Cardellino has quickly become one of my favorite spots. It feels special in that effortless way, elevated and a little fancy, but still warm and welcoming. It's the kind of place you can count on when you want a really good meal in a beautiful setting. Everything we ordered felt thoughtfully prepared and high quality, with flavors that feel refined but not overcomplicated. The ambiance makes it perfect for a date night or celebrating something, but it still feels comfortable enough that you can just relax and enjoy being there. It's one of those restaurants you find yourself wanting to come back to again and again. Definitely a standout. read more

Came here for the Mother's Day brunch; overall had a mix of hits and misses. Started with the Primo Marzo; the prosciutto was definitely the star of the dish, super tender, and all the ingredients tasted really fresh. I just felt like it needed one more element to tie everything together. The spicy rigatoni was simple but packed with great tomato and spice flavors. I actually think this dish would've been even better with a meat ragu added to it. The smoked salmon bagel chip was really good; light, fresh, and the salmon was tender and flavorful. The fried capers and thin crispy bagel gave it a fun twist on a traditional bagel and lox. The porcini & pea tortelloni wasn't my favorite. The sauce felt too thick and the pasta was a little too al dente for my taste. The more I ate it, the less I enjoyed it. I really wanted to love the steak and eggs, but the steak was overly salted and hard to enjoy because of it. Dessert was mixed too. The cannoli was delicious; light, crispy, and simple in the best way. The olive oil cake, though, tasted dry to me and the flavors didn't really work together. Not a fan of that one. read more

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My friends and I came here for dinner on a Saturday night and it was delicious! Service was quick and staff were welcoming. The restaurant is really cute inside, but fairly small. There's both indoor and outdoor seating available. Parking was a bit tricky, but there's plenty on the street and in the residential area. I'd definitely come back! Worth a try if you're in the area. Food/drink review: Pinot Grigio: (3/5) crisp and refreshing, but I wish it was a little bit sweeter than it was. Lamb lollipops: (5/5) Extremely tender and flavorful! It didn't taste gamey at all. Spaghetti with clams: (5/5) I couldn't partake as I am allergic. My friend said it was amazing! Super flavorful and balanced. Spicy rigatoni with meatballs: (5/5) This was super rich in flavor. The sauce was creamy and noodles cooked to perfection. I really enjoyed the meatballs too, they were tender and seasoned well. Carrot cake: (5/5) BOMB. This was absolutely amazing. The cake itself was moist, the frosting with the nuts had great texture, and the caramel sauce was the perfect addition to the dessert. You have to have a bite of everything together. read more

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I have been to Cardellino twice now and both visits were great. It's a place I'll keep returning to with friends, but it's not at the top of my list since it's a little pricey for the quality/portions. Not saying it's low quality by any means, it's just out of my typical budget to make it a priority to return to. Reservations are recommend, it's nice to walk right up and go to your table instead of having to worry if there is room. Pet friendly patio, my first visit I was with my old dog and I always look back on the photo we took here as a favorite memory of just how good he was in restaurant settings. I just looked at their menu and it's already changed from my most recent visit which is great, I love trying new things. But for that reason I'll keep my review short since I can't recommend what I've already tried from here as it's no longer on the menu haha! read more

Dude. The review must start like that for anything radically delicious in San Diego. I had no idea SD could knock Italian out of the park like that. Well, I guess it does make sense given they have a Little Italy. Anyways, everything we ordered was bomb.com! Legit. Here's what we ordered. I'd recommend you follow my foot steps. Chopped salad. Quite possibly the best chopped salad I've had. Spicy rigatoni. I could not stop eating it even when I was full. The taste is addictive. Radiatori Bolognese. They should just rename this radically delicious bolognese. Fritto misto. Taste the sea baby. We sat at the bar which honestly has such a great vibe even though our reservation was for a table. I'd do it again. Shout out to our super attentive bar tender/waiter. He was suave and friendly. Cheers! read more

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Cardellino did NOT disappoint. Easily one of the best meals I've had in the past year! Highly recommend for an elevated steakhouse date night. Cocktails were immaculate. Sides, mains, and appetizers all left my jaw on the floor. And of course the service was perfect, even during that mysterious week between Christmas and the start of the new year, when time doesn't exist. So excited to go back! read more

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We had a very nice experience at Cardellino last night. They were quite full for a Wednesday night but we had a reservation so we did not have to wait. The ambiance here is very nice though I might say it was a bit too loud to carry on a conversation and way too dark to read the menu. Just about everyone in the restaurant had to read it using their camera flashlight.Had there been a tad less noise and a bit more light it would have been perfect. Service was very good but not great. I had to ask for my water to be refilled by flagging down a busboy and the waiter didn't come back to check on my dinner until I was finished eating. He did promptly come to clean off the table after I finished. I would have happily skipped the table wipe down in favor of checking in more promptly. I got the feeling they were understaffed as my waiter was definitely busy running from table to table non stop. We ordered three lamb chops, a side of asparagus and the branzino.The branzino and asparagus were both excellent. The lamb was very good. My issue with the lamb chop is that they do not ask you how you like it. It is delivered to the table- medium. I found this to be a tad off putting for a high end restaurant. I was also not given a steak knife. I had to work a bit to cut it with the butter knife I was given. That said, once I added a bit of salt and lemon it was delicious. Frankly by the end of the meal I was just picking the chops up with my hands anyway so the lack of a proper knife didn't matter. We skipped dessert since I am a true chocoholic and there was simply nothing particularly chocolatey there. Overall this is a very nice restaurant. read more

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We sat at the full-service bar and were warmly taken care of by a fantastic bartender. We started with their sourdough. The bread was perfectly crunchy and chewy on the outside with a soft, pillowy center. Next came the chopped Italian salad, generously finished with shredded pecorino, but the standout appetizer for me was the tuna tartare. We went all in with their signature 38-oz Bistecca Fiorentina. It was beautifully seasoned and cooked to perfection. When the first steak didn't meet their standards, the kitchen remade it, and the manager kindly treated us to a dessert for the wait, a gesture that truly showed their commitment to hospitality. The space was warm and inviting I will be back! read more

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Cardellino's Italian Restaurant delivered a great experience from start to finish. The appetizers were solid--the bread alone was worth it. The steak was tender and cooked well, and the potatoes were perfectly crispy, savory, and well-seasoned. The spicy pasta was a standout--full of flavor and not overly spicy, so don't be intimidated. I had it with meatballs, but I'm already planning to try it with short rib next time. I skipped dessert because the cocktails at their speakeasy, Carlo, were my dessert. Carlo is a beautiful, intimate space with true craft cocktails made right. Must try the Toga Party. Well done Trust Group. I love going to Trust for brunch. Fort Oak for happy hour. Now, Cardellino for dinner. Great food, great drinks, and a fun overall vibe. Would absolutely return. read more

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We came here for a birthday dinner and overall had an okay experience, but it didn't leave us wanting to come back. The service was above average, but nothing particularly memorable. We ordered two appetizers to share -- the meatballs and the broccoli and cauliflower plate. The meatballs came out warm rather than hot, while the cauliflower dish arrived steaming hot, so the consistency in food temperature felt a bit off. The mocktails were flavorful and definitely one of the highlights of the meal. Once our dinner was served, though, the service dropped off. We weren't offered another round of drinks, our water wasn't refilled, and dessert was never mentioned, even for a birthday dinner. Small details like that can really elevate the overall experience. A couple other things stood out -- the bathroom was freezing cold, and the candle scent in the restroom was labeled something tomato-related, which felt a little unusual for the setting. Overall, it was okay, but not memorable enough for me to return. read more

Been meaning to come here for years now. It's a coworkers absolute favorite and she's been telling me to go forever. Definitely not disappointed. It was dimly lit and ambient inside. Staff was clearly working very hard and was super helpful all night. The cocktails were excellent and the chop salad was huge and delicious. Whatever herb butter they used for the steak was amazing and I loved the mushroom polenta. Looking forward to coming back again soon! read more

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This spot has an incredible vibe and is perfect for a night out. The overall culinary experience was impressive, featuring wonderfully balanced flavors and a fantastic selection of creative drinks that really stole the show. The atmosphere is cozy yet upscale, making it a great place to relax. Service was attentive and smooth throughout the evening. The only reason for dropping one star is that a couple of the dishes felt just a bit over-seasoned for my taste, though the quality of the ingredients was undeniably excellent. It is still a phenomenal destination for food lovers, and I will definitely be back to explore more of the menu soon! read more

Excellent food and terrific service. The ambiance is intimate and romantic, and it was a great spot for date night/birthday dinner. Shoutout to Jon and Gio for taking such good care of us. read more

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Had a great time celebrating a friend's birthday! The vibes, service and food were excellent. We shared a few items: -SOURDOUGH BOULE -FILET MIGNON CARPACCIO -CHOP SALAD -EGGPLANT PARM LASAGNA -SPICY RIGATONI All had great flavors and enjoyed every bite! read more

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Wow. The food was phenomenal! For starters, we had the sourdough - so good. The bread crust was perfect and so soft and chewy inside. The lamb lollipops were great. The ribeye was delicious, and I loved the sides of mushrooms, roasted carrots, and the bucatini cacio e pepe was the best. We also tried their desserts and the standout was the moist carrot cake!! The service was fantastic, thanks Miller! The interior ambiance was great. We sat outside and had heaters. Definitely check out the speakeasy Carlo! read more

Cardellino - Carrot cake, tiramisu cheesecake, and apple strudel a la mode - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

We celebrated our anniversary at Cardellino, and the experience was nothing short of exceptional. Even though the restaurant was fully booked for the evening, the front desk went above and beyond to make our night special. We called around 7pm and they reassured us they would try their best, and--miraculously--managed to find us seats without making us feel like an inconvenience! We were able to book a reservation for 8pm and even managed to get in earlier. Their kindness and welcoming attitude set the tone for the entire evening. The atmosphere was cozy and vibrant. All the dishes were beautifully crafted. The lamb lollipops were to die for. Each bite popped with savory flavors. Each dish had its own unique taste. I wil never forget how expeditionary the food and service was. The experience felt even more memorable because it started with genuine care. If I could, I would give Cardellino more than five stars for its outstanding service and delicious food. read more

Cardellino - Juicy lamb lollipops - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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So looking up on Yelp for a good wholesome restaurant that has soul found this one. I do leave a lot of reviews. I don't leave a lot of reviews but this one in particular I'm gonna leave a review because he has been around for a while and has 7 to 9 other restaurants that I need to try. The food five stars the price was very pricey. I'm not gonna lie. But everything we have and tried was great. The service was good. The waiter was great. Don't really remember his name, but he did a great job explaining to everything with everything was in the taste of it. Sitting outside of the restaurant would I like to enjoy the inside, but I guess we have to make reservations or sit at the bar didn't agree with that, but the food was still good. read more

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Cardellino is a solid restaurant choice. Italian American at its finest. I was a fan of Brooklyn Girl before but happy that it's replacement has been a gem. We started dining here back when they had brunch. We miss their brunch! Burrata on top of your eggs?!? Yes, please! I think our last brunch was 2022. Their dinner menu is limited to mostly pasta, steak, and one or two fish entrees. They do of course have appetizers and sides. My go to entree is the Bucatini with guanchiale. So good. Onions and sauce cooked to perfection! With the right amount of Parmesan cheese. Their lamb lollipops are a must! $9 a pop My husband is a big fan of the their steak, his go to is the NY strip. The truffled potatoes are nicely done. The chopped salad is nice, and perfect if dining with a larger group. A couple bites are enough. On our last visit with a larger group we got to share the tiramisu cheesecake and the melted granache with the expresso sorbet combination were simply divine. They have a good HH which is mostly worth it for drinks.. about $7 average for cocktail/ wine. The bar gets pretty busy during HH so I do recommend getting there earlier if that's your plan. We eat dinner early and restaurants tend to be quieter when we arrive. By the time we left Cardellino, it was packed! The service is great! Like really good, on top of it, professional and knowledgeable. Just what you'd want from the staff. If you've dined at Cardellino before keep visiting if it's been a while, it's time to go back. If youve never been , well I hope this review changes your mind. read more

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What a gem of a place! Tucked away in Mission Hills, Cardellino is a divine place for happy hour and a nice dinner! The inside is cozy with beautiful interior and the bar is beautiful. Happy hour starts right at opening and goes until 6. We snagged a glass of wine at the bar before sitting down at our table since happy hour only applies to the bar or outdoor patio. Luckily, it wasn't too busy on a Thursday at opening so we were able to enjoy our wine before our meal. Our server was incredibly kind and recommended the spicy rigatoni which we already knew was a fan favorite! We also split the 14oz ribeye and it was plenty to share. The steak was cooked perfectly and topped with an incredible garlic butter. The spicy rigatoni was fresh and the noodles were cooked perfectly al dente -- just the way we like them. I'd 10/10 recommend trying this place if you're looking to blend a delicious Italian meal with some top quality steak! read more

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Amazing food (have one of the steaks, they all looked good--I tired the rib eye). Service was excellent. I need to go when the ice cream window is open (not sure of those hours). read more

Cardellino - Rib eye - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

I really wanted to give this place another go, seeing that I had a mostly positive experience with the food despite the service. After my experience last night, I am quite disappointed. Waitress is still very rushed, extremely unaccomodating when it comes to dietary allergies and restrictions. Steak - there was a shiny piece of plastic on mine (see video) as part of the awful seasoning/marinade, and it was undercooked!! Literally served cold and impossible to cut. I got a good amount of attitude when I asked to send it back. So much wrong with this steak. You will be paying for at least 7 oz of pure fat. Don't get it. Would you like some salad with your cheese? Lasagna: still lacks enough sauce. Unsurprising seeing how STINGY this restaurant is with even their "shareable plates." Sourdough, "salad,"roasted carrots, and even the truffle potatoes are by NO MEANS in large enough portions to be shared by more than 2 people AT MOST. Neither are their desserts! They brought out 4 slices of cake for 30 people, and they give so much attitude if you ask where the rest of the food is. This is not an Italian restaurant I can reasonably recommend anymore. Also, can't speak toward the drinks given that I never got the drink menu I asked twice for. Oh well. read more

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My boyfriend and I went here to celebrate our anniversary! He did an amazing job in his restaurant choice. We had a reservation for 8:45pm but the show we attended ran late and we were able to change our reservation to 9:30pm. Service was amazing! Our waitress made great suggestions from the menu. She was quick and sweet. The other servers were very nice as well and cleaned up our table and packed our leftovers as we ate/other courses came. For a drink my boyfriend ordered the summer estate which he gives a 10/10 rating. It was a tequila based watermelon chile drink. I enjoyed a sip too but I don't favor spicy drinks. For appetizers we ordered the 3 favorites: chopped salad, fritto misto (calamari) and lamb lollipops (1 piece per order) If theirs one thing you order get the lamb lollipops. We ordered 2 pieces but wish we had ordered more. The meat is flavorful and tender and the salsa/chimichurri sauce paired perfectly. Immediate 10/10 rating. The chopped salad was a 9/10. The flavors good and I love the generous amount of cheese that covers the entire plate. My bf and I wish there was more salami though. One of the requirements for dinner reservations I gave my bf was 1) good calamari and 2) pasta. The calamari definitely satisfied my craving. We gave this a 9/10 rating. I wish it had tentacles and the tartar sauce was meh. However, I like that it came with fried calamari, onion and shrimp. My boyfriend loved the bitter fried olives. The marinara sauce was a good dipping sauce. For our entrees we ordered the spicy rigatoni and the ribeye steak (medium rare) Both were good. The steak was salty which my boyfriend likes. The spicy rigatoni was good but the pasta was overcooked/soft. We would've preferred the pasta to be a bit more al dente. As ordered we gave both an 8/10. However, we asked our server for more of the chimichurri sauce from the lamb lollipops and that gave the perfect acidic taste for the steak and pasta. Making this the perfect balance and super flavorful meal! We agreed we'd pass on the ribeye next time and instead order more lamb lollipops. For dessert we ordered the carrot cake and the affogato. The carrot cake was very moist. I gave it a 7/10 but my boyfriend thought it was perfect and gave it a 10/10. He loved this carrot cake so much he wants to see if they'll sell the entire cake for his birthday next month. (We forgot to ask) The affogato was perfect too. At first my bf just wanted a coffee to go with the cake but after trying it he was so glad we got the affogato instead. This was surprising since he isn't usually a sweets/dessert person. I'm the one with a big sweet tooth. The ambiance of the restaurant is beautiful. I love the low lighting, the brick accent walls, the bar looks beautiful. They have both indoor and outdoor patio seating. When I went to the women's restroom I saw they have a private room. I'm definitely telling my family and friends about this restaurant and would love to use the private room for a bday party or engagement party. We already talked about taking our friends here when they visit from New York. 10/10 experience! Definitely at the top of my recommendation list for yummy food, date night, dinner etc. read more

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Very cute restaurant and nice and friendly service. However, the food was... just alright. We ordered the spicy rigatoni, the beef carpaccio, and the chop salad. I liked the chop salad the most. Everything else was unfortunately very bland. For the price point, this was pretty disappointing. I also ordered a tequila cocktail that was okay. I spent about $110 for everything I ordered. read more

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We booked a reservation at Cardellino for my birthday, and it absolutely did not disappoint. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted warmly and guided to the bar. The staff works incredibly hard and genuinely goes above and beyond to create a great dining experience. For appetizers, we tried the calamari, meatballs, sourdough bread, chopped salad, and lamb lollipops. Every single dish was delicious, and I would happily order any of them again. As a self-proclaimed pasta girl, I was in heaven. I've tried the bolognese, lobster triangoli, bucatini, and the Sunday Supper spaghetti, all phenomenal and highly recommended. For dessert, we shared the tiramisu cheesecake and panna cotta, which were the perfect ending to the meal. The lighting is dim and intimate, and despite being busy, it's never overly noisy. We've been a couple of times now, and each visit has been consistently wonderful. Truly a lovely evening every time. read more

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I was by myself. Wanted a good Italian meal. The hostesses told me I could sit at the bar, or out on the sidewalk (it was a cold night). I asked for an indoor table and they said they had none, although there were at least 6 tables vacant (week night). I guess they don't like single people. I'll go somewhere where they want my business, and I tip well for a good meal. read more

This was such a great find. I recently have an appetite for noodles and heated they make their own pasta fresh. We enjoyed everything we ordered. Branzino was exceptional, Bucatini cacio e pepe was so creamy and delicious. Our server Angie was amazing and very knowledgeable about the food. She even got us a reservation at Carlo the speakeasy. We got a chance to try the beautiful classy bar. It is a definite repeat restaurant on my list in SD. read more

Cardellino - Vodka martini we extra olives - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Cardellino. Good experience overall with some noticeable misses. The meatballs were fantastic, and the calamari had amazing flavor. Drinks were good, but one disappointing moment was when a friend ordered an Old Fashioned and it came with crushed ice. He asked for a single large cube (which is pretty standard) and was told there would be a $1.50 upcharge per drink. At a higher-end steakhouse, that felt unnecessary. Our 22oz bone-in steak took close to an hour to come out and wasn't piping hot. Flavor was good, but not standout. The pastas were very basic and nothing special. On the upside, the carrot cake was incredible!! one of the best we've ever had. Service was decent, nothing exceptional. If they can improve ticket times and refine the drink program, I'd definitely return. Cheers, read more

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Pros: - IG "Trendy" - Free dessert (Froyo) if celebrating a birthday - Online reservations - Hightop + Bar + Outside seating available - Mocktails - Attentive staff - They box up your left overs themselves Cons: - Limited menu - 2 vegetarian/vegan options - Very salty / "heavily seasoned" (manager did come to our table to talk about it and did comp our one appetizer we could not finish due to salt, however everything was extremely salty) Other: - Street parking (metered & limited free spots) - Low noise inside - Dressy / smart casual place read more

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My fiancé took me here for my birthday. This place is amazing. Their service was on point. It's a great place for a date night or special dinner with family. The patio appeared to be dog friendly as well. I love when places are worth the price! We had the sourdough bread with butter (so good!) and carpaccio. I didn't know I loved carpaccio until now, it was topped with mushrooms and greens. Meatballs were classic and safe - Lamb lollipops are a must here! We also shared the spicy rigatoni and tiramisu cheesecake with an espresso martini. I can't stop telling people how amazing this place is. I recommend it and can't wait to take my friends and family here. It is attached to a soft serve ice cream spot that's yummy (the rotating captain crunch is my favorite). read more

Cardellino - Spicy rigatoni and meatballs. - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Came for a girl's night and had a great time from the food to the service. Had a reservation for 6pm and we got seated right away. Started with a glass of wine that they let me sample before I ordered a glass. They have a bunch of apps, pastas, sides and because they are a butcher house they also had a bunch of different cuts of beef. They also make their pasta in house and they mentioned they also add different seasonings (i.e. tumeric, paprika, etc) into the pasta for a twist. We got the tuna tartare, arancini, Sunday supper spaghetti, spicy rigatoni, oven roasted asparagus and cauliflower. Got the tiramisu cheesecake for dessert. Favorites were the spicy rigatoni and the cauliflower. The spicy rigatoni is a vodka sauce and it was sooo rich in flavor with just the tiniest bit of heat. I love vodka sauce and this might be the best one I've ever had. The cauliflower had a really nice contrast of flavors and textures with the creaminess from the mascarpone to the crunch from the gremolata. The Sunday supper was pretty heavy with the short rib and creme fraiche for my personal taste. Oven roasted asparagus was fine but nothing I couldn't have easily done at home. Cheesecake was super light which was kind of nice but I wish the cheesecake flavor itself was more prominent. read more

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Our service seemed a bit slow. They did have a very large party that came in right behind us. The slower pace could have also been a part of their cultural. The appetizers fried calamari and a small loaf of bread were good. The bread had some garlic butter. Very tasty. The pork chop was excellent. Great flavor, tender and not fatty. I would strongly consider ordering it again. The other 2 in my party ordered pasta dishes and both said they were amazing. We will be back. read more

Cardellino - Pork Chop - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

My wife and I had a wonderful dinner at this restaurant. This place is beautiful and the aumbionce was great. Decor-this place is beautiful and you could tell they spent great deal of time planning every detail. You're instantly transported to Italy or Spain. Simply lovely inside. Service-very good service. Food-loved the diversity in menu options. Multiple types of cuts, several pasta options and a lot of appetizers. Lamb lollipops-4/5 stars. I bit too salty for us, but the chimichurri sauce was very good and helped cut the saltiness of the rub. Burrata salad-5/5 stars. This was wonderfully put together and the portion was perfect for sharing between 2 people. Loved this dish. Pasta-2/5 stars. Don't remind the name, but it had clams and too much lemon zest. It was too zesty, and that overpowered the dish. New York Strip-5/5 stars. Steak was cooked perfectly to medium temp, it was well seasoned, and cook to perfection. We enjoyed every bite. Well done guys, can't wait to bring the rest of our family. read more

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I haven't been here in a few years but I am glad I decided to give them another chance! The inside is still stunning! My friend decided to take me out for my birthday and I'm glad we decided to dine here. There were a few hick ups in service though.. I made my reservation for 7:15pm. The servers had is standing at the hostess waiting for out table ans we were not seated until 7:42. I felt the wait was extremely negligent.. we were tempted to leave but we were finally seated at a table that was open the entire time we waited. My friend ordered a Mama Mia drink and I ordered an aperal spritz. The Mama Mia was sweet and a cute girly drink. My aperal spritz was nice and bubbly. The server we had came to out table every 20 minutes which I felt was too long to wait to check on us.. I had to ask the other servers if they could send her to our table a few times. We had a busy day and came straight from work for dinner so we were dressed casual but I didn't think that warented neglect.. We ordered the Sour Dough Boule and Beef and Salumi Arancini for out appetizers. The sour dough was a little harder thank im used to but the inside was soft but overall okay bread. The Arancini was absolutely delicious! I was super pleased with them. For dinner we ordered the Spicy Rigatoni, the 14oz Ribeye (medium), Oven Roasted Asparagus and Truffle Fried Fingerling Potatoes. The rigatoni was really good and the pasta was very delicate. The ribeye was cooked perfectly with nice seasoning and fresh crushed pepper that added good flavor. The asparagus was also done very nicely, cooked perfectly and probably the best I've ever but I also don't like asparagus so I was pleasantly surprised. And the potstoes were seasoned nicely but some bites were a little over salted.. Over all the food was outstanding. The service could have been better but over all we enjoyed my birthday meal. read more

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My first time here and really enjoy myself. As you enter, hostess desk is to your left and immediately greeted and sat us down. I didn't like where they sat us. It was a 2 seater table and quite tiny against the wall and a partial view of outside. The place is beautifully decorated and that is what i first admired. We were then greeted by our server and top notch service. He gave us excellent recommendations and answered all our questions. I ended up ordering the halibut and my friend ordered the lobster pasta. We also ordered a cocktail as well. I ordered a Mezcal drink with beet in it. Very surprisingly delicious. My friend ordered a cantaloupe drink with gin and I have to say it was a refreshing and better drink than mine! Our diner came out in a timely manner and the lobster pasta was made well. I can't say much about the halibut. It was on the dry side. I tried to squeeze the rest of my lemon on top but was still dry. It was just slightly overcooked. I wanted to return my order but didn't want to make a fuss since it was still edible. I just never finished it all. I would recommend this place but would just order something else for my meal. Just don't let them sit you in the 2 person table. No room and felt cramped. read more

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We came back here after our first visit for our friend's birthday because we love the food so much! Definitely a lot busier on a Sunday night. But still such an amazing vibe. read more

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Delicious steakhouse & pasta restaurant! Perfect for a classy evening out or special occasion. Everything we had was delicious. The chop salad was unique with slices of salami and provolone in an Italian dressing salad. The spicy rigatoni had a rich tomato vodka sauce and plenty of pasta to share. The ribeye was also a nice size and came in a delicious garlic herb butter. They sliced it for us to share, which was perfect. read more

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Italian chophouse Cardellino is serving antipasti, housemade pastas, steaks, chops, and maybe most infamously their lamb lollipops. AMBIANCE modern, spacious SERVICE Staff were friendly and attentive FOOD 5/5 LAMB LOLLIPOPS: tender lamb paired perfectly with a bright and flavorful salsa verde, lemon 4/5 12oz NY STRIP STEAK: prepared medium rare to rare as requested that paired well with the winter ravioli fixings 3/5 FENNEL SAUSAGE & RICOTTA RAVIOLI: a smorgasbord of braised cabbage, currants, apples, pine nuts, pork jus, sage that is herbaceous and aromatic, but ultimately too sweet for what pasta should be. The ravioli shell was unpleasantly stiff, but pairs very well with the steak, which was lacking a bit in flavor. 5/5 LEMON MERINGUE CROSTATA (tart, flaky, warm): with a fragrant almond frangipane, and sweet brown sugar ice cream PARKING Streetside read more

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This place is really good. It was recommended by a girlfriend. I think the location of this restaurant has historically not performed well but we're hoping all of the best for now. This is a perfect restaurant for a date night. It has really moody lighting and is actually kind of hard to see inside. But they have a Gas lantern on the table, which is a fun ambient touch. Service was nothing to write home about. It was poppin' on a Friday night so slower service is expected. The food is something you'd expect at a bougie Italian restaurant in San Diego. But the real star is the chopped salad which was out of this world. You also can't complain about delicious bread and butter. I will be back. read more

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I came here for a double date on a Saturday evening. We made reservations a few weeks prior & were seated right away upon arrival. Our server was knowledgeable, funny & took good care of us. The drink menu had a good variety & were reasonably priced. Ambiance was dark & romantic. Creste con tartufo-This was everyone's favorite! 10/10, I would definitely get again. Lamb lollipops-These were so tender & flavorful. A tad bit heavy on the salt, but I think it was just a busy night & may have been a little heavy handed Truffled fried fingerling potatoes-I had high hopes for this, but unfortunately our order was burnt. Everyone had taken a piece & all agreed it was very over cooked, but so much of it was gone already that it didn't feel right to send it back to get it remade. Hopefully next time it'll be better! 14oz ribeye-The ribeye was so good! Perfectly cooked & seasoned. 38OZ Bistecca Florentina-This was worth the price & cooked well. Definitely a huge portion, so bring your appetite with this one! In the end, I really wanted to try the dessert, but I was so full it was NOT going to happen. What a great excuse to come back & try other things on the menu though! read more

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Saw this restaurant on tik tok! Let's get straight to it Pros: New York strip 10/10 Truffle fingerling potatoes 11/10 Carrot cake 1000000/10 Cocktails 7/10 yumminess Meatballs 10/10 phenomenal Cons: 4 cocktails 7/10 - tasty but not strong, after two cocktails each I would expect to feel pretty good. Cocktails were the cantaloupe and oro Rosa. Spicy rigatoni 4/10- this is what brought me here from tik tok and honestly it wasn't good and that made me SO sad. It was very tomato paste forward If that makes sense. Super disappointed Our waitress was phenomenal! She recommended the carrot cake and I'll love her forever for it. In all seriousness she was so amazing and made the experience incredible even with the "cons" I listed. Will definitely be back! read more

Cardellino - Spicy rigatoni - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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