Catania is the perfect spot if you're looking for dinner with spectacular ocean views.

Just a fantastic little gem in La Jolla. Did lunch here and had a delightful time outside on the patio with great views and food. Service was wonderful with a very attentive Serilia. Napolian style pizza is this places secret power. Just incredible. Had multiple pastas, salad and the arancini, all were wonderful. Highly recommend. read more

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Catania is a really nice Italian restaurant located in La Jolla. Their seating is on the third floor so you have a nice view and many seating options are located on their terrace (this place would be great for a date). I dined alone and was quickly seated with a nice view of the street below. My waiter promptly took my order and my food came out quickly and hot. I tried only one dish, their branzino (4.5/5; this preparation has the branzino roasted to perfection and served whole with a lemon, butter, caper, parsley sauce alongside clams with breadcrumbs and charred broccolini and asparagus. Overall, this was a very sophisticated dish. Every component had a role and paired well together. Clams aren't my favorite so I may have enjoyed this dish more with mussels or shrimp but the clams were cooked well. When the fish first came out, I worried that I would still be hungry when finished but the serving size is perfect for one person. The lemon sauce was really well done (I requested a spoon). The dish was quite satisfying and i actually enjoyed it more as I ate my meal. My biggest complaint is honestly the price. At $47, this is a pretty pricy dish, so I'm not sure that I would order it again. Overall, I enjoyed my meal at Catania and would definitely come back to try their homemade pasta! read more

Catania - CAT Whole Roasted Branzino - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

Beautiful views. Food was divine. Vibes were romantic and dreamy. Service was wonderful. Recommend going here for date night.

Typical downtown parking may be difficult to find. This place is on the second floor and offers a nice sunset view. Pizza crust is delicious. I ordered the squash pizza and not sure if it's the pesto or the squash but the pizza is really oily and does not hold up if you use one hand (oil ran down my entire arm). Green salad and kale salad are both great. Pastas are also good and rich.. very filling. read more

Catania - Squash pizza - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

Pretty good Italian restaurant, delicious food and all the staff were super nice and hospitable. Our appetizers came out quick but our entrees took some time but our server made it up for us with dessert. Reasonable prices, ambiance was nice very modern. I recommend this place read more

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Great local place , excellent food and great service. Many food choices and dessert options. read more

I was happily surprised by Catania , It's honestly one of the best Italian restaurants in San Diego. I started with the smoked liver crostini and It was phenomenal,a heavenly balance of duck liver richness and holiday flavors. I also got to try the foccacia bread and the ziti pasta ,both equally tasty and decadent. The panacotta was a nice lighter touch to finish a rich and delicious dinner. The staff was very pleasant and accommodating . I recommend this place 100% , they truly deserve their Michelin mention . read more

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4.5 Came here at 5 pm on a weeknight in Spring and was able to snag a cute little table on the patio (covered) It's a rooftop restaurant with covered outdoor seating, a small amount of uncovered outdoor tables with a view, and indoor dinning options, too. The only strange (to us) thing was... it was a warm 70 degrees outside (and very sunny!); they had heaters blasting down upon the outdoor tables, it was so, so hot! But maybe it gets chilly later at night? The service was lovely! From the sweet guy who kept refilling our water (yummy orange infused water) to the friendly server who answered all our questions and helped us settle on pizza! Mmmm, pizza. We went with the classic Margherita and the more adventurous mushroom pizza which was a white pizza. They were so good! Lots of flavor, perfectly wood-fired, and made with quality ingredients. The space itself was also charming and welcoming and just good vibes all the way around. Will definitely come back next time we're in town! read more

Catania - Mushroom - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

Truly a great dining experience last night at Catania! We had a reservation for 630pm and were seated promptly at an outside hightop with a panoramic view of downtown La Jolla and the Pacific Ocean. The rooftop setting is truly beautiful and adds to the overall romantic ambiance of the restaurant. Well-placed mood lighting and space heaters added to the coziness and made sitting outside comfortable even with the early fall chill. We ordered the crispy octopus, wild mushroom pizza, and ziti alla genovese. While the octopus was a bit on the small side, we found it delicious combination when paired with the capers and lamb sausage. The pizza was also great, on par with any pizzas I've had in Italy, including in the actual Sicilian city of Catania! The ziti was also a highlight...cooked perfectly with braised beef that was melt-in-the-mouth tender. To top off the experience, all of the wait staff was extremely kind and helpful. Being La Jolla, some restaurants can tend to the stuffy side, but I did not feel that at all at Catania. This place definitely exudes the laid-back California coastal vibe that we love so much here in San Diego. Highly recommended! I'll be back! read more

This restaurant is perfect for brunch on the weekends. We chose outdoor seating to indulge the beautiful San Diego weather. It was a tad bit windy, but they have outdoor heaters & those plastic window-like covers to save us from the wind. The ambiance was simple, beautiful, & very open. Plenty of space for bigger groups. We even get a great view to overlook La Jolla & see the shops while we people watched. It's a vibe. Drinks: I forgot what my girlfriend got, but I ordered the Pressato mocktail. It has grapefruit, thyme & ginger. It was so refreshing & felt like a sip of Spring & Summer in a glass. I liked it a lot more than I thought I would. Appetizers: Arancini-Perfectly fried cheese balls. The outside was so crispy while inside was hot, cheesy & gooey. My girlfriend & I enjoyed these for sure Kale salad-I normally despise kale, but if it's cooked right, it's amazing. They definitely prepared this right because I really liked it. It was crispy, crunchy, & I think the anchovy vinaigrette dressing really made the dish. Smoked Duck Liver Crostini-This was both of our favorite dish! Everything about it was great. The smokiness of the duck, the different textures from the golden raisins, pickled shallots, & almonds together really pulled this dish together. This is a MUST try. Entrees: Rigatoni Alla Genovese-I ordered this because I overheard one of the waiters hyping it up at another table & I was craving some kind of pasta. The braised beef was so flavorful, but not overpowering in the best way. I recommend this to any pasta lover. My girlfriend ordered the pizza which was good too. Service: Immaculate. Our server checked on us often & our drinks were never empty. He was friendly & gave us great recommendations. 10/10, would come back again! read more

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My family and I came by for dinner and we were seated in the courtyard patio area with one very toasty heat lamp. To begin, our kale salad was tender and flavorful. The wild mushroom and Sicilian pistachio pizzas were quite tasty though the whole garlic cloves on the former were slightly overpowering and clashed with the mushrooms. Delving in pastas, the bucatini alla amatriciana's tomato presence was similarly overpowering though the signature duck sugo orecchiette warm earthy notes were great. Dessert turned out to be the highlight of our meal as the vanilla panna cotta, nutella semifreddo, and chocolate nemesis were all exceptional. I especially enjoyed the semifreddo's texture and balanced hazelnut flavor. Our server was lovely and took excellent care of us throughout the evening. Overall, a good Italian spot but there are considerably better out here in SoCal. read more

was really looking forward to this dinner with another couple but - we arrive and were told our reservation was for the next night- even after we show them our confirmation from open table, then we get a long explanation how -open table does this often to them and automatically will switch the date??? What??? but our confirmation was for that night- whatever- but seems if this happens enough to them why don't they do something about it? Started with great cocktails and AMAZING SERVICE from Kevin. We took most of his suggestions- ap[pies were wonderful. The our entrees arrived and each of them was so over salted we hardly could eat them. We really shared the steamed fish for all of us because the others were inedible, The shrimp Mezzaluna that sounds so amazing we had to send back. It seemed whoever made the stuffing added way to much salt but also didn't stir the stuffing enough- and we tasted no lemon or tarragon. We all like salt- but this was just to much. Kevin took it to the kitchen and we did appreciate the chefs honesty- We were told that the chef tasted our dish and said the stuffing was over salted so they couldn't just give us a new dish- because they would all be like this- it was in the prep. Since all the dishes were so salty- seems the prep is off in kitchen, just hope they didn't serve at least this dish to any others. We finished our wine, ordered bread for something to be in our stomach and left for a different restaurant to be able to have dinner. Kevin was wonderful but we won't be back- with the 4 hostesses all telling us "open table" issues and all the dishe4s so salty just seems no one is really "running" the restaurant anymore. read more

I needed a place to eat that was open late on a Sunday and stumbled on to this while being unfamiliar with the area. Ok wow romantic outdoor seating with my date, Amazing food, extremely fast service. Food look absolutely beautiful. read more

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A fantastic Italian restaurant in the best location of La Jolla!! This restaurant offers the authentic and great Italian dishes with amazing service and Italian hospitality. While staying in La Jolla, we went there twice. I've heard that their chef goes to Italy every year to learn and experience new things. This is very important to introduce new things on the menu. We just loved everything about this restaurant and highly recommend it. read more

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Made a reservation to celebrate a friend's birthday. It did not disappoint. This is the perfect place to have a great dinner and celebrate occasions. The ambiance is great and if you are a seat by the terrace, you get a great view. We ordered the squash pizza which was delicious. Simple and very tasty. For the main course, I had a pasta with duck and it was phenomenal. The portion was generous with a garlic sauce that was amazing. For desert, we had a chocolate cake that it was perfect! Not too sweet but not too dark. Also, they have a great wine selection. I highly recommend it and I will return to try other things on the menu. read more

Catania - Squash pizza - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

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Great food and even better service. Our server Malcom was extremely helpful and knowledgeable of the wines offered. Cheers to the kitchen as well , the food was delicious and Chef Brandon made it an even more memorable night. Even the host and hostess were very kind. read more

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The restaurant looks great and has a nice vibe, but the food didn't really stand out. Flavors were pretty average for the price, and no bread was offered, which felt a bit odd for an Italian place. read more

Catania - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

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Food, service (Nick the bartender), and ambiance were perfect. We stopped in after shopping and stayed for 3 hours. The bar is half inside and half outside, with heaters available outside in February. I feel like the food deserves casual street wear, however we were in casual work out wear and felt very comfortable. Drinks are has crafted and delicious. Nick was mixing drinks all night long and still able to hold conversation with customers. The octopus and cauliflower apps are delicious! First time I've ever had a whole head of cauliflower in a restaurant. Don't second guess, make a reservation! read more

Catania - Cauliflower app - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

Went for an early Valentines Day celebration and had a great night! Our waitress was so kind and attentive, even splitting our shared pasta into two bowls and timing every entree to arrive at just the right moment. The aperol spritz, which I judge every Italian restaurant on, was stellar! It was a cozy environment with just the right touch of comfort and class. I thought the presentation of the cauliflower was beautiful, and the Nutella dessert was so intriguing with a variety of unexpected flavors and textures that you really just have to go and order it to understand how spectacular it was! We will be returning for a lunch to experience the ocean view sometime soon. Happy eating:) read more

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Came here for lunch after a fun morning at the SD Zoo. It was surprisingly easy to make a reservation. Had a great time -- the views of the ocean and the shops below and vibes were perfect. Our server Kristen was very attentive and friendly. Food was fantastic -- we got the pate crudite, pistachio pizza, duck sugo and the bucatini. We are planning to come back again soon! read more

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First time trying Catania! Highly recommend. Did not take pictures of the food, but the past was really good. Host and waiters were very friendly, we were attended by Kevin who gave us great suggestions to order. The place is very cute and has great views! read more

Really cute restaurant and great Italian. We had the bucatini and Orecchiette. I liked the Orecchiette a lot more, but both were great. Wide selection of drinks and cocktails. Sat on the patio and thought the view at sunset was beautiful read more

Catania - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

Definitely one of THE BEST restaurants in San Diego. The fresh house made pastas are to die for. We shared the Peach & Prosciutto Crostini, the Duck Sugo Orecchiette and the Ziti Alla Genovese and the Summer Salad. All were spectacularly prepared and super delicious. For dessert we couldn't resist the Dessert Trio with Semifreddo, Panna Cotta and the Chocolate Nemesis. The Semifreddo was 1000% the star of the dessert show. I'd make a reservation again just for that. The staff at Catania were so friendly and attentive but casual and relaxed too. Trust me this is a reservation you need on your calendar. We can't wait to go back. Thank you to the entire team at Catania. Our dinner with old friends was a smashing success. read more

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Food - 7.5/10 definitely overhyped but the pasta was cooked perfect al dente, I don't think the duck bread appetizer is as amazing as everyone says it is. I was underwhelmed. Service - 10/10 our waiter was great read more

Catania - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

I recently came here to celebrate my cousin's birthday. I have dined at Catania before but it was my cousin and my friend's first time there. We absolutely loved everything we ordered. We usually do more of a family style so we can taste a little bit of everything and for the 3 of us, we ordered the kale salad, grilled prawns, pizza focaccia, Sicilian pistachio pizza (substituted the pork for mushrooms), and the tagliatelle alla portofino (with chicken added). Everything was hot, fresh, and flavorful. We didn't have any leftovers because the food was that good! For dessert the options were too great to skip out on, so we did the dessert trio (great option for the price). We devoured everything leaving no crumbs. Since it was my cousins birthday they also brought a complimentary gelato with 3 fruit flavors that were amazing. We really got to try their whole dessert menu which was great! The inside of the restaurant is very elegant and we sat on the patio to enjoy the views of downtown La Jolla. I want to highlight our waitress, Valerie, who was AMAZING! She's always coming up to you with a smile, had genuine conversations with us, and really ensured our experience at Catania was a great one. There was a guy (whose name I didn't get) that would fill our water that was incredibly friendly and offered to take our photos that night as well. My cousin and friend as first time diners here are eager to come back again with their husbands for a date night and I would certainly come back again. :) read more

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I never write reviews however am compelled to after a next level dining experience. First, I greatly appreciated their ample selection of sophisticated mocktails. For appetizers, there were numerous creative and original options. We had the delectable crispy octopus over lentils, crudo over a bright and fresh yogurt melon sauce, the most tender lamb ribs I've ever had (not to mention I rarely see lamb ribs on a menu) and a tender green salad with the loveliest, light dressing. All dishes were stunning, presented with courteous and smart service. We closed out our meal with a piping hot, hearty and intensely satisfying pasta dish with smoked duck. Perfection! This restaurant is very special and clearly the chef and owners have poured much love, creativity and intelligence in making this So. Cal dining experience possible. read more

Fresh and soft with a crispy outer layer with great flavor. Hand made noodle and sauce was awesome.

All around amazing dinner. The pizza felt like authentic italian with fresh ingredients and the pasta was even better. The service was very prompt and the balcony has a relaxing view of La Jolla from one floor above street level. Prices are no more than the average for the area, so think of Catania as a value for the level of service you'll receive. read more

Catania - Menu - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

Awesome views, ambiance is lovely, service is spectacular. The food though is quite lacking. The pasta and even the mushroom pizza were insanely salty. I've had plenty of Italian food, and I've never tasted anything as salty as this place. Parking is street parking in La Jolla Downtown. So add in an extra 10-30 minutes for your trip here. Catania is on the third floor in the corner building, and I couldn't find the stairs so I had to take an elevator haha read more

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We live this place. This was the one place we always want to make sure to eat at again whenever we're back in La Jolla. Every time we've been here the food has been amazing. This was my first time trying the pizza and I should have tried it sooner. I loved the pistachio and pistachio pizza and didn't expect it to be so good. We also always make sure to get the wood roasted cauliflower. It's our favorite appetizer. read more

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Delicious seafood, I had the cod and it was perfectly done. Bought the kitchen staff a sixer (its on the dessert menu) and they were beyond appreciative... so worth it! read more

We had a great dinner and were seated in the outdoor patio. I had the octopus, mushroom pizza, nutella semifreddo and cantucci. My favorites were the octopus and cantucci. The octopus was flavorful and tender. It's the best octopus I've eaten. The cantucci was a dessert cocktail similar to an espresso martini, but with amaretto and biscotti liqueur. It's was well balanced and not boozy. Service was friendly and timely. The patio was full on a Sunday evening and we didn't experience any delays. read more

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I'm a local and been here a few times over the years. Sat at the bar and was pretty much ignored for the first 5 minutes, as the bar tender was chatting it up with the people sitting right next to me. Not a glance, not a look, not a "welcome" or "be right with you". He walks away. He comes back. He cleans up some dishes, again right next to me. Nothing I've never worked in food service, but I have to believe this is not the standard. Bar was not packed, I would say a little more than half-full. Not sure if I will be back again. Good food, but the bar service was pitiful to say the least. read more

We celebrated our anniversary at Catania last Monday, and the entire experience was unforgettable. From the start, the hostess was amazing--she extended our reservation when my wife's flight was delayed and even guided me over the phone to find the restaurant on the 3rd floor. That level of kindness set the tone for the evening. When we arrived, we were greeted with a personalized menu that read "Happy Anniversary," a thoughtful touch that made the night feel truly special. The food, combined with the warm service and coastal ambiance, created a night we'll never forget.It was our first time at Catania, but it certainly won't be our last. read more

Food was delicious, hostess was so kind, wonderful view. Loved the mushroom pizza and duck pasta read more

Catania - Birthday celebration - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

First visit. Had a group of 7. Server recommended family style. We started with meatballs, arancini, octopus, and crudo. All were delicious but the star of that course was the star was the smoked duck liver crostini. Elegant. We had two salads. My favorite was the citrus salad. We shared the wild mushroom and the Italian meat pizzas. Great crust and balance. Pasta course wrapped it up with Taglaliatelle, and Duck Sugo Orecchiette. The tagliatelle was our favorite. Accompanied with two nice bottles of Brunello di Montalcino. Very nice experience. read more

First, Kevin H was one of the best service professionals I've experienced. The food was lovely. Arancini with a touch of saffron was very good. The Italian meat pizza was perfect, seems simple but the flavors were above average. Now, the best for last ... the frozen, whipped Nutella and sea salt dessert was unlike anything I've ever tasted. Simple but complex and everything you want to end the meal - light and just the right amount of sweet. Get the dessert trio. In La Jolla -just go! read more

Excellent service. Very attentive. Yummy food. Parking somewhat of a challenge but the ocean view made up for the effort.

Catania is a winner. We celebrated our anniversary here and could not have been more pleased with our choice. They even printed "Happy Anniversary" at the bottom of our menus--a thoughtful and memorable touch. The service was terrific. I wish I remembered our server's name; he was attentive, warm, and genuinely kind throughout the evening. We shared the Italian Meat pizza and a butternut squash pasta dish--both were fresh, flavorful, and absolutely delicious. To top it off, our server surprised us with a decadent slice of flourless chocolate cake on the house and again wished us a happy anniversary. The setting is beautiful; we sat on the heated outdoor patio, which made the evening feel special. We also had the pleasure of meeting the manager and sharing our experience with him--he was very gracious and appreciative. We are very much looking forward to returning the next time we visit La Jolla. read more