The food was ridiculously outstanding! I never eat until my stomach hurts-today I did just that! My 7 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! read more

Marechiaros on 2nd - Dad and I admiring the pizza! - Pizza Near Me - El Cajon, California

Hey dudes, Captain 619 here, just cruisin' in to share my experience at Marechiaro's Italian Restaurant. 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 read more

See all

I've only had their pizza in the past but I stopped in today for lunch wow wow wow!!!! I have a saying you can't find any good Italian food west of St. Louis and you can't find any good Mexican food east of St. Louis. But that has changed. I sat down for lunch and had the minestrone soup amazing. It's rare where you can find soup that isn't premade and barely edible. That is not the case here. Big chunks of real vegetables you can tell this soup is made daily, with just the right amount of spice set my taste buds soaring now let's move onto their spaghetti the sauce, sweet thing perfect along with garlic bread this amazing lunch will definitely be visited again by this Petrone read more

Marechiaros on 2nd - Minestrone soup wow wow wow - Pizza Near Me - El Cajon, California

See all

Marecherios on 2nd Street in El Cajon has the Best Pizza in the county. It is always consistent fresh and served by the nicest kindest people. I just wish they were open 7 days a week. The ambiance is an Italian restaurant and feel. Always clean including the restrooms and the exterior. Again the food is out of this world. The place to eat for Italian food. read more

Marechiaros on 2nd - Pizza Near Me - El Cajon, California

Came here to celebrate my birthday and I was so happy I did. We were greeted by very nice hostess and sat in Maddy's section. She was so sweet and sat us in a great section with a booth. The restaurant is beautifully decorated with old school Italian charm. From the moment we sat down the restaurant had a great vibe. This is the type of place people come to celebrate not only special occasions but also a place that is perfect for a family to just sit down after a long day of work and enjoy amazing food. Let's gets started with the food. We started with a Caesar salad and garlic bread and unfortunately forgot to take a photo. The Caesar dressing is house made and was the BOMB ! We ordered a pepperoni pizza. The pizza was perfectly cooked with just the right amount of cheese and perfect crisp. Great crust ! We also ordered beef ravioli and the meat sauce was so hearty and delicious. A toasted pastrami sandwich on Gibaldis sesame bread was delicious. A game changer was the shells in the salsa Rosa. This sauce was so flavorful and I loved the way the sauce just clings inside the pasta. Lastly a treat that was so delicious was the tiramisu ! This is a family secret recipe and let me tell you I enjoyed every bite. Light and fluffy with the perfect amount of sweet. On a side note I have to say the owners of this restaurant are extremely kind and warm to all their customers. I met Pasquale and Anna and they are a father daughter combo. They came and checked on us a couple times to see how we enjoyed the food and you can tell they truly care which is a testament because they just celebrated 70 years in business ! My family and I will definitely be back and I will be spreading the word of this great Italian gem in El Cajon on 2nd Street ! read more

See all

First time here and wow. Thursday night and not too busy. Parking was fine even though others said it may be an issue. The staff was awesome - Friendly, fast and helpful. Explained the menu and flavors well. The chicken piccata was one of the best we have had, which is a lot to say for us. The ambience is old school (imagine that after 70 years), but light, with some Italian music playin and colorful art on the wall. There was more than enough food and the price ing reasonable, especially for homemade Italian food. We highly recommend. read more

See all

I got the Italian chicken wings and meatball sub. Both were fire. Im trying hot honey next time probably tonight since its my birthday. The lady's at the register were very friendly and food was hot. Felt like part of the family walking in. Definitely will be back read more

This place never disappoints. I came here when I was a young man back in the 1970s and recently returned. I honestly expected it to have changed just like most everything else does but they have the same high quality they had back then. The staff is great and the food is amazing. It even looks and feels the same. Quiet and un rushed atmosphere. Thank you. read more

Great pizza and salad with homemade Italian dressing. The wait staff is efficient and personable. Looking forward to trying the rest of the menu. read more

GRRRREAT Italian sandwich! Go have lunch with a friend who like to share food and "The Tea"

Let me start off by saying the hospitality was on point all staff waiters and waitresses were so courteous and polite. First time going into this restaurant and let me tell you the food was absolutely wonderful. Definitely we'll be going back again and again this is our new to go spot in El Cajon for a great Italian cuisine. Thank you very much to Brendan and Eryn for providing excellent service! read more

See all

A lifelong staple, having grown up in East County, San Diego. Usually I go for the manicotti, but WOWWWW I am still dreaming about that mushroom sauce on the ravioli! I would consider bathing in that stuff! Classic pepperoni and onion pizza never disappoints. The vibe inside takes me back; red vinyl booths and all! Such a classic Italian American comfort. And our waitress was super charming and sweet, always making sure we were taken care of. read more

Marechiaros on 2nd - Pepperoni & Onion Pizza - Pizza Near Me - El Cajon, California

See all

The food tasted very good, the service is very good and very pleasant , the ambiance is casual and has nice Italian theme! I recommend this place and will be coming back again :) read more

Cute local Italian restaurant with a homey ambiance and great service. Here, they put the meat toppings under the cheese of the pizza and all the veggies on top which is a bit more unique. The flavors are still great but because it's cooked this way, the veggies end up slightly undercooked, specially the onions. Overall, i would definitely give this restaurant another try! read more

Marechiaros on 2nd - #14 Pasquale's Special - Pizza Near Me - El Cajon, California

Great food and excellent price for a family get together The garlic bread is the BEST and the salads, lasagna, spaghetti is always fantastic read more

We had dinner here tonight. First if all our waiter, Brenden, was great. He was attentive and kept things light and fun. We ordered two pizzas and some pasta with Alfredo. Everything was really delicious. The garlic bread was so good, made with Italian bread. Hadn't been here in a while but will definitely come back. read more

Ohhh MY GOSH! Dinner at Marechiaro's is awesome! I had tonight special, halibut in lemon butter sauce, and a side of spaghetti with meat sauce. It was the most special mealI have had in a long time. I would highly recommend this entrée. The portions are large and worthy of taking home for second meal. read more

A family owned hometown feel pizza place that the locals frequent often. You will notice a lot of repeat customers that have been coming here for years. Friendly service, comfortable surroundings as well as great appetizers, salads, pizza and dessert. Support local businesses especially the good ones. Marechiaro's on 2nd is great. Eat here. read more

See all

Fresh salad. Great service, a large menu, also. I love the lasagne, serving is large enough to take home leftovers. Love coming here for both lunch and dinner. YUM read more

Marechiaro's is hands down the best Italian restaurant in San Diego for those craving authentic, homemade pastas and pizzas. Nestled in the heart of El Cajon, this unassuming restaurant belies the incredible flavors that await inside. Their spaghetti with meat sauce transported me straight to the trattorias of Italy - the tender noodles blanketed in a rich, tomato-based sauce chock full of meaty bites of beef and pork. Each bite fills your mouth with the sweet and savory flavors that dance on your tastebuds. The herbs and spices blend together so beautifully, creating a sauce that is impossible not to finish off to the last drop. Beyond pasta, Marechiaro's also crafts phenomenal crust pizzas loaded with high quality ingredients. The white pizza and cheese pizza stand out - both arrive with golden, crispy crusts that give way to flavorful cheese blends and fresh toppings like spinach and tomato. Equally important as the food is the welcoming, attentive service headed by the Anna (SP?). She knows the menu extensively and helped guide my selections for my takeout for takeout. Marechiaro's is delightful. It's the type of neighborhood gem that promises consistent, quality Italian cuisine that keeps loyal customers coming back. For authentic, homemade flavors and an intimate dining experience, there's no better Italian restaurant than Marechiaro's. read more

See all

I have been to Marechchiaros 4 times now and has come up that really annoys me. The food is pretty good. 1 out of the 4 times the pizza was mediocre. But I can live with that. But they don't have Tabasco Sauce or any hot sauce. Don't do refills on drinks. I had a talk with my waitress about the Tabasco Sauce. It seems they don't have Tabasco because customers steal the bottles. I'm like "Ok"? Really? I then suggested getting packets instead. They said maybe. The thing that actually annoyed me is that they don't do refills on drinks. Hey there plenty of other Italian restaurants that do and have Tabasco too. For these reasons and petty penny pinching I most likely will not return. Too many rules and regulations. Update: the pizza is great but I always get food from here to go. I have to have my hot sauce. Haven't eaten at the restaurant recently. read more

What great Italian restaurant! You can either dine in or takeout. The pizza is great, as is all of the other Italian specialties. Reasonable on the prices as well. read more

Great Lasagna, husband got the Torpedo and said it was one of the best he's ever had. Next time we're going to try their Pizza. Very Friendly Staff, great ambiance. read more

I have been going to this place as long as I can remember! They have delicious Pizza and Pasta! The service is fast and the Ambiance is just like Italy! read more

Food and customer service has been top notch. Always delicious and always ready on time.

The food is amazing! My go to is the spaghetti with the salsa rosa and sauteed mushrooms, it always hits the spot. The service is also top-notch. Everyone is very friendly and welcoming. Our go to Italian restaurant when we're in San Diego. read more

I've been eating here my entire life and I still love it so, so much. Dining in is fantastic and ordering to-go is always a win as well. The service is always on point and welcoming. The food is the best. We love torpedo sandwiches to-go. Their pizza is my very favorite in all of San Diego and the antipasto salad with ranch is always crispy and fresh. I really love it here. read more

Went here for the first time yesterday and it was amazing! The ambiance, delicious food and great service was a great way to end the day. I think our servers name was Maddy and she was so sweet with a kind smile read more

Marechiaros on 2nd - Portobello ravioli - Pizza Near Me - El Cajon, California

We introduced our friends to one of our fav restaurants in El Cajon. I had delicious chicken marsala, hubby had the pink Pasquale pasta, our friends had a pizza and chicken piccata. Everyone loved their food, bread and drinks. Very nice, personable server and of course the charming old school ambiance. read more

What a great experience, this is our 2nd visit. 12/1 We worked with Ana on my husband 60th birthday dinner. I am an event planner and honestly this was the easiest planning I have ever had. She promised they would keep the food coming and the wine. My guest from all over San Diego continue to texting me to thank me for the amazing food and ambiance. We had Louie Centanni MC & sing traditional Italian music. Thank you to the whole team for a job that exceeded our expectations. The price was excellent. We had appetizers, salad, 3 diff pastas and 3 different types of pizza ... the cheesy bread ! As a huge bonus I treated all my guest w the Tiramisu cake. Thank you Rebeca read more

See all

Great food, and one of the last mom and Pop type Italian restaurants. The staff is friendly and the atmosphere is quiet and peaceful

Long-time guests. Very sad to see the changes, biggest issue - any Italian restaurant that serves pre-fab parmesan(with added cellulose btw) does not deserve anyone's business. Used to grate their own parm, with bigger portions. Other issue it's like pulling teeth to get enough sauce - the entree comes with very little, and asking for extra gets you a tiny bit more. Not sure how involved the family is anymore, but used to be the best Italian in the area. read more

Love everyone who works there they are so sweet and beautiful people ! The food is just yummy and delicious and I always feel like I am in a little cute house when I go in there read more

Ok, so I just casually walked in as I had an hour before my next client. Very chill atmosphere and I was greeted immediately upon entering. Small, quaint and cozy hidden gem. Or, at least hidden from me. Started with the Lentil soup, and had the portobello mushroom ravioli as my entree. Well, the food was amazing. It was served with garlic bread! I will certainly come back whenever I am in this area. read more

Marechiaros on 2nd - Name and location - Pizza Near Me - El Cajon, California

While this place has been around since 1955 this Sunday was our first time trying this awesome restaurant. The service was wonderful and the ambiance welcoming. I can't say enough about the service it was attentive but not rushing and you could tell the staff enjoyed working there. The food was wonderful we started with the Calamari. This is definitely one to share with a group it's such a generous portion. It was lightly fried with a hint of salt. Next on to the individual house salad which was fresh and tasty. There was a nice basket of garlic bread. My main course was the Chicken Piccata. This was definitely the best Piccata I have had in a long time. The saltiness of the capers was a nice complement to the garlicky lemon sauce. The Chicken Parmesan was simply delicious. We finished off the meal with a generous piece of Tiramisu. It was creamy, light and sweet with a nice coffee flavor. We will definitely be back. read more

See all

Great customer service Great food The Ambiance is nice I'm always recommending this place. read more

We were seated right away by friendly, efficient staff. She respected our desire to sit away from noisy families in the back. Our server was attentive and patient with us. The iced tea and soda glasses were huge. The food was out super fast. I enjoyed the Italian sausage and peppers dinner with perfectly al dente spaghetti. Even the garlic bread was exceptional. Soft and fresh, with just the right amount of garlic. And the cheesecake dessert tasted homemade. Both the lemon and the maple walnut flavors were fresh and flavored perfectly. We are definitely coming back. read more

Always great food & service! They have the best spaghetti sauce of any of the Italian restaurants in El Cajon. read more

Been going there for years. My kids love the food. Always had Sunday dinner with grandma and grandpa. They are both passed as of today, but we still try to get down there to have a pie and some great app's & pasta dishes. People that work there are always courteous, professional and quick to help. read more

I got the lasagna which was super tasty and my husband got the fettuccine Alfredo with chicken. We both enjoyed our meals however we both noted the fettuccine Alfredo was quite rich so if you're super health conscious you may wanna do a big workout prior to eating this dish. The pizza is also quite tasty - we split it! read more