Cafe Milano is one of those classic La Jolla Italian restaurants that keeps things simple and does them well. The spaghetti and meatballs featured perfectly cooked pasta, a bright house-made tomato sauce, and flavorful, tender meatballs. The creamy pasta was equally satisfying and rich without being overly heavy. Friendly service, a relaxed patio atmosphere, and authentic Italian comfort food made for an enjoyable dining experience. If you're looking for traditional Italian fare in La Jolla, Cafe Milano is a solid choice. read more

Cafe Milano - Fettuccini Alfredo Spaghetti Meatball - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Everything was delicious and hearty! Service was attentive &a nice homely atmosphere. The only thing I wasn't too fond of was that the mussels weren't cleaned correctly and the cheesecake was a bit more lemon-y versus a traditional American style. read more

Cafe Milano - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Experience the magic of Milano right here in La Jolla With 25+ years of Northern Italian expertise, Executive Chef Cinzia serves up handcrafted pastas, fresh-baked breads, and irresistible sweets made daily with love. Family-friendly, full of flavor, and pasta-tively unforgettable. Come Ala say "Hi" to Owner Pasquale @cafemilanolajolla Love the Gnocchi, Coco pasta, and for sure the tiramisu read more

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My husband was working across the street and he loves pasta so when we got down there today, he wanted to show me this restaurant but we thought it wasn't open. It had just turned 2 o'clock and they were open so we went in and it was just beautiful and the gentleman that owns the place is just a sweetheart. It kind of feels like he's known you forever and he really takes care of you. It was a really good vibe, very welcoming. The food was very good. The desserts were worth every calorie. read more

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As soon as I walked into this place, I knew it would be amazing. The vibe, the setup, the decor, the accents. Everything was perfect. Sabrina was an amazing waitress with excellent service, making us feel comfortable. She pointed out the dishes that were their best, both on and off the menu. The food was incredible. I'll post a pic of my ricotta ravioli but we also had lobster raviolis and some other pastas. Good wine selection and the Italian cheesecake was new to us but was the perfect capstone to a perfect meal on a perfect night. Highly recommend this place. read more

Cafe Milano - Ricotta ravioli - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

The cafe was great we will go back often. Can't say enough good things about food great staff great ambiance great

I had the most amazing time here. The food was so good and the service was amazing. Truly an experience. Thank you Evanna. read more

Cafe Milano - Dessert - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Service was amazing. Food was very authentic. The ambience was great, like a little house. Everyone enjoyed their food and the desserts were very creative read more

Cafe Milano - Tortellini Milano - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

I love a family owned restaurant. Very homey and welcoming. Great service and great food. Have recommended this to all our friends and family! read more

Absolute gem!!!!! Milanos caught my dads eye so we stopped in, it was a little before two so the owner was setting up but he welcomed us in with open arms. The man and his wife are absolutely amazing, he's from Italy! Food was delicious but let me tell you, when the owner came out with a giant bowl of his tiramisu cream he was hand making, I was SOLD! I could never eat another cannoli or tiramisu elsewhere it was the creamiest heaven! He adds TOFFEE pieces! Also all kids meals come with Gelato! My dads been to Italy so it's a plus when he finds a good quality place and he was in love! The environment, the owners, the food, ALL of it! Reminded him of being in Chicago. After eating the owner came out to talk with us about his little red fiatt! It's an original from Italy! The owner puts bears in it! And it says on the license place "Italians don't die they just pasta away" the entire place represents family, good quality food and service, and that's what restaurants should be about! read more

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Lovely restaurant with great service. We ordered Fettuccine Alfredo which was perfect -not too greasy like some other places. Fettuccini Mare e Monte (salmon) was also very good. The ambiance is very nice room with a pianist and cute decor. The servers were outgoing and friendly. read more

Cafe Milano - Fettuccini Mare e Monte - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

We ate at cafe Milano this past weekend and were lucky enough to have Sabrina as our waitress. She was absolutely incredible from start to finish. Friendly, attentive, and genuinely warm, she made us feel welcome the moment we sat down. Sabrina knew the menu well, and gave us great recommendations, and checked on us at just the right times. Everything came out perfectly and her positive energy truly elevated the whole experience. Great food matters, but great service is what makes a place memorable - and Sabrina delivered that and more! She's a true standout and a big reason we'll be coming back! read more

The food and the service was really good here. My husband and I ate here while our hotel room was being prepared at the Scripps Inn during our stay in October of 2025. I had Salmon, mashed potatoes and grilled vegetables and he had Chicken parmesan, pasta and salad. The freshly baked bread was delicious. I will eat here again if I ever return to La Jolla Village. read more

Service is great. Best tiramisu ever; it's amazingly delicious. I would drive over an hour for this tiramisu. read more

Cafe Milano - Best tiramisu ever. - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

My cousin had passed by Cafe Milano numerous times, and so she and I decided to go. We checked the website and learned that the restaurant was open until 10:00 on Tuesdays, so we headed over there around 8:00. The small outdoor area was adoroble and we were greeted by a bright entryway and a sign that said Benvenuti. When we walked in, the interior was colorful and bright as well, and it had a classy, yet quaint ambiance. I liked it already. I would say that the restaurant was about half-full at the time, but most of the customers finishing their meals or on their way out the door. We were promptly and warmly greeted and seated. The staff was all Italian. I asked it it was a family run business, but our server said, "No, just friends". However, it felt like a family. We were informed that they were known for their handmade pasta, and we were provided with a description of the specials for the night. We started with the calamari and a bottle of Chianti Riserva. The wine was great... they had a lot of options. The calami was just OK in my opinion, I felt that it was a bit too breaded and bland for my taste. My cousin chose the lobster ravioli and I chose the Tortellini Milano ( with prosciutto and peas). The pasta courses were excellent, and rather generous. Toward the end of the meal, my cousin had a hankering for dessert. We were then told that they "really" close at 9PM and that our server was leaving, but that we could stay. I was a little taken aback and felt ready to leave, but my cousin pushed on, and we shared a tiramisu. We were the last of the customers that night. The staff member who stayed with us was kind and did not rush us, but I feel that if the website says 10 and your customers want dessert, you should not tell us that the restaurant closes at 9. All in all, a delicious meal and a generally positive experience. read more

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Just found this place and we are so glad that we did. We were seated and served by Pasquale, the owner. Huge menu with great descriptions. We had the Mozarella Caprese as an appetizer, along with bread, made daily, onsite. They had several specials to offer. My husband went for the Eggplant Lasagna and I went with the Pollo Francese. My husband's was gone in no time and playfully, Pasquale asked what happened . Dessert was Tiramisu, Cannoli's and cheesecake. We had a glass of Moscato with our dessert and definitely plan to return read more

Cafe Milano - Eggplant Lasagna - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Just so delicious, the bread, yes even the bread is so good! This place is the real deal. When I order lunch I'm unable to get a glass of wine because I am working. I'm hoping to stop by after work to relax and have a glass, will update on that later. read more

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4th times a charm i love it here! the staff care , truly , authentic italian food handmade in the back kitchen del bosco is my favorite salad the balsamic vinegrette is the best for the warm bread comfortable homey atmosphere with live piano and yellow walls , such a pleasure read more

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Good food However a bit noisy The hostess was very descriptive about the good food in the menu Wine was lovely In general was a good meal read more

Food was soooo delicious!!!! Very authentic Italian. Estabon was the best server. Very kind and attentive. Highly recommend! The vodka penne is my favorite dish. Limoncello flute was very light and refreshing. Cannoli cream very fresh, haven't had one that good since I was a child. read more

Cafe Milano - Cannolis and limoncello flute - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Gotta this place... Feel @ home being taken care of as if your Nana was. The food is Homey, the service is amazing and the prices are from Last decade. That is why it is Always full! Keep it up read more

Cafe Milano - This is the cioppino special - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

I lived in Italy for 3 years and after leaving searched for an Italian restaurant that served Italian food that not only tasted authentic but was served with that authentic Italian life and love that only Italians and people who've lived in Italy know and understand...that search ended the day I walked into the Cafe Milano in La Jolla. First I met the owner Pasquale...who still speaks Italian to his staff...then there is the waitress who makes the Italian experience complete...Sabrina! She is an incredible server who will wait on you and make you feel like a family member rather than a customer...the tables are set with white linen table clothes and she'll bring you a 5 course Italian feast that you'll never forget! The wine! The calamari! The Osobuco! The Lemoncello gelato!! OMG you have to go! Hurry! read more

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Food - 10/10. Best lasagna I've ever had. Best minestrone soup I've ever had. Excellent Italian wine menu. I could eat here once a week if I could. Service - Everyone seems to get a long and work together to get the job done. All servers spoke to me instead of just one. People constantly checked on me. I will say that when I first entered I waited about 5 minutes before anyone spoke to me and even when I sat down it took another 5 minutes before a menu was given to me or anyone speaking to me. However, I contribute it to everyone being busy. Nevertheless, everyone was pleasant! Ambiance - it's a very cozy restaurant. I loved how simple but well decorated everything was. It was a warm environment. It's perfect for a cute date night or just a family dinner one Sunday evening. The live pianist absolutely contributed to the overall experience. read more

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I can't recommend this spot enough. I went about a month ago for the first time and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since. This will absolutely become a regular spot of mine. I was truly blown away by the authenticity and how friendly the staff is. Don't waste your time or money in little Italy, this is hands down the best Italian food in San Diego! Can't wait to go back soon. read more

Come for the food, stay for everything else!! Came here looking for Italian food, and we were blown away! Pasta was homemade and so close to pasta we've had in Italy! Some of our faves were the calamari fritto, the Caesar salad, lasagna, the fettuccini Milano and the spaghetti with homemade sausage. The star of the show was the tiramisu!!! I have no words!! I've eaten a lot of tiramisu and this one was just top tier. Would go back just to be able to have this again! The kids meals were also huge! We didn't order drinks but the table next to us did and it looked like they loved it. If I get to come back, I def would! And on top of it all- the staff!! The staff was soooo warm and pleasant. The fact that this is a family business shone through the entire place and the food. The ambiance was so warm and cozy and felt like your grandma was making your favorite warm bowl of pasta. Do yourself a favor and come here for date night, a family celebration or even just to show yourself some love! Thank you for the great meal! read more

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My mom brought me here to eat some homemade Italian cuisine. Everything sounded good and hard to decide what to try, but landed on the lasagna. Only thing missing was freshly grated parmesan on the top. I also got bruschetta plate & ended with a cannoli for dessert. Everything was delicious and would return again read more

Cafe Milano - Cannoli - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Server was bad, food was worse! Don't let the cute ambiance fool you this place is bad Italian!

This has become our goto restaraunt when we go to San Diego. The food is always excellent, the staff very attentive. You can't miss on this one. And be sure to get the cannoli's, they are the best I have ever had. read more

Went here for date night and it was one of the best experiences ever. The place is small and cute and the decor outside is absolutely lovely. The food was AMAZING, I got the vodka pasta and it was the perfect balance of creamy and tomatoey. On top of that, the tiramisu was one of the best I've ever had. It would be a crime to go to Cafe Milano and not get the tiramisu. In terms of the service, the people were lovely and made us feel extremely comfortable. A recommendation I have is to walk towards the La Jolla tide pools after sunset! read more

Cafe Milano - Vodka Pasta and Fettuccine Alfredo - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Lovely homely ambiance. And the chef *usually* cares about the food. But every once in a while they have truly spaced out servers, and then things disintegrate. A busy weekend evening a few days ago, our server forgot, in the first instance, to put in one order. When it finally came out, it was a dish we had not ordered. The initial wait having been 40 minutes, the next wait was 20 minutes. We thought that at least hopefully that meant they were taking care to do it right. But when the correct order finally came out, some of it was clearly undercooked and bore signs of haste. At the end of the evening, the bill was very high (this place is not cheap) for an ultimately frustrating meal. read more

I ordered the special with pasta an assortment of seafood and lobster. It wasn't cheap. My lobster tail was missing lobster meat on the tail. The claw had very little meat in it. I ordered a glass of Chardonnay, my pour was so small. We couldn't believe it. They never asked if we wanted another drink. They charge you for the bread, incredible. . Deco needs updated. They stare at you while you're eating. The food is not that good. We left cheated and unhappy. We will never go back. Disappointed. read more

This place is amongst my favorite Italian places in San Diego! The owners Pasquale and Sandra are SO sweet they greet you like family and you can tell Pasquale loves what he does and is so proud of his restaurant. The food was DELICIOUS we had the tortellini and the special of the day paired with a wine of Pasquale's suggestion. We finished with their homemade Tiramisu, which was lovely and perfectly balanced in flavor. Pasquale gave us a complementary moscato to go with our dessert. The ambiance takes you to an Italian Villa with live piano music at dinner time. A great place for a date or a meal with friends. This place is a gem. read more

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Hands down a phenomenal dining experience, staff super welcoming, food rich in flavor. Buffalo Burrata, beets, sun dried tomatoes with house made balsamic Lobster Ravioli in Vodka sauce Ricotta Cheesecake read more

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Excellent customer service & the food is spectacular. The owners will personally serve you and reccomend the best and most authentic food from SOUTH ITALY. HIGHLY RECCOMEND!!! read more

The moment you walk in to this cozy place, you feel like you are walking to your fav neighborhood restaurant. You immediately are welcomed by both owners who are busy taking orders, making sure you are enjoying the food and bringing you food, pasta is made from scratch, the sauces are amazing. Wr ordered fettuccine Amare and tortellini with lobster and word can describe how tasty and delicious these were that I can't wait to try other items on the menu. And also the wines and desserts, the prices are reasonable and well worth based on the quality...highly recommend!! read more

Cafe Milano - The owner and his car are waiting to serve you. - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

I love Cafe Milano. I think I could say that this is my most highly recommended date night spot. They give you bread and the most delicious balsamic sauce to enjoy with it. We ordered the caprese salad for our appetizer, and it was fresh and delicious. Love. For our entree, my boyfriend and I shared the fettucine Milano. The shrimp and sea scallops, along with the fresh pasta, was absurdly good. They also split it into two plates if you tell them you're sharing. How awesome is that? The DESSERT So the first time I came here was actually for dessert. I ordered a tiramisu and a lemon ripieno. Both great, but the tiramisu is KILLERRRRRR. Second time I went we passed on the tiramisu because we were so full. We did share the orange ripieno which was also good. Portions are big. Service is AWESOME. Food is simple, and yummy. read more

The place is super nice and cozy. It is a family owned restaurant. the Red sauce sphagetti bolognese was good but the dessert is the best thing I had. The Chocolate cake was the best dessert I've had in San Diego hands down!! read more

I found this place on Yelp - thanks! Take out was super easy. The gentlemen who answered the phone was very nice and told me the fettuccini was made fresh - and it sure tasted great! This is an authentic Italian restaurant. The food was so delicious. It brings back memories of Italy! Chicken Contadino - healthy and delicious. Great flavors! There was plenty of food! Fettuccini Milano - delicious. The flavors were really good. Plenty of shrimp, scallops and mushrooms! I ate the entire entree. Kids Bolognese - daughter ate her entire bowl. Kids lasagna - really good Mozzarella sticks - first thing that was devoured by my son I can't wait to try other items off the menu! read more

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Home style cooking. Great service. And cozy ambiance great selections. Egg plant Parmesan was delicious. read more

If the food delivery is any indication of this restaurant, I Will go in person ( have never been). The attention to detail, the quality of the menu is outstanding. By far the gnocchi with marinara sauce was the best I've ever had. The marinara sauce was smooth,subtle, wonderful! read more