Delicious, nutritious, and filled with ambiance! This place is absolutely authentic in everything they do. From the decor to the flavors, it all sings Italian! Our waitress, Francesca, was an absolute delight and helped my wife navigate their menu to suit her several dietary restrictions without any judgement or hesitation. She had great recommendations and was an absolute delight to chat with throughout the night! We had a wonderful time treating ourselves to all kinds of delightful dishes - especially the fried brie special. So, so good. I highly recommend this plane for a fancy date night. It's not the cheapest, but you definitely get the quality that you pay for. 10/10 will date night here again read more

Antica Trattoria - Fried brie - Italian Near Me - La Mesa, California

Antica Trattoria serves acceptable pasta, but not much else stands out. They were not very busy, so a reservation was not necessary. Our server was kind, though we did not receive as much attention as some of the other tables. Bread is not complimentary, and one of my party members accidentally agreed to it when asked. I did appreciate that salads could be split and were finished with freshly cracked pepper, though I wish there had been more engagement from the staff beyond adding pepper and Parmesan. *Homemade Bread: served with what was described as herb infused olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The bread itself was airy but fairly bland. I could not really detect any herb flavor in the oil, and the portion of oil and vinegar felt a bit small for the amount of bread. *Insalata Venere: featured poached pears, goat cheese, and caramelized walnuts. The greens were well dressed in a bright, acidic vinaigrette. The pears were the highlight, offering a warm sweetness that paired nicely with the creamy goat cheese. The walnuts, however, had an off texture and could have benefited from better caramelization. *Penne: adding protein felt pricey, with chicken costing an extra $8. The chicken was chopped quite small, and I would have preferred larger pieces. The sauce itself was flavorful and well developed, but the pasta was cooked past al dente. *Capellini: nicely paired with mushrooms and shrimp, though the toppings carried the dish more than the pasta or sauce. The sauce was quite muted and tasted like a simple tomato base without much seafood depth. The shrimp and pasta were slightly overcooked. Overall, it is a decent option for Italian food, but nothing particularly memorable. While the portions are generous, the flavors did not quite match the price point, and I would have preferred more depth and execution across the dishes. read more

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Usually great. This time a few misses. We had reservations for the outside. The day of our red they called and said they had a large party and we needed to move inside. Inside is very loud. We went and were seated at a 2 top against a wall. It was right and uninviting. There were no options she said so we sat. This seemed to be the method of the night. Some ladies were seated next to us and asked to be switched to another table and the answer was no. That "No" came in an almost rude way and the ladies next to us commented the same thing. Levi, our server was great. I was Looking at the steak special for dinner and told him the last time I had it, it was not the best cut of meat. After we placed our Order he can back and aid he looked at the cuts they had and he would recommend something else. I so appreciated that. I asked him to bring me his favorite pasta meal. Make it a surprise. And it was sooooo yummy. He did great. The branzino was good but lacked some depth in flavor. The tiramisu is the best in the city -fresh made. So good. . The Brie and salad we split and also very good. A great place for sure. read more

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I came here with my partner the wknd of San Diego Restaurant Week, so I was sure to make a reservation! It's a really nice spot, seemed like a favorite for locals. Located in a shopping plaza, parking wasn't an issue.The restaurant week menu had some good options, so I chose the beef plate and my spouse had lobster ravioli. The menu came paired with wine and they all complemented the meal so well! The server was nice and we didn't have any complaints. Besides the table being a tight fit in an intimate restaurant, it was really great. I would come back! read more

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This place is quickly becoming one of our favorites. Whether it is for a full on meal or an after dinner night cap aka cocktails and dessert. Heather is usually our server. She is such a gem! Always professional, helpful and so sweet! The way she explains the specials makes you want to order one of each! The place itself is always clean and welcoming. The food has always been fresh and flavorful. We've never had single bad option...all so delish!!! read more

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Just an fyi, make reservations especially on Friday. The wait for a table is about 15 minutes there is no real staging area except outside in the strip mall. We watched several dejected people turned away. The decor was very welcoming and seating comfortable. The food was very delicious sauces and broths were very bread dippable worthy. I thought charging for bread was a bit petty. The servers were very accommodating. We ordered mussels and rice ball appetizer. I could do without the sausage in the mussels the flavors stood on their own. Personal preference. Rice balls and sauce spot on!Saltimbucca and lobster ravioli is cravable. The dessert equally cravable we got the ice cream with espresso and Tiramisu. We will be back and thanks for a wonderful experience all round! read more

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How lucky am I that this is my neighborhood Italian restaurant? So dangerously close within walking distance and better than any Italian restaurant I've tried in little Italy. I had the gnocchi and my boyfriend had the pistachio salmon which I snuck a bite of. The salmon was cooked perfectly but my god, that GNOCCHI. So pillowy, with those wild mushrooms! It might be my favorite gnocchi ever, I'm drooling just thinking about it now. This was my second time coming, and we had the same waitress. She was so sweet and very descriptive with the food so you get a good sense of what you're ordering. She even remembered us from the first time we went and just went the extra mile to make our evening special, like putting some extra bread for us to go and giving an extra dessert for a belated bday. It's also one of those places where they give you endearing names like "friend" and "Bella" which I personally adore. I love having this local gem in La Mesa and will definitely be coming back. read more

Antica Trattoria - Pistachio Salmone - Italian Near Me - La Mesa, California

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Wow... my last review of Antica was in 2011.... I guess it is time for an update... and look... four stars in 2011 and, again, four stars in 2025. I actually have been to Antica a couple of times in between reviews, mostly for special celebrations. So, Antica is in a a very inconspicuous shopping center in the middle of suburban La Mesa. However, it is much more than it seems from the outside. Truthfully, they make delicious food and have a very cozy atmosphere that transforms you far from the feeling of being in a shopping center. Recently, two of my friends took me to dinner on a Saturday evening to celebrate my birthday. They made reservations, which is recommended, as it fills up quickly on weekends. We were welcomed and seated right away in the front of the restaurant. They had several specials, though we ended up ordering from their regular menu. I noticed that they had a very lovely selection of Italian wines by the glass, so I had to have wine, and enjoyed a couple of glasses of a very nice Sangiovese. We started off with the goat cheese bruschetta, which I enjoyed. We shared two pasta dishes. My favorite was the shrimp capellini. It had such a fresh flavor and was perfectly cooked. We also shared the butternut squash risotto. I enjoyed the flavor, but the cream sauce was really too heavy for me. Service was good, but they did stop by a few too many times to ask if they could clear plates while we were still finishing up. For dessert, they brought a spumoni on the house for my birthday. I actually would never have ordered that, but it was really good. All in all, I would definitely go back and I would probably order the capellini, as it was so flavorful, though they have a lot of choices on the menu. read more

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This has been a family favorite! I want to start off with giving Heather a shoutout for making us feel so welcomed. The ambiance was great--cozy and inviting without feeling too formal. The food was amazing. Started with a fresh salad (insalata verne) and bruschetta, both well balanced and flavorful. The arancini balls were crispy on the outside and delicious inside, and the meatballs (polpettine) were tender and full of flavor. We also ordered the papardelle short rib pasta, chicken piccata, penne with smoked salmon, and capellini. The drinks are also delicious and strong! Overall, a great Italian spot, which we've returned to many times. read more

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It's been a few years since my last review, but this Italian spot is still one of my favorites in San Diego! Fast forward to today: the food is still just as delicious, the service is always A+, and the atmosphere feels like you've been transported straight to Italy. It's so nice to see the restaurant buzzing with diners like it used to. Definitely worth the visit if you're craving authentic Italian in SD. Support local and treat yourself--you won't regret it! read more

My friend was celebrating her birthday, so we were looking for a high-quality restaurant in the neighborhood. This restaurant was located close to my friend, and I believe it is a hidden gem in a strip mall that offers quality food with good service. To celebrate my friend's birthday we ordered the bruschetta, risotto and the capellini. The bruschetta featured grilled homemade bread with tomatoes, basil, goat cheese and eggplant. The bruschetta had the perfect combination of flavors. The risotto is a perfect dish for a vegetarian with butternut squash, gorgonzola dolce, pistachio and more. This entree is quite rich but oh soooooo yummy. The risotto was cooked properly which is often a miss in restaurants. We also ordered the Capellini with shrimp, mushrooms and tomatoes in a tomato broth. This dish was good but did not knock my socks off. I much preferred the risotto as I thought it had more flavor and uniqueness to it. Also, I thought this dish lacked some shrimp for the price. To finish the meal, the restaurant provided spumoni, gosh I haven't had this in years. If in neighborhood and looking for a place to eat, I recommend this restaurant. read more

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Our evening was made special by our server, Levi. His extensive knowledge of the menu and genuine enthusiasm enhanced our dining experience. Levi's recommendations were spot-on, and his attentive yet unobtrusive service made us feel truly cared for throughout the meal. We began with the mussels, which were tender and flavorful, bathed in a delicate broth that begged to be sopped up with the accompanying bread. For the main course, the braised beef was a standout, succulent and rich, it melted in our mouths. The seabass was another highlight, perfectly flaky and seasoned, showcasing the kitchen's finesse with seafood. For a restaurant in La Mesa this spot truly surprised us. read more

Came here for Restaurant Week. Cute place. Server had an Italian accent (not sure if it was real or not) but it made you feel like you were in Italy. Loved the complimentary bread. Fresh, warm and yummy What we ordered: Meatball - bf said it was so good Burrata - soo good. I love Burrata Boneless Short Rib - bf loved it Butternut Squash Ravioli - yummy Lemon Almond Cake - delish Tiramisu- yum We definitely want to come back and try other things here read more

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Such a hidden gem in La Mesa. Been going here for many years and the food is consistently good. So glad that they survived Covid. There's a new patio area too. Ambiance makes me feel like I'm eating in Italy. The owner and servers are always so great. My favorites are the linguine and mix calamari and shrimp appetizer. And won't skip dessert! read more

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The linguine with seafood was spot on. Great flavor and pasta cooked perfectly and it came out piping hot (thank you). The ravioli with butternut squash was okay, and we enjoyed the Brussels sprouts as an appetizer. We made a reservation and were sat in the corner table right by the entrance wall, it was really tight with a large party nearby. Service was good though and attentive, we appreciated that. So glad we made a reservation since the restaurant was packed and the bar was full and people were waiting outside. The tiramisu we ordered was also a big portion and delicious. This is a local fan favorite and parking is easy in the plaza. They have outdoor seating too but it was a bit chilly so not many people were sitting outside for dinner. read more

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My husband and I tried this place during a date night, & it did not disappoint! Everything we had was delicious!! & our server was awesome!! We'll definitely be back!! It's also super cute inside and their outside area. read more

Absolutely phenomenal experience! From the moment we walked in, the service was warm and welcoming. The staff clearly takes pride in what they do, and it shows. Now, the food--wow. I ordered the lasagna, and I can honestly say it was the best lasagna I've ever had. Perfectly layered, rich in flavor, and beautifully balanced. The lasagna literally melted in your mouth. You can taste the care and quality in every bite. This place is a true gem, and I'm already looking forward to coming back. Highly recommend to anyone who appreciates authentic Italian done right! Francesca was my server, she was awesome--super friendly and on top of everything. Really appreciate how well she took care of us. The restaurant itself was very unique and had a wonderful ambience! read more

Antica Trattoria - Lasagna - Italian Near Me - La Mesa, California

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Just come but make a reservation! We have come here for 20 years and hav never been disappointed! Chef Franco the owner is always there making sure everything is great and greeting everyone! We love him! Food is so good! The appetizers are amazing and should be shared. The bread and seasoned dipping oil is so well seasoned! I could eat just that! My overall favorite is the calamari and shrimp frito with the garlic cream sauce and the spicy marinara. Ask for both you will not be disappointed. I usually get it without the artichokes. You will want to lick the containers I kid you not! Salads are amazing. Great textures and perfectly dressed. One of the only places we actually rave about the salads. All dishes are so good. We haven't had a bad dish and we go often and take new people with us! Located in a strip mall but plenty of parking. Don't let the location fool you it is fine dining with a large wine selection. read more

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08/15/24 - The staff was very nice and friendly. We had Moises taking care of us throughout dinner and Ivan taking care of our order. they were both great and very attentive. We ordered the following: Appetizers: Crispy Brussel Sprouts - nicely flavored. It was overpowering with balsamic and perfectly crisp. Octopus Salad - this was a special item, octopus was perfectly cooked, not chewy at all and good flavor. Entrees: carbonara, penne and linguine. I had the linguine and it came with seafood. My dish was wonderful. it came with calamari and that was perfectly cooked. My friends enjoyed their dishes too. Their menu is simple but balanced. I highly recommend this place. Good amount of parking. The restaurant is nicely decorated with italian decor and not tight and crowded inside. Highly recommend. read more

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Antica Trattoria is amazing! The food is fresh, flavorful, and truly authentic Italian. The service is friendly and attentive, and the whole experience feels warm and welcoming. Easily a 10/10 -- great food, great people, and great prices! read more

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I have been to Antica many times with family and friends. Antica is by far one of the best Italian places and I am picky with my restaurants. I would have rated this restaurant a 5 out of 5, but last week when my husband and I arrived at 1700. The lady insisted there were no more tables due to the restaurant being fully booked for inside and outside. The only seats available is the bar. We finished eating at 1745 and there were plenty of vacant tables alongside the walls and outside. Antica is still one of favorite restaurants and everyone provided a nice experience except for the lady by the tablet. read more

Antica Trattoria - Italian Near Me - La Mesa, California

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Dropped in randomly on a Monday night for dinner. Been wanting to try this place and it did not disappoint. Service was fantastic, staff are all very personable (we even had an inside joke together that night!), and the food was delicious. Definitely a nice local gem with food that can compare with some Little Italy venues. I'm definitely coming back in the near future! read more

We dined tonight for the first time at Antica Trattoria. We found the ambiance charming and welcoming. Food was very good! Francesca, our server was very friendly, attentive and made great suggestions. We enjoyed the Cesar salad and Penne alla vodka dish with sausage and one with chicken. I had linguine with spicy marina which the chef made for me and I really enjoyed. We will definitely be back!! read more

Thank you Heather for being a polite host for us. Your service was very kind. Overall, the ambiance was good, the foot was good, and the reservation time was respected. I would say the bruchetta does not have house grilled bread, the bread seemed cold and not grilled. That's a minor impact of the flavor it boasted at first bite. Thanks for a great time, hope to visit again! read more

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The food was delicious however I ordered the seafood penne pasta dinner and I counted 4 shrimp only. For the price I was expecting at least 6-8. I understand everything continues to go up but I seem to have been penny and dimed. Calamari was a bit soggy I think due to travel. Brussel sprouts delish, brasato and linguine delicious too... hopefully next time I see a better amount... though we see what I order next. read more

Antica Trattoria - Italian Near Me - La Mesa, California

Honestly can't remember her name but same server we always get. She's amazing! Bartender,I never remember names either. It's like what I do remember people for certain things and she was like hey haven't seen yall in a while! Recognized my girlfriend and I by our tattoos. One of the best places ever. Amazing food, amazing service and the family vibe I just love!!! Everybody here is so nice and welcoming. Think it was the owners daughter that was in tonight also. Absolutely sweet they all say thank you for coming in and appreciate their customers. Great food. Great atmosphere and just great people. Can never go wrong with this place. I love it! read more

Made a reservation for four on a Friday evening and thank goodness I did because tables were filled up. Sat right away, service friendly and attentive. Food came a good pace. Good selection of mixed cocktails and wine selections. Had the lamb shank and came w/risotto. It was so delicious. It was a huge portion and actually tasted even better the next day. Had a taste of the cioppino. Very delicious. read more

Antica Trattoria - Cioppino - Italian Near Me - La Mesa, California

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Great service! Friendly and attentive bus boy and Heather was an amazing server! The food was wonderful! Halibut and Saltimbocca ! So good! We will be back! read more

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First time there with my wife on "Date Night". Everything was fantastic. The atmosphere and the wait staff were great. Our waiter (Levi) was very personable and had a great sense of humor. Food was delicious and very much unlike your standard Italian Fare. More like Italian Fusion, but not too strange. We will definitely be back! Thank you for a great evening! read more

Hidden gem... next time I'm in area, definitely making reservations. Food is delicious and fresh. Ambience is cozy... we recommend eating in front patio area. read more

This gem is literally down the street from my house. I will honestly say we will become regulars here. We came here last night as a last minute decision to dine out for dinner. We weren't too hungry and ordered very light. We got: Arancini - 10/10. That basil is such a nice touch and balance to everything in this. Every bite was amazing Insalata Venere - First time having this kind of salad and it was excellent! Everything balanced each other out so well. I'm not even sure what stood out the most! 10/10 Polpettine - This was brough out last and it was yummy. Decor was super cute. Food was tasty, delicious and perfectly portioned Staff - our waitress, Heather, was the absolute sweetest waitress! Her friendliness and recommendations for us was fantastic. We WILL definitely be dining here OFTEN!!! Thank you for such an excellent dining experience! read more

This restaurant typically has very good food. We went two nights ago and I decided to try something different, the crab pasta. It was horrible, funky flavor AND a plateful of mush. They should take this item off the menu, it ruins their reputation. Connie read more

The service here was great the staff is amazing. There is ample parking in the parking lot. The gnocchi was out of this world, the sauce was amazing and the gnocchi were perfectly pillowy. My friend got the penne with cream sauce and said it was really great, basic, but great! I got the Marsala with pollo. I think the Marsala sauce was too watery and overall it just lacked flavor. I also wish the menu had said whether it was served with mashed potatoes or some type of pasta. Unfortunately our complimentary bread was definitely under baked it was a bit raw in the middle still. But we all agreed we would still go back because the staff was so nice and some of the dishes are truly great! And they made one of the best lemon drops I've ever had! read more

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Use to be great place with nice ambiance and good food. Hadn't been there in a year and last night went to celebrate my birthday. I was very surprised at their prices. 40% more than last time. and the portions much smaller. Fried calamari, was just a small pile in the middle of a plate. with lettuce and sauce. We use to be able to share but now it's hardly enough for one person. For the main course, they charge $5 to split a plate with the excuse that they put larger portions. Not true. The veal scaloppini was chewy and very little flavor. No one at the table was happy with their meal. The only reason to give 2 stars instead of 1 was that the server( young lady) was very nice and professional. Last night they lost 6 customers. read more

We came here for our anniversary, and will definitely be back! We made a reservation - and I'm glad we did, because it's not the largest restaurant. There were a couple of open tables, but much busier than I expected it to be for a Monday! They say that's a good sign! We got the Chef's Date Night Special - 2 salads, 2 entrees, a bottle of wine, and dessert for an unbeatable price! We got the bread, insalata venere, insalata antica, risotto, and the chef's special sea bass (upcharge from the special, but worth it!). Everything tasted amazing and came out in perfect portions! Plus, our server was the best! Very attentive, made stellar recommendations, and kept us laughing. We will definitely be back! read more

We celebrated a family birthday here this past Tuesday and everything was wonderful! Service: 5/5, our server was prompt, kind, and funny! He was sure to inform us of the daily specials as well. Ambiance: cozy, casual, well decorated Food: Authentic and delicious. The short rib truffle cream ravioli was one of the daily specials and it was so rich and flavorful. We loved the arugula salad. The butternut squash ravioli was another stand out as well as the penne dish. The only thing I thought could have been better was the table bread. I will happily be returning to this spot. read more

Great food and ambiance! Staff and service was amazing! Glad we made reservations because the place filled up quickly after we arrived. One note to be aware of is that the online menu does not entirely match the menu in the restaurant. This is not a critique as I do not mind the staff making subtle changes to the menu, but just to be aware. I went with my daughter who had her heart set on the gnocchi that advertised online, but in the restaurant, it was different gnocchi offered. We will definitely be coming back soon to try other menu options! read more

My second time here, and it was simply awesome! I've been to many Italian restaurants where they seemed quite conservative in terms of flavor (particularly salt), but this place isn't. Everything we ate is salted and flavored perfectly. I got an espresso martini on a Tuesday night and it was exactly what I needed - it was cold, refreshing, with a perfect balance of bitter and sweet. We got their specials, zucchini flower for appetizer which was melt in your mouth good and a seafood squid ink pasta in a marinara-based sauce. Both were excellent! For dessert, we had to try both the spumoni and tiramisu. How we finished both, I don't know. They weren't too sweet and the tiramisu is perhaps one of the better ones I've had in recent years. read more

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Love the atmosphere here! I made a reservation for a Wednesday night. One person in our party was extremely late but the staff was very gracious and didn't push us to order until she arrived. Our waitress was very sweet and knowledgeable of the food and menu. They were able to make the salmon gluten free for our gluten free friend. I split a plate with a friend of the Lobster Ravioli which was on special. Also split a salad. The salad was a bit overdressed but at least the dressing was tasty. The lobster ravioli was just so-so if you wouldn't have told me it was lobster ravioli I would have been hard pressed to name the dish. And it was very expensive. I was also a bit dismayed at how we were nickel and dimed without knowing. We were asked if we wanted bread, we said yes. Turns out you are charged $2 per basket of bread and they brought us 3 baskets, way more than necessary. Also expect to pay extra if you want to share a dish. My honest opinion is that this place is way overpriced for what you get. I probably won't be back. read more

Every time we go here we are amazed by Great Food and a Very Friendly and Knowledgeable Staff.... Been coming here for many years and will Continue to do so.... read more