De Medici Restaurant

Lovely restaurant

Name: Carolyn | Date: July.01.2010

I have eaten here three times and always enjoy myself. Some of the main courses need a little work, but the service and ambiance are so nice, the wine selection so thorough, and most of the food so good, that you forgive a few imperfections.

Great Restaurant

Name: James | Date: June.24.2010

My wife and I had a wonderful meal at De Medici. The wait staff was very accommodating, friendly, and happy to serve. The food was exceptional, we have recommended De Medici to many friends and family members already. This place is a don't miss!

Outstanding

Name: Tom | Date: May.31.2010

Great place

One of the best in San Diego

Name: Doug | Date: May.17.2010

Wait staff is VERY attentive and the food is incredible. The atmosphere makes it feel like if you looked at the table next to you, Sinatra might be seated there.

Anniversary Dinner

Name: Fred | Date: April.20.2010

My Wife and I had our 9th Anniversary Dinner here and EVERYTHING was wonderful, we have children and usually do not have many opportunities to go out to dinner alone, I chose this restaurant after checking out the menus and plan to go back again when I can. Our Server and busboy were very attentive without being annoying. The menu is huge and it was hard to choose, I wanted everything, our server made exellent suggestions and we were impressed with his food knowlwdge. We were offered a booth or table (nice to offer), the table settings are very nice and the ambiance was plesent.. I would highly recommend this fine dining establishment to family and friends. Thank you De Medici for a happy anniversary dinner!

Delicious

Name: Cheryl | Date: April.15.2010

De Medici is such a great find in the Gaslamp. Delicious food and the service was impecable! Making a reservation through SDRestaurants.com made the dining process seemless and with no wait! The menu has a great selection at varying price ranges which was nice for our large group. I highly recommend the "pasta pillows" as they were so light and yummy!

Can never go back

Name: Walter | Date: March.11.2010

Our first experience at DeMedici's was excellent. You couldn't get more attention than we got that first night. Not so this last outing. Poor service, the food was fair at best. That is why as the old saying goes "You can never go back" and we won't.

Wonderful Evening

Name: Barbara | Date: March.11.2010

The food, service and ambience were delightful. Will definitely dine here again.

Terrific Dining and Romantic Atmosphere

Name: Bette | Date: January.14.2010

Terrific Dining and Romantic Atmosphere

Better than Italy!

Name: Nicholas | Date: June.19.2009

I took my wife to De Medici's last night for her birthday. I made the reservation through sandiegorestaurants.com with a note mentioning the occasion. That was enough to warrant a man in a suit opening the door for us, a "happy birthday" from the attendant at the computer, and a very comfortable, elevated booth seat.

We also received a complimentary piece of delicious tiramisu with a lit sparkler for desert. The dimly lit dining area was extremely elegant with wall paintings, chandeliers, and plant life. We were immediately given water and a wine menu. My wife loved the chianti. I only drink water, but my glass was refilled nearly every time I took a sip.

Bread and butter was brought out while we looked at our menu. It was warm, soft, and delicious, and replenished every time we grabbed a roll. I hesitated to order a salad when I saw the price of the Caesar, but it was well worth it after the dressing and salad were prepared right in front of our table, found to be extremely appetizing, and in just the right portions for the two of us.

I ordered the scampi vesuvio and my wife the agnolotti alla panna. I've never seen such large jumbo shrimp. The presentation was flawless. I had to try my wife's. It melted in my mouth...and such delicious cream sauce. Again the portions were perfect, filling us completely with no leftovers. Fresh grated cheese was offered with everything. I don't know how we fit the tiramisu in, but one piece was enough for the both of us. I've never had a better piece of cake.

My wife has visited Italy on a couple of occasions, and actually resided there for a short period of time. In her opinion, De Medici was of better atmosphere, quality, and selection than any restaurant she's ever attended in Italy. De Medici features a superior staff, delicious food, and fair prices. I tipped generously and stayed right on budget. Our full meal with wine was under $90.

Totally "NUMERO UNO" (number 1)

Name: midge | Date: April.24.2009 My Husband and I dinned at the De Medici last nite and what a wonderful restaurant, the service very attentive, the waiters catered to us like we were royalty, the best dinning experience ever, the food was the greatest, ever and presentation, presention, presentation!!! WOW I've tried some fancy restaurant in Rancho Santa Fe , but this one got them beat by far. The canaloni,the chililean sea bas just melted in our mouths, the clams with pasta, the best ever cesar salad made at the table the wine that was poured thru some glass was very good, the banana falmbe was out of this world, Management had this knowledge of all the food as well as the wait staff, we will return to this place as well as spread by word of mouth about this great dining restaurant, when you have a great dining experience as we did the cost is nothing. Mahalo Nui Loa Ruben and Midge Solis

Excellent Food

Name: Amanda | Date: February.24.2009 Hands down I had the best gnocchi, pesto sauce and tiramisu ever here. I even enjoyed my mom's stuffed sole fish and I generally steer clear away from any type of fish. However, they put the mashed potatoes in a frosting tube to display it nicely around the fish. This results in crisp edges of mashed potato that I don't find appealing with this style. My sister had a NY steak. The sauce was not tasty and the steak was average. My family loved the table side making of the caesar salad and the waiter's explanation of each ingredient and the history of the creation of the salad. However, two people have to order it and it is $15 per person for a side salad. Another cost issue, we were charged for each soda refill ($3 ea). I'm a Diet Coke fiend, so didn't care too much for that. The atmosphere is beautiful. High back seating is exquisite. We were celebrating my sister's 17th bday so the hostess saved us one of the beautiful booths. The hostess was a real delight too, very sweet. The music was mostly Frank Sinatra so that was an added perk.

Nice Surprise

Name: Bob | Date: October.26.2008 We were in town for our anniversary and came across this restaurant online. It was eveything we were looking for. Romantic, good fun, and attentive. Even though our waiter was new, he made our evening special. We will definitely return.Bob and LindaHighland, CA

nice change

Name: Jennifer | Date: September.21.2008 Since moving to San Diego, we have been on a hunt to find good food! We had a wonderful experience at De Medici. From the hostess to the waiter to the food, we had a great experience all around! The waiter was very pleasant and made sure we never had a empty glass. he was very honest and answered our questions and helped us choose great meals. The portions were perfect sizes and very tasty. We will be back there soon.

Lovely Evening for Two

Name: Lacey | Date: July.19.2007

De Medici was a wonderful dining experience all around. The atmosphere set the impression of elegance and held an aire of old Italy. In short, it was the perfect setting for a quiet dinner for two. One of the most noticeable aspects of De Medici was the excellence of the service.

Upon entering, we were greeted cordially and taken promplty to our reserved table by the hostess. Our server, Regina, was very knowledgeable with regards to the menu and wine selection. Warm dinner rolls were brought out to our table immediately and our water glasses were never empty. It was made quiet obvious that the staff was more than concerned with meeting our needs. We ordered the Linguinni fra Diavolo paired with a glass of the De Medici Merlot and the Gnocchi Ponte Vecchio. The Linguinni was prepared al dente with a deliciously spicy marinara sauce. The calamari was flavorful and not overcooked (as often is the case). The pesto sauce on the Gnocchi was rich with garlic, in classic Italian tradition, but the pasta "dumplings" were a bit heavy. For dessert, we shared the divine New York style cheesecake drizzled with chocolate sauce and topped with a ripe raspberry. We finished off the evening with a smooth cappucino and herbal chai tea.

The entire meal was very reasonably priced and worth every penny. We would highly recommend De Medici for a delicious meal with superb service in a comfortable, romantic atmosphere.

Stick with the pasta

Name: Thomas | Date: July.18.2007 If you come from a fresh seafood area like i do, Seattle, Portland, SFO, you expect fresh fish, cooked in real time. We were heavily pushed into the expensive highly-touted specials, as most restuarants do, by the friendly staff. Don't bite. The Portofino Sole (the so-called signature dish must be made pre-prepared by the hundreds and slapped in a convection oven. For $37, its a joke. It was good, but no award winner. The Chilean Sea bass tasted a lot like garden variety red snapper to me. No texture, no flavor, disguised with a strange sauce. I should have stuck to the pasta. The side of spaghetti with marinara for $8 was the best thing we had. Dinner for two without wine ended up over $100. Probably market-priced for a tourist area, but way overpriced from any kind of value point of view.! On the plus side, ambience, service, excellent. The staff is everywhere. The gaslamp district serves thousands a night, as fast as they can. Don't expect 5-stars in that kind of environment.

Pretty good, not great

Name: Kevin | Date: June.03.2007 I had initially cancelled the reservation, but my 2 friends and I went down there anyway. We had flown in earlier that day, and ate about 6pm. There were not a lot of people, but we had to flag down our waiter for bread and water replacements. My companions were not very hungry and just ordered pasta. Maybe that is why we were not noticed. I started off with the cappicio (sp?) which was wonderful. Very flavorful. I then had the Seafood Portifino. The waiter told me that it was their signature dish. It was good, but not the best seafood dish I have ever had. Not bad, but for $26 + I would have expected a little more flavor. The $10.50 Crown and 7 coctail had about 2 good sips in it. Too much ice. We ate outside, and it was a nice evening. I can see why some folks complain about the parking, but it is like that all around the Gaslight area. I would say a 3 star experience. Not bad, not great. Thanks.

Could Use Fine Tuning

Name: Linda | Date: April.03.2007 Buyer Beware: Unfamiliar with Gaslamp District? Paid $17 to valet park at De Medici on 3/31/07 (Saturday night). Not a great way to start the evening. Otherwise appetizers and entrees quite good, dessert (floating island) mediocre at best ($9). Service disappointing: Brought our own wine (corkage $15). Our waiter insisted on decanting a young merlot "for the presentation" after I had asked him to skip it; also corrected the pronounciation of one of our members after he had pronounced the word (farfalle) correctly. Service was also slow. I will say that the restaurant itself is very attractive. Maybe another night in the week would be a better bet. Linda from L.A.

WHERE'S THE GARLIC?

Name: KEN | Date: December.31.2006 WE WERE WARMLY WELCOMED AND SEATED. THE STAFF WAS PLEASANT. DIFFICULT TO READ THE MENU SINCE IT WAS QUITE DARK. THE INSALATA CAPRESE WAS DISAPPOINTING. NO FLAVOR(WHEN TOMATOES ARE NOT IN SEASON, FLAVOR THEM) THE CANNELONI WERE WONDERFUL. DELICATE AND THE FISH WAS TENDER. THEN THE DISAPPOINTMENT----MAIN DISHES. WE HAD THE RISOTTO AND THE LINGUINI PESCATORE. THEY WERE THE EXACT SAUCES- ONE OVER RICE AND THE OTHER OVER LINGUINI. BEING SO DARK, I COULD HARDLY TELL WHAT I WAS EATING BUT REALIZED THERE WAS 1 SHRIMP( TOUGH AS RUBBER) CALAMARI AND BLAND FISH SURROUNDED BY CLAMS. THE SAUCE HAD NO CHARACTER, NO FLAVOR AND NO GARLIC. HOW COULD THEY USE THE SAME RECIPE FOR 2 DIFFERENT DISHES? BEING ITALIAN AND WELL TRAVELED, I AM FAMILIAR WITH GOOD ITALIAN FOOD. THIS WAS NOT! THE CANNOLI WAS WONDERFUL AND THE COFFEE VERY GOOD. FOR $150.OO MEAL, I PREFER THE MACARONI GRILL.

Romance is possible downtown

Name: Edward | Date: December.29.2006 I took my baby out to dinner last week and I was wanting something romantic with good food. My reservation was for 7pm and had gotten there early. The staff was very nice and the atmosphere was very romantic. I was very pleased with the way the place looked. Me and my girl sat at a booth in the center of the restuarant. The lighting was just right with candle lights at the table. The music was soft and classical. The dinnerware was fancy and the waiters were very knowledgable with what was on the menu. Everything was written in Italian. Me and my date werent sure what wine to have with our dinner but we allowed the waiter to pick. I dont remember the name of the wine but I had never tasted a wine so good. It was the perfect place and it was a night that Ill never forget. I spent just over $100.00 for two meals with an excellent choice of wine. It was pricey but well worth it. This place is great to take someone you love.

A British View

Name: Brian | Date: November.21.2006 At the end of October we were in SanDiego to join a cruise ship. We were a party of 8, 6 Brits and 2 Americans. The food, service, and welcome was of the highest standard. The restaurant was well up to the best standards in London and New York.

De hype

Name: Jason | Date: September.12.2006 De Medici is a very romantic and ambiance rich restaurant. The service is good and the price is not too expensive. Over all if you are looking to impress your date: great place.

De Medici's is still the best

Name: Robert | Date: August.29.2006 My wife and I go to De Medici's on special occassions only. It has been 7 months since we were last there and it was just like we remembered 2 year ago. The service is excellent, the food is outstanding. Highly recommend De Medici's!

Excellent

Name: Tom | Date: May.06.2006 We ate at De Medici last night for the first time. Everything about the experience was positive. From making the reservation to finishing our dessert and cappuccino, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. My wife had the Risotto ai Frutti di Mare which had the tenderest calamari I have ever tasted. I had the signature dish, the Sole Portofino, which I would highly recommend. Our booth was comfortable and gave us a great view of the restaurant. The waiter, Frank was excellent, in both attendance and in timing. All in all a great dining experience for a couple looking for a great meal and intimate setting.

Savory Italian Food

Name: Jon-Patrick | Date: February.08.2006 De Medici was a quiet and romantic restaurant perfect for couples. My girlfriend and I ate there recently and between the two of us we had the Melanizze Eggplant, Minestrone, Spaghettini Pomodoro and the Fettuccine Alfredo. The portions are just the right single serving size. We were not feeling very adventurous so we stuck with food we have ate before. But the menu is very extensive offering a plethora of different entrees. The only bad mark on De Medici is the servers are very soft spoken and awkward when explaining menu items. All in all De Medici is definitely one of the best Italian restaurants in San Diego.

Wow, wow, wow!!!

Name: Gary | Date: January.03.2006 We ate here for New Year's eve dinner '05. Outside of restaurants I ate at while in Italy, this has to rank in the top three best meals I've ever had. The atmosphere was calm, elegant, classy and quiet. They had Dean Martin music playing at a soft volume so you could hear it in the background, but it didn't conflict with your conversation. The waiter was fine, the food was spectacular! First, the only small negative I would give is that the bread was very 'standard' for such a fine restaurant. I would have rather seen a selection of interesting breads and breadsticks and dipping oils. But, that said, it's best probably not to fill up on bread here.... you'll want to save all the room you've got for the main food and the fantastic desserts. We had the eggplant appetizer that was pretty darn good. We also had the canneloni appetizer stuffed with lobster, crab and shrimp. If you have a heart condition, you'd better bring your paddles because this is so good that it may just stop your ticker right then and there. This was fabulous! Usually, if I'm at an Italian restaurant, I'll order something more traditionally italian for a main course, but this time my girlfriend and I shared the massive (18 oz.) rib eye steak. This is more than mere meat.... it was the best steak I've ever had. It comes with some potato thing and green beans.... (six... count them... six beans. Okay, that's two negatives.) The dessert tray kept going by and I decided that no matter what, we had to have some of that.... and man, was it good! We got creme bruleé, which was good, and the taramisu (sp?) which was killer. Wow, what a great dessert that was. I am going to take my mom here for her birthday.... I will try some different dishes, but if they are as good as what I had the other night, then this will definitely be one of the restaurants at the very top of my list. Without a doubt, you would be well advised to try this place. Makes for a nice, romantic dinner.

AWESOME!!

Name: Lisa | Date: October.17.2005 Great casual atmostphere. FANTASTIC Food!! I had the sole portofino. I cleaned every bite off the plate. Very friendly and curteous waiter. They bring a platter with different steak you can choose from. great touch! Will definitely go again!

Perfect!

Name: Francisco | Date: October.02.2005 Perfect! Perfect! My Wife and I just celebrated our 6th anniversary here and it was an excellent choice. Since we were received by the hostess with an 'ear to ear' smile, we noticed that this was a very different kind of place, the attention and kindness of everybody is incredible! Our waiter also received us with a '10 score' attention and he knew the answers to all of our questions regarding food preparation and wines (which I have to say you can't find everywhere) The soup and the main course were excellent and we closed the dinner with a delicious dessert. So I must say this IS a place worth visiting!

F-In Great

Name: Kristopher | Date: May.10.2005 My Grilfriend And I Just Visited De Medici Last Night And OMG The Food Was Awesome We Both Enjoyed A Plate Of Gnocchi Ponte Vecchio And A Field Greens Salad It Was Awesome I Defineatley Approve, Kris

Excellent

Name: Melissa Castanon | Date: April.30.2005 Wonderful food and service. Our experience was great here.

awesome food and service

Name: Grace | Date: February.16.2005 This place was so beautiful. My boyfriend and I love to eat seafood. De Medici offers the best Italian seafood. Our waiter was very attentive and recommended the best wine for the food. We will definitely go back.

Deaf ears

Name: George | Date: January.30.2005 Our waiter didn't seem to really listen to what we were saying while were there...we were asked more than once if we wanted our salad with the appetizer.. I recieved the wrong entree, asked for more bread and never recieved it. While eating the bread we did have the busboy took the butter away with the empty bread basket even though we were using it. The arugula salad might as well have been weeds from my backyard... no flavor whatsoever. Sorry, never again.

Quite a letdown!

Name: Joy | Date: August.18.2004 I was really looking forward to dining at De Medici and was surprised at both the quality of food (pretty mediocre) and VERY pushy service. I didn't want several appetizers and a whole bottle of wine, and the server wouldn't take no for an answer. On the plus side, the ambiance was very nice and the dessert was great!

great italian

Name: eric | Date: July.13.2004 oh my! this restaurant I've got to say this is the best italian and san diego. great service and food. desert off the hook!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Awesome service

Name: Warren | Date: June.23.2004 The service at the restaurant was awesome. However, the waiter forgot to tell the chef to leave out the hot pepper flakes on our son's pasta, therefore, it was TOO hot for him. The waiter did offer to take it back. That is why I'm giving this restaurant a high ranking. The filet mignon (special of the night) was the best that I ever had.

elegant

Name: Tracie | Date: June.19.2004 Very nice atmosphere, fitting for the pleasant Italian cuisine they served. Service was impeccable! We sat outside, I'm sure seating inside would be more appealing for a romantic couple. Food was good, not INCREDIBLE.

Fantastic Dining Experience

Name: Pete | Date: May.21.2004 Prior to dining at this restaurant we looked at all of the reviews and felt that this place could not possibly be as good as everyone had expressed in their reviews. We were wrong as this was the best restaurant experience we have encountered in San Diego. The staff was outstanding and the food was excellent. Our waiter, Jason Burke, was like a culinary guide as he led us through the various courses of our meal starting with his special Ceasars Salad created for us tableside. To say the entire staff there was attentive would be a gross understatement as they saw to our every need and did it in a friendly manner. As Arnold would say,"We'll be back!"

Best Service In Town

Name: Katherine | Date: April.26.2004 Dining at De Medici's is among the best experiences I have had in San Diego. Food and service is by far a five star rating, why does it hold only one star on your rating when your service/food is "excellent"?

excellent place to bring seafood lovers

Name: Lisa | Date: March.23.2004 Wow! We just celebrated someone's birthday there on a Monday night. We made reservations for 6:00, which was great for conversation (room filled up in about an hour). The service was the best I had ever experienced! (I eat out a lot!). The food was excellent. Everyone was completely satisfied. For our birthday guest, the waiters brought out the cake we had brought, placed candles on top, and sang "Happy Birthday" in Italian. They had great voices too! I would totally recommend this place! Great atmosphere, food, and service!

AN OK PLACE

Name: Sarah | Date: February.29.2004 The waiters were exceptional...they made sure we had a good time. Food was fine.

Loved It!

Name: Sarah | Date: February.29.2004 Spectacular view, great food, great service, great everything. GO!

Bravo!

Name: Barbara | Date: January.14.2004 The food and service was simply wonderful. Tableside preparation of food was a show in itself and tasted as good as it looked. Can be noisy if there are crowds, so be prepared and ask for a table along the outside of the room if you want to have a conversation during dinner. This is a "not to be missed" stop in the Gaslamp district.

a night to remember

Name: john | Date: December.14.2003 My wife and I had dinner at deMedici Saturday 12/13 and could not believe how we have missed this downtown gem. From the time we walked in until we left we were treated like long-time customers. Our Caesar salad was prepared tableside from scratch by Juan, our captain and was the best we have ever tasted. Juan guided us through a memorable evening that included sole portifino (stuffed with crab and shrimp) and a veal marsala that melted in my mouth. A wonderfly light tiramisu capped off a truly great dining experience. The staff is professional,unobtrusive but ready and very friendly. We will be returning soon.

Yes, absolutely!

Name: Ron | Date: November.24.2003 One of best Italian restaurants in San Diego. The menu choices are extensive and exciting - you'll have a hard time choosing because probably several items will have great appeal to you. Don't worry, though, I've had this dilemna several times and have always been ecstatic when my choice arrived! The service is outstanding and the waitpersons have just the 'right' touch of attentiveness and timing. I entertain there frequently with business clientel and de Medici has never failed to impress and please every member of the party.

Always Delicious!

Name: Amanda | Date: October.19.2003 I've been to De Medici's a couple of times and both experiences were excellent! The prices -- worth every dollar spent. The service -- attentive. It's a great place! Give it a try, you won't be disappointed.

Oh My

Name: Nick | Date: August.16.2003 Wow, what an awesome place to eat. We walked around the gaslamp district (not too impressed), and we looked at many menus on the way. We decided to try De Medici as it had the most extensive menu. Am I glad we did. The food was fantastic, the waiter gave us all the time we needed and that has to be the most reasonabley priced wine list I have ever seen (and we travel a lot). Very good wines were affordable. No ripoff there. The food was the best we had in SD. Just a little loud as there were so many people there on a Tuesday night (8 p.m.). Man o Man, when we go back to SD, we are going to make a bee line for De Medici. Everything we ate (party of 5 so we had a wide selection)was great. If you go to SD, go to De Medici, you will not be disappointed.

excellent

Name: jimmie | Date: July.13.2003 The minute you walk into this restaurant, you know your dining experience is going to be a good one. The ambience is warm and elegant, and the service is outstanding. The menu has something for everyone and is prepared wonderfully. This is an expensive restaurant, but worth every penny. We can't wait to go back.

Run, don't Walk, to de Medici

Name: Karl | Date: June.29.2003 De Medici does not need my kind words to validate it's perfect presentation, I can only agree heartily with what so many others have already said. The food is exquisite and an excellent value. The entire staff is polished and professional yet friendly and makes you feel like family. We have just begun to explore their amazing dishes.

Great Food!

Name: Laura | Date: April.03.2003 The food is great, maybe best Italian restaurant in San Diego!