Really good spot for Italian food here in Chula. Service was awesome, and they have seating all over including outside as well. I got the jumbo shrimp with squid ink, the ribeye, and the carbonara. The ribeye was covered in sauce, which I personally would've preferred without, but it was still good. The carbonara was solid too I just wish they used pig cheek instead of only bacon for a more traditional flavor. I was also a huge fan of the double-sided balsamic vinegar and olive oil bottle at the table. Overall, definitely a good Italian spot for sure here in Chula. read more

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Parking is terrible. Once inside, I had to kiss AZZ just 2 get some bread, other tables had olive oil and bread, not me, I had to ask nicely. So far 1 star. The veal was excellent quality but extremely dry, Veal Marsala normally is swimming in Marsala with mushrooms all around, not here (see photos), so dry and $6.00 more than any restaurant in Little, Italy. But not as delicious. The fettuccine Alfredo was also a disappointment 4 me. Needed a bit of garlic and a dash of salt. Boring. Bad service, Boring pasta, and dry veal. Order the Veal Parm. you'll should be happy. Very high price point. I'm being magnanimous with 2 stars. read more

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I am actually surprised this place has such a good rating This place is very pricey, and the food was okay. I've tried better at a lower price. They give you some complementary bread with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. The service is good, but I felt like it was too pushy, I felt pressured to get a bottle of wine and certain dishes. The atmosphere is alright, mostly older people. read more

Italianissimo Trattoria - Italian Near Me - Chula Vista, California

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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. read more

Italianissimo Trattoria - Spaghetti, Margarita Pizza, Lasagna, all of it very good! - Italian Near Me - Chula Vista, California

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. read more

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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 read more

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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 read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

Italianissimo Trattoria - Chicken Parm - Italian Near Me - Chula Vista, California

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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! read more

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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. read more

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2.5, really... What was GOOD? The ambiance, our waitress, and the appetizers (bruchetta and the house salad). My children also enjoyed their Cheese Ravioli. The not-so-good? The Vegetarian Fettuccine Bolongnese and Chicken Parmigiano were edible-just edible... The tomato sauce tasted like it was just poured out of a can-there was NO FLAVOR. The chicken was also very bland. read more

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

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. read more

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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. read more

Italianissimo Trattoria - Margherita pizza - Italian Near Me - Chula Vista, California

Friday night date night with my hubby turned out to be such a great choice! We decided to try this restaurant, and I'm so glad we did. First off, parking was easy *and* free--always a win. Even better, it's close by! From the moment we walked in, we were warmly greeted and seated right away. The space is actually much bigger than it looks from the outside, which was a nice surprise. We started with the Calamari Fritti (a must whenever it's on the menu), along with mussels and clams for me, and a pepperoni pizza for my husband. While we waited, they brought out warm, soft bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar--such a simple touch, but so good! The calamari had a light, crispy coating and was perfectly seasoned, paired with a delicious marinara sauce. The mussels and clams, cooked in white wine and garlic, were technically an appetizer but generously portioned--definitely enough for my main. Everything was perfectly cooked, and the broth was rich and flavorful. Maybe just a touch salty, but honestly perfect for dipping that amazing bread. The pizza was also a hit--thin, soft dough with great flavor. Overall, we had a wonderful experience and are already looking forward to coming back to try more from the menu! read more

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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. read more

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Wow. I'm glad we stopped here to eat dinner. The food was great full flavor Everyone should stop here and enjoy the wonderful great tasting Italian meals. My mom and aunt were happy with their meals. So was I. I'll bring my family to eat here again read more

Love the food here so much we celebrated Valentine's Day. They don't take rsvps. First come first serve basis. We arrived before 5pm and it was fairly busy. we enjoy the ambiance here, as busy as it is it's still calm and not chaotic. The service is exceptional. The Italian seafood pasta is perfecto. read more

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We had: Spaghetti Carbonara Rigatoni Calabrese Gnocchi Gorgonzola Pollo Parmigiano Lasagna Bolognese Steak Itallianisimo Pizza Pepperoni Pizza Kid's Alfredo Calamari In terms of accessibility, parking is on the street. There's a parking garage nearby, but it will be a walk. We had nine people in our party and ten dishes in total. The bill was a whopping $403. Considering the astronomical prices, the taste did not quite deliver. Our party only liked the gnocchi, pizza and calamari. Everyone else barely touched their pastas and had them to go but were never really reheated for further consumption. The steak was tough. The chicken was dry and bland as if it was a leftover that was popped into the microwave. read more

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Wasn't sure what to eat after my chiropractic appointment, so I walked around and stumbled upon this cozy little spot and I'm glad I did. I started with a glass of Pinot Noir ($14), which was really good. Service was great, and the manager/owner was very friendly and welcoming. No appetizer for me today, but they served sourdough bread with olive oil and balsamic a few minutes after I sat down. The bread was soft on the inside with a perfectly crunchy crust, and the olive oil + balsamic combo was delicious. I ordered the carbonara spaghetti, and it did not disappoint. The texture was soft and creamy, the seasoning was on point, and they use guanciale, which made the flavor even richer and more authentic. Everything tasted balanced, the creaminess, the saltiness, all of it worked together really well. Other dishes on the menu looked tempting too. The restaurant itself is small, cozy, and warm, with more seating in the back. Definitely a nice spot for a relaxed meal, family gathering, business meeting. I'd come back to try more dishes next time. read more

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This is our go-to Italian restaurant in Chula Vista. On our latest visit, we went to celebrate a graduation and everyone enjoyed their food. We got the calamari appetizer, 3 glasses of wine, and two desserts plus entrees so the price per guest I reported with this review is on the higher side. Check their website menu which includes prices if this is a concern. Note too that salad costs extra, but excellent bread with refills is provided. We were plenty full without getting salad. I got a fish special with cod. The sauce, which included artichokes and capers plus lots of butter, was delicious. The dish came with vegetable risotto, which was good, but not what I expected. It wasn't creamy, more like rice. I didn't ask, and the special turned out to be $30. Service was a bit slow this visit, but I appreciated that our food all came out at the same time. We were seated in the front and seemed to have the host as our waiter, so I'm guessing they were full and he was helping out. Service has been excellent for us in the past. Atmosphere in the front is like a small fine dining restaurant while the larger back area feels a bit more like a family-friendly place. Multiple vegan and kids options on the menu. read more

Italianissimo Trattoria is the place to go if you are looking for delicious food and superb service. Our waitress, Ilkem, was magnificent. She answered all of our questions, gave us excellent recommendations, and, along with the rest of the staff, made us feel very welcomed. Ilkem was awesome. The food is outstanding. My compliments to the kitchen staff. We had the following dishes: Spaghetti Carbonara, Rigatoni Calabrese, Calzone, Filetto (Filet Mignon), along with various desserts and appetizers. Everything was cooked to perfection. You can't go wrong with anything. Italianissimo Trattoria is a great spot, regardless if you are there by yourself, on a date night, with family, or a large group of friends. Everyone is welcoming. This was my first time visiting Italianissimo Trattoria. It will definitely not be my last. I highly recommend you visit when you are in Chula Vista or any part of San Diego County. You'll be glad you did. read more

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This spot has great authentic style Italian food and is always a cute date spot or to just go catch up with friends in a cozy environment. The service is always prompt and very attentive. We have been here several times since live close by and every time I suggest to friends/family I also get the similar feedback they really love how authentic Italian this spot is from the appetizers entrees to dessert and drinks/coffee. read more

We loved this place the food was delicious. The service was exceptional and the prices weren't through the roof. We will definitely come back everything from apps, entree to dessert was delicious read more

Me and closest friend decided to try this location, 100 recommended. As soon we walked is a warm nice welcoming. Everyone was very attentive. The Food is very flavored soo good, all the ingredients are fresh nothing processed , the menu is very varied and the way of the description sounds delicious indeed it is. The ambience was relaxing and nicely. 10 /10 Definitely returning to this place. Thank you all for the service read more

Italianissimo Trattoria - Delicious wine - Italian Near Me - Chula Vista, California

Happy to have found a great spot in my new neighborhood. I went for lunch last week with my daughter and honestly... soooo good. We started with the calamari fritti and the carciofi ripieni - the fried baby artichokes stuffed with goat cheese, mascarpone, and herbs. Oh my goodness... absolutely scrumptious! Worth going back for those alone. I ordered the fettuccine Carmelina - homemade fettuccine with baby scallops and smoked salmon in a vodka tomato cream sauce. I expected a slab of salmon for some reason, but was pleasantly surprised to find it mixed in as tender pieces instead. Loved it. My daughter had the spaghetti carbonara and enjoyed hers as well. Even though we were full, our server mentioned a chocolate soufflé (or maybe it was a lava cake?) with ice cream, and we were instantly convinced to try it - and it was so, so good. Service was friendly, the food was delicious, and I left very happy to have this little gem so close to home. I'll definitely be back. read more

I have to say I'm disappointed with my first experience here -- not because of the food, but because of the service. Most of the dishes were solid, around an 8/10, and the bread service was an easy 10/10. However, the house water (basically tap water) tasted heavily of chlorine, so I'd recommend ordering bottled water instead. What really frustrated me was our server's lack of transparency. He recommended one of the specials and described it as if truffles were included, but failed to mention that adding truffles came with a separate up charge and that upcharge ended up costing more than most of the entrées on the menu. It felt misleading and definitely not worth the price. Overall worth trying once at least. read more

The food is great. We were there celebrating my daughter birthday and the chief gave us great recommendations. Love the food and service. Our family had a great time there read more

Italianissimo Trattoria - Eggplants and cheese with basil - Italian Near Me - Chula Vista, California

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First time here and definitely won't be our last time. Place is super cute and staff is very welcoming and friendly. The vibe in this restaurant makes you feel like you are in a restaurant in Italy. There were so many things on the menu I wanted to try. Drinks were amazing, I ordered an Aperol Spritz and it was perfect! Don't remember what my dish was called but it was literal perfection. Pasta was cooked perfectly, the sauce chefs kiss｡° My husband ordered the bolognese and it was also amazing. They also have a pretty nice dessert menu. We ordered the crème brûlée to go because we were stuffed ( and it was also delicious) We will definitely be back!! So nice to have authentic Italian food so close to us! read more

Italianissimo Trattoria - Italian Near Me - Chula Vista, California

I've lived in Southern Cali for a majority of my life, Chula Vista mostly and this is my 1st time to Italianissmo. It was delicious, the staff was very nice and we will definitely be back. We ordered a bottle of white wine, the calamari and the burrata to start off with. The Burrata was fresh and creamy - a great way to start off the dinner. We dined with other who ordered the Chicken and Lasagna, which were also so yummy. It us roomy inside for kids, and larger families as well. We also ordered desert and it was unique and the perfect way to end the night! Can't wait to come back and try more entrees! read more

Italianissimo Trattoria - Lamb Shank Pasta - Italian Near Me - Chula Vista, California

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My friends and I ate here for dinner. The ambiance is homey, clean, and bright. Even though we didn't have reservations, we were sat immediately by the very nice host. The bread that came out was SO delicious!! I'm pretty sure it's homemade. I could have eaten an entire loaf!! We ordered the calamari for the table and it was great. Light breading, crispy, not chewy and the sauce was perfect. I just wish the portion was bigger. For dinner I ordered the pasta Genovese and OMG, it was so delicious!! The beef was tender, the pasta al dente and the sauce was so flavorful. I would order this again. My friend ordered the spaghetti carbonara which she enjoyed. My other friend ordered the rigatoni Montegna which she liked a lot. We saw the dessert tray pass a few times during dinner so we were adamant about trying a few. I ordered the limoncello cake and wow!! It was so moist, just the amount of lemon flavor and I ate the entire thing! I could have eaten 2 more slices! My friends tried it was well and loved it. One friend ordered the cheesecake which was good and the other ordered what looked like empanadas. That was good, too, but my limoncello cake was chef's kiss! I am already planning on returning to this restaurant next week with my hubby as he was salivating over our food pics lol. Highly recommend! read more

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So good we went back again. We both ordered the same dishes again and were pleased that they were great as before. We ordered the bread appetizer and took some home it was so large. Servings are large so you will have leftovers for the next day. Enjoy!! read more

Mamá mía! Delish food! We came here on a lazy day, it's been recommended to me by friends so we finally made it here to see what this place was all about. Well it did not disappoint! It was a very rainy day so downtown Chula Vista was a bit empty which made it a perfect opportunity to get seated rather quickly. We ordered the Salmone alle noci... holy mole if you like salmon this is an excellent dish. The honey lemon sauce with the pecans and walnuts is perfection! The veggies on the side are just the right touch and perfect combination. The bucatini amatriciana is so delicious! The tomato sauce is so perfectly made and the guanciale is the perfect touch We also ordered the margarita pizza, great flavor just wished the cheese was a tad bit more melted as ours was kinda still a bit hard but good falls out nonetheless. As an appetizer we ordered the calamari fritte, this has to be the softest calamari we have ever eaten. Complimentary bread was brought, so fresh and warm! We loved it! The service was great, our server was nice and cordial, servings were pretty large we took plenty home and they even sent us away with some extra of their fresh bread! read more

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This place is such a gem for Italian food! We got the Melanzane Parmigiana and the Mafalde Ai Profumi di Bosco, and both were absolutely delicious. The eggplant in the Melanzane Parmigiana was perfectly cooked, with layers of cheesy, saucy goodness that hit the spot. The Mafalde pasta was so flavorful--the mix of wild mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, and garlicky sauce, plus that drizzle of truffle oil, was perfection. We also let our server recommend a red wine, and it paired so well with everything. Service here was amazing. We got seated right away (just two of us), and they brought water while we looked over the menu. The server was super friendly and really knew their stuff--helped us pick food and wine based on our preferences. We even got complimentary bread, which was a nice touch. Everyone was super attentive, refilling water and clearing plates without us even having to ask. The vibe is simple and relaxed--nothing super fancy, but it feels authentic. There's plenty of seating, including a nice back area and a bar. Definitely coming back to try more of the menu! read more

Italianissimo Trattoria - Mafalde Ai Profumi di Bosco & Melanzane Parmigiana - Italian Near Me - Chula Vista, California

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Very good Italian experience. That's my second time in this restaurant after years ago. It all remodeled, so nice with a good Italian decor. Luis was our server, he was very attentive, I did a reservation to celebrate my godson birthday, as soon as we got there everything was set! Everyone was very helpful , keeping the cake I brought refrigerate it. The food was very good, love the taste of every dish we ordered. Since appetizer until entree. I do recommend this restaurant love the customer service as well as the food!! Good Job!! read more

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Outdoor seating is limited but nice. Service was awesome: we came with two dogs and the staff came out with water bowls for them! The food was amazing. We ordered the Mafalde Ai Profumi di Bosco, lasagna bolognese, and a Margherita pizza. We ended with a tiramisu. The Mafalde wasn't too heavy, and I like that the truffle flavor was subtle and not overwhelming. Lasagna was very filling and savory. Pizza was delicious as well but I wish it came with more basil. Tiramisu was perfect and not too sweet. Will definitely be coming back. read more

Italianissimo Trattoria - Mafalde Ai Profumi di Bosco, lasagna bolognese - Italian Near Me - Chula Vista, California

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Amazing food. Every time I go, the food has been amazing. Friendly service. Love the special on the Salmon Wellington

First time here and it was spectacular. We came a bit later, maybe an hour and a half before closing time and our server still made us feel like there was no rush. We ordered the panzerotti camarata, spaghetti carbonara and a pepperoni pizza. For how late it was,everything seemed to be pretty well done! The ambience was somewhat dead probably due to what time we showed up, however the interior of the restaurant looked very nice and had a calming relaxed vibe. This was one of the better italian places I've been to in San Diego, I highly recommend coming. read more

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Love this Italian restaurant located in Chula Vista! This is the traditional Italian restaurant that makes you feel like a family as soon as you walk in! Amazing service from the beginning to the end. The restaurant has many tables inside and outside for parties. We didn't have a reservation, but we were able to be seated right the way for a party of 5 on a Saturday night. I am very impressed by the menu, which has a complete section for vegan, many gluten free options, and at least 20 different pasta options! As you would expect, amazing wine list here. I started my dinner with their Italianissimo Cocktail. Excellent cocktail! Love the orange flavor, very refreshing. The freshly baked bread was delicious and it's our anti pasti Bruschetta was also very good. I highly recommend Mafalde Ai Profumi di Bosco! Great flavor of tomatoes and mushrooms. I haven't seen this type of pasta before, so I absolutely love it. Another one we tried was Linguine Vongole, which was good but not the best we ever had. They have amazing dessert menu, but we were so full so only tried a little bit of the pistachio ice cream, which is delicious. Can't wait to come back again and try other dishes on their menu! read more

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