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    Italianissimo Trattoria

    4.4 (1.1k reviews)
    ModerateItalian
    Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Italianissimo Trattoria Photos

    Business Info

    ITALIANISSIMO TRATTORIA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Intimate
    Romantic
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Italianissimo Trattoria

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    Spaghetti, Margarita Pizza, Lasagna, all of it very good!
    Andy M.

    My favorite Italian Restaurant in the South Bay located on 3rd & Downtown Chula Vista. Might get a bit busy on weekends for dinner, prices are good & so are portions. They have one of the better lasagnas I've had & the spaghetti is the best I've had. Chicken Parm is a winner with me too as is the Margarita Pizza. For an appetizer I get the Mushroom Ravioli, very flavorful & the bread you get with the Olive Oil to start with is pretty good. Desserts are hit or miss, wasn't really a fan of them, salads are good tho. Customer service is cool, polite but they can be a bit friendlier & check on you a bit more for drinks. It can get busy at times so just have a little patience (in my Guns & Roses Axel Rose voice) it's worth it as their food is good & they are polite & go as fast as they can. And don't sleep on their Calamari it's real good. Definitely our go to place in the South Bay for good legit Italian food.

    FETTUCCINE VENEZIANA
    Shylene B.

    I came around lunch time and had no wait time. There were plenty of opens seats. You check in at the front and wait to be seated. The lunch menu is pretty big. I ordered one item from lunch menu and one from the regular menu. Bread - so fluffy, warm and soft 10/10 Fettuccine Venzeziana (lunch menu) - it was super tasty and flavorful. the chicken was a bit rubbery, but the sauce and pasta were cooked to perfection 10/10 Panzerotti Camarata (cheese ravioli/regular menu) - soo delicious. the sauce had great flavor and the pasta was super soft and the cheese filling was really good. Shrimp was cooked well and tasted great too. Tiramisu - it was okay! I liked how soft it was, but it lacked a bit of flavor for me. Service was attentive! My waitress checked on me often and was super helpful on what to order. Both dishes I got were actually suggested by her and I loved them! The plating has a lot of thought and detail in every dish, which adds a really nice touch. The inside is beautiful and has plenty of seating. Very welcoming, has a homey feel, and the music was on point. I could see this being a good spot for lunch or birthday dinner.

    Marcia R.

    We love coming here and we gathered with 7 of us here for my cousin's bday last summer it was a lot of family which is always nice Everyone enjoyed there plate And we shared some food too of course! We sat in the patio it was good great breeze And we gather again some other place soon

    Edrick G.

    A cozy Italian dinner done right. We started with the bruschetta, and it set the tone immediately. Perfectly toasted bread topped with fresh diced tomatoes, herbs, and a vibrant pesto spread. Simple ingredients, but executed the way classic Italian appetizers should be--fresh, balanced, and packed with flavor. For the mains, we ordered two ravioli dishes. The shrimp ravioli came beautifully plated with a light tomato-based sauce and topped with large shrimp. The pasta was tender and the sauce had just enough acidity to complement the seafood without overpowering it. The mushroom ravioli was the comfort dish of the night. Rich, creamy mushroom sauce with plenty of sautéed mushrooms and perfectly cooked pasta pillows. It's the kind of dish that feels indulgent but still balanced. Service was attentive and welcoming, and the dining room had that classic neighborhood trattoria feel--casual but still perfect for a nice dinner date or relaxed night out. It's easy to see why this spot has become a local favorite for authentic Italian cuisine in Chula Vista. The restaurant focuses on traditional recipes, fresh ingredients, and a warm dining experience that keeps people coming back

    Swordfish
    Erick B.

    Came here recently on a Sunday afternoon and had a very nice experience. Perfect location for a date night and right in the middle of downtown Chula Vista. We went with the specials they had that day and were very impressed with the food and service. We will definitely be back and recommend this restaurant for a couples date night. Our bill was a bit over $100 and felt we got amazing service and food for that price.

    Warm bread!
    Jonathan Z.

    Happened to be in the area and stumble on this spot that's been on my radar for a while. Seated quickly and they explained the specials. Went ahead and tried their chicken parm, which includes potatoes and veggies. Everything was piping hot and the chicken still crunchy under all the tomato sauce. Also really enjoyed their pasta special with the filet mignon, mushrooms, al dente pasta, and tableside shaved pasta. Highly rated on Yelp and for good reason. Def a great place to get your Italian fix in Chula Vista.

    Chicken Parm
    Ryan C.

    Stopped in here randomly and had an absolutely lovely lunch! Server was super friendly and attentive, read us the specials promptly and gave great recommendations. Checked in with us throughout. Chicken Parmesan was delicious, and came with some vegetables and roasted potatoes. Arugula salad with goat cheese, walnuts, strawberries and a lime vinaigrette was really lovely also. Expansive list of pasta options. Seafood, veal, pizzas, steak specials, and more! Solid wine list that we'll be back to try too. Full disclosure the floors were a bit greasy/slippery to walk on.

    Fettuccini bolognese
    bonnie l.

    The service was excellent for this good Italian place! We were a party of 14 where we have to split checks (work dinner) and we're sitting in a mixed up position. The server didn't miss a beat and took care of us. We ordered calamari, beef carpaccio, burrata for apps and the cheese ravioli with shrimp, risotto mare, and spaghetti bolognese with fettuccini noodles. The burrata was the absolute stand out for appetizers- with spinach and roasted tomatoes to round it out. The spaghetti bolognese and cheese ravioli were perfect with handmade pasta!! I wasn't as excited for the risotto which was a bit less creamy but it was al dente as it should be (not just soft and mushy). Dessert was tiramisu and chocolate cake with ice cream. Italian desserts you can be satisfied with. The only reason for a star change is that the drinks are a bit confusing since they don't have a full bar. Ask what the drink are mixed of before ordering (though the Moscow mule is vodka ) If you're in the mood for family style Italian in Chula Vista, visit this trattoria!

    Sour dough with vinegar and oil
    Ray O.

    Came in on a Thursday night after looking at some Yelp reviews. After reading a few I thought I would give it a try. Was able to get metered parking within a block. I arrived at 5:30 and the meters are enforced until 6 pm. Less than $1 and I was good to go. The restaurant is quaint and not to busy when I arrived but it filled up quickly. It is very clean inside and there was plenty of staff. Seated quickly, good selection on the menu, chose the pollo parmigiana. It was served with potatoes and veggies. They brought a complimentary basket of sour dough with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Everything was as expected but the meal lacked any "wow". Finished with a lemon tart and coffee. The crust was flakey and coated in powdered sugar but again, lacked any wow.

    Mushroom ravioli
    Essie K.

    Overall, I'd rate my experience 3.5 stars. The ambiance is comfy and homey. A nice place for date night, a family dinner, or friend outing. There is street parking all around (a mix of free and metered parking). Although the food was good, there are some things they can improve on. The service was slow. It took a while for our server to take our order. We also found it awkward that she stood over us and watched our every move as we paid on the mobile card reader. It would have been more respectful to hand us the reader and come back. Although the prices are reasonable (around $20-25 per past entree), the portions were small. The mushroom ravioli was 6 small pieces and the eggplant pasta could have all fit on an appetizer plate. The spinach salad barely had any walnuts or pears on it. Even with getting a salad and eating bread, we left hungry which rarely happens. If they consider improving these two issues, I'd be open to trying it again.

    Margherita pizza
    Mary G.

    What a wonderful lovely Italian restaurant. When we entered my daughter said it smells like Nonnie's house. From start to finish, it was absolutely delicious and fantastic personable service. The bread was hot from the oven. I could have made a meal of just that. Both kids had margarita pizza. I had the special of prawns on squid ink linguine. (Rarely find that at home) They even accommodated my request to sub broccoli with asparagus. My husband said it was best clams and linguine he's ever had. Get out of that behemoth overpriced Gaylord. It was less than 5 mins drive to a cute area of restaurants and shops. They even have outdoor dining.

    The environment was perfect nice and clean
    Erma M.

    We walked in and we were greeted with an open hand by Gustavo and Camila. Food we ordered was delicious spaghetti and tomato, basil, pizza, and pepperoni pizza with sausage. And the environment was perfect.

    Soft warm bread

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    One of my favorite places in town. Amazing spaghetti marinara. Service is great. Will definitely visit next time Im in the area.

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    3 months ago

    Good service and nice people working friendly and professional this is my first time in the restaurant I really recommend it

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    Italianissimo Trattoria Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Italianissimo Trattoria

    Is the Mushroom Ravioli garlicky? I'm one of those people who really doesn't like garlic but I LOVE mushrooms so I'm not sure if I should order the Mushroom Ravioli. Please let me know. Thank you! 🙂

    Is gluten free pizza available?

    No we don't offer gluten free pizza. We do have gluten free pasta however.

    Does this restaurant offer personal wine bottle with a cork fee?

    Yes, you can bring your own wine bottle. We do have a corkage fee for that service.

    Is there outdoor seating to accommodate a pet?

    Yes there was outside seating with pets during my last visit.

    Can you substitute a different pasta for the pasta entrees?

    Yes 😃

    Do ? You have a nice outdoor patio area for parties?

    Yes 😃

    Did someone hack your Yelp website address? I'm seeing unmentionables.

    I have no clue. What do you mean?

    Are they still open? I called the number listed on the website and it is disconnected.

    Yes, we are open

    View All 10 Questions

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    4.4(546 reviews)
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    This place is been a gem for us, we been coming here for over 10 years for special occasions and…read morenot to special just to go eat good food! Highly recommend. For my to go order I start of with an Italgo salad, some bread and a clam chowder to dip on the side followed by tagliata entrée. Their micheladas are the best! must try.

    We got a salty pizza that we couldn't eat. Usually, we never return meals, but we politely asked…read morethe waiter to make us something else while one slice of the pizza was left on the table. The waiter put our replacement order last, and it took 35 minutes to get the second meal. Meanwhile, we had to feed our 2-year-old son because he was extremely hungry. It honestly felt like the waiter, or maybe even the chef, purposely made us a very small pasta portion compared to the usual size. To be fair, the pasta itself wasn't bad. We then asked for another pasta dish (our third order). When we asked the waiter for the ETA, she told us it would take 35 minutes or more. We were shocked -- 35 minutes for a pizza that normally takes 8-9 minutes to make? I worked in professional restaurants for 8 years, and it should not take more than 10-12 minutes, maybe 15 minutes max. At that point, we refused to stay and asked for the check. By the way, the restaurant wasn't even busy. They still charged us for the slice of pizza, and honestly, I don't mind the money. What bothered me was that the pizza was not good, and when we brought up the issue, the waiter didn't seem to care at all about the service or the long wait times.

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    Balsamico Italian Kitchen - Lasagna Classico

    Balsamico Italian Kitchen

    4.7(264 reviews)
    4.5 mi
    $$
    Family-owned & operated
    Outdoor seating

    We enjoyed trying authentic Italian cuisine at Balsamico Italian Kitchen in Imperial Beach, CA…read more The first time I had a taste of this restaurant was during a Yelp Elite Week event and so glad we finally had a chance to try it because everything we ordered was excellent 5/5 stars!! The owners are from Modena, Italy sharing their delicious recipes from back home. I had to do a little research on Modena because I had never heard of this city. It's north of Tuscany. Modena is a city in Italy's Emilia-Romagna region, famous for its UNESCO World Heritage historic center, luxury car industry (Ferrari & Maserati), and world-renowned gastronomy, particularly traditional balsamic vinegar, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, and Lambrusco wine. The restaurant provided complimentary bread with their homemade balsamic vinaigrette, which was excellent!! We recommend trying the following dishes: *Lobster Ravioli (MY FAVORITE) *Bolognese Lasagna *Mushroom Ravioli *Calamari Appetizer -w/restaurant made marinara The restaurant makes their own pasta. For dessert, we recommend trying their restaurant made: * Tiramisu *Crème brûlée (MY FAVORITE) The restaurant offers cooking classes for adults and children (6+) so be sure to check out their instagram page for workshop dates and times. There's indoor and outdoor seating with enough room for large groups. We had excellent customer service by server Jacob and are definitely coming back soon; check it out!! Happy Yelping :)

    Best Lobster ravioli! In a delicious pink sauce! Kids pasta…read morewas delicious my three year old wanted the pasta over dessert! Beautiful atmosphere and great service.

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    Bianca Flat Bread

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    Creamy Potatoes and Asparagus Bisque

    Italianissimo Trattoria - italian - Updated September 2026

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