Cafe Luna has been a love of ours since about 2019. My husband craved Italian, and I can't have American Italian due to it being too heavily seasoned with oregano, so after some research on authentic Italian, it seemed much safer. I went on a search for a top-rated Italian restaurant that wouldn't break the bank and found Cafe Luna by where I worked at the time. I was excited to surprise him with the fact that we could do Italian again and had hopes it would be good. Good is an understatement...this place is amazing. Ever since that night, it's been our place. We go there about every date night and anniversary. The food is incredible. The gnocchi is pillow soft on the inside with a savory sweetness to it. The butter sauce there comes on it, and the tomatoes and sage are to die for. I can't get enough. The penne is a favorite of ours. We get it about every time we go. The crème sauce with sausage is a mix of delectable and spice. The pasta is always cooked to perfection, which is huge for me because I'm not a pasta fan usually, but theirs I could eat all day. Not to mention the bread and its companion that seems like you can never get enough of. It has a nice sweetness to it that you just want more of. The environment is so pretty and romantic. The lighting they have is dim but bright enough to see what you need to see. It's calming. The owner and staff are amazing. The owner is always there to greet you, or has been every time we're there. She's so friendly. The staff is attentive and knowledgeable, which is huge for someone with allergies. I can't say enough good about this place! If you want an incredible Italian date night, then this is it! read more

Dined 5/26. Party of 5. Parking lot on a Friday night is a sht show. Plan on a walk. Ambiance/Cleanliness-Extremely well rendered wine bar vibes allow you to forget you are in a dumpy SoCal strip mall and feel like you are in a European bistro. Very clean. 4 stars Service-Could not have been better. We were told only patio dining was available, but when we arrived, we were seated at a comfortable table. Service was attentive, helpful and warm. 5 stars Food-excellent. We had calamari as a starter. Not fishy... savory, bold flavors. Not over cooked. I had chicken Cordon Bleu and it was delicious, if not particularly attractive visually. 4 stars. read more

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Located in a hidden strip mall in the Carmel Mountain Ranch shopping area. Service was outstanding, very attentive and responsive. They also have a very large menu with lots of offerings! Inside of the restaurant was decorated with cute little artifacts and objects, creating a very cozy environment to dine in. Food: looked really good, but not as flavorful as I hoped. Everything was fresh and well cooked. I just think the seasoning on the flank steak and the brown sauce it was served with could use some better flavors. Dessert was absolutely perfect, though a few guest at the table commented that it was not the best cheese cake they have had. I quite enjoyed mine! I would recommend it for a casual night out. read more

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A great little find in the Carmel Mountain area. It's a small quaint and unsuspecting location in a strip mall setting behind Krispy Kreme and next door to another donut shop and an Irish pub. Cafe Luna offers fine Italian dining at a reasonable cost. Food was delicious and service was great. Can get crowded so consider reservations. Keep on Yelp'n! read more

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If you are looking for good ambiance and delicious italian food, check out Cafe Luna. It is tucked in a corner of a strip mall in Carmel Mountain. Reservations are recommended. We did not have reservations but they were able to accomodate us and was seated right away. The staff was friendly. They offer a good selection on their menu and also a daily special. Same with the wine, there was quite a number of selection on their wine list. I went with their Malbec wine and it was a good choice. For dinner, we had Salad, Cioppino and Bolognese w/ Gluten Free pasta that I requested to switch out the regular pasta. Their foods were flavorful and delicious. Quantity was enough to make us full so no there was room for dessert. This restaurant is a good place to go to celebrate a special occassion or a nice dinner. read more

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Amazing italian food. It is truly incredible! The service was impeccable ! The drinks were delicious. The dessert was wonderful. This place is an absolute hidden gem ! I will definitely be back. Omg yum! read more

Lovely restaurant inside a strip mall by Krispy Kreme Donuts...not exactly a place you would consider "fine dining" to be located but I digress. We wanted to go low key for our anniversary and when I perused the menu in advance, the offerings were quite enticing to say the least. It was quite crowded when we arrived but we had reservations so it was a non-issue. Our server was fine. The food though, was excellent. I originally wanted to try the Rosetta which is fresh pasta, ham, swiss, cream and parm all rolled up into little pinwheels and nestled into some kind of sauce. But instead, at my server's recommendation, I decide on the Tournadoes Gorgonzola. What in the world is a tournadoe, you ask? It is a small piece of beef tenderloin with a side of pasta. The fusilli pasta was standard but the tournadoes were a standout. Absolutely cooked to perfection in what I think was a demi glace sauce if memory serves me correctly. Heavenly. I honestly can't remember what the co-habby ordered...sorry, lol. Parking is horrifyingly bad so plan accordingly. Would I come back? Sure, why not? read more

Cafe Luna, our favorite restaurant! My husband and I have been going there for 20 plus years. We always feel like family, anniversary, birthdays and bring friends to enjoy the fantastic food read more

I don't know why it took me so long to finally eat here. It's amazing! This restaurant has been here for a really long time & I can see why. The indoor & outdoor seating was so cute. Our server was really nice & made sure to bring plates out in good timing. We tend to order a lot & our table gets crowded with plates, but she made sure that didn't happen. She recommended a champagne bottle (I forgot what it's called) but it was not too sweet which we liked. Luna Antipasta: This was a good size charcuterie board for 2 people. You can never go wrong with a charcuterie board! Caprese: The caprese was fresh & gave a good balance with the other items we ordered. Arugula is my favorite type of green & went so well with the cherry tomatoes & burrata Tournadoes Gorgonzola: I love how this was portioned out. Often times I want pasta & steak, but always get too full to finish or even enjoy the other plates. I enjoyed this dish a lot. Cioppino: My husband absolutely loves cioppino, & he really liked their's. It was flavorful & had a good portion of seafood in it. Organic Sweet Potato Gnocchi: This was probably my favorite dish. So simple, but packed with flavor! I could probably eat 4-5 plates of these alone. Next time I come, I'm definitely ordering this again. My husband & I had a total food coma after. Everything was good & I can't wait to return to try other dishes. read more

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Came in on a day when it was 85°F outside in the afternoon. Surprisingly, there is no air conditioning, even though there are plenty of ceiling fans. A bit too late for me to find another restaurant so I decided to stay. The fettuccine was freshly made and the meat sauce was well prepared. The other entrées, like cioppino and salmon, are priced in the $40 range. Might come back when the weather is cooler, but definitely not during summertime. read more

Becky was more than kind throughout our stay, she was quite knowledgeable on the menu and gave solid recommendations. The restaurant itself was nice and had an upscale vibe to it, wine bistro feel if you will. We started with a salad of mixed greens with poached pear and a balsamic vinaigrette dressing, delicious! My entree was quite delicious. The veal was lightly breaded, tender and moist. The sauce and cheese ratio was perfectly balanced, a lovely dish! Hubs loved his veal with a Marsala sauce and mushrooms but said he preferred mine. All in all it was a hit, we can't wait to go back! Kudos to Becky for her recommendations and service! read more

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This was my first experience sitting at the bar and oddly it was much better than being seated elsewhere in the restaurant. It was pretty quite low music playing and not many people which allowed my service to be quick and pretty amazing. Skip the mixologist was very attentive helpful welcoming and polite. The food was sooo deliciously prepared even the roasted chicken I ordered to go was exceptional. I'm learning when it is busy it is a very different experience with very slow service. But today was great !! Definitely my favorite local restaurant. Fresh food, great staff yummy drinks yes yes more please. read more

Came here for a work dinner. The gin and tonics were delicious. The appetizers were decent. I wasn't a huge fan of the calamari but I loved the bruschetta. I got a stuffed chicken dish with pasta. The pasta carried the dish. The service was great. Overall it was a nice experience. They had a vast menu. I would come back. read more

Always good to come here. Excellent inside, great service and great food. What more to ask for? read more

Cafe Luna - Veal parm - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

This place is lovely Italian restaurant Service is amazing Food is delicious The place is nice for meeting friends or dates ENJOY read more

Cafe Luna - Tricia - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

We came here for dinner on a Friday evening. It was our first time here and glad we made reservations because this place was busy. We were seated outside since the weather was nice. We enjoyed their patio seating - cozy and comfortable setting. I like that it was fenced in so you are not distracted by the outside. Good menu selection. We got the lasagna and Chicken Marsala with the Fusilli Umbriano. Both were good and the portion size was perfect for us. We came kinda hungry so this was enough. I got the gluten free version of the fusilli and thought the pasta was tasty but a bit much on the al dente side. I do like that this place is willing to make most of their dishes gluten free upon request. Anyway, overall the food was good. Slightly above average. Service was very good. Our server was friendly and very helpful in making suggestions. This place is located in a strip mall so parking was easy. Would like to return and try other d read more

Cafe Luna - Chicken Marsala with fusilli - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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From the moment we walked in, the friendly welcome and immediate seating was the beginning of another great dining experience. The service was excellent as usual. I ordered one of the specials, the sea bass served on a bed of mouth watering Parmesan risotto with perfectly cooked and seasoned brussells sprouts. The sea bass was cooked to perfection. For dessert I ordered the cannoli and it was delicious! We love this restaurant because every meal has been outstanding in every way. Be sure to make a reservation because they are always busy! read more

We spent Christmas Eve at Cafe Lunar, and it was the highlight of our holiday season. From the moment we walked in, the festive decor and warm lighting set the perfect mood. The food was 10/10, the atmosphere was magical, and the staffs went above and beyond to make our night special. If you want a memorable holiday meal, this is the place to be. read more

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Food and service is excellent. Not open on Sunday and Monday. My favorite is the chicken Marsala

Great food although small upscale meals! Nice ambience but parking a bit hard so be early and service is good.

Definitely a gem .... Quaint and cozy family owned restaurant in the heart of Carmel Mountain with delicious food and desserts!! Great selection of wines and cocktails too Love the atmosphere here and the staff is always attentive but won't rush you ; you can sit and enjoy your time :) If you are looking for a great date night or hanging out with a group of friends...check out Cafe Luna! read more

Cafe Luna - Sour cream cheesecake! - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Sitting outside in evening so nice Our food was amazing And we asked waiter recommendation b They we're amazing yummy After we got to meet chef super nice read more

Food is fresh and very good. Wait staff is friendly and respectful, timing was good too.

Great neighborhood restaurant and bar. This is a great spot for date night any night of the week. If you stick to what is offered on the menu you will have a pleasant experience as everything is delicious, but beware of the specials as they tend to be overpriced. When a waiter tells you of the specials not listed on a menu they should just make it a point to tell the cost because it is a faux pas to ask for the price. read more

Our favorite local restaurant!! Consistently excellent food and service in a cozy and comfortable setting. We come here for all our special occasions. I don't write many reviews, but had to give Cafe Luna the major props they've earned and deserve! read more

My husband and I met with my son and fiancée to celebrate the new year. My son gave me a short notice that they wanted to eat at Cafe Luna so I was not able to make a reservation. Just arrived earlier and the restaurant was packed and had no available tables. The gentleman (maybe the owner) was called and he offered the high tables at the patio with heaters. We had an excellent server who took our order. We had calamari for appetizer and was surprised it was not fried and was really good. He then served us some bread with a dip and since this was my third time here I knew how good these were. The wine my son chose was very good too...We had salad, chicken with pasta for my son's fiancée, two types of pastas for my son, bolognese pasta for me and cioppino with linguini for my husband. My family seemed to enjoy everything they had. Unfortunately, I didn't quite enjoy my bolognese...it was so bland since there was not enough sauce even if I mixed it well. I only ate half of it. It would have been better if it had a little more sauce. I had cooked bolognese before and have ordered this dish in many other restaurants. I will still return to this place since I've had enjoyable meals here in the past and service/ambiance had always been good. Will just have to order a different pasta next time. read more

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So I write this review with a measure of sadness. There were four of us dining at Cafe Luna. The other three all raved about their meals. Me, not so much. The others had; spaghetti pomadoro, with a caesar salad, veal marsala, and the lasagna. And, as I mentioned, said their meals were quite enjoyable. I ordered the penne, with Italian sausage and cream sauce, beginning with a poached pear salad. First, the good parts. The penne was cooked perfectly. Not mushy, not too chewy. Better than the alternative, but it's an Italian resturant. Oh, and the cream sauce was good too! It should be cooked to proper standards.And the service was very nice. Attentive, without being over-bearing. The Italian sausage was nearly non-existent. Maybe a teaspoonful in the entire bowl of pasta, really sad looking. And the poached pear salad was drowning in its overly sweet dressing. The offered bread was very soft, and so hot it was nearly untouchable. And the parking is awful! We were only able to find a spot reasonably close the Cafe Luna, because one of our party members had a disability placard. Yeah, not their fault, but true just the same. read more

Food: I ordered from the panini sandwich section but it wasn't a panini sandwich, the Petto di pollo, it was on a warmed ciabatta roll and a super tasty chicken with panettone, highly recommend! They also give you a side of pasta with red sauce which I find odd, but it is good. I'd prefer fries but that's not an option. I would order this again. Service: excellent Ambiance: Warm and cozy feeling, like your going to a family members home. Noteworthy: This is my 3rd time here, I love it's not a chain restaurant and that the food is Always good and so is the service. read more

Cafe Luna - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Overall we had a nice experience at Cafe Luna! It's a casual Italian restaurant nestled in the Carmel Mountain shopping complex off of the 15 freeway. It's right across from Krispy Kreme donuts. It has a warm and rustic vibe. The service was great. We were immediately seated upon arrival. Our server was very kind, professional, and patient. Our waters were always full. I appreciated they didn't rush us out and we got to enjoy our food and hang out. The food was tasty and fresh. I enjoyed the complimentary bread which was warm on the inside and crispy on the outside. With an entree, salad, and drink it came out to $50 per person. I would stop by again maybe for a special occasion! read more

Cafe Luna - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Super cute little restaurant hidden in the corner of a plaza. In-laws have been going for years and we finally made it in. Kids loved the penne Alfredo w shrimp and cheese flatbread they had as a special. Our waitress was super nice and amazing with the kids. Thankful for her patience and great service! Everything was delicious and and seem to be made fresh. Pasta was al dente and sauces were very tasty. We would definitely come back to try more from their menu. read more

Cafe Luna - Fettuccini Bolognese and Penne con Salciccia - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Glad we reserved a table as the restaurant was quite busy. Very festive decor. Escorted to our table upon arrival and immediately offered water. Highly recommend the manicotti. White sangria was excellent. Excellent service. read more

came here for a birthday dinner. wife loves italian food and we've seen this place tucked i. the corner in the same shopping location as another italian food franchise. the parking was horrible. just crowded area in a friday night. the decor was okay. kind of confusing figuring out how to enter the place. and the chairs had this off shoulder design that threw things off. anyway, the food was decent. i had the ciopino that was good but not 45 dollars good. the sauces were very light, not overly done like the other italian place a few hundred feet away. so that was good. anyway, we wouldn't go out of our way to come here but wouldn't avoid it either. read more

Been coming here for years, amazing little Italian spot run by a great family. The specials are always a hit, they have live music on some weekends and bar is great, as well as the patio. They make you feel like family while treating you to what feels like a home cooked meal. My go to's are the meatballs, osso buco, and pork chops while my wife always goes for the chicken specials. Also can't go wrong with any of their desserts... be warned of their old fashions and espresso martinis, they're addicting. read more

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I've been here a few times. Some of their food is delicious, other not so much. This time it was a miss. I ordered penne con salciccia. It was just blah...really on the bland side. I wasn't looking for lots of flavor, there really wasn't much...seemed like just a cream sauce, no garlic, no salt. And they were really stingy with the sausage! Service was great, drinks are delicious. Disappointing that I wasn't able to use the Costco restaurant gift card because we had a party of more than 8, although we had separate checks. My fault that I didn't read the back of the card. read more

**** Value ***** Vibe/Ambiance ***** Staff/Service **** Wow-factor Why have I not been here? ! Cafe Luna is a hidden gem tucked away amongst the commercial hustle and bustle of Carmel Mountain. Come to celebrate or just to have an awesome meal. The portions even for the small plates are generous and the specials were outstanding. The wine list has something for everyone; there is a happy hour too! Becky our server was super friendly, and attentive, even on a busy Saturday night. The break out dishes were the Osso Bucco with whipped potatoes and Halibut atop creamy risotto. The menu has traditional options which you can customize by adding adding salmon, shrimp, meatballs, sausage, chicken or burrata cheese. Bread comes with a savory olive dipping sauce that can almost stand on its own as a meal - sooo yummy. What a find for sure! read more

Cafe Luna - Halibut and Risotto - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Reflecting on our visit it was mostly good but we found the food dissapointing... The salmon dish was ok - for $38 it was not worth it and then we had a dish with added chicken- spaghetti seemed lumpy and honestly the chicken and salmon did not seem fresh - like it was pulled from a freezer- and heated up...I stand to be corrected...? The service and the vibe was cool. Anyway not sure we gonna run back- we had 3 dishes and a glass of wine and it was over $115 without the tip- so budget accordingly.... read more

Food was exceptional. Sean's service again was perfect. Special tonight was Louisa's guitar and musical vibe. Amazing evening. This is a special place read more

This was my friend and I's second time coming here, which we were super excited about. The food is good, but what really made this experience unpalatable was the waitress. We went from asking a question about an appetizer and entree, to having her raise her voice and make assumptions that just made the experience terrible. There was a sweet gentleman working the front of the house that made up for her absence of respect and he would honestly be the only reason to come back. A soda to go is not going to make up for the lack of awareness that needs improvement. read more

We have to compliment on how good the bread was! It was amazing, especially with the home made tomato sauce. Came in a little late after my charity event around SD, the waiter was so nice and seated us immediately even though we might extend their closing time. Ordered the lasagna, Bolognese, and tiramisu. The lasagna was highly highly recommended by the waiter. So we ordered that and it was very authentic. The way how they prepped the meatball with the lasagna and how they did their sauces was very authentically Italian. This is extremely rare to come across in the area. 5/5 Bolognese is a little bit undercooked. However, the sauce is so amazing which compensated for the texture of the pasta. 4/5 As the self proclaimed tiramisu connoisseur, I had to order one when I heard the tiramisu was made in house. The cream is very well blended. It's a bit cream heavy. I wish they put more solids into the tiramisu. The amount of lady fingers in the tiramisu need to be at least 1.5X to get more of the coffee and cake-y consistency. A little bit of a let down but good enough, especially with the blue berry on top which created the tartness that it really needs. 3.8/5 Easy parking. The spot was very well decorated. Suitable for dates and business dinners. Give this local business some love. The owner was also super nice. Came and said goodbye when I left after I complimented on their sauce. read more

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We have been here several times over the past few years.....on numerous occasions they rush us during dinner so they can sell our table again.....not good for date night.....one evening sitting at the bar for dinner.....they even came and told us they needed our bar seats.....do not go here for a romantic evening! read more