Born & Raised, San Diego CA
Steak, Style, and Wu-Tang: Our Night at Born and Raised in San Diego
When you're in San Diego and hunting for a steakhouse that looks like a celebration, Born and Raised in Little Italy is dressed to impress. So for Jorge’s birthday, I figured this was the perfect spot to wine him, dine him, and make sure he left full and slightly fancier than usual.
Parking? Let’s just say it was a scavenger hunt with a touch of chaos. While Jorge played “Find That Spot,” I went inside to check in. The host was sweet and understanding, and despite the delay, they held our table without any drama. A+ for patience. I slid up to the bar and took the bartender’s mystery recommendation. It was fruity, fabulous, and totally unidentifiable—just the way I like it.
Once reunited, we were seated on the rooftop patio, soaking in the sweet San Diego weather and the Art Deco-meets-old-Hollywood vibes. Born and Raised doesn’t do subtle, and honestly, it works. It’s glitzy without being stuffy.
To kick things off, we ordered their tableside Manhattan. Watching a cocktail get crafted with flair right next to your table? Always a power move. Jorge was into it, and I got to sip and judge quietly. Win-win.
Jorge also started with the French Onion Soup, which came out looking like it belonged on a food magazine cover. It was hands down the prettiest bowl of French Onion Soup I’ve ever seen and he didn’t just admire it. He devoured every last bite.
Now, for the main event: Dinner for Two Steak Sampler. It came with a lineup of cuts including US wagyu, Japanese wagyu, dry-aged, and wet-aged beef. Let's be real, the US wagyu felt like the awkward cousin at the family reunion, dry, a little chewy, and just not on the same level. But the Japanese wagyu? Melt-in-your-mouth magic. Tender, juicy, rich. If beef could wear silk pajamas, it would be these steaks.
We also grabbed a side of white asparagus, which was a special that day. We were excited because we missed white asparagus season when we visited Germany (it’s apparently a big deal there). Sadly, this version didn’t wow us. It came dressed in shaved almonds, and since nutty dishes aren't really our thing, we probably weren’t the right audience.
Because I’m that person, I let the staff know we were celebrating Jorge’s birthday. They came through with a handwritten card and a large macaron stamped with the Wu-Tang symbol. Jorge geeked out. The macaron was light, sweet, and not just for show—actually delicious.
The total bill could make your credit card sweat a little (or a lot), but hey, it’s not every day you turn older while eating high-end beef clear across the country.
Final thoughts: Born and Raised brings the drama, the steak, and the style. Would we go back? Maybe, but probably on someone else's dime. Still, it was a memorable afternoon filled with bold flavors, birthday surprises, and enough flair to make Sinatra proud.
