the Heart of Manhattan
A new hotel is on the radar for Midtown Manhattan, marking an important milestone.
Destinations / Caribbean
Sep 4, 2026What to Expect from This Year’s Antigua and Barbuda Art Week
This year’s Antigua and Barbuda Art Week will kick off Nov. 11, offering visitors a wealth of ways to connect with local art over the following week, through Nov. 18. This year’s lineup includes myriad art installations and exhibitions, as well as events.
Sponsored Content
TAP Air Portugal: A Milestone Year
From small airline to global success, TAP Air Portugal turns 80 and better than ever.
Caribbean
Sep 4, 2026Hyatt Vivid Punta Cana, an Adults-Only All-Inclusive Experience, Debuts in the Dominican Republic
Hyatt Hotels Corporation recently announced the opening of Hyatt Vivid Punta Cana, marking the debut of the brand in the Dominican Republic. The adults-only, all-inclusive resort brings an experience-driven approach to hospitality to Punta Cana with immersive wellness programming, thoughtfully curated culinary experiences and authentic cultural connections.
ShareThis