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Italian Cucina

4.0 (117 reviews)
ModerateItalian
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ITALIAN CUCINA ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Quiet
Romantic
Classy
Good for kids

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Beef Short Rib Pappardelle
Lin J.

First time ever coming to Barona and had the pleasure of having this amazing dinner. I was so happy!! So delicious. The short rib was extremely tender and tasty. The pasta was cooked al dente and perfectly done. Will be back.

Braised short ribs was a dream
Chris P.

We had a great experience. The food was spectacular. The wine flowed like water and the service made the night completely magical. We got to dine in the private room so it made it that much more memorable.

Hunny Moon!
Tavelle A.

SURPRISE SURPRISE!!!! Ok it was the day after my wedding night! I'm already on a high from all the love and celebrating and amazing food... I didn't want to have high expectations for this Italian restaurant inside a casino!! But to my surprise this place kept the high going! I'm new to the Ahi Tuna game as a week prior introduction to Poke... this seared Ahi Tuna was phenomenal! The seared crust around the meaty tuna had the perfect flavor balance to complement a his bed of salad, made of different cold beans,olives ,sun-dried tomatoes and more! The chief put this together with intention and you can taste it!! Chief's kiss!!! WE LOVE ITALIAN CUCINA!!

Ribeye Steak
Bruski N.

We finally accepted our brother-in-law's invitation to Barona for Italian fine dining. Whoever thought fine Italian dining could co-exist at a casino? But Italian Cucina is legit. From appetizers to desserts, they offer a range of high-quality dishes. The ribeye steaks were perfectly cooked. My seafood dish was filled with clams, mussels, shrimps, scallops, 1/2 lobster, and salmon. The broth was decadent and flavorful. The service was friendly and a little more relaxed. We definitely will never turn down an invite to Italian Cucina again.

Filet Mignon
Mai H.

Cozy and romantic restaurant located inside Barona casino. I've dined here many times and the food is consistent each time. Service is usually good. It can get really busy, since they're only open during dinner on the weekends and Thursdays. Below are some of the items I enjoy: - House Salad (1 of the options that comes with your entree) - Seared lamb chops - Italian grilled cheese - Classic lasagna - Ribeye - Filet mignon (sometimes, could be a hit or miss) Their margaritas are huge and refreshing. Will keep coming back!

Carpaccio appetizer, margarita, espresso martini and mango margarita!
Clarissa D.

I had to try this Italian restaurant inside Barona Casino last night. We had an order of calamari and carpaccio and they were delicious! Their complimentary warm bread and butter are awesome! Now for the drinks, what I came here for was divine! I had an espresso martini and it was nice and smooth and frothy, really good! I truly enjoyed it. We also ordered a margarita and a Mango Margarita- it was so good I felt like I was on a tropical vacation. I will recommend it to my friends when there in Barona and will go back there again for drinks! It was a very nice experience!!

Salmon pizza
Samantha G.

Upon arriving we were seated right away. The food was okay. I felt like the pizza needed more balsamic vinegar on added oil. The drinks were strong but it took awhile to get them. We only wanted to get drinks since there's no alcohol to purchase in the casino. We had to purchase food in order to get a drink. Our server was newly hired but he did a great job.

Katie G.

My son turned 18 yesterday and we usually go to an Italian restaurant in little Italy for his Birthday for the past 10 years . Because it was his 18th we decided to try this place so he can also gamble for the first time . We had 5:30 reservation for a table of 4 . We were very excited and in a great mood to celebrate such an epic occasion. Sadly, our experience last night was without a doubt the worst service I have experienced in probably 20 years . Our server Garrett was extremely slow and non attentive. He is the kind of server you have to track down because he was MIA . He never checked on us . Even though he knew the kitchen was taking a painfully long time to serve us our food . Never asked to refill our drinks , knowing we had been sitting there over an hour waiting for our entrees . When we did manage to track him down for help , he took just as long to fulfill the request. Finally 2 hours later when it was time for my son to have is celebratory cake and be sang happy birthday, he had to ask the manager to please pack the cheesecake to go because everyone was very frustrated and over dealing with, without a doubt the WORST servers we have ever encountered. Also the food was cold once we finally received it . The only dish that was great was their fried calamari.

ATTEMS PINOT GRIGIO
Caesar N.

The pizza was ok, it was basically bread topped with salmon arugula onions and a sauce so its nothing crazy, but i like the environment and the drinks were good.

San Diego's Best (non-buffet) Casino Restaurant!
Ron Q.

Food at casinos are often more known for their buffets. Patrons can gorge themselves after winning big or wallow in their sorrows after losing rent money to a deck of cards. With the Covid pandemic, many buffets have sadly disappeared. Too many people touching serving spoons and breathing on each other while drooling over the serving dish of beef n broccoli. That's ok tho when you have such stellar restaurants such as Italian Cucina as a fantabulous alternative! The restaurant is located on the lower level of the casino passed the Blackjack Hall of Fame wall and down the escalator. Upon entering, we were warmly greeted by the hostess and shown to a table. We requested a booth as there appeared to be some available but were advised they were reserved for patrons with reservations. While it wasn't necessarily busy at the time, we did notice a steady flow of customers being shown to tables throughout our meal. James soon came by to introduce himself as our server. He was patient and informative about the menu and our options. After bringing water and offering a few minutes to look over the menu, we decided on the salmon and short ribs for dinner. Another team member dropped off a basket of freshly warmed rolls. The cheese roll was UH-MAZ-ING. Ask for more if you get a chance. Each entree came with a choice of soup or salad. We both opted for salads, one house and the other a Cesar. The house salad was much more interesting with various veggies. The Cesar was a classic with just romaine, croutons and shredded parmesan. The salmon was roasted well and seasoned perfectly. It came with seasonal veggies and a lemon wrapped in cloth to avoid seeds dropping into your meal. The short ribs came with pesto mashed potatoes and roasted carrots. Definitely a different twist to mashed potatoes but good nonetheless. The meat easily shredded with a fork and was mouthwateringly good. There is a large dessert case at the entrance along with a coffee bar. Some decadent desserts can be found here. The aroma of fresh ground coffee also filled the air which made the visual experience that much more enticing. Italian Cucina is one of the better options for dining at Barona. Will be back. Keep on Yelp'n!

Our bill for 2 overly salted steaks and 2 cocktails.
Lee S.

We absolutely love Barona. This was an anniversary treat for us. Steak at the Italian Cucina is hit and miss. It wasn't until after our meal, I mentioned to my guy how salty the steak was. He said he saw the cook shake A BUNCH of salt onto it while cooking. What a shame. (There are screens above the kitchen to watch the Chefs cook.) I do LOVE their house salad, however. Boo.

Baked Penne
Dan E.

Descending the big beautiful escalator down to the lower level of Barona Casino yields an array of outstanding dining options. First thing you see is the grand, yet elegant entrance to Italian Cucina (the only one currently open). This is an amazing sit-down Italian restaurant, open for dinner Thursday - Sunday. Just a short 10 minute drive down Wildcat Canyon Road, south of Ramona, you think you've gone "down the hill", but not really. The restaurant and service are very much top shelf, but the prices are pretty mid-range (in the teens) for most dishes. The overall atmosphere was magnificent! Not at all depressing like some run down Italian restaurants I've been to around SoCal. The food used to be outstanding here. Huge portions too. A number of the dishes I order regularly seem to have gone down hill in quality. Most notably the lasagna, chicken parmigiana and baked penne. All tables are served a complimentary dish of some olive appetizer thing, bread, etc. with bottles of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Be careful not to fill up on the bread service. Easy to do! The sun-dried tomato compound butter served with the bread is excellent. All composed entrees are served with choice of house or caesar salad, or soup at no extra cost. If I could rate 3.5 stars I would. I'm erring to four due mainly to the exemplary service, atmosphere, overall experience and the fact that you can still dine-in. The food on its own is pretty much 3 star now unfortunately. My wife's Caesar salad last week, the croutons were literally cubes of bread. Soft and squishy. Add to that, their 'rona protocol has them wrapping everything in plastic wrap as it leaves the kitchen. You literally have to unwrap your food like a Christmas present. Kind of tacky. A stainless steel dome would be far more classy, and that's what I've been requesting.

Margarita
Batool D.

Their food is super delicious, very friendly slow staff. I tried their ceaser salad and chicken Parmigiano, and I really liked them, BUT these are not why I'll be going back. They have this huge delicious margaritas for around $10, which is cheap compared to any other place in san diego.

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Our waiter was amazing, took very good care of us. All the did was outstanding. No complaints!

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Ottavio's Italian Restaurant

Ottavio's Italian Restaurant

4.6
(593 reviews)
6.4 mi
$$

Jen did a terrific job! She is straight-up the epitome of awesomeness. Staff is incredible. Great…read moreteamwork. Food is out of this world. The best cuisine I have ever had in my entire life. I would have eaten everything on the menu if I could. You will never find another restaurant like this one. Just when you thought the last dish was tops, yet another incredibly delicious and perfectly presented meal was delivered to our table. Buona appetito!! Extras: The complimentary focaccia bread was fabulous. The staff stayed late for us. Coming up on a holiday weekend, too. (We unwittingly didn't realize how late it was. We weren't rushed whatsoever.) The staff is all just fantastic. Everyone was very sweet! Jen offered refills on the drinks. Very personable. The staff makes you feel like family here! The food makes your taste buds do the Tarentella Siciliana! Your taste buds will dance with delight!

Tried Ottavio's in Lakeside for the first time last night, and overall, it was a really great…read moreexperience. From the moment we walked in, you could tell the place was slammed--but in the best way. The energy was high, and the staff worked seamlessly as a team to keep everything running smoothly. A special shoutout to our bartender, Leah, who was absolutely fantastic. Even with how busy it was, she stayed attentive, friendly, and made us feel taken care of the entire night. We started with the mussels in clam sauce, and they were outstanding--fresh, flavorful, and a perfect way to kick things off. For entrées, we ordered the short rib ravioli and the carbonara. The short rib ravioli was a standout--rich, tender, and packed with flavor. The carbonara, while still enjoyable, could have been executed a bit better. It didn't quite hit the mark compared to everything else, but it was a small note in an otherwise excellent meal. To top it all off, we were treated to dessert since it was our first visit, which was a really thoughtful touch and left a lasting impression. Between the hardworking team, great atmosphere, and mostly fantastic food, Ottavio's definitely delivered. Even with a minor hiccup on one dish, we left impressed and would absolutely come back again.

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Chianti
Chianti
Focaccia
Focaccia
Chianti

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Chianti
Marechiaros on 2nd

Marechiaros on 2nd

4.3
(400 reviews)
9.9 mi
$$

The food was ridiculously outstanding! I never eat until my stomach hurts-today I did just that! My…read more7 year old ate 3 slices of pizza because it was so good and his stomach is so full! It was that good! Be careful or you'll fall into gluttony like we did! My husband did the same. He's a heavyweight athlete so for him it's ok! :) Having amazing food is one thing but when you have superior service too-chefs kiss!! Brenden was our server let me tell you this kid knows the menu like the back of his hand. He makes amazing suggestions and so attentive as are his counterparts. He was helping a big party but it felt like he was just taking care of us. His counterparts were amazing as well and not to take away from them but Kira was top notch. She stepped in when Brenden was with his large party-honestly she didn't have to but it sure made us feel like VIPS. One million percent recommend this cute Italian Gem that makes you forget you're in the middle of a busy intersection of El Cajon!

Hey dudes, Captain 619 here, just cruisin' in to share my experience at Marechiaro's Italian…read moreRestaurant. So, this was our first time paddlin' in, and the place was packed with people--always a good sign, right? But, bro, the food? It didn't quite catch the wave for me. I went for the lasagna, and man, the portion was smaller than I hoped for. My wife went with the chicken Parmesan, but the chicken was kinda chewy, like it got tossed around in the surf a bit too long. And the bread? A little dry, like it needed a splash of ocean water to bring it back to life. First impression? Just average, my friends. I was really hoping for an epic Italian feast, but it felt more like a small ripple than a big wave. I'll give it a three for the vibe and the crowd, but the chow just didn't hang ten for us. Catch you on the next wave! Captain 619

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Life is a combination of magic and Pasta-bilities.
Life is a combination of magic and Pasta-bilities.
Tiramisu (Delicious)
Tiramisu (Delicious)
Marechiaros on 2nd

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Mamma Rosa's Restaurant & Pizza

Mamma Rosa's Restaurant & Pizza

4.4
(436 reviews)
9.1 mi
$$

**A Hidden Gem in El Cajon!**…read more If you're looking for authentic Italian food made with love, I highly recommend **Mamma Rosa Italian Restaurant**! One thing I really appreciated is that they offer many of their pasta dishes in **half or full portions**. I love having that option because it gives you the opportunity to try a little bit of everything if you're like me and can't decide on just one dish! I ordered the **Chicken, Ham & Mushroom Fettuccine Alfredo**, and it was absolutely delicious. The fresh homemade noodles were cooked perfectly--not too thick--and the Alfredo sauce was creamy, rich, and full of flavor without feeling overly heavy. We also enjoyed their pizza, and it definitely didn't disappoint. The crust was cooked to perfection with just the right texture, and the marinara sauce was incredibly well-balanced--not overly acidic, which was a huge plus since I'm sensitive to red sauces. Best of all, I had no heartburn afterward! We also tried their homemade Italian sausage, which was outstanding, along with the hearty potato gnocchi that was soft, pillowy, and full of flavor. The spaghetti was another favorite--my grandson absolutely devoured it! One of the highlights of our visit was meeting **Linda**, the owner. She shared that many of the recipes have been passed down from her grandmother, making this a true family tradition. Knowing that these are cherished generational recipes made the experience even more special. Our server, **Helen**, provided exceptional customer service. One thoughtful touch that really stood out was that when we had leftovers, the staff took our plates and carefully packaged everything into to-go containers for us. That's a level of service you don't see very often anymore, and it made us feel genuinely cared for. The restaurant itself was clean, cozy, and welcoming. From the homemade food to the warm hospitality, every part of our experience was wonderful. If you haven't been, I highly recommend giving this hidden gem a try! **Mamma Rosa Italian Restaurant** 1773 E. Main St. El Cajon, CA 92021 We'll definitely be back!

The food here is amazing and family owned. Kelly is the…read morebest server ever. The ambience is I think it's about 78° in here but feels cool.

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Mamma Rosa's Restaurant & Pizza
Half & Half
Half & Half
House Chianti

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House Chianti
Bongiovanni's Italian Restaurant

Bongiovanni's Italian Restaurant

3.1
(244 reviews)
6.1 mi
$$
Established in 1972
Family-owned & operated

I placed an order over the phone, while looking at their website menu…read more 2 Tortellinis $17 each 1 large pizza half Pepperoni/half Pineapple and Canadian Bacon...23..25 bucks ( I figured it would cost a couple bucks more for the extra toppings) when I got there to pick up...the bill was $92...I was in shock but paid the bill cause my family was home waiting for dinner. When I called, the Manager tells me that their pricing has changed and that to go orders have extra fees. I'm super disappointed. We've eaten at Bongiovannis for decades and have never had this problem....but he didn't offer anything for compensation...no $20 credit for the bait and switch. Beware of Togo oders..be sure to check the pricing before you place your order. Just saying....

Adorable space wasted on frozen food, soggy salads, sesame seed hoagie-roll bread, and service that…read morefelt personally offended by our presence. I came in wanting to love this place. I would've accepted "meh." What I got was a culinary crime scene. The building is cute. Very mom-and-pop Italian energy, which makes it extra tragic that the food tastes like it fell off a Sysco truck and was reheated sometime last week. Sunday night, prime dinner hour, a dining room full of open tables, and the food still took at least double the amount of time that it shoukd have, to arrive. Add to that a huge menu (always suspicious), and the outcome was inevitable. Spoiler: it was bad. Like, aggressively bad. Every dish was practically floating in water, as if it had been frozen, thawed, and then dumped straight onto a plate without so much as a courtesy drain. Honestly, the kitchen could benefit from a good sieve. The salad was soaked in watery dressing to the point of being completely inedible. And the bread? A warmed-up sesame seed hoagie bun. That's it. That's the bread service. The restroom deserves its own warning label. Not "needs attention," but "is there a plumbing situation or has this smell been living here rent-free for years?" bad. My drink was empty before the food arrived and I was never offered a refill. The girl behind the bar gave off massive hangover vibes... bentover with forehead on the bar, low energy, and a general sense of please don't make me do this today. We couldn't eat the food at all, so I politely asked to speak with a manager to figure out the bill. Enter: server with peak mean-girl energy. She refused to get a manager, kinda walked off, came back and said she'd "just charge me for my soda" complete with a dramatic eye roll. Cool. Except the bill was $8. For one glass of soda. I didn't mind paying something for wasted product, but don't say you're "only charging for a soda" and then charge more than double what a soda costs. I planned on tipping for the full meal because bad food isn't automatically the server's fault. The attitude made that decision... significantly less compelling. In short: adorable building, massive potential, but terrible food, questionable hygiene, and service that actively made the experience worse. I wanted to love it. I couldn't even like it.

Photos
Raviolis and a salad.
Raviolis and a salad.
Large cheese pizza.
Large cheese pizza.
Dinner to go.

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Dinner to go.

Italian Cucina - italian - Updated July 2026

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