Should be more stars ... truly exceptional restaurant. Tucked away, but spacious dining with ample…read moreparking. Our waiter Eduardo gave us expert guidance, especially with the extensive wine selection. My wife and I stopped here for lunch after reading the Yelp reviews. Surpassed our elevated expectations! We started with an exceptional appetizer of fried calamari & veggies. The carrots were sweet, the peppers were perfect and the calamari were delicate & not at all oily. My wife chose the bolognese tagliatelle and loved it, contrasting it with her own bolognese sauce and admittedly finding the Cucina's a cut above her own! I opted for the white ragu of balanzoni which was a refreshingly different take on a traditional ragu. Although we were both stuffed from the abundant courses, I couldn't pass up the semifreddo and I'm glad we didn't. We devoured every bite! Fantastic food, with service to match -- as warm & welcoming as it was expert & knowledgeable. Cannot wait to return when we revisit Carlsbad in January.

Off the beaten path, wasn't sure I was in the right place but glad I stuck with it…read more Big bright inside, warehouse feeling. Nice patio to enjoy a meal outside as well. Service was ok. Calamari was good, there were exactly 2 shrimp, handles of the serving spoons sitting in the sauce which is a miss of a detail, ultimately seemed under seasoned and there is a pile of food sitting in oil on wood. Parmesan prosciutto pasta was well cooked, fresh cracked black pepper would have been beneficial. Tiramisu was the best dish, the mascarpone crème was definitely my favorite, was a lil sad by the lack of coffe and rum soaked lady fingers. I would give this place one more chance now that I understand the menu a bit more.

A stop at Vigilucci's is a great way to end an evening in Carlsbad Village, especially on…read moreWednesdays during the Farmers Market. After walking through the vendors and enjoying the atmosphere, it's nice to sit down on the patio with an espresso martini and dinner. I've had the lasagna a few times, and it's always baked perfectly with layers of pasta, meat, cheese, and a rich tomato sauce. The shrimp fettuccine is another dish I enjoy the shrimp are cooked just right, and the creamy sauce coats the pasta without feeling too heavy. The pear salad is fresh and refreshing, although I wouldn't mind seeing a slightly larger portion. What keeps me coming back is the overall experience. The restaurant has a welcoming atmosphere, the staff is attentive without making you feel rushed, and it's a great place to slow down and enjoy a meal. Whether you're grabbing a cocktail after browsing the market or sitting down for dinner, it's a spot that's well worth visiting.

You guys, I am very late on this review but life couldn't get too in the way of me sharing this…read moreamazing restaurant my friends and I went to about a month ago, April 3, 2026 Friday night. My friends and I came down to San Diego because my best friend's band was playing at the Holding Company on April 4th. We had a big group and some close friends of ours wanted to go out for dinner and their favorite place is Vigiluccis!! Blake was our server and him and the whole restaurant staff were absolutely incredible that evening. Very cohesive, nothing messed up, phenomenal service, and I could go on! I am the only vegetarian here, and asked if their pasta was normally cooked in chicken broth. Blake checked and let me know all pasta is cooked in olive oil and definitely vegetarian friendly! I had about 2 to 4 cocktails and all of them were delicious. Everyone in my party enjoyed their food, half of the table was doing family style eating. We ordered a lot of food. The complimentary bread, oil, and butter they gave us was also soo good! I would absolutely love to come here again. Blake, our server was such a wonderful person!

Went to Del Lusso yesterday for lunch with our hockey team and enjoyed their food. The owner Walter…read morewas so accommodating with our big group and the waiters are friendly. The food was delicious and the menu has several options. We will be coming back for sure! Thank you again for welcoming us in and taking such great care of us.

I love the carbonara at Del Lusso! I have been there many times and it never fails to please…read more Walter the owner is always so welcoming, the service is excellent and the food and wine are high quality and delicious. I have suggested it to friends who have never been there and they have all loved it too!

My wife and I recently came to Via Vai Cucina Italiana for a date night, and it completely exceeded…read moreour expectations. We made a reservation ahead of time, and from the moment we walked through the doors, the service was absolutely amazing. The interior is so cute and sets the perfect vibe for a great evening out. The food is, without a doubt, the best Italian food I have ever had. I ordered the homemade pesto pasta with chicken, and it was perfectly cooked and incredibly flavorful. My wife got the cioppino, which is her favorite dish, and she was blown away. Not only was it amazing, but the portion size was huge! If you are looking for a truly great restaurant with top-tier service, a welcoming atmosphere, and unforgettable food, you have to try this place. We will absolutely be coming back!

This was our first visit to Via Vai Cucina Italiana, and we were there to celebrate a birthday…read more Unfortunately, the experience was a little underwhelming. We were seated in a small room off the main dining area, and we were the only ones in the room. Our waiter was friendly, but he was also taking care of tables in the main dining area, so we were often left on our own without anyone checking in on us. It also took quite a while before we were able to place our order. I ordered one of the mushroom pasta dishes, and unfortunately, I found it to be lacking in flavor. Someone else in our party ordered one of the specials, a steak, and that looked absolutely delicious. Overall, I was hoping for a better experience, especially since we were celebrating a birthday. While our waiter was nice, the slow service and lack of flavor in my meal left me unimpressed. Based on this experience, I don't think I would return.

it's official: SPIRITO's ITALIAN DINER is back in my good graces. a couple of months ago, I wrote a…read moresnarky review (and still gave 'em three stars) after a sub-par experience. that visit, the red gravy was soupy and the pizza undercooked and nearly cheese-less. there had been a recent change in ownership and I was afraid (okay, terrified) it was a sign of things to come. have limited my order the last two times (plus a lasagna and a cheese pizza) to the same entrees I had in March: EGGPLANT PARMIGIANA and an EGGPLANT PARM pizza. eighty-four (including yesterday) of the eighty-five times I've eaten at Spirito's, I left happy, happy, happy. wonderful folks, still serving up my favorite Jersey-style pizza and southern Italian dishes around.

Since my review 8 years ago things have changed drastically in size, price and some quality…read more Buying a large pizza now and getting a slice from it is laughable. The picture of the eggplant parmigiana is now maybe 1/2 to a 1/4 of that and they give you a square piece, it's nothing like the picture I attached anymore.

The reason me and all my buddies go to lunch at C's is the food, ambience and Mariana Cabrera…read more She's a great waitress and always has a smile. We are not easy to wait on! Did you know that Wednesday everything on the menu is $20? I had the Mediterranean salad with salmon and it was great especially for $20

I came for the oyster happy hour. The happy hour menu was much more extensive than most, which is…read morewhat drew me in. I ordered the salmon carpaccio, but it was subpar. It was served with old, wilted arugula. The calamari was average. The first round of oysters was okay, but during the second round, both my daughter and I each ate a bad oyster. We were ready to gag at that point. The only reason I didn't give this place one star is because our waiter removed the last dozen oysters from our bill, which I appreciated. Looking around, the dishes served to the tables next to us also looked pretty basic. Unfortunately, I won't be returning.

I had an absolutely wonderful experience at 264 fresco our server. Lucas was incredible. He was so…read moreattentive, friendly, and made sure every detail of our drinks & meal was perfect and Michael also came in to check in which made us feel really valued. I can't recommend this place enough thank you, Lucas and Michael for making such a special afternoon! Can't wait to be back! Khalid & Rayhana

Luigi was amazing!!! Such good food and incredible service. Love this place. Definitely try if…read moreyou're in the area!

I'm going to graciously award Eugenio a 5th star. First thing brought to the table was "the best…read moreoctopus I've ever had!" This title was briefly held by Kavos Taverna in Mykonos, Greece where I visited last year. Good job Eugenio. The octopus was unbelievably tender and super flavorful. Food was excellent. Variety was enormous (huge menu). Execution was pretty spot on. I made a comment at the table, "Eugenio certainly knows how to cook" as everything brought to the table was full of flavor, texture, plentiful and well seasoned, although the prosciutto and mushroom pizza was less than desirable. The pie had ham instead of prosciutto, and the overall pie, I would not order again. Much better pizza elsewhere (very, very nearby along Lake San Marcos). Service was good, but not without flaw. We waited until the entire supper was consumed, yet waited and waited for the not really very good, (I think it was a "special") short rib onion soup of sort to come out. We never got our beet salad. Eugenio's food was that good. Lots of flavor. Lots of texture. Not without the hiccups as most kitchens experience. Try it out. Get reservations because it is very small inside and out. I've got a feeling we will be having more Italian food here. Cutely decorated inside too. CritDicks

What a little gem- I would say "hidden" but it was jammed last night. My husband said let's try…read morethis place in a strip mall... I was curious but this was over the top- I feel like I immediately stepped into another world. It smelled amazing, had fantastic service and menu was huge! Will be back and bringing friends- thank you for having us!

Loved the food! Delicious chicken Limon served with fried…read morepotatoes and veggies just so good! Really nice glass of prosecco (I think only $10 - total bargain) My first time downtown Encinitas. I didn't even know it existed and it's really not for everyone. Makes me think Melrose and Fairfax - without all the filth. But seriously just as crazy-busy and very noisy. Very busy restaurant for good reason. Polished staff. Excellent food. Excellent service. Would go back in a heartbeat but not again at 6:00p on a Saturday. Way too much noise. Felt like I was dining at the corner of Harley and Davidson...but that's certainly not their fault.

Met a few friends here for dinner and overall, we had a good time. The food was good, and we…read moreenjoyed ourselves. That said, I was disappointed to see an additional fee added to the check. When I asked what the fee was for, the explanation I received was simply, "everyone is doing it, even my dentist ." If there are additional charges, they should be clearly disclosed upfront. The prices on the menu should reflect what customers are actually expected to pay. Adding unexplained or made-up fees at the end of the meal is frustrating and leaves a bad impression.

Always great! One of my favorite go to's. Food is delicious and the service is friendly and…read morewelcoming. Ask for Chris. He is a fantastic server!

Great place and great food. Chris was a great server with excellent customer service.read more