Ristorante Illando is now on my go-to list for Italian food when in San Diego. Luca and his boys…read moreprovided great service and were incredibly kind - they even helped celebrate my birthday with tiramisu and a candle. I highly recommend you add this restaurant to your list when in San Diego!

SO GOOD. Yet another reason I wish I lived in San Diego. Amazing authentic Italian. I highly…read morerecommend their pesto -- it tastes like the pesto in Genoa Italy. The bolognese was amazing as well!

I've been trying to score a reservation the last 2 times we've been in San Diego and I was finally…read moreable to get a seat on a Sunday afternoon at 4pm. And now I get why they've been consistently booked, great service, good food and reasonable price point. We were seated outside on the patio which was really cute but be warned there are flies because they don't use pesticides. Decor was super cute and reminiscent of Tuscany, very colorful, bright and vibrant. Service a was amazing, shoutout to Josh for making our experience that much better. He was attentive, really sweet and thought of things before I even asked. For example, he brought to go boxes before I had to say anything, love that attention to detail! I recorded the octopus, it was soft not chewy at all with a slight honey flavor. The burrata with eggplant was also really good, simple but executed perfectly. All the pastas as cooked in house and you can choose they type you want for your dish. Also, have to get the tiramisu which they make table side. The mascarpone was authentic and overall the dessert was not sweet at all, we finished every bite. My only criticism is that some of the plates were chipped on the edges. Change them if possible.

Originally opened in 2019 this is by far the best Italian restaurant in Point Loma as well as all…read moreof San Diego in general. They have another terrific sister restaurant close by in Ocean Beach called Elvira so if you're a fan of this place, I would highly suggest them as well. Parking in this area is fairly easy. They offer valet in front, otherwise it's easy to find a free street spot, we were able to find one right across the street. The restaurant is not very large, but it's very quaint and feels like you are dining in someone's house. They have an indoor area as well as a heated outdoor area that is very pretty and feels like a garden. We sat outside and it was a really pleasant summer evening dinner. Our server was very polite and everything that we ordered came out very fast. I started off with the Carpaccio and thought it was absolutely fantastic. Everything about it was perfect and the flavors were just top-notch. For my entrée, I chose the Paccheri Vodka and Scampi because I'm a huge fan of langoustines and creamy vodka sauce so this combo was perfect for me. I absolutely loved every part of this dish and would highly recommend. I would go back specifically for this. We finished with with the Tiramisu and that was a great end to the meal. Pricing is also fair and it's very romantic so it would be a great decision for a date. I would highly recommend and will be back many times in the future.

Food service and ambiance were incredible. Waiters are…read morefriendly, we dined outside which was lovely and intimate, and the food was INCREDIBLE. Got the recommendation from someone off the street and it truly is some of the best Italian food you could get in California and very reasonably priced. Dress up fancy or semi casual and they treat you like a local.

Pros: Food Ambience…read more Service Accommodate Larger Parties Cons: Dessert Parking It was my friends birthday and birthday girl wanted to try something different. We all loved our dinner especially the birthday girl with her squid ink pasta. Great selection of wines! This place is great for larger parties, but also date night. It's not too quiet, but not too loud either. Parking is difficult to find, but manageable. However the worst thing I've possibly eaten in a while was their tiramisu. I am a connoisseur of tiramisu so much so I am planning a trip to Italy for their tiramisu running marathon . This isn't a typical tiramisu and specifically says 21+ to order it. Traditional tiramisu has Marsala wine and American versions may even have some rum, but it's such a small amount that it's not enough to get drunk. HOWEVER Bencotto's has seen it as a challenge. It comes in a small espresso size cup amount. If you love alcohol and food together, you'll love this. Upon taking my first bite, I was smacked with whipped cream filled alcohol. It's truly startling and not good! Then I thought well maybe if I dig deeper to the bottom it won't be as bad, NOPE! It gets worse! You are literally taking a double shot of alcohol with cake. It was honestly such a turn off that it almost ruined dinner for me. I don't mind having a glass of wine or maybe a cocktail, however if I decide I want a shot, I definitely don't want cake in it.

Bf and I had a little date night here, the service and food was amazing! They have a banana…read moreespresso martini that was delicious!

My boyfriend and I LOVE Barbusa! Definitely one of my favorite Italian spots in Little Italy. We've…read moretried several things on the menu, and honestly, you really can't go wrong. Everything is delicious and staff are amazing. The food is consistently good, the atmosphere is lively and fun, and it's such a great spot for date night or dinner with friends. There are so many amazing Italian restaurants in Little Italy, but Barbusa continues to be one of our go-to favorites. 5/5 every time. If you haven't been yet, add it to your list!

While on vacation me and my Husband chose to celebrate our anniversary here! And what a great…read morechoice that was!! We ordered the Polpette della Nonn, Duo Bruschetta, and Crispy Burrata for appetizers and everything was so tasty! The Crispy Burrata was my favorite out of the three but I'm a cheeseaholic! For our entrees my husband got the Rigatoni Ragu Della Nonna and I got the Cheese Wheel Pasta special which this week had sausage and sun-dried tomatoes. It was all divine! We decided on no dessert but our server brought over the Lemoncillo Cake to wish us a Happy Anniversary. I never turn down food This was one of the best cakes I've ever had! I'm so glad he brought it over. I'm kicking myself for forgetting his name! Wish I could give him a shout out! But anyways.... This place is truly a gem!

They know what they're doing and their client service was perfection. My older friend had a…read moresignificant birthday this year with the passing of her husband nearly a year ago exactly, It was a special birthday considering her failing health and I gave the restaurant a heads up we would be celebrating. Nathan, Sabrina and Johan were a primo team and outstanding on all counts. They made extra sure my guest was comfortable and most importantly, appreciated. The fried burrata was a star as was their caprese salad. Their spinach ravioli was delicious and despite how full we were, it was gobbled up. Their pizza was great as well as their arancini. The New Zealand Sauvignon blanc was delicious with a spicy finish. We ordered two bottles. The vibe is very communal and it got lively around 7pm on a Saturday. It was quiet and intimate when we arrived around 4:45pm so come a little earlier if you typically would like a quieter meal with fabulous food. Again, can't thank Nathan. Sabrina and Johan enough. The entire team was fabulous and humored us with our questions in regard to Sicily. I will be back and will bring others: thanks again!

The food was so good and very rich. Our server was Giacomo and he was so friendly and made the…read moreexperience very fun!

I'm vacationing in SD and have many allergies. I have basically been surviving on PB and rice…read morecakes cuz every restaurant we've been to has not taken me seriously and I've gotten sick. Buona Forchetta took it seriously and no issues. plus. all of our meals were outstanding. we agreed this was best meal we had on vaca. Cosimo was our very attentive ...great service

You need to visit this wonderful place! The authenticity, atmosphere and welcoming family members…read morewho made our experience one of a kind should not be missed. We enjoyed every bit of our food, the service; and Giovanni and his family didn't hesitate to chat with us in Italian. My friend and I met in Naples, Italy over 40 years ago in high school. We had a mini reunion at Siamo Napoli because we craved an authentic experience. We couldn't be more delighted with our choice. Grazie mille!

4.5/5 Loved the Italian/Napoli decors as they transported me back to Naples. We were celebrating a…read morebachelorette party here, and the owner came over and greeted us. Super sweet with a warm presence to him, and he rattled off the 6-7 specials of the night all from memory. We didn't expect their social media guy to be taking pictures of us so obviously though (lighting and all), and it felt like we had a paparazzo with us, ha. To drink, someone mentioned espresso martini, then 3 more were ordered. It was a bit more on the sweeter and creamier side, which made it more filling. Boozy, yes, but filling. For dinner, I shared the cioppino di positano and a cavatelli al peperoncino. I really enjoyed the cioppino but the sauce for the cavatelli was heavier than I expected. Both dishes were also pretty salty, and I would've liked a side order of linguini to go with the cioppino. We ordered two pizza for the table and the kitchen turned one into a heart for the bride-to-be! They also gave some complementary desserts at the end, and the limoncello cake was so scrumptious. The service was wonderful and really made our night. We also ordered the tiramisu cake to share and it was very good. Overall, Siamo Napoli truly brings the Italian warmth and soul to your heart and belly. Ciao Bella!

This restaurant is so delicious! The service is excellent and the food is impeccable quality…read more Alessandro and Gabriel are so sweet! We sat by the window with a nice view and some breeze. Very cute place!

Nice vibe and good service. Food very good tho large portions would go again…read more Easy parking too

Cucina Urbana's Sunday offering is great. It feels like an excellent home cooked meal without the…read morework. The meal includes *Family chopped salad - light and fresh * Focaccia + herbed butter - nice and warm bread with flavorful butter * Bucatini amatriciana - perfect seasoning; al dente * Polenta - rich and creamy * Seasonal roasted vegetables - very good side; lovely char on the veggies. * Spatchcock chicken - moist inside but crispy skin. Not a lot of flavor but if you add the pesto and the lemon & with the bed of arugula- I think it's wonderful. * Tiramisu/dessert- they have peaches and added hazelnuts on top- a good variation. We also had Lavender lemonade which was a bit sour for me but the other people at the table liked. Service and food were great. The restaurant is very clean and modern. Overall, highly recommended.

Came here on a Friday night for a friend's birthday and was able to find street parking a few…read moreblocks away. The squash blossoms were the best thing we ordered. I'm a cheese lover, so these were right up my alley. The sauce was so good that I ended up dipping the focaccia in it. The focaccia bread itself, though, was pretty plain with just butter and not worth paying for. The food was pretty hit or miss. The Beef Brasato Pappardelle was flavorful with a good amount of meat, while the Bucatini Amatriciana was sour and not enjoyable. The Parmesan Truffle Fries were disappointing- they were hollow and airy with barely any potato or truffle flavor. The burnt Brussel sprouts were actually burnt (ha), the grilled octopus was dry with very little meat, the hamachi crudo was okay, the wagyu carpaccio was alright but didn't taste like wagyu, and the Jidori chicken fra diavolo wasn't worth the price. We also wanted the steak, but unfortunately they were out that night. Service was good. They waived the usual $3/person cake-cutting fee since we cut our own birthday cake. My biggest complaint was how hot it was inside. It took about 45 minutes to an hour before we could even feel the AC, which made dinner pretty uncomfortable on a summer night. Overall, there were a few standout dishes, but just as many misses. It wasn't a bad meal, but it wasn't a delicious one.

Here's a polished version you can post:…read more What a fantastic find! We stopped here after spending the day at the zoo, and it was one of the best meals my family and I have had in a long time. The service was absolutely outstanding--friendly, attentive, and made us feel so welcome from the moment we walked in. The food was some of the most authentic Italian cuisine we've ever had, and every dish was delicious. The desserts were just as incredible and were the perfect way to end the meal. If you're looking for amazing Italian food with exceptional service, I can't recommend this place enough. We'll definitely be back before we head home!

I walked into this little Italian restaurant and found it completely packed. I asked the gentleman…read moreat the front how long the wait would be for a table for one. Without hesitation, he poured me a glass of Prosecco, invited me to wait outside, and assured me he'd have a seat for me in just a few minutes. Sure enough, about two minutes later, he came out and seated me. This restaurant made you feel like you were in Italy with the ambiance and vibe. I had done my research beforehand, so I already knew what I wanted. I ordered the lasagna, and it was absolutely incredible. The portion was generous, and my server let me know it would take a little extra time to prepare, which was perfectly fine. It didn't take long for me to realize that the man who seated me was also the owner. As I watched him greet guests throughout the evening, it was obvious that he genuinely loves what he does. We had a great conversation, and he was warm, welcoming, and personable. After finishing my meal, I ordered a double espresso and tiramisu for dessert. The tiramisu was easily one of the best I've ever had. Exceptional food, outstanding hospitality, and a memorable experience from start to finish. I will definitely be back the next time I'm in town.