Amazing freshly made pasta! We came here for dinner on a Tuesday night without reservation, and there was no wait. We were greeted warmly and seated promptly. We got the squid ink gnocchi and the cheese wheel pasta, and the cheese wheel one is the best pasta I've ever had! Adding bacon elevates the experience even more. The delicious balance of truffle, mushroom, and cheese was amazing! Highly recommend! The ambiance is intimate, good for a romantic night out or catching up with friends. Service was great as well! read more

Bencotto Italian Kitchen - Gnocchi NeriGnocchi - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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This place is really nice and elegant, perfect for an intimate dinner date. The staff was all so nice and the food was great. I got the cheese wheel pasta, while it was good, I wouldn't rave about. The pasta itself was good, but the sauce was meh. The zucchini flowers were the standout dish for me. Definitely would've ordered another if I didn't also order the pasta. Great place to grab dinner in quaint little Italy! read more

Bencotto Italian Kitchen - Cheese wheel pasta - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Hit and miss pasta for a upscale price. RAVIOLI AL TARTUFO: Get! This was the best dish that we got and it was so fragrant, seasoned and sauced well, and juicy. TAGLIATELLE AL RAGU' DI AGNELLOL: Skip Idk what this even was? Undersauced, meat was interestingly ground up, pasta texture wasn't anything out of the ordinary Food: 6/10 Service: 7/10 Atmosphere: 6/10 Value: 5/10 read more

Bencotto Italian Kitchen - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Located in Little Italy so parking can be challenging. It was an easy walk from the hotels near the cruise port. We were seated outside which wasn't bad weather wise, but the trees kept dropping leaves on our food and drinks. Calamari - I wouldn't order this again. While it was nice that the batter wasn't heavy, this was overcooked and dry. If they hadn't given us such a generous portion of the sauces, we wouldn't have eaten it. Cheese wheel pasta - This is not the kind of place that brings it to your table or lets you see the process unless you ask. Our server was nice and he brought me inside so I could watch it. I would totally order this again as the flavors were wonderful and not too rich. Add bacon to it! read more

Bencotto Italian Kitchen - Cheese wheel pasta - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Chic spot in Little Italy. Inside ~ cocktail vibe, dark, classy. A few seats on their sidewalk patio. Late afternoon shaded from buildings. Service ~ our waiter was awesome! Professional & well mannered for an enjoyable experience. read more

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Came here on a weekend and we were seated outside due to no reservation. Our table was filled with leaves that had dropped, including on our dishware. We got mozzarella sticks, tagliatelle nere, cheese wheel pasta, and tagliatelle lamb. To our surprise, the mozzarella sticks only come with three small sticks, but the cheese pull on them were really nice. The cheese wheel pasta was not tossed in the cheese wheel table side because we were seated outside, which I wish they would've explained when we were ordering. We substituted the tagliatelle ragu with pappardelle pasta since we already had fettuccine and I liked that a lot. When the pasta came out, our server asked if we wanted cheese on the pasta to which we said yes, and then he forgot to bring us cheese so we had to ask the hostess standing outside. Overall the food was good and the pasta portion was filling. I wouldn't recommend sitting outside because service was not the best. Not sure if it was because we were quite literally the only table outside. read more

Bencotto Italian Kitchen - Mozzarella sticks - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Made a reservation, so the wait wasn't bad at all! The food was definitely the star of the night. Everything we ordered was delicious, and I'd absolutely come back for the pasta. The only downside was the service. It was reaaaally slow, and we were hardly ever checked on. We had to raise our hands multiple times just to get someone's attention, which took away from the experience. I'd still recommend giving this place a try, but I'd suggest coming during a less busy time since I think the service would be much better. The food is worth it! read more

Bencotto Italian Kitchen - Pasta Fresca - Tagliatelle - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Pros: Food Ambience Service Accommodate Larger Parties Cons: Dessert Parking It was my friends birthday and birthday girl wanted to try something different. We all loved our dinner especially the birthday girl with her squid ink pasta. Great selection of wines! This place is great for larger parties, but also date night. It's not too quiet, but not too loud either. Parking is difficult to find, but manageable. However the worst thing I've possibly eaten in a while was their tiramisu. I am a connoisseur of tiramisu so much so I am planning a trip to Italy for their tiramisu running marathon . This isn't a typical tiramisu and specifically says 21+ to order it. Traditional tiramisu has Marsala wine and American versions may even have some rum, but it's such a small amount that it's not enough to get drunk. HOWEVER Bencotto's has seen it as a challenge. It comes in a small espresso size cup amount. If you love alcohol and food together, you'll love this. Upon taking my first bite, I was smacked with whipped cream filled alcohol. It's truly startling and not good! Then I thought well maybe if I dig deeper to the bottom it won't be as bad, NOPE! It gets worse! You are literally taking a double shot of alcohol with cake. It was honestly such a turn off that it almost ruined dinner for me. I don't mind having a glass of wine or maybe a cocktail, however if I decide I want a shot, I definitely don't want cake in it. read more

Bencotto Italian Kitchen - Pollo alla Pizzaiola (Chicken Parmesan with mashed potatoes) - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

My absolute FAVORITE Italian spot in CA and I've been here so many times and have brought so many friends but this is the first time I've gotten around to reviewing this spot! The service is always prompt and the feel of the restaurant feels modern yet casual enough where it's not stuffy, perfect for just hanging out with friends or family. In this round, I got to try their special, Spaghetti Alla Gricia which features a Pecorino and black pepper cream sauce with Guanciale (pork cheeks). Absolutely delicious, balanced flavors with perfectly cooked pasta (as always)! read more

Bencotto Italian Kitchen - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Food service and ambiance were incredible. Waiters are friendly, we dined outside which was lovely and intimate, and the food was INCREDIBLE. Got the recommendation from someone off the street and it truly is some of the best Italian food you could get in California and very reasonably priced. Dress up fancy or semi casual and they treat you like a local. read more

Bencotto Italian Kitchen - Pollo Alla Pizzaiola - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Bencotto definitely lived up to the hype! Everything we ordered was delicious. I had the cheese wheel pasta special with mushrooms and added sausage--I'm so glad I did because the sausage was perfectly crisp and absolutely scrumptious. My oldest ordered the salmon salad, and the creamy dressing was light, fresh, and full of flavor. The salmon portion was on the smaller side but cooked perfectly. My youngest got a "small" order of spaghetti Bolognese (there's no kids' menu), and she cleaned her plate. We also ordered the house bread, which our server explained is baked fresh to order, so it took a little extra time--but it was worth the wait. The seasoned olive oil dip was incredible, and the butter was rich and creamy. The only thing I personally missed was a side of balsamic vinegar. The drinks were just as impressive: a refreshing lavender mocktail for my oldest, a beautifully presented strawberry lemonade for my youngest, and their take on an Aperol Spritz for me. All three were refreshing and a perfect complement to the meal. Great food, wonderful service, and a spot we'll happily return to! read more

Highly recommend making a reservation! We got so lucky they were able to squeeze us in on a busy Saturday night, it was a risk & I was prepared to wait but was so thankful! We started with lobster bisque & calamari. Both were good but I preferred the calamari. Everyone loved their entrees but the star of the show was the cheese wheel pasta. Seriously I didn't think it would be that good but it was worth the hype. I'd go back just to eat that pasta. We all got a variety of desserts & each were great as well! We sat outdoors and the weather was perfect. Amazing food & wine was had. So glad we chose this place for our dinner in little Italy! read more

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Came here yesterday with the husband for dinner. I ordered the cheese wheel pasta with shrimp and the hubby had the lasagna. The food and service were amazing! The best pasta I had ever eaten!!! read more

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Came here for my sons birthday and was not disappointed the food here is good. Our server here was amazing,He navigated us through the menu pretty quick. We got three pasta dishes and shared them, I really should've got the names, but we did get the pasta that they mix in the cheese and the big bowl and it was amazing, make sure you don't put no extra cheese on it cause it'll be too cheesy. I most definitely would return her for the good food and the good customer service. read more

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There are a lot of great Italian spots in Little Italy, but Bencotto Italian Kitchen is on another level! I've been coming here on and off for almost a decade, and the transformation under the new ownership is honestly incredible. What was once a solid neighborhood favorite has evolved into my absolute go to Italian restaurant in all of Little Italy. First off, the pasta!! Handmade and perfectly textured every single time. You can actually taste the difference! Incredible! And then there's the showstopper... pasta tossed in a giant cheese wheel. Yes, a literal wheel of cheese, melted and worked into the pasta right in front of you! It's as indulgent and unforgettable as it sounds. The gnocchi with four cheese sauce and Italian sausage? Unreal. Pillowy and packed with flavor. It's one of those dishes you think about long after you leave. Easily one of the best things I've ever eaten! Honestly, the gnocchi is better at Bencotto than I had in Italy (wild I know!) Beyond the food, the entire experience just hits. The staff is warm, attentive, and genuinely passionate, which makes the whole night feel special without ever being stuffy. And the vibe? Cozy and intimate which is perfect for date nights or long dinners with friends. If I could eat here every night, I genuinely would. Thank you again to Steve, who made my last few experiences here great! Can't wait to go back!! read more

Bencotto Italian Kitchen - Gnocchi with four cheese white sauce and Italian sausage - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Came to celebrate a birthday! We made a dinner reservation on the same day and were seated quickly upon arrival. We were seated upstairs in a small table. The food was absolutely delicious. The ravioli al tartufo was one of the best raviolis I have had. The sauce was light yet so flavorful and full of umami and mushroom. Ravioli was perfectly al dente. Portion was huge as well. The Tagliatelle Al Ragu' Di Agnello was also delicious and perfectly complemented the ravioli. The sauce was plentiful with large chunks of meat, and the meaty flavor was not overpowering. The noodles were cooked perfectly as well. While the food was amazing, service missed the mark for us. We noticed our server would go to other tables and offer bread, strike small conversation, and make recommendations about the menu. He didn't do any of that for us, and we didn't know bread was an option until we saw other tables have it and we already had our entrees. While service was not impolite, it was nothing to write home about. I would definitely come back for the amazing pasta here! read more

Bencotto Italian Kitchen - Tagliatelle Al Ragu' Di Agnello - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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I have no idea how I've missed out on reviewing this place. My partner and I have come here countless times over the years. It never disappoints. There is beautiful seating options inside, with full floor to ceiling windows if the weather is a little chilly. But we love the outdoor seating options. This is where we normally go. For your meal, the go to dishes are the cheese wheel pasta and the lamb ragu tagliatelle. Both dishes are perfection. They make the pastas in house. And be sure to ask your server to watch the cheese wheel pasta in action. They take the hot pasta and throw it into a large cheese wheel, where they pull in chunks of parmesan cheese right from the wheel. The server said they go through at least 1 wheel every week! Everything about this place is great. The wine, the service, the food. It is by far one of the best restaurants in Little Italy. read more

Went with a friend on Valentine's Day (yes, a friend), and reservations were booked. They were able to get us seated early, though. From there, service was great. Vegetarian review: The pasta that they finish in a cheese wheel was great. The pasta was chewy in texture, sauce was so, so good. It was cheesy and lightly truffled. Mushrooms were great too. Ambiance was nice, and parking ain't great, but it's possible. Possible. read more

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nice place and good ambiance. staffs are nice, polite, and attentive. for foods... * burrata: the bread is good and great combination with pesto... * calamari fritti: the batter is light but taste so good. both sauces are good but i prefer the marinara sauce better... * spaghetti: they cooked it al dente which is perfect. sauce is yummy... * stinco di agnello: the lamb shank is so juicy and tender. it serves with fries. if they can serve with other choices, it will be great... a bit pricey but must try... read more

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Overall we enjoyed our meal at Bencotto Italian Kitchen. The service was good, and the food was delicious. It wasn't crowded when we arrived (5:30pm on Saturday) though we did make reservations. It did however get quite busy later in the evening so would recommend making a reservation. My husband and I split an Insalata Mista which contained seasonal greens, tomatoes, pickled red onions, almonds, cranberries, and balsamic dressing. The balsamic vinegar was a bit tart for me but the cranberries helped counteract some of that sharpness. I still enjoyed the salad overall as I am a big fan of picked onions and almonds. I had the Brasato Di Manzo Con Polenta which was a short prime rib braised in red wine. It sat on top of parmesan polenta cakes. The prime rib was tender and paired nicely with the polenta cakes. My husband had the cheese wheel pasta which was delicious. We ended up sharing which worked out well since the cheese wheel pasta was quite rich. Service was attentive. Our water glasses were always filled and someone came by to check in on us which I appreciated. read more

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The food is good but the consistency is not there at all. I've been coming to this restaurant since 2019 and every time they change chefs they change the recipe. Not the MENU the RECIPE. The ravioli started with crab and a lobster bisque and caviar in 2019, then they took the caviar away and replaced it with seed? I just went today and they don't even do the bisque anymore. It's gross now, I couldn't even finish. read more

Bencotto Italian Kitchen - The exact same named ravioli but no caviar and no lobster bisque. - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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On a Monday evening in San Diego, we stopped by Bencotto Italian Kitchen for dinner. Located in Little Italy, I was surprised by how busy this part of town is. Restaurants and bars filled to the brim. Lack of street parking availability. With that being said, after circling around for a while, I found a free parking spot on the street five minutes away by foot. Ambiance (4/5): While Bencotto has a nice interior, I went with some al fresco dining on their front patio. There are 20 or so seats available right off the street, so it's not a large patio by any means, but it's nice. The weather was a little chilly by San Diego standards, so they had some heaters out there. It always reminds me of Europe when I'm dining al fresco. Service (3/5): A little slow at times, but overall, pretty good. My waiter was friendly, he just could have stopped by a little quicker. Still solid though. Drinks (4/5): They have a nice selection of wine. I ended up rolling with an Italian beer I had never had before instead. It was a lager and they served it with a chilled glass which is always a nice touch. Food (4/5): The reason I came delivered. Their most popular entree is pasta cooked in a cheese wheel. The pasta is in a creamy truffle sauce with mushrooms. No protein but you can add some for an additional charge. I added grilled chicken. What's awesome about this dish is that they cook it for you inside by the hostess stand. So you can go there and see it happening. My server didn't give me a heads-up (shame on him) but luckily, someone at a table close to me did after me, so I joined to see their food being prepared. I also ordered the gnocco frito which is puffy fried bread. You get four pieces and I had never had this type of Italian bread. Not amazing, but it complemented the pasta well. All of their pasta is made in house and you can taste the difference. The cheese wheel pasta was absolutely delicious. I was pumped to cross this bucket list item off my list. read more

This place is my new and latest obsession in Little Italy! I was truly impressed with food service, and how sweet and accomdating the staff was for my little dog! It's a very quaint but chic vibes type place with the warmth of family being brought together to break bread. The food was absolutely amazing. The osso bucco was absolutely delectable not too heavy and just the right amount of everything. It was rich and robust with a hint of sweetness and the meat was absolutely tender! My son did the pollo alla pizzaiola with a side of tagliatelle with formaggi sauce and let me tell you that was the show stealer!!! It had my taste buds wanting more after I tried this. It was cheesy, creamy, and absolutely we'll balanced. I will definitely be back, hopefully sooner, rather than later, such an amazing little spo!. And truly impeccable service, to match the food quality. You guys are my new favorite spot in Little Italy. Thank you for making my first experience with you so memorable. read more

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I really wish I could give this place a great review but sadly the food quality is not good. Crazy how they even charge you 4 bucks for basic table bread too. I ordered a bolognese pasta and it was extremely salty and the flavor wasn't good. The service was decent but just really disappointed with the food. I didn't feel good after eating a bit of the pasta so I don't think I'll be coming back here ever again. Sadly it's in a great location but really disappointing. read more

Our server Jeff was very attentive. We enjoyed your pesto, bolognese and vodka pasta on a variety of noodles. All were delish. The burrata served with pesto tomatoes and arugula was very good. Thank you for a wonderful lunch. read more

Bencotto was an outstanding fine dining Italian experience at a reasonable price. I had the cheese wheel pasta and it was of an extremely high quality. On top of that they allowed me to take a video of them mixing my noodles and chicken in the cheese wheel itself which I thought was a nice touch. Additionally they had a large selection of bottled Italian beers as well as wine. The service was fantastic and so was the ambiance which was less Tuscan and more modern with some references to Italy which I appreciated read more

The calamari was chewy and not well flavored. The pasta was not well flavored but the pasta itself was al dente. The service was great. The food was good not great. The ambiance was also off. We were near a plant and it had gnats in the area. read more

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We had a lovely dining experience in Little Italy this evening. It was a little tricky to find parking, but we worked that out. I didn't take pics of our appetizers, but the meatballs and the fried zucchini blossoms were a great start. After that, we had spaghetti bolognese and penne formaggi. We finished our dinner with tiramisu and chocolate mousse. Truly, everything was delicious! We appreciated the casual atmosphere of Bencotto and the service by Jacob G. read more

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The food was great!! It was our first time here and the reviews for this place did not disappoint. The waiter was very knowledgeable of the menu. He made some great suggestions. The place is modern and spectacular the restrooms are clean which says a lot about a place. We will be telling our friends and absolutely coming back soon. read more

I easily made a reservation online on the day of for early Friday evening. The restaurant was fairly empty around 5:15pm, with a few tables filled, but quickly became very busy by the time we left. Highly recommend a reservation! There are seating areas inside (upstairs and downstairs) and outside. The vibe upstairs was much quieter/romantic than the bar area downstairs. To start, we ordered the Riso Fritto as it was on the happy hour menu for half price. They came served with a delicious bolognese sauce. While I loved the dish, I probably wouldn't have ordered if it hadn't been on the happy hour menu (particularly because it's a bit pricey and it's a heavy dish for just two people - it really spoils your appetite!) My husband and I also split the Insalata Mista which was very fresh and tasty - I really liked the dressing on this salad. For dinner, I ordered my favorite dish the Pesto Gnocchi and it did not disappoint! The gnocchi definitely tasted homemade and I appreciated the texture of the pasta being cooked to perfection, not too hard, and not mushy. My husband got the Pollo alla Pizzaiola (chicken Parmesan) and he loved his dish. We unfortunately did not save room for dessert. I would note that the reason I wanted to come to this restaurant was to experience the cheese wheel pasta. However, it was a bit disappointing to learn that there is only one featured pasta dish a week using this cheese wheel. Unfortunately the dish being featured that week we were in town was a dish featuring mushrooms which I cannot stand/tolerate. It would be cool if there was a rotating featured cheese wheel dish each week as well as a standard/plain pasta dish recurring on the menu for those who still want to try but don't like the flavor of the week. read more

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Server was great. Friendly and not complicated. Interior seemed modern and clean. The pasta is clearly fresh made. Everything came out perfect. We ordered a couple different pastas, but the standout was an order of the pappadelle pasta with tartufo e funghi (truffle) sauce. Super fragrant and delicious. Great place to go to entertain or for special occasions. read more

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I came here with a friend for lunch during the week. We were seated immediately which was really nice. Service was fast initially when they came to take our order, but we waited quite some time for our drinks and even had to remind the staff about them. I love how clean the restaurant was. The food itself was incredible and served hot! We very much enjoyed our meal. read more

Bencotto Italian Kitchen - Gnocchi - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Bencotto Italian is in the heart of Little Italy with plenty on seating indoors and outside. We were greeted quietly after sitting down by our friendly server who checked in with us throughout our meal. The food was tasty, and the pasta serving was large enough for me to have leftovers the next day. The restaurant can get busy on the weekends, so a reservation is recommended. read more

Bencotto Italian Kitchen - Calamari Fritti - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Despite the like was seated at the bar quickly, offered good drink selection and nice recommendations on appetizers. Took fritz riso and it was delicious. Pasta was finished in the cheese wheel - omg. So good! And they located that wheel right next to an entrance so it feels really Italian place after all! read more

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The food is ok, the pasta you can taste is authentic and they have the cheese wheel which is cool. I wish the cheese wheel presentation was at the table side, it's in the front of the restaurant so kind of meh if you order it and you want to watch it you have to walk out of your seat to go there. I liked their burrata and their calamari, $4 for half of a loaf of bread...not even complimentary. You get charged 3.99% for using a credit card, automatic gratuity of 18% for 6 or more in your group. You get charged if you want to cut your cake $30??? I mean that costs as much as the cake? U can't even cut the cake yourself, it's so weird. I feel bad bc all the workers and everyone were very nice, even the food is not bad, but the owner just seems so greedy. Everything had a charge. I'm surprised they didn't charge you for breathing in there. Inside little Italy and parking is almost impossible on a weekend, there is a valet public parking thing somewhere on the corner I heard if you're desperate. read more

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What a delightful meal this was. My partner and I decided to celebrate our anniversary in San Diego and for dinner we made a reservation for Bencotto kitchen. We were seated right away and our server was kind and very attentive. We came during the day so it wasn't as busy (I imagine at night there's more movement). A lovely ambiance with soft music and elegant and simple interior design. We ordered the polpette to share and they brought out bread and butter. The polpette was delicious, the sauce was Rich and the meatballs were perfectly tender. The bread was crispy and perfectly soft at the same time. I ordered their cheese wheel pasta with sausage which Is partially why I chose this place. Wow, the cheese was so rich and delicious, the sausage was a nice balance of spice and juicy. It doesn't seem like a lot at first glance but trust me this left me full and satisfied! My partner ordered the Tagliatelle Al Ragu' Di Agnello and I of course had a bite. The sauce was rice and hearty. The lamb was tender and so flavorful. Their pasta in both dishes was absolutely delicious and clearly freshly made. What a lovely place to have a nice authentic Italian dinner. I will definitely come back if I find myself in San Diego. read more

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We came here for lunch on a Sunday. The place is not necessarily on the Main Street of Little Italy but it is within walking distance. Unfortunately there was a demolished building across and so it wasn't very pleasant to sit outside as the view wasn't very appealing. The inside was beautiful. The decor is superb! Very picturesque and perfect for a date. Unfortunately, there were quite a bit of annoying flies. The staff were welcoming and friendly. The hostess did ask if we had a reservation but you don't need one. Unfortunately no one asked if it was our first time there. It would have been nice to get some intel on the menu. Overall, we had a good experience. The food was amazing. I had the salmon salad which came with spinach as greens. We had also the lasagna. I am actually lactose but I risked it anyway and boy am I glad I did. The lasagna is a must! Pair it with the salad and you have a very well mannered meal. Overall, I would give them another chance and I do recommend it for date nights read more

Bencotto Italian Kitchen - Lasagna Alla Bolognese - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Bencotto was an overall delicious and enjoyable Italian dinner in downtown San Diego. Their handmade crab ravioli was absolutely delectable, and we thoroughly enjoyed the tiramisu and creamy espresso martini for dessert. From the hostess who seated us to the server who waited on us and the food runner who delivered our meal and offered Parmesan and freshly cracked black pepper--service was superb. We will visit again! read more

Bencotto Italian Kitchen - Tiramisu - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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The service was top notch, even though it was a Sunday night during the dinner rush! It's a really cool setting with an incredible location. The food was exactly what you would expect it to be, fantastic! read more

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Chose this restaurant since they had the cheese wheel pasta and it did not disappoint. Had a reservation for 6 PM but we walked around Little Italy and we were there early so they were able to seat us an hour before our reservation. My husband ordered the cheese wheel pasta and it was to die for. I ordered the homemade gnocchi with the Bolognese sauce and it was very good. His Caesar salad was fresh with homemade Parmesan croutons and I chose to have the fresh warm bread with delicious olive oil to start. We were very happy with our meals and will likely return. Didn't have room for a dessert, but they have a wide variety of items. Restaurant itself is modern and classic looking. They have patio seating as well as like a little balcony area to sit and it was a pleasant evening once the sun went down. We had a very friendly and attentive waiter that looked like Vin Diesel. Haha read more

Bencotto Italian Kitchen - Cheese wheel pasta with shrimp - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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