We actually walked right past this restaurant. It looked sketchy from outside but OMG we are so glad we found it! Amazing atmosphere, cute set up. We were seated in the back of restaurant next to a window! Breezy. Relaxing and food was absolutely amazing !!!! The star was the Carbonara...YUMMMMMM. Staff was friendly and price is right for the quality and amount of food! read more

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Luca was our server and tended to us very well. He was timely with his delivery of part of his service to us and was very well informed about the menu items. In the end he went out of his way to recognize my fiancé's birthday. Great service, excellent food! read more

Food was amazing. But what was even better was our server Luca. He suggested everything we ate and it did not disappoint. super cool atmosphere and vibe. i Didn't think some aspects of the place were great but service and food where on point and that's the most important thing. Thanks Luca!!!! read more

Awesome experience. A neat vibe heading upstairs - we were fortunate to sit in the back room. A bonus was it had a plaque that President Obama sat there a few years ago. Service was outstanding, quick and attentive. Food was what I'd expect for authentic Italian. I'll definitely be back! read more

The food was excellent, but the outstanding service is what truly earned this five-star review. Our server was professional, attentive, friendly, and incredibly helpful throughout the meal. We learned he was not only waiting tables but also handling nearly every other front-of-house responsibility, with only the cook there to assist. Despite wearing so many hats, he managed everything with efficiency, grace, and a genuinely positive attitude. He even took the time to show me the "Presidential Room," where President Barack Obama once dined, which made the experience even more memorable. The food itself was delicious, with hearty portions and great flavor, but it was the exceptional service that set this visit apart. A well-deserved five stars for both the food and the person who made the experience so enjoyable. read more

We went to dinner with my kids and had mix feelings about this place. The service and execution was way below average. The food was pretty decent. As to service, we were seated within short wait of our reservation. An attendant came by to ask about water and we got served with the menu. While we were looking on and decided on the menu, we see that a party of 3 adults were sat next to us. That's when things went down. The waiter decided to attend them, instead of us when we were waiting to order. I had to flag down someone to get the server, the place was not hectic yet. That kind of turned us off. I noticed that, that table next to us were a bit taken aback when they got their entres really fast even before their salads and appetizers. We could overhear the discussion and disappointment by that table. The waiter giving a long winded explanation. We ordered grilled octopus, spinach salad, linguine alla vongole, and pasta with shrimp with pancetta. Pasta was too done, the octopus was great, the vongole was decent. Idk if this is the normal practice in Cali, as I lived here over 15 years, but when we got the check the automatic suggested tip started at 20%, then 25% and 30%. Yes there was a custom tip option but setting the suggested tips starting at 20% lends itself to poor service because you know most of the patrons will not go below that amount. Reflects poorly on the management, why are we paying for their worker's wages???!! 2 stars for service and management. A high 3 star but quite 4 star for their food. read more

Hard to find as the signage is above a small doorway which leads you up a flight is stairs but once inside it is an unexpected delight. It looks like you were in somebody's dining room. Lots of light cute and clean. Our waiter was friendly and knowledgeable and the food came out very quick. Everybody loved their meals. Easy to make a reservation through Yelp. In a great location in Little Italy so afterwards you can easily walk to grab a gelato or just take in the sights and sounds read more

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Luka is a top notch pro! My son and I had a great conversation about Italy, Brazilian jiujitsu and Italian food. Great guy! Food: everything is freshly made and tastes very good. We enjoyed our pasta dish and my son enjoyed his chicken Parmesan. The food came out fast as well. One thing I really like was the fact that the window could open and we got the cool breeze from the sunny San Diego weather coming through on the second floor. Which also provided a great view of the city of Little Italy while we were eating. Great food, great customer service, and great location! Definitely recommend stopping by and checking this local place out. Ask for Luka. read more

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Came here for a dinner with coworkers and loved the intimate atmosphere. It was a bit stuffy although the windows were open and there was a fan. We sat in the middle of the restaurant but I think if we were by a window then we would have gotten fresher air. It is upstairs but no elevator that we saw so that is something to think about if wanting to eat here. For appetizers we tried the tower of appetizers which consisted of a selection of cured meats & cheeses, nuts, jam, olivea, bruschetta & caprese served on a wooden tower, meatballs and marinara sauce. For my entree I ordered the lobster ravioli. I would have tried some wine but I had a tummy ache but the wine smelled delicious and I know it would have went perfect with our dishes. Our waitress was attentive and kind. The staff felt very family like. I would definitely come back when I'm in the area! read more

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Everything goes above and beyond. You cannot go wrong with any meal that you get here. The seafood is made fresh and the shrimps were so good. The calamari was also light, crunchy and a wonderful appetizer overall. From the start to finish our whole family of five was raving over how good everything is! Service was kind and immediate. Everyone seeks to provide high quality service and food. We felt nourished not only physically but holistically. The restaurant is located at the second floor. The whole atmosphere reminds me of home. This is what a restaurant must be. We can see why Barack Obama has also visited this place. read more

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Ristorante Illando is perfect for those evenings when you want a solid meal in a cozy setting. We came here to celebrate my son's birthday, and it did not disappoint! We got a spot in the back room, which gave our party a bit of privacy from the main dining room. Service was on point in that we got what we needed when we needed it, but we still had privacy. We had two different servers. The first one was a woman who was very direct but not in any rude, as I surmise the directness is due to being a non-native English speaker and she was trying to get her message across clearly in any way she can. The second server was delightful and likely the Luca that is raved about in the other reviews. Food was a hit with everyone in our party. Dishes ordered were the lamb chops, the salmon, the chicken Marsala, and the lobster ravioli. Kids has a plain pasta and a couple of slices of pizza. Overall, everything was solid and we would be happy to return if we're in the area again. read more

Ristorante Illando - Entrance to the restaurant, which is upstairs. - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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With the reviews we thought we would experience something amazing! The good:atmosphere is like eating in Nonna's kitchen. The lobster ravioli was some of the best we had. Flavor n texture on point. The not so good: Chicken parm cooked well Crispy not over done. Pasta aldente good sauce ok. Caprese no flavor minimum olive oil or balsamic where is fresh basil ? Service was pleasant but never checked back during meal I specifically ordered the courses to be brought out in order the second and main came out together. Canolli flavor ok pastry over done Wine prices high. Just an ok with what could be a 5star with management attention to detail. Also having wait bar staff complain about how the glass wear is not being cleaned enough where patrons hear is not good for confidence in a reviewer. Having one server for entire 14 table area is a management failure. read more

Got a weird vibe when we walked up on a not so busy Tuesday evening. Sort of like, is there a table for us or not, two people said they had to check. It was almost like they weren't sure they wanted our business. Our at least that's the feeling we got. We did get seated upstairs. We ordered arancini as a starter. They were stuffed with a red sauce and cheese. But they were served on a bed of vodka sauce. We all liked them. I ordered the Rigatoni All' Amatriciana. It was okay, very acidic though. Another one of our party had the chicken parmigiana, they liked it. Then the other two had Fettuccine Gamberi e Pancetta. They said it was just okay also. The bread with oil was very fresh. The table runner that brought and cleared our plates and filled our drinks was extremely nice and seemed to work hard. read more

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Amazing food with a quiet, intimate dinner setting. The carbonara was definitely a highlight dish, it was the best I've had in a while. Service was quick and attentive. My new go-to Italian restaurant. read more

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Cute hole in the wall Italian restaurant with delicious plates for the perfect price. Take the stairs up, seating up top Great for small and large groups read more

Ristorante Illando - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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This is a charming Italian restaurant set above the pizza place in the same building. I almost missed it walking by! You walk upstairs to the right and it's a refreshing environment with muted tones and soft pink roses on each table. It wasn't very busy at lunchtime which worked great for us! They have a variety of pasta, but the gluten free pasta shape is penne and they are willing to do any sauce on it. I had the creamy vodka sauce with Italian bacon chunks and shrimp. It was tomato based, vodka sauce and was delicious! It was on the higher side for lunch pricing, the gf pasta is an added $5. When in little Italy.... read more

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This was such a good place to celebrate my friend's birthday! We had shared a couple of things but our two favorite items were the gnocchi pesto and the tiramisu. The gnocchi was the perfect texture, pillowy and light. The pesto was fresh and smooth, it was so easy to eat that you couldn't help but eat more. The tiramisu was light and full of flavor. The slice was on the bigger size for one portion but we just split since we were pretty full. The staff was very nice and even had a candle on the tiramisu for my friend. The restaurant is quite small so I would definitely make a reservation especially if you're a larger group read more

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Great, fresh, and authentic. Both the spaghetti and meatballs and the carbonara were obviously freshly made, from the pasta to the sauces, to the meatballs and guanciale. This is the spot if you want authentic Italian food. read more

Ristorante Illando - Spaghetti Carbonara - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

So delicious and the service was fantastic! Glad we found this place! I ordered rhe fettecene and also tried the chicken parm. O was a fan of both! The flavor was so good! I also ordered an Amaro spritz that was very tasty! I would definitely return and would highly recommend this gem to others if youre looking for a solid italian restaurant! read more

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Came with no reservation and was able to get seated immediately (outside only) which was nice. Service was generally ok. The food was nothing to write home about. The bread had a stretchy texture instead of fluffy and warm. It wasn't particularly tasty. The Brussels sprouts we had were cooked well but could've done with a bit more balsamic. The pasta we got was dry, overcooked, and had lacked flavor and seasoning. The best thing about this restaurant was that the service was good and the food came out quickly. Overall though, I would not come back without improvements to the cooking. read more

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2 starts for great service, but hit-or-miss food. We visited without a reservation and the staff kindly found us a spot in the heated outdoor seating (heads up: the indoor area is up a steep flight of stairs and not stroller-friendly). Our server was 5-star--very attentive and polite. We loved the Lobster Ravioli and Calamari, but the Ossobuco was disappointing with a frozen-like smell/taste, and the Risotto was quite bland despite the generous portion of seafood. Come for the vibes and service, but choose your dishes carefully. read more

Came for dinner and had a really great experience overall. Pros: short rib tortelloni was amazing. The short rib is incredibly tender and sage butter sauce was delicious. The fettucine gamberi with the Italian bacon was also very delicious! There were huge chunks of the bacon and shrimp were large. Kids had butter pasta, large portion and good for kids. The ricotta stuffed squash blossoms were also good. Cons: the meatball appetizer was just fine. The red sauce on the meatballs felt lacking. The meatballs also were a bit bland. Service was good, their complimentary bread was a highlight for the kids. Would definitely return for the pasta. read more

Great service and amazing food! Would definitely recommend and would come back again! Street parking only. Came on a week day around 3pm and was served and seated right away. The waiter was great. He was the only server and was still very attentive, kind, and gave great recommendations. The Tortelloni al Brasato and the Fettuccini Gamberi e Pancetta are beyond delicious!! The only thing we weren't crazy about was the cannoli for dessert. But everything else was absolutely delicious! read more

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- lobster ravioli + ricotta was yum the sauce was thick and savory...i do think the lobster was a bit mushy for me though! there wasn't a lot in the sauce itself - the osso bucco and the saffron risotto was delish, very moist and tender but the saffron rice a tad underseasoned for me - loved the meatballs very filling the sauce was lighter which i liked - strong drinks! the servers were very attentive and gave us amazing recommendations, love chatting with the waiters - perfect little date night but location can be a bit hard to find! make sure to check outside photos to see because we spent some time walking up and down trying to find where the restaurant was :) didn't have to wait at all on a friday night read more

Ristorante Illando - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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This is, by far, our favorite restaurant in Little Italy! From the ambiance, to the service, and the FOOD, we are never disappointed. Everything is yummy and fresh and comes out looking beautiful. We love that this spot is upstairs and overlooks Little Italy as well. It's nice and centralized so you can take a walk and see the sights as well. If you do go, we do suggest a reservation since it can get very busy. They have a small amount of seating upstairs and then a small patio downstairs. read more

Ristorante Illando - Foreground: Pesto Gnocchi Al Pesto Background: Tortelloni Al Brasato - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Had a mediocre experience here. Pros: I liked the taste of the fettuccine and the complimentary bread. My partner did not like the chicken parmesan. Collectively we did not like the arancini as it tasted more like a meatball and had little rice. Good flavor but mostly beef. The service was poor as we felt our server was short with us. We waited a while to get a box & the check. Side note that no one acknowledged the note in our reservation that we were celebrating a birthday, the server also didn't ask if we were celebrating anything. Quaint spot & we sat inside. read more

Ristorante Illando - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Right off the bat we are greeted with extremely friendly and welcoming service. All the dishes we got were great. The lobster ravioli was rich and creamy. The texture was to die for. I loved all the flavors. My boyf and his friend got the chicken pasta and the bolognese. They noted great portions and pasta flavors fresh. The place is located upstairs. We came hungry after landing and needed a place to eat near our hotel and this place hit the spot! Convenient, delicious, and service did not disappoint. Would be back when if I'm ever in town! read more

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Staff super friendly! Reservations made prior to coming so wait time is about 5 minutes. Caesar salad: good, decent, lettuce is fresh! Cake: was complimentary because we were celebrating birthday Vodka Ravioli spinach: 100/10 YOU HAVE TO TRY THIS DISH AT LEAST ONCE in your life or at least try the VODKA SAUCE. because me and my friends were cleaning the ravioli plate vodka sauce with the bread it was that good. Bread basket is complimentary and fresh!! came back here after 2 weeks bc it was on our mind. will be on my places to go to pasta! read more

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Such an unassuming looking place but DELICIOUS! Bread comes with oil and vinegar, nothing crazy. Calamari appetizer was a little disappointing with not much flavor to the breading but our main courses were to die for! We got the Pappardelle Bolognese and the Tortelloni Al Brasato (short rib tortelloni) and seriously some of the best pasta I've ever had! Our server was from Italy and offered some great recommendations read more

Ristorante Illando - Tortelloni al Brasato (Online) - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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salmon was delicious! fun relaxed atmosphere that was great to just sit and enjoy the company and the good food. Luca was delightfum! read more

Ristorante Illando - Salmone alla Griglia (Online) - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Food: 4.5/5 delicious. Service: 5/5 friendly servers Ambiance: 4/4 could be more clean Overall: will comeback again read more

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Delicious food! I'll definitely be coming back. I had a reservation but arrived earlier than expected -- they were super accommodating and seated us right away, offering the choice of indoor or outdoor dining. Since it wasn't chilly, we chose to sit outside. The outdoor vibe was perfect, though I do wish the tables were a bit larger. They start you off with complimentary bread served with balsamic vinegar and olive oil -- a nice touch! Everything we ordered was made to order, hot, and tasted incredibly fresh. I had the Caprese for my appetizer and the Gnocchi a la Pesto for my main course -- both were totally worth it! Portion sizes and pricing were very fair. I definitely recommend outdoor seating in the evening, especially since Little Italy has such a great atmosphere at night. read more

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One of Little Italy's truly hidden gems, Ristorante Illando is tucked right upstairs above Landini's. As soon you come up the steps, it feels like you've stepped into a cozy Italian escape. The intimate atmosphere, beautiful lighting, and charming decor make it the perfect spot for a date night or a quiet dinner with friends. I've been a great fan of the Landini family of restaurants throughout San Diego, and Illando absolutely meets, if not exceeds, their already high standards for warm service, incredible food, and genuine Italian authenticity. Every dish here is worth savoring...the kind of dishes that left us debating whether to finish every last bite or take home leftovers just to experience it all over again later. It's easily one of the most underrated spots in Little Italy, and honestly one of the few Italian restaurants in San Diego that can hold its own against the Italian cooking I'd find back home in NJ. Just like Landini's is one of the few pizza spots that remind me of back home, Illando delivers that same comfort and excellence in every plate. read more

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The food was delicious. My favorite was the pesto gnocchi. Good size portions. Felt like I was in my Italian friend's Nona's home! The cannolis are in my top five list. Definitely worth climbing up the steps to the second floor. read more

Ristorante Illando - Delicious cannoli! - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Food quality was moderate. Appetizers were good we had Brussels sprouts and the bread was fresh. Pasta dishes were only okay, noodle quality tastes like it was reheated. Sauces were good but not amazing the freshly shredded cheese helps a little bit. Service makes you confirmed you're in a tourist spot is all I can say. Won't return. read more

Absolutely lovely experience. Food was so so amazingly perfect. I don't where to begin. I will say I am so jealous of my husband dish lol. Mine was fabulous but his was phenomenal! His tortellini's with the brown butter sauce was wow!!!! Water was never empty. Bread with a dipping olive oil was very good and was that little extra something to make the meal great. We also ordered some mushrooms as a side dish. It's smaller inside but, that's what makes it perfect, It's not loud, it's upstairs with a great view, staff was very nice. read more

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Didn't even get to eat here! lol Had birthday reservations for me and my boyfriend. When we got there, there was literally like 40 people in line with walk-ins and the hostess said we had to wait in line even with reservations. That's crazy! Definitely should have a separate waiting area for reservations. :( read more

5 Star Service- chilled vase with water and basket of delicious bread arrive immediately, accompanied by a plate, applied table side w/ olive oil and balsamic vinegar. YUM! Made same day reservations for 5:45pm on a Saturday. Enjoyed perfect weather and vibrant street activities dining outside. Spaghetti Carbonara and Pasta Bolognese (see photos) were delicious. read more

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Came here for Valentine's Day dinner with the family. Was super excited to eat here and we made our reservation 4 days ahead of time. We still had to wait to be seated when we got there which I didn't appreciate. The inside of the restaurant is very cute. We sat in the back on a patio but there's also indoor seating. They have one bathroom and it was absolutely atrocious so go before you come. Now for the food. It was delicious! This is authentic Italian cuisine and it tastes amazing. May come back until definitely be without kids (not the best for kids) read more

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Asked for the recommended, got the Ravioli All'aragosta, and it was amazing 9.2/10, they give bread and olive oil and wine for the wait ofc and it's 9.1/10 read more

Ristorante Illando - Ravioli All'Aragosta - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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