Roma Mia

**What makes this different:** While the Gaslamp's restaurant row churns out interchangeable pasta for convention crowds, Roma Mia operates on a different wavelength entirely. Owner Sergio runs the floor like he's hosting dinner at his house—making off-menu spritzes, checking tables without hovering, treating solo diners and anniversary couples the same. The food arrives fast but doesn't taste rushed, and the octopus shows up in generous chunks, not as a three-piece garnish pretending to justify the price.

The assorted bruschetta sets the tone—three distinct toasts that taste like someone actually thought about flavor combinations instead of just smearing tomatoes on bread. The Penne al Polpo delivers on the octopus promise, with tender pieces that don't require a jaw workout. Gnocchi gets consistent shout-outs from regulars who've clearly worked through the menu. The tiramisu earns its own fans, which matters because most Italian restaurants phone in dessert.

The space reads warm without trying too hard—brick, low lighting, the kind of setup that works whether you're killing time before a show or celebrating something that matters. Outdoor seating exists for the San Diego-weather people. Reservations are smart even though the place sometimes looks empty from the sidewalk (it fills).

Service runs attentive in the best way—glasses stay full, questions get real answers, nobody's pushing you out for the next seating. It's one of those spots where the owner being present actually elevates the experience instead of making it weird. Prices land reasonable for downtown, especially given the portion sizes and the fact that you're not paying a Gaslamp location tax for mediocre execution.

The move: order the octopus dish, let Sergio talk you into whatever he's excited about that night, and remember that good Italian food in a party district doesn't have to feel like a compromise.