diary of a MAD HUNGRY WOMAN

The adventures of a Mad Hungry Woman

  • Home
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Delish Dish
  • Anecdotes
  • Sponsored
  • Newsworthy
  • ABOUT MHW
    • FULL BIO

contemporary Cucina Urbana is a San Diego hit

April 16, 2013 Mad Hungry Woman 1 Comment

If you’ve been to Cucina Enoteca at the Irvine Spectrum, you’ll probably know that the group’s original restaurant is the eclectic San Diego eatery Cucina Urbana located in the Banker’s Hill neighborhood. I love Enoteca, so on one particular visit to San Diego, I paid a visit to Urbana.

The restaurant is beautiful — as I had expected — and a little smaller and cozier than the sprawling OC location. I always feel like there is so much to discover everywhere I look.

cucina urbana (640x425)

We started with some cocktails — Tequila “Mule” ($11) with jalapeno infused tequila, lime juice and ginger beer was my choice being the tequila-lover that I am. My friend happily sipped on the delightful Blueberry Caipirinha ($11) with novo fogo cachaca, lime juice and sugar.

cocktails (640x425)

Our server suggested the Tuna Conserva + Ceci Bean + Taggiasca Olive + Farm Egg ($8.50) mason jar for us to start. Ordinarily, I would never have ordered this, but our server didn’t steer us in the wrong direction. It was delicious! I loved the salty tart flavor combo, leaving my mouth puckering for more.

tuna jar (640x425)

I’ve always loved antipasti boards and the one here comprised of a sampler of three bites: Osso Bucco Bone Marrow, Arancini with finocchio and arrabiata with a San Marzano marinara sauce, Bresaola, Taleggio cheese on crostini.

3 item (640x425)

The Bresaola, Taleggio cheese crostini requires no words. Salty, sweet, absolutely delicious bite after bite.

bresaola with pear (640x425)

Arancini with finocchio and arrabiata in a San Marzano marinara sauce is light and cheesy. The marinara is perfectly executed and the ideal marriage of flavors.

arancini (640x425)

Osso Bucco Bone Marrow is rich, decadent and lately, has taken over the widely missed foie gras.

bone marrow (640x425)

Grilled Mediterranean Octopus ($13.50) brings together tomato sugo, calabrian chili, cannellini bean, bottarga and lemon preserve. The components in this dish comes together well with textural contrast as well as flavor bursts in my mouth.

octopus (640x425)

I had eyed the Roast Suckling Pig ($13.50) because I wanted to see how it differed to the one I’m familiar with from my childhood. The meat was tender with a crispy skin coating just like the one I know but this was also topped with poached hen egg, frisee, pork crackling and a sherry mustard sugo. Crispy, gooey, absolutely decadent!

suckling pig (640x425)

Surprisingly, I really enjoyed dessert as well! Orange Pistachio Cake ($8) was a moist polenta cake topped with tangerine and candied fennel and a wildflower honey crema. So fragrant and so delicious.

polenta cake (640x425)

Pear + gingerbread spiced tiramisu ($8.50) was also different from the ones I’m used to. Mascarpone mousse, amaretto and almond praline makes this not only a unique tiramisu, but also, a very refined one.

tiramisu (640x384)

Before you go, make a reservation because the place gets packed! You don’t want to arrive and then be disappointed they don’t have a table for you.

Cucina Urbana
505 Laurel Street
San Diego, CA 92101
Tel: 619-239-2222

Cucina Urbana on Urbanspoon

Californian, contemporary, Italian, San Diego CA

Comments

  1. Lisa says

    April 20, 2013 at 11:17 pm

    Urbana is one of my favorite restaurants in San Diego, and the second Italian restaurants that has captivated my palate. I just love the food here.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Socialize with me:

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Blog Updates via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

About Me

This blog is a journal of mostly my eating adventures, but also, other things I'm passionate about, including travel, the arts, and also, necessities to complete my life. Centered predominantly in and around Orange County, CA, some will extend to Los Angeles, San Diego and beyond. I am constantly searching for delicious food to eat and fun things to do, nothing is out of bounds. Sometimes it doesn't end well, but I can definitely say, it will always be an interesting journey.

Search my adventures

Affiliations:

LDEI

Recent Posts

  • seafood galore in Mexico City
  • A at Crystal Cove
  • Ear buds that are truly noise canceling
  • Le Shrimp Ramen revamped
  • Old Vine Kitchen & Bar: weekend brunch

Archives

Categories

Lifestyles & Happenings

Goodbye 2020, Welcome 2021

Delish Dish

DELISH DISH: wild boar chili

DELISH DISH: tempura cauliflower

DELISH DISH: Crab Congee

Newsworthy

Ear buds that are truly noise canceling

delectable date-sweetened chocolates from Dateolate

spiked coffee at your fingertips

Copyright © 2023 · Daily Dish Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in