We had an absolutely amazing dinner at Cesarina. The food was prepared to perfection…read more Our waitress Alana was the best and did everything to make our night special.

I've heard a lot of good things about this adorable Italian restaurant, so I'm so glad that I…read morefinally got to give it a try! They start you off with lots of complimentary bread. I believe there were 3 different types, although I forgot what they exactly were. All of them were really fluffy, soft, tasty, and yummy though especially with the marinara (?) sauce they serve with it. I also really liked their rooster pitchers LOL For our main course we got the paccheri vodka and scampi and oh my god is this a must try!! The langoustine was sooo sweet (i.e. it was fresh), the sauce was so flavorful and creamy, and the pasta was al dente! My favorite thing I've ate in a while! We also tried one of their raviolis (I forgot what it was exactly called) with truffle sauce, and I loveee truffle so this one was very flavorful as well! I like how they let you choose the type of pasta and the sauce to go with it so you can mix and match to your taste! The paccheri was definitely still better tho :) The outdoor seating was nice! Very cute vibes, and server was nice!

My absolute FAVORITE Italian spot in CA and I've been here so many times and have brought so many…read morefriends but this is the first time I've gotten around to reviewing this spot! The service is always prompt and the feel of the restaurant feels modern yet casual enough where it's not stuffy, perfect for just hanging out with friends or family. In this round, I got to try their special, Spaghetti Alla Gricia which features a Pecorino and black pepper cream sauce with Guanciale (pork cheeks). Absolutely delicious, balanced flavors with perfectly cooked pasta (as always)!

Came to celebrate a birthday! We made a dinner reservation on the same day and were seated quickly…read moreupon arrival. We were seated upstairs in a small table. The food was absolutely delicious. The ravioli al tartufo was one of the best raviolis I have had. The sauce was light yet so flavorful and full of umami and mushroom. Ravioli was perfectly al dente. Portion was huge as well. The Tagliatelle Al Ragu' Di Agnello was also delicious and perfectly complemented the ravioli. The sauce was plentiful with large chunks of meat, and the meaty flavor was not overpowering. The noodles were cooked perfectly as well. While the food was amazing, service missed the mark for us. We noticed our server would go to other tables and offer bread, strike small conversation, and make recommendations about the menu. He didn't do any of that for us, and we didn't know bread was an option until we saw other tables have it and we already had our entrees. While service was not impolite, it was nothing to write home about. I would definitely come back for the amazing pasta here!

10/10 service!! The waiters were all great in clearing the table, refilling our water carafes and…read morechecking in on us Food: Garlic bread: SO GOOD, light crispy, fluffy ciabatta bread Kids spaghetti: sweet tomato sauce and VERY SIMPLE, but also SOOOOO GOOD. And flavorful Kids Alfredo fettuccine: I didn't try personally but the child who did get it LOVED IT. Just be careful when they arrive--they retained their heat a little too well lol Short rib lasagna: so soft, flavorful and delicious! Frutti de mare: SUCH TENDER SQUID. SO DELICIOUS. SO FRESH. SO FINE. Carbonara: very good and creamy! Not too heavy! Love love love I can't remember the name, but the mushroom pasta: IM FREAKING OBSESSED. eating leftovers rn and I'm so happy Bone marrow: it was fine, tbh. But I'm not a big bone marrow person. It was sweet and spicy, which I felt like was the only thing I tasted. Meatballs: soft, tender, delicious--will def order again when we come back!! Caesar salad: SO GOOD. so hard to do a Caesar wrong.

The ambiance was pretty cool, and I really enjoyed all the photos of famous people on the walls--it…read moregave the restaurant a lot of character. The service, however, felt very minimal and somewhat lacking. Nothing was necessarily wrong, but it didn't leave much of an impression. The food was definitely the highlight of the experience. The carbonara, served with a fresh egg on top, was memorable and something I would absolutely order again. The mussels were decent, and the ciabatta bread was delicious for dipping into the sauce. I also had a Pinot Grigio that was one of the best wines I've had in a long time. Overall, the food and drinks were the strongest parts of the meal and left a positive impression. The service was just okay. Would I come back? I'm honestly not sure, but I'd definitely be tempted by that carbonara and wine.

Alvin & felipe 10/10!!! Great experience!! Cheese wheel pasta was incredible, definitely will be…read moreback again

Amazing food, amazing staff. Would recommend. Alvin our server was awesome, definitely ask for him…read morewhen you get here!

Wow some of the best tasty pizzas that I have ever had, the staff was very friendly and attentive.read more

This place is wow…read more Came to San Diego for a weekend trip and we wanted some Italian. We were able to make a reservation on open table for 12pm on a Saturday for 6 people and a baby. There is only street parking so you may need to drive around a block or two. The restaurant has both patio seating and indoor. The patio seating feels like you're in Rome with the chairs and decor matching a Roman Fraschetta. Our server Cosimo was wonderful! He took the wonderful to a different level with his Italian charisma. There is an extensive drink menu, all the pastas, pizzas, and other Italian dishes. We went with all of the recommendations that Cosimo made- 4 pizzas and 4 pastas. All were delicious. We also enjoyed the Tiramisu. If you want authentic Italian food and vibes go to Forchetta!

One of the best Italian restaurants in San Diego. Giovanni, the owner, made us feel right at home,…read moreand the food was authentic from start to finish. I even got to practice my Italian with him. The atmosphere is vibrant, lively, and unapologetically Neapolitan. it felt like stepping into a restaurant in Napoli.

Though our evening got off to a rocky start, Giovanni (the owner) stepped in and completely turned…read morethe night around. Our server, Jordan, made our dining experience truly exceptional! He was incredibly knowledgeable about the menu, offered spot-on recommendations, and made sure our glasses were never empty. The food was absolutely delicious! I ordered the Cavatelli Al Peperoncino- Artisan shell pasta, house made fennel sausage and rapini, Calabrian chili pepper, and shallots in vodka sauce. The sauce was thick & creamy and incredibly flavorful- chef's kiss! My wife ordered the Campanelle Al Pesto- Fresh bell-shaped pasta with homemade pesto, cherry tomatoes, roasted pine nuts, topped with burrata cheese. The pesto sauce was rich, luxurious, and herbaceous. The Margarita Pizza was equally delicious. However, less charredness on the outer crust would have been more to my liking. And don't even get me started on the Fettuccine Bolognese- packed with flavor and spices! One of the best I've had in town! Drinks were definitely on point! My Negroni was well balanced. But the real highlight was the Whiskey Sour- it was smooth, sweet and absolutely refreshing 10/10! Overall impression, this small, quaint Italian restaurant offers a warm, rustic, and intimate atmosphere that transports diners to Italy. The restaurant itself offers a unique combination of atmosphere, food, and service that stands out from other typical Italian restaurants!

This is my favorite resturant okay I said it. Great times here, what a great vibes…read more What Great staff here, so happy & kind too they are amazing here! I had pasta Orecchiette We raviolis with crab and shrimp Chicken parmigiana And a smoked mozzarella ravioli with eggplant Di Melazame everything was delicious And we had Caprese to start with a large heirloom Tomato slices the was so tasty too We all enjoy every bite until we couldn't And they bought out a dessert Nutella cheesecake That was sweet of them Plus tiramisu we ordered It was funny there was 2 ladies celebrating by our table their birthday's too same day also It was a perfect birthday

My partner and I made a reservation because we expected the restaurant to be busy. We got there…read morebefore they opened, hoping to be seated inside, but were placed outside instead. We asked if there were any tables available inside and were told no because they were being saved for other guests, even though there were empty tables for two. It was a bit chilly and windy outside, and we weren't the only ones asking to sit inside. I even watched one of the indoor tables get up and leave shortly after, which made the whole situation even more frustrating. That already left a bad impression, but we decided to stay and give the food a chance. Stinco Di Agnello: 4.5/10 The portion size was great and the dish looked delicious when it came out, but that was about the only positive. The lamb shank was overcooked, a little dry, and lacked the rich flavor you'd expect. Even the sauce couldn't save it. The pasta had a grainy texture, and the mushroom sauce was so weak that you could barely taste it. On top of that, the plate was too small, so the lamb sauce kept mixing into the mushroom sauce and completely threw off the dish. Saltimbocca Alla Romana: 3/10 This was honestly unacceptable. We specifically ordered the steak medium rare, and it came out well done. That's not a small mistake. It's one of the most basic things to get right. We didn't send it back because we didn't want to sit there waiting for another entree or waste the food, but it was tough, dry, and not enjoyable to eat at all. The sauce was bland and added nothing to the dish. The potatoes were the only thing worth eating. They also only serve wine and beer, so don't expect cocktails. The only reason this review isn't even lower is because our server was kind, attentive, and did a great job. I've given this restaurant multiple chances over the years, and every visit has been disappointing in one way or another. The ambiance wasn't great either. Between being seated outside in the cold, the noise, and the overall atmosphere, it definitely didn't feel like a place I'd choose for a date night. At this point, I can't justify coming back. There are far too many great Italian restaurants around to spend your money on food that is consistently underwhelming and poorly executed. Food: 3/10 Service: 8.5/10

Food and service were amazing. Will definitely go back. The inside has a cool vibe too.read more

Fab time here - I don't know why I hadn't come in a while…read more Current version of the patio is not huge - but it was sweet & comfy and on Laurel toward the park (not on 5th or toward the corner). So nice views into the park too. Josh was our server and he was super nice! I started with the pope's delight cocktail. It's listed online as "aged rum + amaro romana + salted cantaloupe olio + lime, $17." But they had decided to add a proscuitto crisp and make it $21. I didn't want the proscuitto so that was a little annoying. But it was a tasty little cocktail. Bread: it's amazing here. They change exactly how they do it from time to time - this version was so yummy and with great butter. App: I got the burrata + pluot | cherry tomato + arugula + almond + coriander + mint + toast appetizer. Very yummy! Huge also. I took half of it home. Definitely recommend. Entree: I always like when the corn agnolotti comes on the menu, but it changes each year. This version was pretty good - I think my pasta was just a tad undercooked, not quite al dente on the parts of the agnolotti on the edges (not the pillows holding the filling). Still good though. Also, if you're going to the theater, do you know they have a FREE shuttle that takes you to the Old Globe and back? We decided to walk there after dinner (easy, pretty) but take the shuttle back after the show. So easy! And then I ordered takeout dessert from Josh. Overall, a super meal and great vibes. Looking forward to coming back soon!