Maybe more of a three stars experience but it's a locals place that's been around for decades. - Large portions for their pasta dishes. - Pizza, Alfredo pasta, marsala, chicken piccata and garlic knots are going to be your best options. - Waitresses were fine but the guy bussing tables doesn't listen very well. - if you can, eat outside rather than inside. - if it's your birthday tell the waitress and they'll sing you a birthday song and treat you with a small dessert. read more

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Food: Fettuccine Alfredo (7/10) - Very creamy with a huge portion size. It was a little lacking in flavor, but I liked that it wasn't dry and had a good amount of sauce. Garlic Knots (7.5/10) - Great size and perfect for sharing. They were fluffy and not too salty. A nice basic dish to have. Bruschetta (7.5/10) - Light, fresh flavor that wasn't too overpowering. The bread wasn't soggy, and the portion size was decent Service: The staff was super nice and helpful, but it's also very self-service. You get your own water, plates, napkins, utensils, and to-go boxes. Ambiance: A very cute and cozy Italian restaurant with both indoor and outdoor seating. Super casual and comfortable. read more

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Pastas and Salad excellent Bread sticks although look great but bottom is as hard as a rock... read more

Lorna's Italian Kitchen - Italian Chopped Salad (Large) Linguine Carbonara Tiramisu Garlic Knots Meatball Side Tagliatelle Bolognese - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Enjoyed this small business in a quaint location. You could tell it's a locals favorite. The service is great and they have both inside and outside seating. Their recommended entrees were delicious. They provide complimentary warm bread service. Portion sizes were big and definitely shareable. Very clean and good selection. I only wished I lived close by to try many more options on their menu. It was like going to little Italy in San Diego, only without having to pay for parking. read more

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I called to make a reservation a couple weeks ago, and when we arrived, our table was ready for us. The restaurant was packed compared to restaurants nearby, which is a good sign. The tables outside had checkered tablecloths, and the whole restaurant just screamed comfort, home kitchen. It was the perfect place for a family style meal. And based on the portion sizes, I think family style is the way to go. Everything was huge! For my party of 8, we got an appetizer, 5 entrees, a salad, and a side dish, and we had a ton of leftovers. read more

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Wow, this will absolutely be our new Friday night family dinner restaurant! Amazing service, family friendly, and the food was *chefs kiss*! We had two orders of the garlic knots because the second order is needed to absorb all the delicious sauce. We had the spinach lasagna, chicken Gorgonzola, and the kids ordered the Caesar salad and plain pasta. Only warning, they make an authentic Caesar salad so my young daughter wasn't a fan but the adults loved it. It is super warm and friendly, whether you sit in the many seats inside, or snag one outside. The servers are super kind and attentive, special shout out to Isabella who was an absolute gem. Looking forward to next Friday! PS: all wine drinkers, excellent wine selection to balance out the pasta. Pinot Grigio was 5/5. read more

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I love this family owned restaurant!! I have come here with a group of friends and have done catering for an office lunch - and both times were amazing. Our favorites were the pesto fusilli and tag-bol! They also offer great salads with homemade dressings. I highly recommend going to this restaurant- the food and service are amazing!! read more

This is a very small place so be aware if you go. Your conversation will be heard by others because the tables are right next to each other. And trying to have a conversation is a challenge because it's loud when there lots of people. There was a reservation for us and when we got here we were seated. We were handed the menu and asked what type of beverage, there is not fountain drinks it's in a can but they have wine and beer. Once the main food order is made be prepared to wait some time because they are making fresh. When it arrives to your table it's well with the wait, portions are Hugh!!! We had so many options from custom Calzones to spinach salad. No one complained about the food. I had the Tag Bol and it was soooo good plus I was starving and I ate it all, so good!!! There is lots of foot traffic for food order pick up. There was only one bathroom and it was in the back of the kitchen. Parking is not a problem because it located in a place with other businesses. If you go to try it maybe pick up would better because depending on time and customers you man end up sitting out side or waiting to be seated, be aware. None of us could think about desert but it did look delicious. So like I always say try it you may like it. read more

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Lorna's is our go to neighborhood Itslian restaurant. The food really hits the spot. Fusilli Roma, chock full of mushrooms, spinach and pancetta, Joy's tortellini with tomato cream sauce and egg plant Parmesan are 3 of our favorites. The restaurant is a comfortable typically Italian decorated place. Servers have been there for ages and are efficient. read more

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The food, service, and ambiance are top notch! Great gluten-free options. We felt very welcome with our family but Lorna's would be a comfortable place for friends to hang out or for a romantic date. Truly a gem. read more

After the amazing meal and leftovers I had from last night I had to write about how good it was!! :) My mom, husband and I ordered the chopped antipasto salad (large), lasagna, Mateo's eggplant and fettuccine Alfredo with chicken. My mom and I have been multiple times when I lived in UC but it had been awhile since I've been back since moving. It was as good, if not better than I remember. They have THE BEST chopped salad, even my husband who doesn't really like veggies said he prefers this one! Will definitely have to add this back into the rotation' Also, love that they give you warm bread with butter and have olive oil and balsamic on the table...yum!!! I live in Carlsbad but would gladly drive down to meet my mom here... excited for the next time! read more

Crowded noisy, worst spaghetti and meatballs I've had in decades. Slow service, but waiter was nice.

Hands down the best chicken Alfredo I've had in San Diego. The sauce was rich, creamy, and perfectly balanced not heavy or overpowering!! Every bite tasted fresh and made with care. The space is small but charming, with a cozy, welcoming feel that makes it perfect for a relaxed meal. If you're craving authentic Italian comfort food, Lorna's is a must try. I'll definitely be back. read more

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Such a homey, Italian joint in La Jolla! Based on the Yelp reviews and great pictures, I wanted to try this place so bad (even with food at home lol). For my "test try" order, I ordered the minestrone soup and a cannolo for dessert to-go. As soon as I walked up to the restaurant, there were so many people eating outside and inside during dinner (good signs), red & white checked table cloths which signal home style-type of cooking/presentation, and when I looked inside, there were many to-go orders lined up, which signals that this restaurant is good AND efficient. The minestrone soup was super comforting, nourishing, and cooked with lentils as opposed to adding pasta. It also came with 2 garlic knots. The cannolo was great, crunchy, and did not shy away from chocolate. The ricotta filling was not too sweet. I will forsure come back for this signature pasta dishes and sides! read more

Lorna's Italian Kitchen - Minestrone soup - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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The staff will harass you if you put in a pick up order from a third party app, and put you on a guilt trip about how you could've saved money and how you should've saved them 20%. News flash: it's not the customer's problem you list your food for pickup on third party apps. How about you're welcome for my patronage, instead? Ive eaten at Lorna's for the past 3 years, unfortunately this will be the last time. read more

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I'm usually not in this area, but I made it a point to come back for a fantastic meal. I always know that the food won't disappoint, and I always leave with leftovers. The best part is the ample parking. It's perfect if you're coming on a date or with a group. There was a line out the door, and the entire restaurant including the patio seating was full. As you get closer, you're hit with the rich scents of garlic, basil, and tomato, all staples in Italian cuisine. When we entered, we saw calzones as big as half your steering wheel! HUGE!! We decided to try some new dishes. For the appetizer, we had Mateo's eggplant. It was grilled eggplant with roasted peppers topped with Gorgonzola cheese. The eggplant was cooked perfectly, and I loved the tomato sauce, but the Gorgonzola cheese was a bit too strong for my taste. It had a funky, tart flavor that overpowered the dish for me and I loved the funkiness typically. As for my entree, I ordered the special fresh salmon fillet in a creamy paprika cream sauce with capers on a bed of spinach. I also got a side of spaghetti with marinara sauce with it. I squeezed a slice of lemon on top, and that dish became my new favorite! We also ordered the linguine carbonara and white wine linguine with clams. And of course, for dessert, we couldn't leave without the tiramisu! We left feeling fat and happy, and we were so glad to be back. I wish the short rib special hadn't been sold out, but hopefully next time! Thanks for the great meal!! buon appetito *** tip they do add a 2% charge for using a credit card to pay which states on the bill to offset the processing cost This amount is not more than what we pay in fees. Sales tax also applies. read more

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First time at Lorna's for a friend's birthday party. It's a classic old school Italian mom and pop place. We went all out with appetizers, salad and entrees. Everyone loved everything they ordered. We had a lot to take home too. Portions are huge. We had excellent service the whole night which is challenging for a party of 10. The whole restaurant sang happy birthday not only to my friend but also to the table next to us who were also celebrating a birthday. We shared our cake with them. It was fun for all! read more

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I got a meatball sub and was.not impressed. The sauce was fine and they gave you tons of cheese. It's the meatballs that were not impressive. They don't even put whole meatballs in each half. They cut them in half, so the sandwich was mostly bread. I ended up taking off the bread and eating the half open faced and it only had 1/2 a meatball. They didn't taste homemade either. The bread they used was very good though. I probably won't go back. read more

I am so glad I finally tried out Lorna's!! My aunt has been talking about this place for years and raved about all their amazing dishes. Their portions are huge and after our first time learned our lesson haha. Now on our return trips we have decided to do one appetizer and try one new entree each time. Their "Tag Bol", Veal Parmesan, and Carbonara have been my favorites so far. The fried ravioli is also a fantastic starter. To top it all off their fresh baked bread is incredible. The ambiance here is very nice and homey and we've been able to dine in the front two sections so far. The service is also quick and friendly! We're already looking forward to our next trip!! read more

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This is a no frills type of Mom & Pop Italian joint, but the food is great! Everything is homemade including the marinara sauce and salad dressing. The Meat Lasagna was amazing! This is the type of lasagna that it's covered in marinara sauce. The portion is large, and it comes with Italian bread, which can be dipped in a mixture of olive oil & balsamic. The Side Salad was fresh and delicious due to the House Italian dressing. It's a sun-dried tomato and basil vinaigrette that is absolutely amazing! Gabriel is a gentle giant who helped me at the counter. The counter service for lunch is a good option for those who want a sit down homemade Italian meal made to order yet served quickly. read more

Been enjoying home style Italian food at Lorna's Italian Kitchen for many years and it's always a pleasure to dine here. I have sampled much of the offerings and nothing I have tried has been a disappointment. You can dine inside or enjoy the patio tables just outside the entrance. The friendly staff take good care of any needs and once you've chosen your items, it's not long before they arrive tableside. Today, I had a Lorna's favorite of mine, Tagliatelle Bolognaise which I believe is one of their best! My dining companion enjoyed the Gnocchi which was perfectly prepared and quite flavorful. The restrooms are well kept, and located to the back of the restaurant so you get to walk right through the busy kitchen on your way there. I will return soon for more great food at Lorna's. read more

Lorna's Italian Kitchen - Gnocchi - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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I had the tag bol and enjoyed it! I would come back again to try more menu items. The tall, scruffy guy doesn't seem equipped for the job here. I'm genuinely confused at his inability. He had 1 other table that already had their food when we arrived but seemed overwhelmed helping us. The only time he smiled or seemed relaxed was when we walked in and he greeted us. I did see him taking telephone orders and give a few parties their take out orders. It was a miss with every interaction we had with him. read more

Based on the reviews, I was excited to try this restaurant. Unfortunately it wasn't a good experience. They sat us in the back in the corner by the kitchen. We ordered a glass of wine and it was in a water glass? That's first time drinking wine from a water glass. We ordered a bruschetta. It was very garlicky and way too much balsamic vinaigrette. We also ordered several pasta dishes. My son didn't even eat his linguine with meat sauce after one bite. I got clam with linguine. The texture was hard and no flavor at all. Clams were from a can which obviously wasn't fresh. I told the waiter about it. He took my pasta to the kitchen and modified it. It turned out to be salty, spicy and a bit sour. I couldn't eat it at all. By far, that's the worst Italian food I've had in San Diego (Yes, I've been to Italy and I've had lots of Italian food in SD). They seem pretty busy though so maybe we ordered wrong dishes? I expected Based on the reviews, I was excited to try this restaurant. Unfortunately it wasn't a good experience. They sat us in the back in the corner by the kitchen. We ordered a glass of wine and it was in a water glass? That's first time drinking wine from a water glass. We ordered a bruschetta. It was very garlicky and way too much balsamic vinaigrette. We also ordered several pasta dishes. My son didn't even eat his linguine with meat sauce after one bite. I got clam with linguine. The texture was hard and no flavor at all. Clams were from a can which obviously wasn't fresh. I told the waiter about it. He took my pasta to the kitchen and modified it. It turned out to be salty, spicy and a bit sour. I couldn't eat it at all. By far, that's the worst Italian food I've had in San Diego. They seem pretty busy though so maybe we ordered wrong dishes? I expected more for the price of the dishes. I'm giving a star for the waiter's service trying to make my pasta taste better. read more

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Lipstick print on the cup, disgusting. Dirty place. Didn't even apologise for it. Terrible management

Service is spectacular. Feels like home with all the good food. Tag bol, chopped salad, and Joys are fantastic.

Great neighborhood mom and pop's restaurant! Large portion size, service was fast efficient and attentive. Came here for dinner one night based on seevral friend's recommendation and it sure didn't disappoint. The meatball appetizer was my favorite! So tasty and the spices were on point. The chopped salad was surprisingly good too, not too much or too little dressing and everything was simple. The spinach lasagna was ok, should have probably went with the meat version, next time. Prices were reasonable for the amount of food you get. Service was great, for how busy they were, our server really took good care of us. Parking was easy in the plaza, bathroom was relatively clean. Definitely coming back! read more

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We had a very large order for 10 different people every single order had something special. We ordered it for pick up to go and there was not one mistake. The food was hot and delicious. Everyone enjoyed it and there was plenty for all with leftovers. Lornas is amazing. The best Italian food! read more

Support your local businesses! Especially when they are great like Lorna's! And make sure to bring some people because the portions here are huge. Came for a date night and got Joy's Tortelloni with cream sauce and the fettuccini alfredo and asked to add italian sausage (which is a pro move my gf showed me). Both were delicious and very filling. Didn't get one but the calzones are HUMONGOUS. Table next to us got one and I couldn't stop looking at how ridiculously huge it was haha. Will definitely be back to try one of those. Was a pretty busy dinner time even though it was a Tuesday night but we got seated pretty easily outside. Service was fair and they made up for slow-ish water refills by giving the giant glasses for water. Got seated outside where there were a ton of space heaters so no worries sitting outside if you get cold (it was actually really hot for me). The inside was nicely decorated and way bigger than I thought since it looks like they take up two spots. Overall great local Italian spot and will definitely put it in my rotation! read more

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The food is excellent and everyone there is so nice. It is such a nice relaxing feel inside and its great to see the food being made. Favorites are the Antipasto salad and Pizzas and the Calzones are so good!! Portions sizes are huge and the ingredients are fresh. This is a great restaurant. read more

Lorna's Italian Kitchen - Amazing Calzones and Pizzas. - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

The food isn't great. Would not recommend. Rude management. Will not be back. Buona Forchetta or Amalfi is preferred.

The University City High School cheerleaders ordered catering from Lorna's this past week. We wanted to say thank you to the team at Lorna's for the perfect meal before our homecoming weekend. The food, as always, is the best Italian in San Diego and Ethan provided us with the best service and customer service a customer could get! Thank you for supporting your community schools!!! Lorna's is THE best! Thank you Ethan!!! UCHS Cheer Team, 2025 read more

Lorna's Italian Kitchen - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Love their pasta with meat sauce, and chopped Italian salad. So many good entrées that have drawn us back monthly over the last 40 years.

Lorna's has been serving our family the best neighborhood Italian food for years!! When you have no plans and are just looking for a great family meal, stop by here the staff will take care of you. Wonderful experience! read more

This is one of our go-to places and has been for just over five years (1-2 times a month we find ourselves here) Love the service and food It's like family at this point So glad we found it! read more

The food I was given had items I was allergic to. I called in and the person misgendered me and hung up on. The service was horrible, the food almost killed me and the food was spilled everywhere. On my order I out highly allergic to chili peppers and look at this hot mess the way it was packed read more

Lorna's Italian Kitchen - the contents of a pizza - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

I tried this place some time ago and it was only so so. But the problem I had was with the big guy with the afro. He was so rude! The bad attitude was written all over his face. I will never return! read more

We've been coming here on and off since 1989. Hinoki is just as smooth and tasty as it was back then. One of our favorite spots near San Diego. Our only regret is we can't eat more. read more

Lorna's Italian Kitchen - Tomato cream gnocchi! - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Gabriel and his team did an EXCELLENT job catering at a wedding at the Woods Clubhouse in Eastlake, Chula Vista! The Food was Amazing! Fresh, Soft pasta! HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Ask for Gabriel, Manager. read more

We just moved to this area and trying some local restaurants. We were seated right away. Service was very good. Great selection of meals and they serve warm bread and butter when you arrive. I had the meat lasagna and my husband had the chicken fettuccine. Both were so good and the servings were big enough that we had leftovers to bring home. They offer seating both indoors and out. We will definitely be back. read more

Rude and obnoxious service from the scruffy fellow who was staffing the register during my take-out order. Employees who lack customer service skills should not be in a public facing position. Establishments that provide poor customer service should not be patronized. read more