The owner was very kind and present while we were there. The music was amazing and very soothing as well as the romantic mood lighting!! I definitely would go back because the food was to die for the artichoke was robust with flavor. I could go on for days but I highly recommend!! read more

Disappointing experience. The food was OK although somewhat pricy. The service was pleasant and attentive. But the thing that turned me off was when I received the check and saw an add-on charge to pay with a credit card. The server tried to tell me it was a new California law and that all restaurants are doing it now. Hogwash!! I spent 25 years in restaurant management. The credit card companies have charged the businesses a 3% fee for many years. That's not new, and it's a normal cost of doing business. Businesses just absorb that fee. You don't see your supermarket or clothing store charging you extra to pay with a credit card. You should rethink your policy or at least educate your staff on how to communicate the change. You should also post that information on the menu and your website instead of surprising your guests at the moment of payment. Most people these days don't arrive with large amounts of cash in their pockets. I felt swindled by this last minute trick. The surprise extra $5 on my bill is not a big financial issue, it just felt insulting, and it makes me not want to do business with you. read more

Excellent service an the food just scrumptious, we have tried everything on the menu Small intimate setting with dim lighting We will be back read more

Quiet, amazing service and food and they have a full bar. On my list to "go often"! Short rib dish, lasagne, and gnocchi pesto were amazing! read more

My wife found this hidden gem during our 4th of July weekend trip. We were staying at the Harrah's and wanted to get out for a nice dinner. Our food was amazing, the service was superb, with great ambiance. Strongly recommend if you are looking for a fine dinning experience. We had the Cesar salad (caution: salads are served in shareable portions) and it was amazing. I had the spaghetti carbonara and my wife enjoyed the salmone fresco. Both excellent choices . read more

This was a very cute place with great ambiance for a smaller town. The food was delicious and affordable, and they have a great and reasonably priced wine selection. The service was good until the end when our server disappeared after getting distracted with side work. Other than that she was great and super friendly. The main reason for the knock on a star is that they started mopping at least 15 minutes before it was even closing time with a good handful of tables still enjoying their meals. Just felt very tacky for such a nice place and slightly awkward. That's all. I'd still go back...just maybe try late lunch on a weekend next time. read more

Excellent food, staff and atmosphere! Honestly, one of the best Italian restaurants I have ever been to. It's well worth the trip.

First timer and look forward to next meal at this wonderful Italian place. Great service by Mirla! Had the artichoke Genovese appetizer, short rib and mushroom pappardelle pasta, and double pork chop with cognac mushroom sauce. Even took home leftovers! We were engaged at an Italian place in Bonsall more than 30 years ago and think this is the new place. Nice vibe and plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. read more

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We ordered takeout for our only experience here. Spaghetti & Meat Sauce was tasty, but the meatballs were spongy and felt like an odd add-on. Garlic Bread was burnt to a crisp and Caesar Salad consisted of yellow romaine. Lobster Ravioli was a bright spot. We expected much more from a restaurant who calls themselves fine dining. read more

Second time coming here! the food the drinks the ambience was AMAZING! This is true Italian food! They have a forever customer with us!

Delicious, friendly, best italian meal in town! I wish every restaurant had service like this! Just eat here already!

Had Dinner there with 8 of my friends, can't say enough about the ambience, service and cuisine. The appetizer were to die for, I recommend the stuffed artichoke the main courses were all made with fresh ingredients....they make their own pasta fresh every day, the stuffed eggplant parmesan I can't describe it....so good. The steaks and Pork Chops were out of this world. Best of all the Owner I believe his name was Leone was a gracious host and made sure of every detail of our dinning experience was unforgettable ....We will be back and we will tell all our friends. read more

Trashy and rude staff. Wife ordered a vegetarian meal and it came stuffed with sausage. Staff basically told us we were lying because they don't make a vegetarian risotto. Here's a screenshot of the VEGETARIAN label. Manager never addressed the issue and staff said he. Was too busy read more

Fresco Grill - Vegetarian risotto with pork sausage lol - Italian Near Me - Bonsall, California

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Waiter was good - on top of our requests and very friendly. Good wine and drink selection. My wife and I split the Insalata Di Noci. Good salad and enough for 2 people and they split it on plates for us with no extra charge. The salads my wife's parents got were huge but served in a bowl so lettuce kept falling out onto the table as they tried to get to the toppings, so maybe ask for a plate like they use to use to serve it on instead. My wife always gets the Ravioli Di Zucca. Smaller portion than the other dishes, but it's really good. I got the stuffed Pork Chop Valdostana and tried it with the mushroom sauce (there are 2 sauce options). Really-really good and the portions on the plate enough that I had a little meal to take home (normally I'm able to eat what I order). Definitely will order this again! read more

I took two steps into a quaint restaurant that instantly placed me in Italy. The ambiance was clean, comfortable and great customer service. As we were seated, we were greeted and immediately asked about beverages. The laughter and positive vibes of other customers brought a wonderful surrounding. The appetizers oh my goodness and then the dinners arrived. The food was amazing. I would definitely return again read more

Amazing food and service. Our server, Mirla, was fantastic. Highly recommend the rack of lamb and lava cake!

I met long time friends from the east coast there for dinner! Had to drive around the complex to find this gem, but well worth it! The food was excellent! Although we don't get to Bonsall, often! This place will be on the list for special meals! read more

This place was very calm, clean and beautiful. Our lovely waiter Andrea helped us and was SUPER nice. Helpful and beautiful! 100% recommend this place. read more

We've been eating here for many years. Everytime we come to the Lawrence Welk Resort, we have a fabulous meal At Fresco Grill. I always have the lamb chops. Wonderful! All of the pasta entries are very good, too. I'm so fpglad they arr still there. read more

My wife and I went to Fresco Grill in Bonsall to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. We had reservations for 6:00pm and was seated by the owner/chef of 22 yrs chef Leone. He was very cordial and friendly and welcoming. We decided to try the antipasti salad of mix greens with tomato, artichoke with a long stem, barassa cheese and prosciutto. The cheese really highlighted the dish it was soft and creamy with a mild taste. Almost like fresh mozzarella cheese but softer and creamier. The artichoke was amazing and ask the chef about it he said it is imported from Italy and marinates for 2 yrs. Dressing was a light balsamic dressing with a flavorful olive oil. I would give it 8 out of 10. We got the rack of lamb which was double cut 2 ribs of 4 cuts. It was delicious and I liked that it was not traditional Franced but had meant on the ribs to chew on. I had the Lasagne with homemade sheets of pasta with a flavorful bolognese sauce and topped with a light pomodoro sauce with creamy mozzarella.lamb 9 of 10, lasagne 8-10.. we had the tiramisu which was the highlight of the meal. 10 of 10. I would not hesitate to recommend this restaurant for family meals, sports, date or casual dining. Something on the menu for everyone. We will be back. Also learned that the chef runs 2 other Italian restaurants in downtown Carlsbad. We will try there next. read more

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Great service. & great food. what you expect from a chill italian restaurant. enjoyed watching chef marco make the pasta in the front of the house tonight. so fun. will be going back! read more

Fresco Grill - Italian Near Me - Bonsall, California

If you're looking for an authentic Italian experience, this restaurant is it. The ambiance is cozy and charming, making you feel like you've stepped right into Italy. The owner, who's also the head chef, really knows his stuff--he's from Italy and it shows we I explored the menu. I absolutely fell in love with the prosciutto burrata salad. It took me straight back to Tuscany! There's also a secret "off menu" appetizer of the artichokes... from what I learned from the waiter they are imported from Italy. This app is so good, you eat the whole article and they are sorta baby size- it's quite unique. The quality of the food is top-notch, and I was thrilled to learn they only use olive oil--NO SEED OILS! It's hard to find that these days. They have a fancy espresso machine... which is also tough to find in the Fallbrook/Bonsall area. Evon and Andrea made our cappuccinos and they had the same vibe from Venice... it must be the bean they use. If you want real Italian food made with love, you won't be disappointed here. I've tried about 50% of the pasta dishes and my recommendations would be ravioli di aragosta(lobster stuffed) or the spaghetti carbonara. The patio is pet friendly and has Edison bolbs everywhere so it's super fun for snapping photos when we get together with our friends. read more

We came to celebrate a pre Valentine's Day dinner. The ambiance was truly like you were in Italy. I tried the peach drink, I didn't care for. For appetizers we had the calamari which had a little spice to it but not too spicy just added flavor. The bread service was delicious. Freshly baked bread came with oil & vinegar. I had the seafood fettuccine in a red sauce which was very delicious. My friend had the special Halibut over gnocchi and risotto in a creamy green & white sauce. Both dishes were very delicious. Good portions. Friendly service. Would come back to try something different. read more

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Omgggg .... Don't come here... if you like delicious amazing fresh pasta! If you do then wow! This place is a gem. Our new favorite coming back from Italy. How is this tucked into the back roads of Vista/ Fallbrook??? Maria was an absolute legend with her recommendations. I ordered the carbonara (had this 2x in Italy) and this was hands down decadent and amazing. Husband had the lasagna.. layered in meats and cheese- good but maybe a touch jealous of my dish. With a nice Montepuciano it was a perfect combination. Will be stopping here after visiting the winery up the Road - Monserate - what a fun afternoon read more

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Food has been consistent. Love the happy hour portions. It allows you to taste several dishes without having too much food. Had a celebration dinner in the outer room at a large table. It was a great evening with food drinks and wonderful service read more

A shockingly distasteful experience the last time my family and I went that has permanently lost us as local customers (after frequenting their restaurant for over 2 years) Service has always been somewhat sub-par. That's partially why my last review lost a star. Hosts are never friendly and the servers are always phoning it in. However, the food had been very solid, which is why I have continued to go -- up until our most recent visit, which was supposed to be a special occasion Not only was my dish absolutely terrible, but the service was a complete disgrace. I got the lobster ravioli (which mind you, I have gotten EVERY single time I've gone for the past 2+ years) and it tasted kind of odd and was undercooked. The pasta was very hard and the dish was not enjoyable to eat. I also know it was not just me, as two other people in my party got the same dish and also claimed it tasted odd or had a weird texture. I called my server over and told her it was a bit weird and asked if it could possibly be remade. Not once was I rude or accusatory. If you're going to have a pasta dish that's roughly $30, imo it better be dang good. The manager comes to our table and approaches me in the most rude and accusatory way possible. He tells me in a gross tone that it is "always made like that" and that he "doesn't know what I even want." He appeared to be so riled up and loud for absolutely no reason. I think I was pretty clear in that I just wanted them to cook it longer? Mind you, he only singled out me despite two other people in my party having sent the dish back as well. I believe this is for a certain reason however I won't even get into that... Eventually, I get my dish back, and it tastes even worse. They also put two less ravioli than they normally do, probably as a petty jab. The lobster was extremely fishy (tasted kind of old?) and was not puréed. It was chunky and gross. I was able to stomach a few but couldn't even eat the rest. Apparently, the manager came back to apologize when I used the bathroom. Of course, he didn't apologize to me, the one person he'd singled out and accused of over-exaggerating. Instead, he apologized to my dad and uncle, then proceeded to blame the whole thing on the kitchen staff. How responsible and considerate of him. Oh and guess what? I had an upset stomach the following day. Yeah, something tells me the fish was spoiled or old. I simply just can't come back here and support this business. If your loyal customers come to you politely and tell you their dish is wrong, maybe it's wrong. Not once did I raise my voice or "complain" in a way that should have warranted that response. I will never be back here. Italian culture has always been extremely hospitable and welcoming. This restaurant is in no way a proper representation of that. Obviously, the quality and experience cannot keep up with the price... Want good Italian with good service? Try Ciao's in Vista, Blade 1936 in Oceanside, or Brother's Bistro in Fallbrook... read more

Alex was our server and he was so friendly and amazing! The food was so good especially the cheese ravioli, the sauce was so fresh and tasted amazing! We also had the tiramisu was so fresh and soft! I definitely recommend for any event or just a night out! recommend 100% read more

Fresco Grill - Cheese Ravioli al Formaggio di Capra - Italian Near Me - Bonsall, California

The Chef has made a few changes - which add nothing but flavor to menu items. The fettuccini with scallops and shrimp goodness, pure goodness The bruschetta - flavorful and perfect in presentation / my husband who would never try anywhere - absolutely LOVED IT !!! The balsamic drizzle killed it. Of course in the most delectable way. Such an awesome experience of flavor and well presented dishes. Thank you Chef Stas Excellent new touches!! read more

Fresco Grill - Special of the day pizza - so delicious - Italian Near Me - Bonsall, California

A bit disappointed. The inside was so warm. Hard to be comfortable. Seated right next to another table that had older people . Not smart when you have a 3 year old. Lots of room to sit. Meaning the waitress/staff should know better. Brought tap water, warm and no ice! All the food we ordered was so salty. Obviously the chef does not taste his own dishes. Not impressed and won't be back. Great location !! read more

Always great atmosphere and food. Love the local vibe, but sticking to some authentic Italian styles with many options. Andrea is so welcoming and gives great service! Always looking forward to coming back! read more

Of note, we went on Christmas Eve and it was packed! So that probably had an affect on our experience and meal. First, we did make a reservation but, upon arrival, was told we might have an additional 15 to 20 minute wait. I could see why. Again, packed! Every table in the dining area was taken, there were people standing outside and several standing around the host table waiting to be seated. As I approached the host, the customer in front of me was having a discussion about the party of 7 reservation for her that they could not find. Three of the women behind the host station were working to figure it out. Eventually, they had to ask her to wait and asked if they could help us. As noted, a wait time was mentioned but, since there were only two of us, the bar area was also mentioned. They have open seating in there and would serve a full dinner. We picked that option as we were hungry. We did find two seats quickly, both at the bar, but their eclectic choice of chairs made finding two that were of a good dining height challenging. After swapping a couple, the nice people sitting next to us let us know they were just done and we could have their chairs. Apparently they changed their seats and found some with the right height. Since it was packed, the three people working behind the bar with filling orders from the wait staff and taking care of the patrons at the bar. It took a bit to get our order in, get our bread and our meal but it wasn't horrible. They did forget to bring a salad we ordered but we cancelled it after receiving out entrees. The food was mixed, my risotto was piping hot and very good. My wife's braised beef pasta was lukewarm and tasted okay. We knew, based on the volume of customers they were going through that night, that this was probably as good as it was going to get. Overall, this seems like it would be a great place to visit when not quite as packed as they had a number of very tasty looking entrees on the menu. Pick your night carefully and...enjoy!!! read more

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We just moved to Bonsall and are so happy to have found affordable upscale dining that is not pretentious. Authentic, delicious food and ambiance. We already made plans to return with another couple! Our server was excellent! Next time: dessert! read more

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My Italian friends love Fresco Grill. I always order enough to take some home and relive the rapture.

Never got to try the food, so I won't comment on that. But called to make a reservation and change my mind by the tone of the staff voice, and a RUDE man answered. Answers the phone like it's a residential home, and won't identify him self, apparently doesn't like being questioned and hung up! Not a very customer friendly vibe, to say the least! So the 3 couples I was going to dinner with went to another Restaurant in Fallbrook! Let us remember there are many Choi out there. Very good ones too! read more

Living in Fallbrook, we have been wanting to try the Bonsall Fresco since we have been to the Carlsbad Fresco and loved the food ! These 2 restaurants do not share the same menu ! We had the veal piccata, very salty lacked depth of flavor , lemon was nowhere to be found . We also had the Fettuccine with Scallops and prawns , seriously under seasoned and the green pasta looked like lime green and was a total turn off ! If you are going to make a green pasta , maybe a much darker color to resemble a spinach or pesto color/ flavor ! The shrimp and scallops had zero char and was very bland !! Lastly the dishes were brought out luke warm, should just sent it all back but didn't since we were with 2 other couples and didn't want to have an awkward moment. ! read more

Visiting from AZ and this restaurant was recommended. Fresco Grill did not disappoint! Food was delicious and the service was great! Thank you Andrea! We will definitely be coming back. read more

Great place for groups. Balanced cocktails, great food and service. I recommend the short rib pasta, the veal scallopine (capers and lemon sauce), or the ravioli langosta (lobster) for mains. I really enjoy the caprese, or calamari to start. Save room for dessert because the limocello and creme brule are divine and freshly made. read more

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The food was decent overall. Of the four dishes we ordered, the short rib pasta stood out as very good, while the other three ranged from okay to slightly above average. The service was excellent, and the restaurant could have easily earned 4 stars if not for issues related to misrepresentation. First, drinks ordered at the bar during happy hour were "conveniently" charged to our table at full price, rather than the advertised happy hour rates. This alone was disappointing. Worse yet, the restaurant is still listed on the Synergy website as participating in their program, but when we attempted to use our Synergy card, staff informed us that the owner no longer honors it. Misleading customers in this way feels unethical and detracts significantly from what could've been a decent dining experience. read more

The Fresco Grill was delightful. My boyfriend and I went in with high hopes and Fresco did indeed deliver. We initially forgot to take pictures because the food was so good. The tiramisu is a must. It didn't even have a chance to be photographed! read more

Fresco Grill - Strawberry salad - Italian Near Me - Bonsall, California

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Beautiful restaurant, very clean & quiet. The staff is amazing and so attentive and the food is delicious.. we had the tomato bisque, halibut & gnocchi.. all amazing! And the lava cake for dessert was delightful. We live in Riverside and its well worth the drive, such a wonderful experience! Thank You read more

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