Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Cesarina

    4.7 (3.6k reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 9:30 PM

    By appointment only

    Updated a few days ago

    Cesarina Photos

    Business Info

    CESARINA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Romantic

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Cesarina

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Funghi pasta
    Bethany C.

    I really wanted to love this place however, I think my expectations must have been too high. The funghi pasta lacked a lot of flavor and the noodles were unevenly cooked. Some noodles were mushy while others were al dente. The mushrooms lacked any caramelization and left the dish feeling one dimensional. Service was good. I was able to get my order curbside. I can't speak to the interior, but the takeout was really pretty and the food was hot-ish. Some of the bread was warm, some was not, the donut was room temperature and pasta was hot! The donut was okay nothing special, but the whipped cream was thick, light and rich. Probably the best whipped cream I've ever had. I don't know if I'd come back. I was just really underwhelmed. Funghi pasta: 6/10 Bread: 7.5/10 caramelized onion focaccia was by far the best Donut filled with whipped cream: 6.5/10 Whipped cream: 10/10

    Mushroom based sauce - AMAZING
    Rosy C.

    This place deserves all the hype it gets! I highly recommend making a reservation, and if you're celebrating anything they do a great job of taking note of this and letting the server know. The food was great, I shared a bunch of dishes with my family so we could try everything and it was a good choice. There's a bunch of options between pasta styles and sauces that you can customize and pick from. Make sure to ask about their pasta of the day! The server did a lovely job of getting drinks and apps started, and kept coming by to check in with us. I love the touch of the free bread with the marinara to start! The restaurant is small, and has a good combination of outdoor seating and indoor seating. My favorite part of the whole experience was their INCREDIBLE tiramisu which I didn't even photograph because my group inhaled it in less than 1 minute. This is a great place to bring the family, have a cute date night or just to have a reason to eat out.

    Tableside tiramisu
    Lucy C.

    Well deserved 5 stars! We made a reservation for 2 at 7 about a week before. It was definitely busy so I'd recommend making a resi. We were sat quickly and our server Pablo was wonderful. The free focaccia with Mediterranean sauce was delish. We opted for the super cioppino and the build your own (Mafalde, Pomodoro, and meatballs). Both were very tasty and came out quickly. We spilt the 2 dishes and still came home with leftovers for us to eat another meal. We were dining for our anniversary and our server gave us free tiramisu on the house. Sad we don't live in SD or we'd be regulars!

    Romesco and Vodka Rigatoni
    Julie B.

    For a birthday celebration, the staff helped make it special with a birthday tiramisu dessert and a Polaroid photo. We also enjoyed building our own pastas--our favorite was the arrabbiatissima, though we weren't as big a fan of the romesco and vodka vegan sauce. The outdoor patio has a relaxed, refreshing ambiance, the service was excellent, and we appreciated the chance to build our own negroni. Still a great Italian option if you're in the PL neighborhood.

    Build your own pasta with funghi sauce & tartufona (truffle) sauce with side of meatballs
    Amy D.

    Cesarina is my favorite pasta place ever, and certainly one of my favorite restaurants in San Diego. You must have a reservation to dine there, as they do not take any walk-ins. The restaurant itself is so cute and intentional with all of the decor. They have beautiful colorful ceramic plates straight from Italy, fun rooster pitchers, and even their to-go boxes and bags are so prettily designed - every detail is well thought out. I would recommend sitting outside on the patio as it is so cute out there! The staff truly care about giving their customers a good experience. Now onto the food - I love a pasta with a creamy flavorful sauce, and Cesarina always delivers on that! I love doing the build your own pasta option, where you get to choose your pasta shape (mafalde is my personal favorite), your sauce (these rotate out throughout the year, but my 3 favorites are the boscaiola, funghi, and the tartufona [truffle]), and your topping (I will say I wouldn't recommend the meatballs, but any of the cheese toppings are lovely). They also provide delicious complementary bread with marinara sauce for dipping! For dessert, if you order the homemade tiramisu, they make it for you at the table and it is so fun and delicious. Truly such a wonderful restaurant! Can't wait for my next visit.

    Dessert
    Richelle S.

    I recently came here for an anniversary. Everything was amazing from start to finish! Our waiter was extremely helpful and gave honest recommendations which I really like. Their complimentary focaccia with the dip was really good. They even let us take extra to go! The mozzarella Milanese was probably my favorite dish. It was a nice appetizer to share with someone since it was a little big. The gnocchi gamberi was my next favorite. They put a good amount of truffle and it was super flavorful! They said it was limited though so I don't know how long they'll have it for. The tiramisu was also fantastic! Parking was a little expensive if you pay for the lot across. Overall everything was great. They even let us take a cute Polaroid (usually for birthdays) which was really nice!

    6/20/26
    Marcia R.

    What a relaxing setting with delicious freshly made pasta We all gather to enjoy a nice lunch time with family What a gem here I can't wait to have a dinner here This place is voted one the best here San Diego Our server was very polite with a great knowledge on all this dishes And specials also we all had the best pasta And rich sauces were phenomenal We all were very content They make a tiramisu at your table That's amazing next time

    Joy J.

    i visited SD a year ago in july for my birthday... and because a birthday girl can't think ahead, i didn't reserve in time to visit cesarina... to my very sad dismay, i told myself next time. I did NOT think i'd be in SD this soon again, yet tis was the year, AND I FINALLY RESERVED THIS TIME RAAAHHH :PPP I loved loved loved the make your own pasta concept. the forgot what we both ordered for our pastas, but they were DELICIOUS. you can absolutely taste it's made in house. its unbelievably pricy if you want to add proteins or anything, but it was nonetheless delicious. I will say it's mainly the presentation that wows, because any fresh pasta place would be this yummy ykyk. but if you want the date-night-once-in-a-while-time-out experience, this place is beautiful. plus, the service is AMAZING. they constantly checked up on my table, i never went a second without water. not only did i recieve tiramisu for my birthday dessert... BUT THEY TOOK A POLAROID PIC OF US TOO :,D SOOO CUTE!! very very yum, warm, welcoming... but come with the budget queens im a broke college student--

    caprese tiepida
    Vanessa D.

    cesarina is my go to Italian date night restaurant! they have yet to disappoint me with their dishes. though the menu hardly changes they are consistent with the quality of their dishes. if you want something different make sure to ask for their monthly specials! the vodka pasta is my favorite and langoustine on top with shrimp is my go to! we tried the caprese and it was so tasty! the eggplant complimented the burrata well. my favorite appetizer from them is the polpo croccante! parking is difficult as most is residential and there is no dedicated lot for them however i love celebrating special occasions here and they always have amazing service! i'd recommend ordering wine to pair with your pasta and enjoy the ambiance of the restaurant!

    cannoli
    Riley W.

    SOOO I finally got to try the famous 'Cesarina'!!!! Wowowow I was blown away. The decor of the restaurant, both inside and out, is clearly meticulously handpicked & thought out. It is absolutely beautiful. They have wonderful music playing at a reasonable volume to accompany watching raviolis be made right in front of you! The service is exceptional. We never had to even think of needing water, menus, anything extra - it was brought before we anticipated it! Our server Tommy was wonderful & thought of everything. Now, the best part - the FOOD!! Their pasta is so obviously handmade in house, the texture and butteriness of the noodles was extraordinary. I ordered the fettuccine with the vegan mushroom sauce & added shrimp - divine. I think one of my favorite parts of the menu is the pricing with vegan items. Too many times vegan items are doubled in price & they had everything equal - INCLUDING the DELICIOUS cannolis!!! Such a wonderful experience. I cannot wait to be back!

    Jasmine H.

    We ordered a lot of food because I wanted to try everything. The pastas here were all sooo good. The shrimp was definitely worth it. I would skip the lasagna alla bolognese and the super cioppino and the pollo alla scarpariello. Just stick to the pasta here. The paccheri vodka and scampi is a MUST GET! We also ordered the funghi with mafalde pasta. Also soo good. I can't wait to come back and try more pastas. The interior is so playful and also romantic at the same time? Service was fast and we were in and out of there rather quickly.

    Jamie F.

    After hearing good reviews about Cesarina, I made reservations to celebrate a friend's graduation on a weekday afternoon for lunch. I'm so glad we made the stop even though we had to find street parking. The servers were really kind and attentative and checked in multiple times to make sure we had bread, water, or needed anything. For the appetizer, we ordered the polpo croccante which our server recommended to have alongside with the complimentary bread. It was very savory, and went on the bread like spread. The octopus was very tender and beautifully roasted. For the entrees, we ordered the Arrabbiatissima, funghi, and paccheri vodka and scampi pasta. All the pasta was fresh and perfectly creamy. For the tiramisu, the staff prepared it on sight with a moka pot and the house-made ladyfingers which ended our lunch on a sweet note. I would definitely come here again to celebrate.

    E J.

    Phenomenal. First time here and it was just as incredible as we were told by friends. The food and drinks were to die for. The pastas... all handmade. Just wow. Tiramisu was UNREAL. What truly made our experience special... and really over the top was our server, Trinity. Wow. Talk about someone being AMAZING at their job. She really took her time with us, answered questions and laughed and joked with us. She was warm and friendly and we didn't wait for anything. Literally from start to finish - perfect dining experience, thanks to her. Her menu knowledge and recommendations were impressive and perfect for us. We had such a wonderful time and we cannot wait to be back. Special shout out to Trinity. You're an absolute rockstar, girl. You made our entire night. We will come back and see you when we are back in town. Cheers and thank you so so much.

    Steak & bone marrow

    See all

    4 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    6 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Raffy S.
    16
    29
    18

    7 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    14 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    17 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    21 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    24 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    24 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 5
    Love this 10
    Oh no 0

    11 hours ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of E J.
    7
    119
    24

    13 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Pam M.
    509
    518
    7181

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    12 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    17 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    21 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 5
    Oh no 1

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 4
    Oh no 2
    Photo of Ally R.
    46
    71
    29

    22 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    4 months ago

    Helpful 95
    Thanks 34
    Love this 99
    Oh no 1

    29 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 2

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 91

    Cesarina Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Cesarina

    Gluten free options?

    Yes! They have gluten-free pasta and they are very careful to not cross-contaminate. My niece has severe allergies to gluten, dairy, and nuts and she ate here perfectly fine! Even had a sorbet for dessert!

    Can i dine at the bar?

    Yes, I dined at the bar during my experience there.

    Is it a dog friendly place?

    Ciao Mellion, Grazie Mille for reaching out to us! Well-mannered dogs are always welcome on our… 

    Do you sell gift cards so that I can give one as a birthday present to my son?

    Buongiorno Khoa, Yes, we do sell Gift Cards. If you would like to purchase a physical Gift Card you… 

    Do you serve pizza?

    Buongiorno Kiran, Grazie Mille for reaching out! We do not serve Pizza at Cesarina.… 

    What is the suggested dress code?

    I’d say it’s casual/business casual. Of course depending on your occasion, date night/birthday you can always dress up a little more. I’ve gone in athleisure as well as a nice blouse/dress and it was fine. Enjoy!

    Is the restaurant dog friendly? I couldn't find a reference on the Website

    Yes! There is two patios , I don't believe dogs are allowed inside. The patios are great though blankets & heaters provided.

    Do you have dairy-free options on your menu? Or can certain dishes be requested to be made without any butter/dairy? I have a member in my family who is lactose intolerant.

    Buongiorno Amy Grazie Mille for reaching out to us! Please note that DAIRY is used in our kitchens,… 

    Gluten free options?

    The have gluten free dishes such as meatballs (polpette) in sauce, salads, and steak (tagliata) but not gluten free pasta. Hopefully they will add at least one option in the future.

    How can I make a reservation? Is there noise or would I have to call to make a reservation?

    You can make a reservation online through opentable!

    What is the corkage fee? Are u allowed to bring your favorite wine?

    Ciao! Grazie Mille for reaching out to us! Our corkage fee is as follows:… 

    Where can I park my car if I want to have dinner at this place?

    Buongiorno Angel, Grazie for reaching out to us!… 

    Is this restaurant reservation only?

    Ciao Tracy, We are not only reservation-based, walk-ins are always welcome. We do not have a designated walk-in area in our dining rooms therefore table availability is… 

    Do you all still offer brunch?

    Buonasera Vivienne, Grazie Mille for reaching out to us! Unfortunately, we no longer offer Brunch… 

    We have a reservation today and I can't seem to get in touch with anyone via the telephone. Wanted to modify our reservation. Please advise?

    Ciao Veevy, you can call us at 619 226 6222, Ext 2. We are here and the phone is working.… 

    Are you guys going to bring back calamari in the menu?

    Buongiorno Thuy! Grazie Mille for reaching out to us. We currently no longer feature it on the… 

    Do you have a happy hour menu?

    Buongiorno Glaucia, Grazie Mille for reaching out to us. No, unfortunately, we do not have a… 

    How come the carbonara isn't on the menu? Can I still order it?

    Buongiorno Nicolas, Unfortunately, we no longer offer the Carbonara. We change our menu a few… 

    Can I order take out?

    Yes I saw many people picking up takeout orders.

    How much is the corkage fee?

    Buongiorno Pearl, find our Corkage fee below:… 

    View All 46 Questions

    You might also consider

    Slowly Restaurant & Lounge - Bonfire Espresso Martini

    Slowly Restaurant & Lounge

    4.6(166 reviews)
    3.9 miPacific Beach
    $$
    Private events
    Outdoor seating

    Sip, savor & unwind during Social Hour…read more Where every sip & bite unfolds in perfect time Enjoy $1.50 oysters , $8 slow starters, $5 off cocktails & mocktails, $6 draft beer + wines, and $7 margaritas Don't skip the bites: Tortitas de Papa with creamy poblano sauce Handmade seasonal flatbread Chimichurri Burger with crispy onions Mango Habanero Wings Truffle Fries (because fries deserve a glow up) Plus add a bottle of Champagne, Pinot Grigio, or House Red for only $16.99 Social Hour: 4PM-6PM (excluding Thurs.) Late Night: Fri & Sat 9PM-11PM Gather your happy hour crew and indulge

    My husband and I went to dinner with a friend on a Sunday evening. First, the good, it wasn't…read moreparticularly busy, the staff was friendly, and it was a cute restaurant. They apparently have happy hour all day on Sundays. I tried the peach mocktail and it was very yummy, so I appreciated the $5 off. For dinner, I ordered the branzino (the one on the menu and not the special). I was told while the one on the normal menu was $47, the special was $55 and the only difference between the two was the special would be lit on fire table side. I didn't feel the flames were necessary, so I skipped that. (However, the special did mention a sauce that I'm not sure was actually on the regular one, so I don't actually know.) A few minutes before the food came out, they asked if we wanted it all together or if it would be ok for my husband and our friends food to come out first since they were still finishing my fish. I said to just bring it out when it was ready, however they ended up bringing it out together anyway. The confusing part though, all of our meals weren't served warm? You'd think if they were waiting on mine to be done it would have been at least warm? It wasn't. The branzio was very plainly seasoned, tasted heavily of oil and was also somewhat dry? I got it with the whipped sweet potatoes, which was very creamy, which was unlike any way I've ever had sweet potatoes before, but they didn't taste particularly good? We each tried them and none of us could figure out what it was like, but we all agreed we didn't enjoy them. My husband got the arrecherea, it was fine, but also cold. The fries it came with was probably the best part, they were crispy even while being cold. Our friend got the stuffed Mediterranean Stuffed Pepper, his meal also wasn't warm, and he said some of the rice wasn't cooked all the way and it was hard. We also got the Puccia Bread & Spreads after seeing positive reviews. I normally love feta cheese, but the feta dip was kind of sweet? Same with the eggplant. The only spread that was good was the butter. Personally, I thought the bread was fine? But it was almost a bit doughy. Overall, we weren't very impressed with the meal. It had a lot of potential, but the food just didn't hit the mark.

    Photos
    Slowly Restaurant & Lounge
    Slowly Restaurant & Lounge - $1.50 Oysters Are Back. *Social Hour Only

    $1.50 Oysters Are Back. *Social Hour Only

    Slowly Restaurant & Lounge - Limoncello Negroni, Dragonfruit Margarita, and Yuzu Mezcal Sour -- some of our most popular cocktails in Pacific Beach

    See all

    Limoncello Negroni, Dragonfruit Margarita, and Yuzu Mezcal Sour -- some of our most popular cocktails in Pacific Beach

    The Cordova Bar - Martinis at The Cordova Bar.

    The Cordova Bar

    4.7(224 reviews)
    2.8 miLinda Vista
    $$

    Stopped by here after dinner and had a blast. This place is a vibe…read more They had a DJ. There's plenty of seating, both indoors and outdoors. Service was awesome from start to finish, and the drinks were reasonably priced, which is always a plus. They're dog friendly, which is awesome. Overall, it had a great crowd and an easy, laid-back atmosphere. Definitely a fun spot to hang out.

    Dope cocktail bar in Morena area. Just dropped in on a routine Saturday night for 1 cocktail and…read moreended up having many lolol They had a DJ in playing which was cool and kept the vibes right for the night (although I think the volume could have been a bit lower as I felt like I had to yell to talk or do the awkward lean in to hear). Bartenders were cool. Nick was our fave though for sure. He made some mean cocktails. Solid liquor selection plus a list of cocktails to choose from. I initially ordered the something and picante (can't remember the full name) and found it to be way too sweet. Then switched to a basic Lalo with soda and lime to cleanse my palette. After tried their version of an espresso martini which was quite good but made with nitro brew and kahlua so a bit on the sweeter side. I ended the night with my fave drink though which was a Hugo spritz and it was perfectly balanced. Definitely will be going back, especially for the love band Sundays. Parking is all street parking.

    Photos
    The Cordova Bar - Happy Hour 5-8PM features specials on Martinis, Craft Beer on Tap, Wine and Wells.

    Happy Hour 5-8PM features specials on Martinis, Craft Beer on Tap, Wine and Wells.

    The Cordova Bar - Peanut Butter Espresso Martini

    Peanut Butter Espresso Martini

    The Cordova Bar - Classic Martini $10 During Happy Hour 5-8PM

    See all

    Classic Martini $10 During Happy Hour 5-8PM

    Cesarina - italian - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...