Service was amazing! We came during busy times however it was quick and our server was kind. She recommended the garlic truffle bread and it was amazing! Pasta was cooked to perfection and everything was delicious! read more

Kale Salad, Mozzarella cheese with CHICKEN- Excellent! Yummy, so Good! Calamari- Very tasty. Margarita Pizza. FYI although Kale Salad comes with "Goat" cheese, they graciously accommodated me by swapping it out for "mozzarella" cheese read more

As usual, this is some of the best food in San Diego. They've never missed. The restaurant is always clean, the food is consistently excellent, and the staff is usually friendly and welcoming. I ordered the lunch special, and for $25 it's hard to beat. It came with the Sicilian meatballs as an appetizer and the garlic knot chicken sliders with a fresh salad and Italian dressing. Everything was flavorful, fresh, and well prepared. If you haven't tried the lunch special yet, definitely do. It's a great value. I came in and sat at the bar, which is where I usually sit when I visit. One of the things I've always liked about this place is that the bartenders are typically engaging. They'll make recommendations, chat a little, and help make the experience feel personal. Today just felt...different. I was handed the regular menu and only received the happy hour menu after I asked for it. Why not lead with that if it's available? Maybe point out a few specials or make a recommendation. That's part of hospitality. When I placed my food order, no one asked if I'd like something to drink. The bartender simply walked away. A manager noticed and came over to help, and she couldn't have been nicer. I ordered my drink through her, eventually received it, and later had to ask for a straw because one wasn't offered. On the bright side, another server, Sophie, was fantastic. I asked her about the tattoo on her arm, and she actually took about a minute to sit down and chat with me about tattoos. She always had a smile on her face, seemed to genuinely enjoy her job, and was incredibly personable. Before I left, she invited me to come back when she was bartending. Sophie represents this restaurant extremely well. At one point I even asked the bartender if he was having an off day because he just seemed...aloof. I would've completely understood if he'd said he was distracted or dealing with something. Instead, he told me this was him being "locked in." Really? It came across more like being disconnected than focused. If that's locked in, I'd hate to see distracted. None of this changes how I feel about the food. It's still outstanding, and I'll absolutely be back. This just wasn't the level of service I've come to expect from a restaurant that's usually so good at making guests feel welcome. Hopefully this was simply an off day, because they've definitely set a higher standard for themselves. read more

Very disappointed with a recent visit to North Italia. Basically, the food was either not good or not cooked correctly. Going through the list: Artichoke appetizer: horrible, literally inedible. You get the entire artichoke, including the fibrous outer layers (which of course cannot be eaten). After you remove that, you are left with a heart which is very small and was not cooked well. This was a completely wasted appetizer. Calamari fritti appetizer: poor, not fresh. A good calamari fritti dish starts with fresh calamari cut in rings, then breaded, then quickly fried in high quality and freshly poured olive oil. These seemed like they were originally frozen, then defrosted, and then fried (in probably over-used olive oil), and so did not taste good (especially the breading, which had a burnt oil taste). Pasta bolognese: undercooked. I have actually had their bolognese in the past, and it is one of their better dishes, as it is made with fresh pasta and the bolognese meat sauce is tasty (though a little too spicy for a true bolognese sauce). I also understand "al dente". This was not al dente, this was undercooked such that a lot of the pasta (which was pappardelle) were stuck together and you could easily tell the inside was not cooked at all. Espresso: weak (they fill the espresso cup up to the brim, making it very watery rather than rich and strong). Tiramisu: not bad, except that it took 10-15 minutes to arrive. It seemed to simply be refrigerated prior to bringing it out, so why did it take so long? As mentioned above, I've been to this restaurant before and it is not bad, so perhaps the cooks and service were simply off (this was for a lunch). Given a $160 bill for lunch for 2 people, we will likely not be returning. read more

Went with a coworker the crushed meatball was good, sadly idk what happened but the red sauce gave me a lot of reflux. Overall nice place great service ! read more

The North Italia restaurant chain is owned by Cheesecake Factory. The vibes are quite different as North Italia has a higher end date night feel and more focused menu compared to the Cheesecake Factory. I was excited to try the Mission Valley location with our party of 5 for a weekend lunch at 11:30 am. We were fortunate to be able to walk in and sit immediately as it got crowded very quickly almost immediately after we sat. Service was attentive and friendly and very accommodating for the -1 year old baby in our group. For food we ordered: Chicken Pesto Pasta Fungi Pizza Spicy Vodka Pasta Calamari My favorite as the Chicken pesto pasta - they just do such a good job of blending the delicious nutty flavor into the pasta. This is my go to dish here. The fungi pizza was also quite solid with chewy flavorful mushrooms. Overall, this is a great spot to eat with your friends and family. read more

North Italia - Chicken Pesto - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Wild Shrimp Scampi is so rich with butter and garlic. Standout appetizer menu item for sure. The toast was perfectly crispy crunchy as well Spicy Rigatoni Vodka has to be my favorite from here. Deathrow meal, specifically THIS one from North Italia Chicken Parmesan... that chicken is so juicy. No more notes. Love the ambience in here read more

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Came here on a week day during lunch, it was mostly filled to my surprise. I split the Eggplant parmesan as an appetizer and the Lasagna as my entree. The eggplant parmesan was very nicely fried and crispy and topped with gooey mozzarella cheese and a spicy vodka sauce. The vodka sauce was mildly spicy which i appreciated, its a nice touch rather than just plain tomato sauce. The Sunday Night Lasagna, as its called, came formed it its own serving dish, not cut from a large lasagna made in a larger square pan. This kept the lasagna tender and all the stuffing in the pan it was made in. I did wish it had the spicy vodka sauce that was in the eggplant parmesan. None the less it was delicious, the noodles tender but not mushy; i liked that it was made with braised short rib not ground beef. Service was attentive and friendly. The place is large and can hold a lot of people, its rather modern and fancy but you can just come as you are. Since they are located in the Fashion Valley Mall (on the Friers road side) there was lots of parking. A very good choice if you're craving Italian. read more

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We love this place, and it's always a solid choice. We made a reservation and were seated quickly, and service was great throughout. The Aperol spritz brought me back to Italy! Overall the food is delicious, just slightly smaller portions for the price. - Spicy Vodka Rigatoni 5/5: So yummy, one of my favorites. Perfectly savory with a nice kick. - Calamari 5/5: Divine, crispy and flavorful. - The Pig Pizza 4.5/5: Really tasty, but the crust was a little burnt. read more

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Went here for a birthday lunch with 6 people. Every time I go here (which is always for a weekday lunch) we get the same server and she is awesome, very kind and patient. I ordered the Strozapretti pasta, but substituted with pappardelle pasta instead. Amazing! It has all of my favorite things in a pasta. Will order again and again when I go here! read more

North Italia - Strozzapretti (with pappardelle pasta) - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

It's more on the "authentic" Italian, not really big back pasta, but it's still really good. The pasta was creamy, the Parmesan bread was my favorite. We ordered pizza as well but it took a while so we canceled it. As we were canceling it, the pizza was arriving to the table. The manager came over and took it off our check and got it boxed up for us. That was very kind and I'm glad she did bc the pizza was actually really good and my in laws liked it (they're not a fan of pizza) read more

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We were off to see the Wizard For Good and since it was my bday, I picked this place for it's convenient location afterwards. This is post Christmas but many people are either returning/exchanging gifts so the Fashion Valley mall (where the movie theater and the resto are located) was very busy. Parking was a bit of a hassle but you can find a spot. North Italia, never been although my friend fellow Yelper Alicia has been to this location and other location for HH. She thought this space was bigger than the other ones especially the outside patio which was not the location on a Dec evening. The hostess shows us to our table and we ordered drinks. I find mysel ordering cocktails but never finish them. I ordere from their holiday cocktails. Naming them would be useless since these were specials for the season, I did know it was similar to an Aperol spritz and Alicia ordered an Old fashioned, it came with holiday cookies. For the meal, we did order the crudo, I ordered the scallops and Alicia, the ink squid seafood pasta. The appetizers and entrees were both delicious. We both are not heavy eaters so we did have to take some of the leftovers home (the crudo was finished clean off the plate). Since this was my b-day, yes another celebration, Bosforo came after and Javiers after Christmas, went to Flora for lunch. I was on vacation so I had opportunity to dine out with family and friends. Overall, I think North Italia is a pleasant, nice restaurant to go to if you are in Fashion Valley mall shopping for yourself. Reservations are always good. read more

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My third time eating at NI at the Fashion Valley Mall with the first being in Dunwoody, Georgia of all places followed by last year dining at their Del Mar location here in San Diego. Ordered the simple salad which I had ordered when I was in Del Mar and it did not disappoint. Four quarter slices of Toasted bread soaking in EVOO and balsamic was tasty but they were sitting on all that EVOO which I ended up eating 3 of the 4 quarter slices. Spicy vodka rigatoni not pictured was very good but I forgot to request easy on the sauce which I would have much more enjoyed. Not a deal breaker as I ended up eating all of it. read more

North Italia - Simple Salad with some grilled bread with EVOO Olive Oil & balsamic - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

I visited on Christmas Eve. The staff were so welcoming and festive, especially Mattie. I sat at the bar and it was really enjoyable. I ordered the La Spezia to drink. I really appreciate the selection of alcohol free drinks I ordered the scallops and was so excited. Unfortunately it did not live up to my expectations. The scallops were so salty, almost too salty to eat. The rest of the dish was also a little too salty. It also lacked texture. It was soft on soft on soft. I got the tiramisu to go. It is amazing. Little malted balls on top is unique and delicious. The restaurant is located at the mall but has a more sophisticated atmosphere. Inside and outside seating. The staff really take it over the top. The food got two stars the staff got five stars. So I settled on four stars overall. I'll be back to order something different read more

North Italia - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Came here to eat after AMC and this location is very nice. The ambiance is elegant with dim lighting. We were seated right away and our server was very attentive. The food was really good, I ordered the squid ink which had a slight kick to it and the other was the shrimp scampi pasta. Beverages were great! read more

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We celebrated my husband birthday with the family. Always love this restaurant especially the fashion valley one because of the vibe of the restaurant. It was a lovely evening with family and our server was very nice and made our night special. We had the white truffle garlic bread, calamari fritti and the Classico chief boards. My husband even got a complimentary dessert. Great way to end a wonderful dinner. read more

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Wow, what a delicious spot! I'd been wanting to try this place for quite a while, and I finally made it--and it did not disappoint. The food was outstanding, with perfectly balanced flavors and just the right portions. The burrata appetizer was one of the best I've had in ages--sweet, fresh, and not the least bit overwhelming. The eggplant parm was rich, comforting, and full of flavor. Their holiday drink menu is adorable, and the cocktail I chose was excellent. Service was also top-notch. Our server was wonderfully patient--especially with my 96-year-old grandmother, who understandably takes a little extra time. She never rushed us and made the whole experience feel relaxed and enjoyable. I'm already looking forward to going back to try more dishes and drinks! read more

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We arrived for a late lunch and perched ourselves at the bar where John was conducting business. John had a wonderful personality with the staff and customers. We ordered our drinks of Marco Polo which was delicious and creative and a white wine from Sicily, Grillo Montoni. Our order arrived shortly, the Sunday night lasagna and the short rib dip sandwich. Both items were very tasty but the dip for the short rib was extremely small and only half filled and trying to accommodate the very large and generous sandwich was hopeless. We enjoyed the baseball game on the television and the low murmur of the customers as the restaurant is open to the flowing air from outside and the families walking past with unhappy children. read more

North Italia - Short rib dip sandwich. - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Went to lunch here on a Monday. Was not too busy and easy to get a table without a reservation. We both had salads. I had the kale and the person I was with had the chopped chicken. I wish I had asked for light dressing on my salad. It was drenched! I typically have my dressing on the side but for this kale salad it's knew I wanted it tossed. The chopped chicken salad looked great and received good reviews from the person I went with. They also recommended their eggplant parm sandwich for the future. I like to get the charcuterie style boards to share with a group. This location has a large indoor and outdoor space with a sizable bar. read more

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Amazing customer service from the bar tender and even better drinks! The New Italian Spritz is a must try and super refreshing. I love the open layout and the choice between indoor and outdoor seating. Great happy hour vibes and I'll definitely be coming back. read more

North Italia - Sicilian Margarita - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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What a delight. I had never been here. A friend invited me so off I go. And.... Our server was a delight. The atmos wa buzzing but not loud. The food was amazing. We asked what our servers favorites were and the bolognese and the spicy pasta were it. So wee ordered and wow! Superb choices. A delight for sure. read more

North Italia - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Restaurant was relatively busy on a Saturday afternoon. The restaurant style is nice with a very classical vibe to it. Menu was decent with a good handful of items but definitely a lot of drinks. We ordered the mussels as an appetizer and honestly that was the most disappointing. The mussels were comically small - majority of them dime sized, nickel sized when we were lucky. Spicy rigatoni vodka was good, decent sized portion. Tiramisu was actually nice and probably the best part of the meal. Service took a hot minute for ordering, waiting for our food, and even to pay. Will probably order tiramisu and the pasta for togo next time. Overall rating: Food: 7/10 Service: 8/10 Menu: 9/10 Restaurant Vibes: 10/10 Price to Overall Dining (POD): 7/10 read more

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Honestly solid place for lunch/dinner. Been here many times. Went for lunch today and was excited to see new menu. Garlic knot sandwiches. Just avoid!! We got the chicken pesto and the meatball. Both very dry and blah and cold fries. But, we will go again just will def avoid these!! read more

I came here with a group of friends during a weekday holiday. I had never been and wanted to check it out, so we went for lunch. The parking lot is huge so no issues there since it's in a mall. Although it did seem like everyone was shopping that day, so I had to park a little ways away from the entrance of the restaurant. The inside of the restaurant itself is pretty big, was very clean and modern, and doesn't seem overly crowded. Our server was very nice, and he explained the dishes we had questions about. One thing I was disappointed about and seems to happen at a lot of restaurants now, is they do not have any free bread for the table, you would have to purchase it. I decided to order the lasagna because it's made with a white sauce instead of ricotta cheese, and I have been wanting to try this version of the dish. It was pretty good, but very rich. I don't think it's something I would order often, but every now and again if I had a taste for lasagna. The drinks we had were pretty good as well, but not very strong, which was fine because it was early. I noticed when i paid cash they didn't give my coin change, which i think is something becoming more common. It wasn't a big deal but seems to me it would be worth a mention from the server. read more

North Italia - Roman Holiday - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

It's been a minute since I've been here. We did make reservations for Saturday 1p lunch. We were seated promptly and the server poured us some water. We signaled him as we wanted to begin ordering. He took our order and was friendly, helpful and attentive. Our food came pretty quick. We started with Calamari Fritti which was good and White Garlic Truffle Bread which I thought was a bit well done but still tasty. I ordered the Tuscan Kale which was very delicious and continues to be my favorite. My party ordered Chicken Parmesan, Margherita Pizza, and Chicken Scarpariello and all seemed to enjoy their choices. I did have a slice of the pizza and it was yum read more

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I'm gonna be honest and that I'm not a big fan of Italian food but agreed to meet a friend for dinner here. Of course, my kid was upset. There was no fettuccine Alfredo on the menu, but our server was quick to say they could make anything we asked and sure enough they provided a wonderful pasta dish with their Parmesan cream sauce with chicken on top. I thought that was five stars alone for pleasing a hangry kid! Also worth noting, the food was delicious, they accept reservations, decor was elegant chic, the server was attentive, but not hovering, bathrooms were very clean and service was quick. read more

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Tried a new spot today and was happy we did. This chicken parmasan was fantastic. The crust on this chicken was a crispy panko texture. Juicyiest chicken breast with a marinara sauce full of flavor. The pasta was al dente with a creamy alfredo sauce. I tried the kale salad and it was not my favorite. A little to much lemon for me I do believe this salad would be a hit with strawberries and a berry vinegrette. It needed some sweetness. Next time I plan to get their cesear salad. Dessert menu is also a must-have. They have the espresso with ice cream i need to try it. read more

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We went on Tuesday and had this pizza and the "house specialty" bolognese. They were both wonderful. Crave worthy. Went back Thursday, ordered the same, but neither dish were the same. I had the Bolognese and it was overly acidic. Something was missing. My son has ordered the same pizza 3 times and also said it wasn't as good. So- if you tried it once and weren't impressed, give it another chance. Fingers crossed- next time will be good again. Service has always been great. Ambiance is nice. Not loud over-powering dinner music that you have to holler over. read more

North Italia - Pancetta and hot honey pizza - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

We went to North Italia as 2 groups of 3 (moms and daughters) last Friday, to celebrate my daughter's friend's birthday. 3 stars for our attentive server, Kendrick, the sangria and ambiance. Minus 2 stars for the pathetic serving of braised short rib in the Braised Short Rib Lamache dish I ordered. This is the first time I've ever received braised short rib without a bone [note to self to ask if it's bone-in or not in the future, although I've never needed to]. Overall, the dish lacked flavor, had a minimal serving of pasta and an even smaller/ pathetic portion of braised short rib. It left much to be desired, and after spending $27 on the dish alone, I left hungry.... Such a disappointment. I've included a photo of my dish with my knife across the plate before taking a bite so you can see the toddler portion size, along with a screenshot of the restaurant's photo of the same dish advertised on DoorDash (solely used for this review)... read more

North Italia - False advertisement.... See the photo shared in my review of how this dish was actually served to me(approx. 1/2 the size of this). - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Parking is hard to find + long wait time (~30 minutes) + friendly service + gorgeous interior and ambience, very much like an open house with high ceilings and outdoor seating that embodies summer. We ordered the moscato d'asti ($13), crushed meatball ragu ($25), trottole chicken pesto ($26.5), hot honey & smoked prosciutto pizza ($24), and tuscan kale ($17.5). The pastas were okay, salad and pizza were delicious, and the white wine is perfect for those who aren't really into alcohol drinks but still want something a little sweet. Overall, come for the vibes and ambience as my friends and I enjoy catching up at this place! :) read more

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Excellent food, service and atmosphere. This place far exceeded my expectations. Considering this franchise is owned by the Cheesecake Factory, I had low hopes, but it did not disappoint. The service at the bar (first come, first serve seating) was top notch. At least 4 different bartenders asked us if we were ready to order and routinely checked in on us. The shrimp scampi, mussels and lasagna are the only food items I can speak to as of this review, but given how delicious everything was, I will be back to try more. I am very picky about lasagna, and this one is almost as good as my dad's. The wine menu is pretty good. Everything on the main menu is sold by the glass, so you should ask to try whatever you want before you commit to a bottle. There is a separate list of wines only served by the bottle, which is pretty reasonably priced. Highly, highly recommended. read more

This place is a staple when we're up in the Mission Valley area. Usually sit at the bar, and the staff there is always so friendly. Great happy hour, limited time/special menus, and just a solid classic menu too. Draft beers, good wines/,cocktails, and lovely sitting people watching and socializing between stores at Fashion Valley. They always do a good holiday gift card offer too - buy $100 get a $20 gift card free. read more

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Came to North Italia at Fashion Valley on a Monday around 2PM and ended up sitting at the bar. There was about a 20-minute wait and we weren't trying to do all that, so bar it was. Drinks were solid, I had champagne and an amaretto sour, both enjoyable. Food took a while to come out for how slow it was, which was a little surprising. We ordered the bolognese and the Pig pizza. The bolognese was the highlight: fresh pasta, good flavor, and I'd order it again... but the portion is tiny for the price. The Pig pizza was recommended, but it was so salty we couldn't really enjoy it and I wouldn't get it again. Overall: good drinks, one strong dish, but the wait/time + value made it a just-okay experience. read more

North Italia - Bolognese - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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NORTH ITALIA I've always wanted to try this place after passing by it many times outside the complex of Fashion Valley. My mentor and I came into this place without a reservation, and they seated us within minutes, fantastic especially during busy lunch hour and graduation season. We got seated and our waiter didn't come to us for about 10 minutes, took a while, but she allowed us to order our items. We decided to get the Roasted Salmon and Trottole Chicken Pesto. The food came out pretty speedy, about a 15 minute wait, and it came out steamy! The pesto had a good flavor, and the pasta noodles were so delicious, it was fantastic. I really enjoyed the capers, it made the dish delicious. As for the Salmon, it was solid and had a sweet taste to it. Broccolini was a bit overcooked however. Moving into the service, our server was the one that lost a star for me here, she was not at all active at our table and never really cared to ask how we are doing and if there was any other things we needed. She asked us if we wanted to see the desert menu, without actually having the menu in her hands, so she had to grab it. We saw the Tiramisu and asked for it, just for her to say that it was completely out, then bringing back the menu to see other options while staring my mentor and I down as if we had an answer on the spot. We didn't get any dessert. When it came to the check, she took about 15 minutes to process it, we saw her just walking around the place and it just took forever for her to come back. Overall, food was decent and flavorful, price was insanely pricey at $30-$50 for entrees and pasta, but it was good for the experience and I liked how everything was handmade (you could see them make everything through the windows). Customer service could've been better and knowing the items on your menu. read more

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Busy Saturday night with no reservation. We were warmly greeted and had only a short wait of less than 30 minutes for a party of five. Once seated our server Catie was at our table and ready to get drinks started for us. I was the only non-alcoholic drinker and she recommended a lovely peachy mocktail. Can't remember the name but it was so good. I had to order the "sexy" garlic bread for the table. This is a must have anytime I visit a North Italia location. Catie kept a good eye on us and was absolutely the BEST! Love North Italia because they are a scratch kitchen and can modify dishes to taste. Enjoyed my visit! read more

North Italia - White Truffle Garlic Bread is EVERYTHING! - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Food was great, very fresh and flavorful. Our server was super attentive and while she had a busy section, she never missed beat. Her knowledge of the dishes were exceptional. I ordered a coke with a lemon wedge and the two times she refilled my glass she gave me a fresh lemon wedge each time, I can truly say, "that's the first time I've ever experienced that type of attention to detail on a refill" Every dish we ordered at this place was very good. Great open area which made it easy to hear one another while we talked even though it was crowded. read more

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North Italia at One Paseo has stellar Italian eats like pizza and pasta, and salmon with couscous. well flavored and tasty dishes. plenty of seating. lighting is a bit dark. outdoor patio as well. read more

Located at Fashion Valley Mall, parking can be tricky, especially on weekends, so it's a good idea to plan ahead. We made reservations since it gets pretty busy. The best part of our experience was the wonderful customer service and beautiful ambiance. Unfortunately, that's the only reason I'm giving it 3 stars. But at the end of the day, a restaurant's food quality matters most. Everyone in our group wasn't thrilled with their meal, especially for the price. We all felt the dishes lacked flavor, and the pasta didn't taste fresh. As for the red sangria, it reminded me of an overly sweetened, store-bought cranberry juice. Food: Bolognese Squid Ink Tonnarelli Spicy Rigatoni Vodka Little Gem Caesar Potato Soup Beverages: Red Sangria Peroni Coors Light If you're looking for delicious Italian food, this isn't the best place. The cost per plate doesn't match the quality of the food. However, if you're here for the atmosphere and a few beers, it can still be an enjoyable spot. read more

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Never a bad meal brought grinds for the first time here and yes I know is a mall restaurant but I tell you is one of the best the truffle out mushrooms divine can't ever go wrong on the pesto the the pizza s sweet and sour Yumm !! read more

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North Italia is a great place to enjoy tasty bites and drinks when you're craving Italian food. The food is fresh and filling. We love how much flavor there is in every dish! Even the calamari with arugula appetizer was a home run for us. The dessert it fire too. The only downside about this location is the parking. It's located at fashion valley mall which is one of the nicest and busiest malls in San Diego. Give yourself plenty of time to park. Service is always great when we come here. Ambiance is loud, but really great for groups! Highly recommend North Italia :) it's a great spot. read more

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