Overall, the family really likes this place. On this trip, it took a few minutes to get a waiter over to greet us but once he arrived, he was very attentive throughout the meal. This time we arrived early and we were in time for happy hour, which is truly an excellent deal. They have a number of pasta dishes at half price and some nice beer and cocktail specials. The happy hour ends at 5:30 on weekdays I believe. My daughter enjoyed the cheese whale pasta, which is her very favorite. My wife had fettuccine Parmesan, which was an ice cream sauce and I had the penne Ragu. Everything was good and we enjoyed the evening. It looks like they've expanded the seating to include some outdoor street side tables. On a warm evening this was very nice to have breeze from the water. read more

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Four words. THIS PLACE IS LEGIT! every dish we ordered, every dessert we had was on point! Our family had a blast dining here! Our server Alex knew his stuff and the manager was awesome too (she recommended adding a scoop of gelato to our dessert and she was spot on)! I would drive down from OC to SD just to eat here again! This restaurant needs to open shop in the OC!! read more

Food was good we had the cheese wheel pastas, we asked what the specials were and can honestly say cant recall the names and it wasn't on the menu provided at the table but instead was on in a plastic holder right by the cheese wheels which made it inconvenient and one of our party members had an allergy to nuts. Pasta was $37 and our waiter didn't tell us there was an up charge for the breaded chicken +$5. Staff were super nice and accommodating. We read many reviews of having to watch our pasta put into the cheese wheel for an experience but we were not told to go over when our food was being prepared, quite a bummer since we had brought some first timers. Very nice interior, was a bit uncomfortably warm even though we were near the door. read more

On Friday evening, my friends and I stumbled across this Italian restaurant after other restaurants were completely booked. We were pleased! Very aesthetically appealing and the food was good too! Service was great and the prices were reasonable. I would recommend to anyone on a date night or intimate dinner with friends! read more

Monello - Tortelloni Al Tartufo - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Would give monello 1000/5 if I could, we love coming here! The food is delicious, the service is great and the cheese wheel is such a cool attraction. I changed it up and got the Cacio e Pepe with breaded chicken and it was one of the best pastas I've ever had. It was a special so I'm not sure if it is served regularly but I would highly recommend if it is available. We will always be back when we're in town! read more

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I've been wanting to try Monello for years and just never made it. Today was the day! The first thing on my list to try was the pasta cheese wheel. I walked up with some excitement to watch my pasta being tossed. The server tossing it seemed quite bored and wasn't particularly friendly. I was surprised about the skimpy serving I received compared with the price. It did taste good, though. Service was ok, not especially attentive. It was during the week around 5pm, not during the summer. Restaurant was 1/4 full. Patio 1/4 full. Would I return? Maybe. Just a bit disappointed. read more

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We came here looking for gluten free pizzas and pastas. We sat outside (the a/c was broken inside but was nice and breezy out in the patio dining area). Our server was very friendly and helped us pick couple of entrees that were gluten free and dairy free. We shared the gf/df gnocchi with red sauce and gf/df pizza with vegan mozzarella and prosciutto. The gnocchi was too mushy but the pizza was pretty good. The crust was like soft English muffin in texture and looks. The vegan cheese was good with the prosciutto. I would probably come back to try this again. Note: if you are gf/df, Little Italy has many Italian restaurants that serve gf pasta and pizzas and are worth trying. read more

Monello - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

First time eating here and was great! We've been to their sister restaurant Bencotto that's next door. Monello has a similar menu, but also a wood fired pizza oven. They do cheese wheel pasta too. Great food, service, and a great value! read more

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Nice calamari to start and wine Wednesday selection was fabulous. I had the parpadelle with pesto and chopped grilled chicken. Fresh and garlicky and the chicken portion gave a great bite with every forkful. Would return! read more

Monello - Pasta Your Way - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

I came here on a first date and it's now one of my favorite restaurants in SD. The pasta a delicious! My go to is the lasagna monello. It's pretty big so if I don't share it you will definitely have some leftover. I also always order the Caesar salad. It's one of my all time favorite Caesar salads I've had. Another thing I love to order is the burrata. I love their pesto. Service is always amazing. The outdoor seating area is so cute and I usually hate eating outside. Whenever someone asks me to recommend an Italian spot, Monello is on the list. read more

Took my mom here for Easter lunch and she loved it! This is one of my go-to Italian restaurants in San Diego. Everyone was super nice and the decor was minimal but beautiful. I loved being the first customers in, so we were able to enjoy a nice quiet lunch. We got the following: + tortellini al tartufo⁣⁣ + ravioli di gamberi⁣⁣ + calamari read more

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A modern spot in a new build on the edge of Little Italy. Reservations easy on Open Table and wow the food was GREAT! MYO pasta plates let you choose your favorite pasta and sauce from a roster of about 7-8 each. We went classic: spaghetti with a hearty and meaty bolognese as well as a tagliatelle with the "monello" preparation of marinara, cream, and bacon which melted into the sauce. Good sized portions and simply delicious! The real star of the night was the panzerotti appetizer of crisp mini calzones filled with marinara and mozzarella. These pockets are served HOT from the fryer, sprinkled with salt, outrageously good. Nice place, almost the same menu as its somewhat fancier sibling next door. I can't wait to return next time I'm back in SD. read more

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Happy hour has a wonderful menu of two white wines and one red wine. Who doesn't love thinly sliced cheese, fresh wine and warm bread? Delicious and sometimes even light with Italian is necessary and for this being a first visit I was very impressed with the quality and value. Service had a wait, often times the bartender is also the server in an opener type of shift so if you do get the bartender's attention, give them your drink and food order. Don't wait for them to come back because sometimes it is a longer wait because they are serving tables, picking up dishes, making drinks and delivering food. I did like the ambience because it was a little bit more mellow at 11 AM. It was hot inside because their air-conditioning had broke so that first glass of wine went fairly quickly. read more

Monello - Flaky cheese shavings with hot bread - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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absolutely LOVED this place. Our server was so attentive & kept making sure our drinks were filled and we were taken care of. The menu had so many amazing options & our table thoroughly enjoyed both appetizers that we ordered- as well as the entrees. The homemade pasta was incredible & the pizza was beautiful and filling. One thing to note was that we came on a Sunday at 12, and multiple of the items were not available as they had run out, so we did have to adjust our orders a little bit! but either way, the items we received were delicious!! Will definitely be back to try more food here! read more

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Visited Monello during San Diego Restaurant Week and ordered from the special menu. The bread they brought out was a great start along with the Caesar Monello salad that was also great & fresh. Really wanted to try the cheese wheel pasta and it was rich, creamy, definitely the highlight. Finished with gelato, which was amazing. Also, the drinks were good. Overall, a great experience and worth it! read more

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I have been here multiple times and never have left a review but this time this place deserves it. This place has not disappointed! Each time it gets better! This week I tried the Salmon Picatta, salmon was perfectly cooked just how it's supposed to be. Also tasted the lasagna a great choice! Service was amazing Luis is great and so professional! It was lunch time when I came so it was a little empty but better for us because meant all of our food came out fast and hot. Place is nice and quiet enough to enjoy a group conversation! Will be back here again and again to try more dishes! read more

Monello - Spinach lasagna - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Want to try it out recommend by staff at the resort we stayed at. They recommend reservations, but I didn't see that until we were there. We beat the dinner rush because we were able to get seated at 4:30. We started off with some wine and a bruschetta roll. It was delicious and part of the happy hour menu. I ordered a house special, something that had pistachios mixed in with the sauce made with pererico cheese. It was sublime, creamy but not heavy and full of flavor. We ended the meal with lemon sorbetto, which was made in house and light and refreshing. The service was top tier with friendly staff. When we left the restaurant it was the dinner rush and Little Italy was alive with visitors and locals filling up the streets. Highly recommend as a place to visit and enjoy a meal. read more

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I loved this place!!! Service was so friendly and attentive. They have an amazing happy hour!! Super romantic ambiance, perfect for date night or girls night. Every dish was so decadent and delicious. I would order each item again and again if I could! The pizza was so good!!! Calamari cooked perfectly and the pasta dishes omg so rich. read more

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Absolutely amazing! Service was great and felt like there was never a time we weren't seen. They had plenty of options on the menu and also had two daily specials that you could get in the cheese wheel! The restaurant was clean and I will definitely be back. read more

Monello - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

After a great experience back in July when we had drinks and desserts at the bar, we came back for a full dinner and high expectations. Unfortunately it was not the case: the squid ink pasta was under seasoned and the octopus did not have a good texture. The stuffed gnocchi were dry and drowned in a thick cheesy sauce. The panzerotti were doughy and too thick (unlike the ones I used to eat in Milano), but the sauce inside was very good. The portions were very generous. No ac inside, no ice in the water. The glass of Primitivo wine was good, the non alcoholic drink was too sweet and one noted...didn't touch it after the first sip but nobody seemed to care enough to ask read more

This review is based on two dinners at the end of Oct 2025 and end of Nov 2025. The cheese wheel is an absolute must -- Pecorino cheese was very strong cheesy creamy and delicious. The second time we added bacon, but it was not necessary b/c the bacon is topped at the end; it's not cooked with the cheese b/c it would interfere with the regular wheel. We also had the Parmigiano wheel that featured mushrooms which was also good too. This wheel rotates and changes every night. The servers let us watch our cheese wheel pasta being prepared. We had the squid ink pasta that came highly recommended -- and while good, I guess I don't care for seafood pasta. We also had the bolognese with parpedelle noodles, which was a nice contrast to our rich white sauce cheesy pastas. The ceasar salad is great with the ribbons of cheese that come covered on top of the salad. The romaine is fresh/crisp with lemon and garlic that you can taste in the dressing. We liked the anchioves that came with the salad, which we specifically requested. Service was prompt and friendly as we dined on the outdoor area where tables overlook the street. Nice to do especially when the sun is setting. This is a sister restaurant to Benocotto, right next door. We will come back to try! read more

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So the food was very good. As was the wine. But apparently the whole building DOESNT HAVE AIR CONDITIONING!!!! It's a humid day and around 80. I have sweat rolling down my back while I try to eat hot pasta. RIDICULOUS!! read more

Monello was amazing! Alex, our waiter, was so kind and helpful, and our meal was phenomenal. This place is a must! read more

Monello - The cheese wheel pasta - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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First visit stopped in for happy hour, sat at the bar, the bartender was right there sensed it was our first time and took time to provide a quick overview of the menu with some recommendations. Off the main drag of LI, the room has a great view of some of the SD skyline. There is some outside seating that is dog friendly. The cheese selection with fresh baked bread appetizer was tasty with the grilled octopus went great with the bottle of pinot grigio. Lots of fun. read more

Monello - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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The service was fantastic and food was equally as good! Ordered the frittes, caesar salad and cacio pasta (cooked in the cheese wheel) to split and it was so filling and delicious! They also have plenty of specialty cocktails and a cute atmosphere. Only downside is that since it's in little Italy it's just difficult to find parking, took a while even tho it was a Sunday evening. read more

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We absolutely Loved the food here it was sooo delicious . The service was also amazing and we enjoyed the pasta wheel experience. For sure will be coming back ! read more

This place was absolutely amazing. To start off with the most important part, the food. We began the meal with the mini fried calzones with mozzarella and tomato sauce inside and they were great. You could tell the bread was super fresh and high quality so I would recommend it. Next, we got a glass of prosecco. I told the waiter that I only like wine that tastes much more sweet then bitter or strong and he made a perfect suggestion along with giving us a sampler of 3 different wines which was so generous. I got to try them all and pick the one I liked the most, but even the samples were a generous size. For main course I got one of the current options for the cheese wheel pasta they make in front of you in cacio e pepe and my husband got the formaggi pizza with truffle mushrooms. My husband absolutely loved his pizza and the crust was one of the best he's ever had. My pasta was fresh and had a ton of sauce and cream so they didn't skimp at all. I could tell easily that they use very high quality Parmesan because i'm a Parmesan connoisseur and could taste how potent it was. They let me have as much extra as I wanted on without limiting since I enjoy a lot on it which was also a plus in my book. Next time I would get a pasta that's a little lighter, because it was a more heavy dish and it tends to make me feel pretty full after which is totally a me thing, but they have so much on the menu to try that I'm sure I'll love whatever I get even more next time. Lastly, dessert. We got a regular tiramisu and it was absolutely amazing. They put a ton of cream which is exactly what I look for. It wasn't too espresso or cocoa strong and had a perfect ratio. The cream was so light and fluffy that we had to get another one to bring home and eat tomorrow night! I had seen a previous review on here about someone not liking the tiramisu here and it not meeting their expectations for a more upscale Italian place but I've been to quite a few authentic Italian gems and this one had tiramisu up there so I'd have to disagree and completely recommend! The service was impeccable. Every waiter was kind and prompt, constantly making sure we were taken care of and getting what we needed. The atmosphere was also a plus for us because we have a 1 year old baby and there was enough room where we weren't too cramped or crowded in, and it wasn't too loud or overstimulating. The place was very clean and taken care of as well as the bathrooms. All in all, I loved this place and I will be coming back. I would definitely recommend Monello for a nice little date night, and don't forget the tiramisu. read more

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We had a lunch reservation here on a Saturday and I was surprised it wasn't busy, given I read reviews about needing a reservation. Our server was very nice and provided some recommendations and pointed out her favorites. When we were there, the humidity outside was so high and we were hoping for some AC inside. Unfortunately we sat for a whole meal in stale air where I felt like it was more humid than outside. It was very uncomfortable and I wish they turned on the AC. They didn't even have a fan going. That aside, the food was amazing (and we tried for enjoy it despite overheating from the lack of AC). I definitely recommend getting the Genovese Pizza and Carbonara. Just like I had in Italy when I was there! The pizza crust was perfectly crusty and chewy and the toppings and sauce were the perfect amount. Our server warned us that the Carbonara is salty because of the guanciale but I thought it was fine! read more

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Went to celebrate my sisters birthday for some authentic Italian pizza. This place is not that big but it is really delicious. We went with it dad who is Ada and there was plenty of room for him. I also really appreciate all the Milan inspired decor. I felt like I was back in Italy! Also, our waitress was really nice because my sister's birthday and the staff gave her ice cream. As for entree?? We were presently surprise to see on their menu, a cheese wheel special. So worth it, the pasta was perfectly cheesy and delicious. I'm actually wishing I had a bite of that right about now. Don't get me started on the pizza, cooked perfectly like I was back in Milan eating pizza. Can't wait to go here again! read more

Monello - Menu - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Now I want to move to San Diego... and we live in Los Angeles with a great food scene as well. All the food was amazing. The fungi pasta, calamari, zucchini... Did you ever try a sauce that you could eat even with no main dish? I did. Here in Monello. I don't know what magic spell they use on their garlic aioli and tomato sauces, but I'm definitely charmed. In the end of the course we tried Tiramisu by recommendation of our amazing server Jennifer and I didn't regret this decision. I'm usually not impressed by a Tiramisu since I tried it in many different places, but their walnut liquor touch is just so on point! Another ode of praise goes to Hugo Spritz cocktail. So well balanced! Not too sweet, not too sou -- just perfect! I wished I took more photos to share in this review, but I'm sure I will be back to this city one day and will definitely visit this amazing restaurant. read more

Monello - Tiramisu - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

We got a last minute reservation here while staying in little Italy and I was happy with our experience. We sat outside on the patio which was nice. The service was great--everyone was nice and attentive. I tried the cheese wheel pasta which was good but I was looking forward to the experience of it being made in front of me like I had seen in other reviews/pictures. That probably didn't happen because we were sitting outside but it would have been nice to know before ordering it. We also had the pane (bread and olive oil) and it was okay. The salmon was very good. We also enjoyed our drinks. Overall, I would go again because of the convenience but I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend it to visitors. read more

Monello - Cheese wheel pasta with bacon and Salmon Piccata and limoncello spritz - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

The food was great but they had a non cash tender charge of 5%! I can understand transferring the credit card fees to the customers, but credit card fees for merchants are usually 1.5% - 3.5%, not 5%. And it's not like their food prices are low to begin with. We also had a larger group and they already charged an 18% gratuity. It left a really bad impression and we won't be back. Also, while the restaurant itself was very nice, the outside of the building and surrounding streets smelled like pee. The service was ok. You could tell they didn't have enough servers. We waited awhile for someone to even pass by to be able to flag them down to order, get refills, order more, order dessert, but the bill came surprisingly quick right after dessert. The food. We got the truffle pasta, truffle pizza, octopus, fried zucchini blossom, ragu pasta, prosciutto pizza, cheese wheel cacio e pepe, tiramisu, cannolis. I would skip the octopus and dessert. The octopus was mushy, not tender. The cannoli shells were very hard and stale, the filling was not rich enough, and the tiramisu was bland. Everything else was really good. I liked how the cheese wheel pizza still had a lot of sauce despite all the cheese. Street parking or expensive parking lots not very nearby. Very hard to find parking. read more

We absolutely LOVE Monello. Our go to Italian restaurant in little Italy. Their food is outstanding and fresh. We have dined with them many times and it never disappoints. The staff and waiters are extremely kind and the vibe is trendy and casual. We always look forward to dining with them when we are in the area read more

Monello - Cacio e Pepe - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Was recommended this place by a friend. There is limited parking in the area. Was able to make a 1:30pm reservation that same day. Did arrive 8 mins past reservation time but they still seated us. Didn't get seated till 2pm and server did take about 10 minutes to take our order although restaurant was pretty empty. Prices are a bit more expensive then your regular Italian restaurant but for a good reason. Both pastas were amazing. The Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe was extremely cheesy and the penne pasta with the 4 pepper sauce was spicy but really good. The ambience is chill. read more

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I had dinner here earlier this week for a work conference. Our group was about 20 people, so we were seated at 2 long tables. The food was great. It was a set menu for our company, with everything served family style. We started off with a caprese style appetizer and it was great. Next was the salad, which was my favorite. The dressing was wonderful as well as the pickled onions. After that we had meatballs. They were just okay to me. I order meatballs everywhere so I think I am a meatball expert haha. Following that was a pasta with shrimp in a lemon cream sauce. That was wonderful. Next up was the short rib. It was also just okay to me. I also order that at most places. We were then served a spicy pizza picante, but it was too spicy for me. Last was the flourless chocolate cake. It was great, but I was so full that I only took a bite. I also had 2 glasses of pinot grigio, which I enjoyed. Everyone enjoyed their food and the ambiance was lovely. Service was good. read more

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Service was great. Ordered the Meatball appetizer, one of the cheese wheel pastas of the day (split), and ended with cannoli for dessert. Don't skip the cheese wheel pasta! It was delicious and fun to watch being made. read more

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Had not been in for a few years but stopped in for happy hour. We were pleasantly surprised that it was no longer the "apertivo" hour structure (3 small bites with the purchase of regular price drinks) but was now all afternoon 11:30am to 5:30pm and a dedicated HH menu. As it was an odd hour (3pm), the place was pretty empty and so service was super attentive. The pizza was neapolitan style and well blistered but the dough is not the best. Would probably recommend cocktails or wine, as the beers are small bottles for $5. For dinner service, I prefer their sister restaurant (Bencotto) next door. read more

Monello - Happy hour margherita pizza + negroni + pinot grigio - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Very solid Italian in Little Italy SD. I booked a res on Open table, very easy to do. I will say ahead of time. The parking is terrible. I would recommend just Valet around the corner for $15. I was very impressed when I walked in. It's a stunning restaurant with a modern interior. The second we got down we got menus and waters. I must say the guy filling up waters all night was on point. My glass never got less than half full. Also the manager, a women came by often and really made sure we had an excellent evening. Now the food.... Appetizers: Polpette meat balls. Too small they were hard to cut and if you tried to but the whole thing i personally burnt the shiz out of my mouth. Loved the sauce and the bread served with it. The bread was worth the price of admission. Caesar salad - Get this, trust me. One of the better I've had. Caprese salad - solid chunk of Mozzarella, beautify green sticky olive oil and lots of it, small tomatoes i wish they were bigger but fresh and of good quality (it is winter), calamari olives and nice fresh basal. It really really needed some nice sea salt of top. Very bland for all the great ingredients. Main's: Margherita pizza - Get this. 4 day fermented dough, yummy mozz, excellent sauce on a huge 16 inch pizza. This and the Caesar salad was my favorite thing I ate. I would come back for this weekly if I live nearby. Lasagna - Very heavy, way too much béchamel sauce. They need to get rid of the béchamel and add ricotta instead to lighten it up with their yummy ragú. I tasted one flavor the entire time. Gnocchi w/Marinara - very light and refreshing. Tagliatelle w/Ragu - loved the fresh noodles and the ragú was a perfect match. I got the stinco di agnello (lamb shank). If you don't feel like a ton of carbs, this is your dish. A very meaty and well-done lamb shank in a light and refreshing Portwine sauce really hit the spot. The shank was perfectly cooked and didn't fall apart, like shredded beef, it still held together its integrity. I was really impressed with how well it was cooked. The only problem was the roasted potatoes were dropped in the deep fryer and I don't do seed oils so they brought me a side of their amazing must try garlic mashed potatoes, which totally made the dish in the end. Beautiful restaurant, solid service, friendly people who like their job, solid cooks in the kitchen and terrible parking. You could not go wrong at Monello. read more

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Awesome restaurant. I recommend the calamari and cheese wheel pasta. Excellent meal and coffee too

This pasta is top notch!! The fried calzone was so yummy. The aperol spritz was perfect. The tortelloni w shrimp and pecorino Romano cheese wheel special were out of this world. Some of the best we have ever had. If we were staying longer we would absolutely go back! Staff was friendly and place was beautiful yet casual/relaxed. read more

Monello - Tortelloni Al Tartufo w shrimp - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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