Kateri was amazing as a server and I vouch for this establishment. Make sure to order the pizzas and ribeye! Old fashions were slamming!

This place was absolutely unreal! Vibe was 10/10. Food was amazing, best part of it all was our beautiful waitress Rebecca!

We discovered 264 Fresca while waiting to check into our hotel in Carlsbad and ended up returning multiple times during our trip. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The rooftop views, food, drinks, and atmosphere were fantastic[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], but what truly made the experience special was the exceptional service from Alex and Mikey. Alex welcomed us like old friends, made great recommendations, and took the time to get to know our group. By our final visit, he even remembered our names and favorite food and drinks. Mikey was equally friendly and attentive, and together they provided some of the best customer service we've experienced in a long time. read more

My wife and I were in town from Boston on Business and ate here twice this week. Both times were really great experiences (or we obviously wouldn't have gone back to the second time). The second time our server Devin made such a huge difference in the awesome dining experience that we had - he was fantastic. Devin was so helpful with our questions and his recommendations on the various courses that we shared, very knowledgeable of explaining how the food was prepared and the fresh ingredients that are used. We tend to dine out on the slow side - more European and Devin's server style matched precisely to that. I would highly recommend lunch or dinner at this downtown Carlsbad restaurant. read more

Came here for dinner on a Saturday night without a reservation and waited about 20 minutes for a table. [[HIGHLIGHT]]They have a ton of seating, both indoor and outdoor (including a rooftop).[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]We were seated under a large outdoor tent on the grass. It was nicely decorated for an outdoor tent space and also included overhead heaters.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The indoor space was also nice with Italian greenery and decor.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]They have some cute couch and fire pit spaces as well while you are waiting for a table, enjoying drinks, or appetizers.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Service: Our server was good and food came out fairly quickly. The only thing to note is that my husband ordered a side of hot honey with his pizza and never received it. Nobody came to check on us for a bit after we received our food, so it wasn't worth asking for it by the time they did. I'm not sure if we were charged for it or not, as I didn't get to see the bill. Food: Food was excellent! We ordered the beer and burrata salad to start, which was beautifully presented and tasty. We ordered the kids cheese pizza for our son and he really enjoyed it. We ordered the rigatoni ala vodka (added sausage) and mushroom pizza to share. The pasta was perfect fly Al dente and the sauce was delicious. The pizza dough / crust was really good. I could've used some more oil or some sort of sauce drizzled (maybe pesto) on top to complete the pizza, but otherwise it was very good. read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Great relaxed boho ambience, plenty of seating downstairs and upstairs.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We had a reservation on a Wednesday and had no wait so not sure how busy it can get for walk-ins or weekends. They make their pasta in house (always a bonus!). First timers so we ordered pretty safe plates- pepperoni pizza (well done as a pro tip from another reviewer), watermelon salad, and spaghetti but they were all delicious and well-made. Their watermelon salad was especially refreshing. We particularly loved the candied pistachios in it! Added a fun crunch. The food came out quickly and our server was very kind. Would come back again read more

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Sat on the rooftop patio and had a great dinner. Their Wine Wednesday is a great deal! 50% off all bottles less than $100(which almost all bottles are). We got a few appetizers and pastas and they were all great. Server was friendly and service was good! read more

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Amazing! Everything was delicious and flavorful. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Ambiance is perfect, light and breezy weather with beautiful decor and seating options, and upstairs is the best scenery.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Visited with a party of 6 during Mother's Day weekend and we had a great time. Service was good, our waitress was super sweet and recommended drinks, had their blonde ale and I enjoyed it, would come back here for the good, drinks and ambiance. read more

264 Fresco - Menu - Italian Near Me - Carlsbad, California

This place is still pretty good but a bit inconsistent. [[HIGHLIGHT]]They have an amazing upstairs deck with an ocean view and bar[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] as well as some decent service. The chicken parm is good but really varies day to day... read more

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Cute restaurant with decent selection. The roof is sort of separate from the main restaurant when it comes to seating and is also a very different vibe (louder, younger, more of a group / celebration environment) The service was okay and the seats outside were fairly uncomfortable. The house cab was excellent and the food tasted fresh. The serving sizes were perfect. The short rib parpadelle was very good and had a brown / oily sauce. The eggplant on the rigatoni was not fried which was excellent and the marina was very fresh tasting. read more

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Our first visit to 264 Fresco in Carlsbad, California was both interesting and delicious! It was a vibrant, busy Saturday evening and we were able to get a table before our scheduled reservation time which was nice. The hostess didn't seem to really understand my table request so she just kind of winged it and invited us to sit anywhere upstairs. Seemed rather impersonal and disengaged. Once we ascended the stairs and reached the upper deck, the vibe was decidedly more haptic and night club-like. Reminded me of some questionable times on Avenida Revolucion way back in the day but I digress. Despite my advancing age I actually enjoyed the fun and festive feel. The loud, pumping music was quite the mismatch for fine Italian food but that's ok. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, even if they couldn't hear the person speaking next to them. Since there is no house bread service here, I ordered their Rosemary Focaccia to start. It was excellent with a nice warm, soft center and crusty edges. Menu called out "whipped butter", but it was served with a small dish of olive oil and balsamic. I also ordered their Caprese which was outstanding. While it was rather haphazardly plated, I did appreciate their use of fresh, heirloom tomatoes. The mozzarella was more like burrata in that it was just all a soft blob at the base of the plate. The balance was noticeably off. Contained a lot more tomato than cheese unfortunately. For dinner I had the Chicken Parmigiana and it was delicious. Among the finer versions I've had. It comes with polenta, but I requested spaghetti instead. Overall the dish was beautifully presented and tasted great. Our waiter did a fantastic job and I really appreciated his personal, thoughtful style of service. read more

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264 Fresco came highly recommended and it did not disappoint. Upon entering, we were greeted by a friendly hostess. We were sat in the covered Astro turf outside patio. I opted for a cocktail and the server suggested the cucumber cooler as a refreshing option. It was as described and not too sweet. We tried the lasagna which was excellent. Unfortunately, a power outage hit and the team was not able to serve our additional entrees. They did find us a candle so we could continue our meal. We would definitely try 264 Fresco on another night. read more

264 Fresco - Lasagna $28 - Italian Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Their margarita pizzas said tomatoes- but there are no tomatoes on it. It's only tomato sauce- so why not call it a cheese & basil pizza. The menu has been updated to reflect that, must have gotten a lot of send backs for them to update the menu. It's ok, I've yet to go back to try their updated menu. If suggested by a friend to go there I'd give it another try & order something different. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Amazing ambience, location and great service.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We visited here with our daughters and had a great meal. I loved the vodka pasta and the fettuccine Alfredo was incredibly good. We all loved the crispy artichoke appetizer. Finally the pepperoni pizza with hot honey, was also superb! read more

264 Fresco - Fettuccine Alfredo - Italian Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Food: excellent Service: average Ambiance: above par I tried the ravioli bolognese and it was superb. Ravioli cooked just right, hearty sauce, good wagyu filling. A friend asked for bread for the table before we ordered (thinking it would be complimentary), but we got charged for two orders of the focaccia at the end of the night. The focaccia was fresh and tasty, but it would have been nice to have been told it was something we had to order and pay for. We also had to wait quite a bit of time to pay our bill (table was cleared, but we just sat and waited to be able to leave). read more

264 Fresco - Ravioli Bolognese - Italian Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Service was very good. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It was a nice day outside so we sat outside.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Order two different margaritas and two different salads and we enjoyed each one read more

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Came here on a Saturday during the day and was pleasantly surprised that we were able to get a table upstairs on the rooftop with no problem. The rooftop itself is beautiful and the ocean view makes it such a great spot to sit and relax. The food was a bit of a mixed bag. The beet salad and the steak and eggs were both delicious and definitely worth ordering again. Unfortunately, the chicken was the opposite -- it was pretty unseasoned and overcooked, so I wouldn't order that again. The biggest issue was the wait time for food and drinks. The restaurant was pretty busy and there was only one server covering the entire upstairs area. She was actually great and very friendly, but it clearly wasn't enough staff for how busy it was. We ordered at the same time as the table next to us and they received their food, finished eating, and we were still waiting for ours. By the time it finally came out we were starving (hence the photo of me already halfway through my meal). That said, I don't blame the server at all -- it seemed like a staffing issue rather than a service issue. Overall, the setting and some of the dishes were really great, and I'd definitely come back to try more of the menu. I'd just make sure not to arrive too hungry next time. read more

264 Fresco - Steak and Eggs - Italian Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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We had made reservations a couple months ago as we were going to be in town for a birthday trip. We showed up an hour early from being hungry from walking around Carlsbad all day. We were greeted and told they could seat us early. Took a while for a server to come take our order but we got some drinks and the calamari and rosemary focaccia appetizers, both were very tasty, and the old fashioned was well mixed. We ordered our entrees, wife opted for lasagna and I went for the scallop risotto, these are our usual staples when available and we were not disappointed! The scallops were cooked perfectly with some sear but still tender and rare on the inside, the risotto was perfectly done and delicious. The lasagna was also very tasty and the portions were generous. Finished up with a carajillo which was also mixed well and very tasty. In the end we opted out of dessert because we were all stuffed. Service was a bit slow for it not being too busy but the food was very, very good. read more

264 Fresco - Lasagna - Italian Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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My go-to spot to meet friends for lunch. They have a large space -- upstairs deck with a peek of the ocean, downstairs covered patio, elevated sidewalk deck, for people watching, and a nice indoor area with a large bar. We usually don't have trouble getting a table, but I love that they take reservations just in case it gets busy. Food is very good. I appreciate that they make vegetables very tasty and not boring. Everything is a bit on the salty side though. Their pasta dishes are also very good. I got one where the pasta was undercooked (no, it wasn't al dente, straight up still dry and crunchy in the middle), and they remade it for me without any fuss, then it came out perfectly. read more

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If I said that this place was noisy, that would be the largest understatement of my life.I am not joking.It will be very difficult for you to hear ... or at least it was tonight but that's always a good sign that this place has a lot of life and happiness in it. I won't lie it definitely smells good. As we showed up, we were greeted and seated pretty quick. I did ask to be moved because we were seated by a room next to the pizza oven, and I felt like we were slowly dying in an inferno. We removed to the dining area off the side of the bar and it had much more ventilation. Our server is super kind and has been very helpful so far. Only water's for us tonight and we are starting with the house cut fries, Focaccia, and the Beet and Burrata salad. I really did a lot of investigating online yelp and on google.And I will tell you that the menu does not quite match all of the delicious images I saw online. I also emailed the restaurant several hours before attending to try to get some clarity on my husband who has many allergies.And unfortunately, we did not get a response till the next morning but we risked it anyway and im so glad we did! While he couldnt eat much I REALLY enjoyed my food!! The Golden Beets omgosh.... that burrata. Soooo good! The Focaccia Equally good. The Fries are crisp and the lemon Aoli really packs a punch of flavors!! The fries, the bread and the salad were all so freaking delicious so so full.I really wanted to try the ravioli, but I just couldn't fit any more food. I'm so sad.I did not catch our waitress's name.Because she was so stinking kind!! Great service great food will definitely return!! read more

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My parents and uncle and family were visiting from OC so Carlsbad was a perfect middle ground for us to meet up. We stumbled upon this cute place for dinner. They have open seating on there up stairs terrace With heaters period there is casual couch seating or high tops if you want more traditional Restaurant tables period There's also a bar if you just want to grab drinks and chill. We ordered a few of their woodfire pizzas, which were delicious and dough tasted fresh. My mom ordered the ravioli which she raved about the fresh tomatoes in the pasta sauce. It's a cute spot and great service If you are Carlsbad and looking for Italian food. read more

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Omg! This place is so good. The atmosphere is so fun and romantic especially at sunset on the rooftop. The food! Phenomenal! We tried calamari and fried mozzarella for our appetizers. Calamari was perfect: not greasy and not rubbery. Fried mozzarella was delish and the sauce served with it was the boss. For our entrees: cacio e Pepe, pesto gnocchi, broccoli rabe pizza, and the meatball pizza, as well as a salad "beet and barata" Everything was fresh and top quality. We had two desserts to share: the tiramisu and the ricotta cheesecake. Both were worth every single calorie. Drinks were stellar: scotch and soda, extra dry vodka martini with a tiny splash of cranberry for color, and the Tuscan apple mule Can't wait to come back to this amazing restaurant for the ambiance, food and great service read more

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I have been wanting to try this I place out. This was a treat since I just finished going through a detox. We came here on a Saturday evening since we had family in town. We were seated outside. There seemed to be various seating areas - between the patio, inside, back patio, upper deck, etc.. The patio worked since it was lovely out. Our table ordered Rigatoni alla Vodka w/shrimp, Ricotta Gnocchi, (a dish I didn't get a chance to take a photo of of someone else's), and spaghetti with butter sauce and shrimp (for a child). We all loved our pastas (minus the kid who wanted the buttered pasta and shrimp but changed her mind since it wasn't Kraft Mac n Cheese). I had the Rigatoni alla Vodka with shrimp. The pasta was a perfect al dente for me, as well as the shrimp and sauce being tasty. Our wait person did a great job accommodating us and the food. All in all, we would definitely come back to try out other items on the menu. It's a great place to go when the weather is nice out too since they have quite a bit of outdoor seating. Parking: street parking, although I do believe they have valet. read more

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Came here for a private event which had preselected food choices and the food was excellent. Loved the pastas and pizza here. The pasta was excellent. Rigatoni alla vodka was very flavorful. The noodles was cooked Al dente which was perfect texture for each bite you take. It helps absorbs the right amount of sauce to each noodle. The short rib pappardelle was perfect. The pasta was flavorful and the short rib was very tender and melts in your mouth. The meatball was excellent. Moist and flavorful. The tomato sauce gives it a perfect pairing. The service was great even and very attentive. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The atmosphere was great. Beautiful outdoor seating and heat lamps.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

We came here on a weekday evening and the place was buzzing. The lower level is reserved seating and the upper level is seat yourself anywhere kind of seating. I didn't particularly like the upper level because it was really busy. We ended up sitting in a nice corner in the back. We had our privacy and liked the ambiance because it was bright. Our server was very kind. We are a little picky and she went along with it. We were here on Wed when a wine bottle is 50% off. We asked for a taste of a couple of whites before choosing the bottle and I'm glad that we did because we ended up choosing our safe option - the Sauvignon Blanc from Crowded House, NZ. The others that we tried (a viognier and a Sauvignon from California) were not good. The bottle was priced around $50 so we got a great deal! For food, we started with the spicy diavola pizza with tomato, mozzarella, spicy salami, evoo. The pizza was good. Thin crust, delicious, but not really spicy. It was pretty big - we got about 3 slices each. We ended up getting quite full but we wanted to try some of the entrees also. I got the chicken Marsala and my friend got the braised short rib. Both entrees were excellent. The short rib was a little too salty for me but my friend loved it. The meat fell off the bone very easily. The sauce was rich and the accompanying polenta and carrots were a good addition. The Marsala was one of the best I've had. Definitely on the side of more mushroom, which I love. The chicken was cooked well. The potatoes and veggies were cooked well too. Both portions were big and I ended up taking majority of the Marsala home. When eaten as leftovers the next day, it tasted delicious. For dessert, we ordered the tiramisu. It came in a bowl that matches the tiramisu colors so initially we mistook the bowl for the dessert. The portion is huge. The tiramisu itself was ok. It had a lot of more cream than the ladyfingers or Expresso. It was a bit more sweet that I would've liked. All in all, this was a good experience. We definitely like this restaurant more than their sister restaurant Fresco Cocina because these guys have more food options. Pricing wise, it is comparable to a nicer restaurant in Carlsbad. There is a street parking all around the restaurant. We shall be back! read more

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Wow! My husband, son, and I visited this place on a random Tuesday to celebrate a late anniversary. It was quite lively with families, coworkers, and friends having food and drinks. They have quite a wine menu and a full bar, i was more impressed by the food! We ended up ordering way too much but it was delicious. Our server was a nice Italian man who was extremely attentive and mindful of checking in on us. We had the calamari, smash burger, pizza and drinks, i have to say this was extremely enjoyable and there was quality and quantity in each dish. The prices are fair for such a nice place by the beach. Parking can be tricky but it's worth coming here once! Will be returning in the future read more

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Cool spot near the beach and within walking distance to the beautiful Carlsbad shoreline. If you're looking to catch a game, have a few drinks, and enjoy the atmosphere, this is a solid place to hang out. That said, if you're going for the food, I wouldn't recommend it. The dishes are overpriced for what you get, and the quality and presentation were pretty disappointing. Maybe the food hits better after a few drinks, but for me, it just wasn't good -- honestly, pretty underwhelming overall. Would come back for the drinks and vibe, but not for the food. read more

264 Fresco - wagyu steak - Italian Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Got seated right away for Happy Hour on a Wednesday. The waiter was very attentive the entire time which was great! The prices for happy hour were fair. My friend and I shared the meatballs and some bread and butter. The bread was delicious and fluffy. I think the butter was whipped so it was like cream. Overall amazing! The meatballs were good too. Moist but not wet. Definitely a classic dish done well! It wasn't too busy for happy hour which was nice but definitely started to get busy closer to dinner time! Pleasant happy hour spot. read more

264 Fresco - Meatballs and Focaccia - Italian Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Came in for a To go tiramisu which I paid for before not possibly conceptualizing I'd have to wait 30 minutes for it. Tried to cancel the order and was told I couldn't. Not amused. There is zero way I wouod have A restaurant should tell you there is a thirty minute wait for a Togo desert on walk in before taking your order!!!!! read more

Ridiculous! Everything from the cocktails to the desserts were bomb! We came in for a special girls weekend and were so happy we did! Our advice, share everything! We ordered at least 12 items and every single one was on the mark! You will not be disappointed! Loved sitting outside as well. read more

We had such a lovely time here! The staff was beyond sweet and went out of their way to make sure our group of six was perfectly seated and comfortable. The ambiance is so cozy and inviting, making it the perfect spot to relax. We started with the Cesar salad and calamari (both delicious!), and the short ribs was honestly to die for! Paired with a glass from their wonderful wine list, it was the perfect night. Looking forward to go back to 264 Fresco soon to discover more delicious items on the menu! read more

264 Fresco - Short Rib with potatoes - Italian Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Street or lot/valet parking only. Reservations are accepted or you can try self seating upstairs. Perfect for groups. Came here for a catch up dinner with friends and sat upstairs. Our server was horrible, we were constantly calling him over because he wasn't checking on our table or we had to keep reminding him of things we needed because he kept forgetting! We were able to excuse that it was getting busy, but we noticed several times other servers tending just fine to their tables or sometimes we saw our server helping other tables, just not us -__- The food and drinks were amazing! Thoroughly enjoyed our calamari and truffle fries while drinking our mezcalitas! Loved that all the pasta was made in house and it showed. So delicious! Dessert wasn't that great, the panna cotta was too firm and a slight chew to it, I would never get it again. Overall, love the ambiance, view, and food/drinks, but I would definitely make sure to get a new server. Our server really brought down the score for our whole party. read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Great vibes[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] great watermelon salad and best waitress Rebecca always takes care of us! read more

264 Fresco - View - Italian Near Me - Carlsbad, California

[[HIGHLIGHT]]The food was good, good location, sweet waitress, but the hostesses were the lasting impression.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I had made a reservation here for fathers day and a few days prior, my husband and I were walking by the restaurant and I decided to go in to update our reservation (I asked to include a high chair for my 9 month old). When I walked in, the hostess that was working that day (June 17) did not even acknowledge me when I walked up and acted like I was bothering her when I kindly requested if I could update my reservation. I wouldn't have even left a review if that was my only experience, but when I went back on Fathers Day, a different hostess had a terrible attitude and pissed off face when I went to check in. I also mentioned I was needing a high chair and she said "go grab one near the bathrooms". That is not good service and the Gen Z attitude needs to leave the building if you are at work, especially if your job is greeting customers. read more

624 Fresco is literally a 30 second walk from a staircase that will show you one of the most breathtaking sunsets of Carlsbad, San Diego county. The restaurant has its own small parking lot and has a gorgeous interior and patio area. Very generous servings; I had the scallop risotto and it was amazing. Had a bit of a seafood smell to it but it didn't really bother me. Great margaritas; the La Madonna and the Tropical Margarita is awesome. Great place to do a sunset watch before starting your dinner. A clear local gem. Parking clears up after the sun sets because everyone leaves to go home aftwards. read more

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Seriously cannot say enough good things about this spot - it's the absolute perfect restaurant. From the beach view rooftop, the amazing italian dishes, and extraordinary service, this is a must go in SD. As an Italian and someone who frequents Little Italy, i've deemed this Rigatoni Vodka the best i've had in the city. That combined with the crispy brussels and insanely delicious focaccia makes for a death row meal. Our waitress (i think her name was Sophia) was absolutely incredible and so attentive despite the busy crowds. read more

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Food was awesome . Pizza is amazing . Chicken Parm was thick and cheesy and crispy - delish . Chicken Marsala wonderful . Loved the mocktails and those who had alcohol said all their drinks were great Kateri was our server. -/$3 was very attentive and friendly and we ordered a lot . Thank you for having valet as well. We will be back! read more

My favorite Italian place to take people visiting. A block to the beach, free street parking. They also have a valet but I never have to walk more than a block. This is a big place with 3 seating options- inside, on an Astro turf patio (was put up during Covid) or up on the rooftop. Food is fantastic. They pipe ricotta around a lot of the plates as a finish and it's yummy! From braised beef to a hearty watermelon salad, I have loved everything! read more

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My friends and I were quite pleased with the service and food here. To top it off, the decor, inside and out, was so beautiful. Whoever designed the place had really great and exquisite taste. They have outdoor roof top as well as outdoor in the first floor. We really wanted to sit on the roof top but a large party had reserved the spot an hour after our arrival. Devin was our server and he was super cool and attentive. Very easy to talk to and welcoming. You could tell he loves what he does. We really appreciated his above-and-beyond service. I ordered the smash wagyu burger and it was the juiciest most flavorful burger I've had in such a long time. The smash patties paired with the pork belly and the sauce was a match made in heaven. My tongue was salivating for bite after bite. I'm glad we chose this spot for lunch. Definitely a cute area as well if you're visiting the beach. read more

264 Fresco - Lasagna - Italian Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Came here recently and I have mixed feelings. The food was honestly amazing -- everything we ordered was fresh, flavorful, and definitely the highlight of the visit. I would absolutely come back for the food alone. Unfortunately, the service didn't match the quality of the kitchen. The hostesses were noticeably rude. When I politely asked where the restroom was, one of them told me to "wait a moment before asking a question" -- even though she was just pushing in a chair right next to me. It felt unnecessarily dismissive for such a simple question. Our waiter wasn't bad, just not very attentive. It took over 10 minutes for us to even be acknowledged after being seated, which set the tone for the rest of the service. Bottom line: come for the food (it's worth it), but just be aware the service may be hit or miss. read more

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