We found Limoncello on Yelp after seeing its glowing reviews, and after our first visit this past Friday evening, those reviews could not have been more accurate -- this place is a true gem in downtown La Mesa. We arrived at 6:15 for our reservation on a Friday night. Downtown La Mesa had a charming farmer's market wrapping up along the street, which added such a lovely atmosphere to the evening. We found free street parking easily, and from the moment we walked up, the experience was warm and welcoming. The hostess greeted us outside with genuine kindness, checked us in, and seated us with ease. Then came Francesca -- our server, and honestly the heart of our entire evening. Originally from Sicily, Francesca brought an authenticity and warmth to the table that is simply rare. She was attentive, knowledgeable, generous with her recommendations, and had this wonderful energy that made our whole table feel at ease and cared for. She is the kind of server you remember, and the kind you come back for. The interior is absolutely beautiful -- the colors, the design, the layout -- everything is thoughtfully done and so inviting. For food, we shared the artichoke and Brussels sprouts appetizers (both delicious), and my friend enjoyed a refreshing limoncello spritz cocktail. For our entrées, I had the chicken with mushrooms, asparagus, and mashed potatoes -- perfectly prepared -- and my mom and friend had pasta dishes that Francesca personally recommended, which they loved. We finished with the chocolate lava cake, which was indulgent and wonderful. Next time, I am absolutely trying the house-made tiramisu. After dinner, we strolled through downtown La Mesa and it was just delightful -- the streets were beautifully lit up, lively, and full of local charm. Our group of three -- myself, my mom, and my friend -- all left completely charmed. We will without a doubt be back. If you're lucky enough to have Francesca as your server, consider the evening made. Highly recommend! read more

Can't believe it's been almost two years since I dined here. The decor is modern and clean. We were given complimentary bread with butter and olive oil. For drinks I got a mocktail and a limoncello martini, which came with a popsicle! We shared the guazzetto and the insalata limoncello for our starters. The guazetto had black mussels, clams, calamari, and prawns. It was a nice mixture of seafood! For our entrees, we chose the paccheri carbonara and branzino. Both dishes were very flavorful! He also ordered a cappuccino before dessert came. The chocolate molten lava cake was pretty good! Overall, I had a nice time here! read more

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Here's a nice, polished review you can post: We had such a great experience at Limoncello! The food was absolutely delicious -- everything tasted fresh, authentic, and full of flavor. You can really tell they care about quality. Our waitress, Francesca, made the night even better. She was so friendly, attentive, and professional. She made sure we had everything we needed and gave great recommendations. Her service truly stood out and made us feel welcome from start to finish. If you're looking for amazing Italian food and top-tier service, Limoncello is definitely the spot. We'll be coming back for sure! read more

We had dinner at Limoncello last night and it was honestly one of the best Italian dining experiences I've ever had. Everything from the ambiance to the drinks to the food was incredible. The atmosphere was warm, lively, and beautifully done, and every cocktail we tried was fantastic. I ordered the slow-braised short rib and it was a 10/10, perfectly cooked and flavorful. What really made the place special, though, was our server Miguel!! He was so knowledgeable, funny, attentive, and genuinely kind, and he made the whole experience feel memorable from start to finish. Service like that is rare. Highly recommend this place if you're looking for amazing Italian food, great drinks, and an overall fantastic dining experience. Will be back anytime we're in the area! read more

Limoncello - Braised short rib and risotto. - Italian Near Me - La Mesa, California

Came here for restaurant week. We had a reservation and we got seated right away. Parking isn't the best but there's a paid lot nearby. For appetizers, we had the arancini and bruschetta. The arancini was so good and flavorful while the bruschetta tasted fresh. For our entrees, we had the pollo saltimbocca and the brasato. The brasato was super tender with bold flavors while the pollo saltimbocca had milder more herby flavor. Both were delicious! For our desserts we tried both the tiramisu and cannoli. The cannoli was not sweet at all if you're into that and the tiramisu was really good! I also had the limoncello martini and that tasted good! It didn't taste like alcohol at all it's dangerous lol. It's a small place with many tables so it can get a little loud inside. Service was fantastic though!!! read more

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The peach and mango marg are to die for! Pictures with their photographer was a cute touch. Highly recommend this place! read more

Limoncello - Italian Near Me - La Mesa, California

Everything was sooo good, I got mussels and clams to start and those were amazing then I got a pasta for my main and that was even more amazing, our server was soo good as well always checking on us to make sure everything is good, thank you read more

Limoncello - Italian Near Me - La Mesa, California

Interior is nice good atmosphere, service was what you need nothing more. Food was bomb! Thank you for the evening read more

Limoncello - Veg raviolis - Italian Near Me - La Mesa, California

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What a delight. We were in no rush at all and the server took his time with us and it made the evening munch more special. The drinks were tasty and the food.... Wow. Yummy with a depth of flavor hard to match. The short ribs were scoring and the serving size was too big to eat in one sitting. The pasta with eggplant was also very tasty. Overall a great find for locals and anyone who allravites good Italian food. read more

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Food is okay but we went here for happy hour and they weren't honoring it during restaurant week. We were told they would make an exception because that's why we came (which i always appreciate especially when it isn't posted) however the portions for the plates were super small. read more

Great service. Food was delicious. Cheap happy hour. Even got a cute photo from a local photographer.

When a former student, well..actually a student who had to put up with me my first year teaching, so many years ago, said let's meet up for dinner, I suggested here. It had been a while since I've been, and it is a real treat to come here! This was also my first time sitting inside. It's a great dining room, and I love the circular couch in the center. I had to have that Limencello martini again...or is it the fact that it has a popsicle....hhmmm. We started with the crispy calamari, sooooo good! On this visit, I decided on the papparadelle pasta with meatballs, sausage, and short rib. This was so delicious! Vi had did her research and they have Pasta Tuesday special where you build your own. We ended our meal with the lemon cake and tiramisu. Both so good, but my favorite was the lemon cake...light and lemony! Service was warm and friendly! I need to come back soon! read more

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Such a cute location with friendly service and amazing food! Located in downtown La Mesa with street parking only. Came on a Sunday right at open and got seated right away. We made a reservation, but it wasn't needed! They also take walk-ins. Anything off the menu is delicious, you cannot go wrong. From the innovative drinks to the decadent desserts, everything is very tasty! read more

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Lovely little Italian restaurant and will be back. I've been to this location before when it was another restaurant, hope this one is able to flourish. La Mesa Village has always been a fave little area close to home and I love to see small businesses thriving. Came here to celebrate someone's birthday and they were very kind. Our waiter Fillippo sang Happy Birthday with a cute Italian birthday cake and candle. The food was fresh and I like their price point. They also have a HH which I def want to check out in the near future. Dog friendly patio, so will bring my dood. Cute date night spot or to dine with your tribe. read more

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We are always looking for a good Italian restaurant, Limoncello, it was pretty good, but not entirely authentic. I say not authentic because they have a number of salmon dishes, Salmon is not a traditional Italian fish. We did enjoy the Arancini as an appetizer. We split the heirloom tomato salad, and it was unusual that the tomatoes had been sautéed.. The bread was good. I had the tutto mare with squid ink pasta. It was good, but a number of the shellfish had not opened.... My husband had the gnocchi with Burrata dish, which was also pretty good. He had the limoncello martini which was playful with a lemon popsicle included. Very pretty inside, but very loud it's difficult to carry on a conversation with your date/ table mates. Our waitress Francesca was very attentive and helpful . read more

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A warm afternoon is wonderful reason for an al fresco meal. We went to Limincello for the happy hour and I think we ended up trying half of their options. It was great variety with pastas, salads, and plenty of other tasty treats. The service was friendly and the guy who delivered our food appeared to be loving life. This is a lovely little gem in downtown La Mesa. read more

Limoncello was such a beautiful experience from start to finish--the food is truly authentic, and it really shows that everything is made in-house.. delicious Ravioli pasta. The atmosphere also makes you feel like you've been transported to the Amalfi Coast. And Fillippo made the whole night even better--so friendly, thoughtful, and always making sure everything was exactly right for us. He's a real standout, and we feel lucky we had him taking care of our table. Thank you Fillippo! We really appreciated you read more

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Limoncello is a spot worth coming back to. Every dish was beautifully executed fresh ingredients, well-balanced flavors, and that authentic Italian touch in every bite. The drinks were just as impressive refreshing, well-crafted, and paired perfectly with the food. read more

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We loved everything about our visit. Our server Miguel was so attentive and kind and made us feel special. I had the lobster ravioli and it was delicious! Pasta is homemade. read more

Amazing dinner! Had some really delicious bites. I pretty much enjoyed everything I ordered. The gnocchi and salmon entree were my favorites. The pappardelle had good texture and the meatballs were moist. The gnocchi had the perfect texture. The only dish I wasn't feeling was the saffron risotto. Tasted very bland and the texture and consistency was off. Had great service. I'll definitely be back! read more

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Limoncello has one of the best ambience in a la mesa small, but elegant dining setting. We enjoyed our evening with a larger party, but unfortunately it was not perfect. While the food was good there were multiple times that we had to repeat what we needed from our waiter. Half our party received their plates 20 minutes before the rest so by the time they ate their food was cold. Just a little bit more of attention would have made it better as the price point is higher than a casual restaurant. The saving grace was the desserts were very good. Not sure if we will give this restaurant another try. read more

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This place was absolutely delicious! San Diego is by no means in lack of Italian restaurants. I saw this place and I wanted to try it, but was also a little hesitant on whether it would be worth my while. It was out of this world delicious. All of the servers were Italian and definitely knew the menu. Our server recommended. I try the dish that has broccoli and sausage and tomato, and it is the best meal I've had at a restaurant for months! I also had the lemon cello spritz and it was the perfect spring/summer drink! I will definitely be back! The restaurant is cute, cozy, and has the perfect mood lighting. Definitely interested in going back and trying the cheese wheel pasta made tableside! It looked so exciting and extra delicious! read more

Limoncello - Pasta - Italian Near Me - La Mesa, California

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Just had dinner here. Service was excellent. Food was delicious. The place is really cute. Only complaint is its really loud. But other than that, nothing to complain about. read more

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Miguel provided us with excellent hospitality and service. He recommended many lovely dishes for us to try and settled on the pollo with spinach and fingerling potatoes. Also, don't sleep on the garlic focaccia and tiramisu. Delicious! read more

Mateo was our server and he was very nice and attentive. the food was delicious and the service was great. I'll definitely be back.

Mateo provided excellent service. The food was amazing.! I'll be back soon. Great atmosphere

Miguel and Samuel took care of us! Great atmosphere and the special of the day came with a show! Food was all really great! I enjoyed sharing with others and tasting everything. The gnocchi with the mama Rosa cream sauce on the side was killer! Lemon cake desert was perfect end to the night! Will be back again read more

Limoncello - Bruschetta and garlic bread behind - Italian Near Me - La Mesa, California

I cannot recommend Limoncello enough! I don't give perfect 10 restaurants very often but this one is worth it. here are some of my favorite dishes : -arancini 10/10 the perfect appetizer ‍ -pulpo 10/10 cooked to perfection and all the elements on the plate bring it all together for a truly wonderful taste -pappardelle 10/10 fresh pasta, tender and saucy? What more could you ask for? Will go back to try more, but this restaurant is truly a gem! Our server Roberto is a gem in this world, he was so kind and provided the best service we could have asked for. I took photos of the interior but they do not do it justice. This is probably my favorite Italian restaurant in SD county read more

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Great intimate Italian restaurant in downtown La Mesa with accommodating and friendly staff. Our server, Victor, as well as everyone else who helped at our table, were terrific. Cacio e Pepe was great, as well as the table bread and infused butter. read more

We finally made it to Limoncello Modern Italian after having it on my list for a while! We stopped by around 8 PM on a Wednesday. We found out they offer half-off wine bottles that night but we opted for drinks. Good to know: they also have a date night special on Thursdays- $70 for a three-course meal for two!) I wasn't super hungry, but my partner was, so he ordered the 15-month Parmesan wheel pasta, which they serve tableside. He added chicken for an extra $10. I went with the soup of the day- a bean soup (I forgot the exact name, but it was tasty!). I also tried their Aperol spritz, which was perfect-light, refreshing, and not too sweet. Their cocktail menu has a few more drinks I'm excited to come back for, especially the Limoncello Sangria and Italian Mixed Berry Mojito. My partner had a glass of wine, and overall, our bill came to about $100 before tip for two drinks, the pasta, and my cup of soup. The restaurant itself is super cute and well-decorated, and the staff was incredibly friendly. I also noticed a dog on the patio, so it looks like they're dog-friendly outside-another plus! We'll definitely be back, especially to try the date night special and explore more of the menu. Limoncello has a great vibe, and I can't wait to come back. read more

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Victor treated us to an exquisite evening of dining at Limoncello. He was attentive yet restrained, thorough, and kind. The atmosphere was perfect and the food was delicious. read more

We came here for dinner on a Wednesday evening. E didn't have reservations but that was no problem as there were quite a few empty tables. The waiter seated us close to the window and away from other diners which was nice so we weren't too close to anyone. My husband ordered the ravioli with a creamy mushroom sauce which he really enjoyed and a Cesar salad which lacked on the Cesar salad flavor of the dressing. It was just ok and the Romain was room temperature and would have been better crisp and cold. I had the lasagna and it was delicious! I had a glass of red wine to go with my lasagna and felt their pours were a little selfish for the price but all in all we enjoyed our meal. read more

Limoncello - Ravioli with a creamy mushroom sauce and the lasagna - Italian Near Me - La Mesa, California

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Delicious. I have eaten Italian food all over New York City and in the corners of manhattan and Limoncello does not disappoint. I've eaten here a handful of times and the experience and quality is consistent. I'm not giving suggestions because I want you to experiment and discover your own favorite dish. You won't be disappointed. My God even the bathroom is delightful! read more

Limoncello - Italian Near Me - La Mesa, California

Great food! Great service. Miguel was very helpful, took great care of us. Beet salad especially delightfful.

It was my first time here but it was for a work party event. I want to start by saying first, this place cannot accommodate a work party of 20 people. Food was being passed down by my coworkers because the waitress couldn't get food down the table to us. The only thing I loved was the calamari and tomato thing lol. I got lobster ravioli and omg, it was so fishy I couldn't finish it. I don't recall lobster being fishy so that was disappointing. Do not get the tiramisu it was so bitter with lemon we couldn't eat it. I don't think I would be back but I'm sure they have better dishes on the regular menu. read more

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Food was mid. Needed salt. Service was amazing! Great staff. Place was cute but could use a good clean.

What a delicious meal and beautiful restaurant! Came here with my best friend for my birthday and our food was amazing! Miguel was a stellar server, will definitely come back soon! read more

This place has been on my radar for a while. Finally tried! This is a great find for East County. Fresh made pasta definitely make a difference. Pasta was cooked to perfection!! The meatballs were moist tender and full of flavor. Truly Didnt need any sauce! The Braised Short Rib was fall apart tender and delicious but The risotto was under cooked to my liking. The ambiance it very plain. Lacked style, but the food made up for it. We ordered appetizers and when they arrived my main dish arrived with them. The 3 others received their mains when they shouldve arrived. Lack of attention by the staff. My main shouldve arrived with the others. And after our mains arrived we never saw our server again until we asked for the check after waiting. Besides these small issues the food was very good and I will return. read more

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I give it a 2 is mainly on the cheese pasta. It's the worse pasta I've ever had. I've seen it many places before and always wanted to try it but sadly was a disappointed. There was hardly any cheese left and I can taste the alcohol very strongly. I don't believe it did it right but it was bad.... The other dishes were good. I can't add my video for the pasta making for s read more

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This is THE hidden gem of the entire San Diego county!!! Miguel seated us and personally cared for us all night! The food, amazing! The atmosphere, amazing! read more

Limoncello - Italian Near Me - La Mesa, California