Absolutely delicious food with incredible service and a great view. We came here for a birthday dinner during a very busy week, and it was the perfect respite from the craziness! Our favorites were the duck pasta and tomato and burrata appetizer, but everything was delicious. Highly recommend sharing everything family style - you'll want to try as much as possible! In addition to the great food, everyone here was amazing. For one, our server accidentally put in an appetizer that we didn't order, and instead of taking it away, they gave it to us as a complimentary treat. They also explained everything well, packed things up for us as we went so that we had room for new dishes, and gave a full sized cheesecake slice as the complimentary birthday dessert. Overall, I will absolutely consider coming back to Catania for any special occasion, or just a delicious meal! read more

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We stopped by Catania on Sunday evening because my family and I wanted to have dinner there. Unfortunately, the experience started off on the wrong foot the moment we walked in. The hostess was a short young woman with straight dark hair. She gave us a cold, unfriendly, almost hostile look and quietly mumbled, "Please wait." There was no smile, no warmth, no "Hi" or "Welcome" -- just a very dismissive attitude. We waited for a bit and then watched her chatting casually and comfortably with other guests. It was hard not to notice the difference in how we were treated, and honestly, it just felt uncomfortable and unnecessary. This is La Jolla, and for a restaurant at this level, we expected a basic level of hospitality and professionalism. Instead, the whole vibe was off from the moment we walked in. So we decided not to stay and simply left. First impressions matter, and unfortunately ours was a very bad one. Hopefully management takes a look at the front-of-house experience, because people absolutely notice these things. Wishing Catania the best. read more

This restaurant is in a beautiful location in La Jolla, on the third floor over seeing the ocean. We arrived on Saturday around 5pm while visiting San Diego. We called an hour ahead to reserve a table and luckily they had availability. We ordered the crudo and octopus as appetizers. The crudo was served with fresh tuna topped with a sweet melon sauce (not to my liking, but still appreciated). The octopus was delicious. For our entrees, we ordered the pistachio pesto pizza, raviolli, and beef ziti. The pizza was my favorite (i love anything pistachio) especially enjoyed the pistachio pesto. I appreciate the thin dough of raviolli and the ziti was good. Overall food was good. Our server's name was Kevin, he was friendly and gave great service. read more

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The pastas are delicious. The orechiette with duck sugo was a delight. The ravioli perhaps a little too much honey but still good. Our server Clinton was super nice. We looked at the dessert menu and weren't going to order anything. But when we asked for the check, he gave us the Nutella semifreddo because it was my birthday, which was really nice. I appreciate when a restaurant isn't pushy about ordering alcohol, more food, a dessert, etc. Would recommend getting a table on the patio at sunset. We weren't aware of the advantage of the patio (view) vs the inside table (high up seats where you can't see the view that much), so it would've been nice if the host had thought to seat us outside given the special occasion. The outside tables by the entrance are kind of a buzzkill compared to the rest of the seating as it's just by the outdoor stairwell. Parking is pretty easy with the free 90-min street parking til 6pm. read more

A high-quality restaurant with a relaxed vibe, serving very good coastal Italian with homemade pastas. Great spot for a nice dinner in La Jolla, with gorgeous sunset views to boot. The ravioli was the standout of the night, thin pasta with just enough filling for a delightful bite. The bucatini all'amatriciana wasn't quite what I'm accustomed to, the guanciale was ground rather than diced, and the sauce leaned more toward a meat sauce with an oily finish, not really my style, though the pasta itself was cooked well al dente. The steak, on the other hand, was excellent. Cocktails were great, and the staff were attentive throughout. For dessert, the trio was a nice way to sample a few things, though I wish they offered smaller sampler portions instead of full-size pieces. The Basque cheesecake was excellent and the semifreddo was perfect with a nice crust. The chocolate torte was good but couldn't compete with the other two. Overall a strong dinner spot in La Jolla, especially for pasta lovers and sunset views. read more

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My second time here and the service and dishes were more exquisite than the first time! Originally felt like this place was at most a 4 and very expected for a costal Italian restaurant. The duck sugo was the dish I remember getting the first time and it was soooo good. Still thinking about the heirloom tomato salad with teeny tiny cherries, watermelon and whipped burrata with the perfect touch of finishing salt the views at this place are spectacular if you are on the outdoor patio. Also don't forget to order the kitchen a round for $6 at the end of your meal they deserve it! read more

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Beautiful setting. Lots of outdoor seating. I was by myself and selected railing seating. Plenty of space to perch. The buildings blocked my total view of the sunset so would recommend sitting at a table outside. Service was friendly. Always checking in. I had the green salad (perfectly dressed with tons of pistachios) and squid ink pasta. It was amazing. They don't say it but the squid ink is only the pasta. Lots of crab. read more

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Stopped in to Catania one day for an early dinner/late lunch and it was delicious! I had pasta and my husband had pizza and they were both excellent! The food was tasty, the staff were incredibly friendly, and the restaurant has beautiful views and interior. Overall it was a great experience and we will definitely be back! read more

Catania - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

Came here with my bartender friend. Ordered a mojito and was a bit surprised by how pale it looked. It had only a single mint leaf as a garnish. I didn't see any lime at all, I might have tasted some, but it wasn't fresh. The drink was overly sweet, and there wasn't enough rum. My friend told me I should send it back, but against my better judgment, I didn't... The mushroom pizza wasn't any better- some burnt bubbles and some "bald spots" with no cheese at all. I love supporting local businesses, but this is so far off the mark that I don't know what to tell you. Sad!! read more

Catania - Mojito!! - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

Catania has been our go-to spot for special occasions for many years, and it never, not once, disappoints. The food, the ambiance/great views, the service, all great every single time. We have a tried-and-true ordering strategy that we have stuck to over the years: starting with the Crudo, which is always fresh, beautifully plated, and full of bright flavor, work through an appetizer or two, then move on to one of their incredible Neapolitan style wood fires pizzas. Pro tip: add an egg to the center of whatever pizza you order. We cap it off with a pasta dish, this time around, a braised beef dish. This visit we were celebrating our anniversary and the team at Catania went above and beyond by comping us a delicious chocolate mousse cake with a Biscoff crust. It was a perfect ending to an already great meal. Can't wait for our next trip back. Kudos Catania crew for keeping the high quality and service throughout the years. read more

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Attentive service and the food is good and the ocean view is a bonus. We had a group of 4. Each of us had different entrees, cocktails and split 2 different starters. There are some unique takes on cocktails on the menu, and what we ordered were all winners. The starters were good but I don't feel they were anything extraordinary or truly unique. Everyone enjoyed their respective entree - steak, fish, pizza, pasta. Overall our first experience here was good. It is a restaurant that I will come back to again. Next time, I'll watch the check a little closer. By the end of the evening the price felt a bit steep for the experience, but among the four of us, we had ordered quite a bit. read more

This place was such a classic la Jolla vibe. We got to sit inside but they do have a good amount of outdoor patio seating with heaters. Located on the third floor of a shopping mall. For food we got the arancini, cauliflower, sausage and kale pizza, the tagliatelle and the duck orecchiette. I also ordered a really yummy Pinot noir from Santa Barbara. The highlights were the cauliflower and the tagliatelle for me. The cauliflower had really interesting and bright flavors that played well with the ricotta base and a nice contrast of textures. The tagliatelle was perfectly cooked and creamy but not heavy which was probably because of the mix of pesto and tomato sauce. The pizza was pretty tasty but nothing crazy and similar to other pizzas you'd find at other good neopolitan pizza places. The arancini was a little different with the saffron flavor. The duck pasta was decent but something about the texture of the duck I didn't love. It almost felt like ground meat or something. Because we were there for a birthday they gave us a free dessert which was their 'chocolate nemesis' which was essentially a flour less chocolate cake. The dessert is DENSE and definitely recommend sharing this. It was almost just like straight fudge. I liked that it was dark chocolate. Friendly service the entire night. Would definitely come back. read more

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i planned on staying home doing nothing this weekend after working all week and crazy commute to rancho bernardo--but that's not what happened...few friends came down from oceanside and wanted to go to Catania. The vibe was great, very relaxed. i got a salad (unusual) and friends got pizza and chicken. Service was great, very attentive and accommodating. Food was very good, Has a pretty view too. i was too tired tho and went right home after and went to bed! fun times. Def recommend Catania! read more

I'm not really sure what the hype is about this spot because the experience was pretty underwhelming. I ordered the duck sugo orecchiette, and it was probably the worst version I've had. The sauce was watery and didn't coat the pasta at all, and the menu didn't clearly mention that the duck was ground. The portion was fine, but I wouldn't order it again. The Italian meat pizza was small but actually really good and ended up being the best thing we ordered. Unfortunately, I found a hair in my pasta, which completely grossed me out. After that, I couldn't bring myself to keep eating it. The service wasn't great either. The woman at the front had an attitude, and the staff overall felt dismissive. Parking in La Jolla is already difficult, and the experience just wasn't worth the hassle. Overall, between the disappointing pasta, finding a hair in my food, and the poor service, I wouldn't recommend it or come back. Food: 5/10 Service: 3/10 read more

Catania - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

In May of 2025 I sat on a rooftop bar/restaurant in Rome, eating the best meatballs ever. Catania recreated this experience, from the menu options, to the drinks, and the absolute delicious squash raviolis. They did serve very good meatballs too. The service was outstanding and views were good. I will be bringing my husband back to experience this Italian restaurant. My only negative was a 4.5 service fee tacked onto the bill. Really a big negative. But, get to the restaurant soon, I am told the squash raviolis are seasonal. read more

Catania - The meatballs!! - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

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Dangerous! This place is soooooo good, no wonder why it was listed in the Michelin guidebook. The cocktails are on point, the food on point and the service on point. I wish I remember our server's name but he made us feel so welcome and was super attentive. Our water was never allowed to go empty. We told him of our horrible experience elsewhere and that we had to make it up here and he understood the assignment. We got the octopus, duck oricchiette, and the branzino. Everything was super delicious. My friend who usually doesn't eat fish skin ate it and was surprised how good it was. It came with clams that were breaded and so yummy. We ordered the semifreddo for dessert and to our surprise got two homemade amaretto along with our dessert. Like I said we were well taken care of. If I had to dock anything it would be the prices of the cocktails. $19 each is steep and I had two. A happy hour would be nice so I could have two and not feel like I could have bought a huge 1.75L bottle of tequila and made the drinks myself. But seriously the cocktails are where it's at here so not mad but just gotta be more careful. Also be aware of the 4.25% surcharge. It does say on the bottom of your menu but still. I will be back, it was too wonderful not to come back. Maybe next time I'll try lunch with a view of the sea. read more

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This place is a bit difficult to get a reservation for, but it's worth the wait. So tasty. I live in LA and we were in La Jolla last year and couldn't get a table. We went back this year and I was lucky to get bar seating. We shared the mushroom pizza and rigatoni and both were fantastic. Can't wait to go back. read more

We had a wonderful experience at Catania, right from The beginning, their hosts had great energy and made us felt super welcomed. Everything we ordered tasted great as well, they are all very tasty yet not overly greasy. Our server made sure we were well taken care of and was super friendly. We were seated at the balcony which had a wonderful ocean view and we were able to watch the sunset. I would recommend my friends to come here and try. read more

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10/10 Catania delivered. Our server Robert was a top notch professional and coursed us out perfectly. We got a helpful run down of the menu and everything we tried was excellent. Favorite pasta was TAGLIATELLE ALLA PORTOFINO, and our favorite pizza was the Wild Mushroom with added Sausage. You have to get the Snow Pea salad if it's in season, so delicious! The vibes are great, as you'd expect. read more

The seating outside is one of my favorite aspects of this place, I love to eat here around sunset - truly so beautiful. I've never had a bad meal and the drinks are also incredible. I've had mixed service here, once our waitress was very attentive and we loved her. Another time, we were forgotten and had to ask someone else for refills and dessert which was unfortunate especially when you see your server helping the tables next to you but refusing to look at your table. read more

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INCREDIBLE restaurant, coming from someone who usually doesn't love Italian. The food on the menu is "coastal Italian" with a lot of Mediterranean flavors, which means there is lamb sprinkled on the menu where you would usually see pork (for example lamb meatballs) -- I loved this. Of all the dishes we ordered, there was not a single miss. The crispy octopus appetizer with chickpeas, lamb and capers was pretty mind blowing. The pizza focaccia is a must. Their aroncini was insane - so cheesy with fresh parm and the most incredible umami vodka sauce that made it the best I've ever eaten. We loved the shrimp risotto so much - again, the most perfect umami flavor to the sauce. The duck pasta had a very strong duck flavor. The beautiful ambiance and wonderful service were both great accompaniments to the perfect meal. Will definitely be back! read more

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What a lovely spot in the main area of La Jolla. The views of the sunset from the deck seats were amazing. We were lucky to walk up and get seats for two even without reservations but it got busier as the night went on. We bought a bottle and started with the cauliflower dish. It was AHMAZING. If you only get one thing - get that! Such unique flavors like mint and pomegranate that blend nicely with the creaminess of the cheese. We also got a pizza and a pasta dish but neither were memorable. Good but not extra special. While our server was personable and friendly, the service was really slow. Overall I'd return - check it out! read more

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I have been hesitant to try this spot, thinking it could be overrated due to the location and prices...but wow we were NOT disappointed. - for the main course we got the shrimp risotto, bucatini alla amatriciana, and the corn casoncelli. That's the first time I've had this dish - or even had corn in my pasta and wow. It was SO good and somehow so refreshing. - shared a green salad and their pizza focaccia which was just fabulous. - had probably the best cocktail I've ever had. I got the giada which has vodka infused with matcha, coconut oil and pineapple, galliano, italicus, lime acid -served over a large cube - our server was so kind and brought us a trio dessert plate because we were celebrating! This place will definitely be added to our list of restaurants we return to. Shoutout to their rooftop seating too - it's beautiful vibe with an ocean view. read more

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Catania is probably the best restaurant in La Jolla right now. I took my wife here for her birthday and had a very memorable night. The location is on the third or second floor which has a beautiful view of the ocean. The staff, service, and presentation were perfect. The food itself is also really really good. The wine selection they have goes great with every appetizer or entree. Our favorite dishes were the octopus and pizza. I highly recommend if you need to make dinner reservations for any occasion in San Diego. read more

Catania - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

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Their duck sugo orecchiette is super good! My husband and I really enjoyed it, and the portion is generous. We also ordered the crispy octopus, which was really flavorful, and the bucatini all'amatriciana, which was nice. Overall, the duck sugo is the best, and we will reorder it when we go back to this shop. read more

Catania - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

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A little hard to find, I didn't see any street signage and had to review the directory in the complex. The restaurant had a nice vibe - good music not too loud and a great view if you can make it before sunset and sit outside. For starters we got the roasted carrots which was decent though perhaps a little too soft. If you didn't know it was carrot you probably wouldn't guess. The black cod was disappointing - a decent texture but the bread that came with it had more flavor and the fregola didn't do anything for me. In contrast though, the duck orecchiette was pretty amazing and turned around the entire meal. It looks like other reviewers felt the same way. Drinks were generous in volume and lots of flavor. For dessert the Nutella semifreddo was an unexpected win. I didn't really have any idea what it was going to be from how the waitress described it but it was the right choice. Such an amazing blend of flavors and perfect texture. I'm glad we got it. I would like to come again someday. Staff were great read more

This is my second time here. The first time was post my husband asking me to marry him. The second was after our one year anniversary. Both times they went out of their way to ensure we had a great experience. Just great service from everyone all around. We started off with their seasonal bruschetta and peach. Had to get the diavola pizza and tried their seasonal pasta. All of it was great! Finished off the night with their Pana cotta and dark chocolate flourless cake. The dark chocolate one is for Chocoholics but the pana cotta is for a light dessert. Both were lovely! Just a matter of preference. Pro tip: try to go during sunset to watch the water. Perfect place for a date or to bring the parents when they are visiting from out of town. For parking we did street parking and had no problem. read more

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We were initially drawn to Catania as it boasts Michelin reviews, and an overall high rating on both Yelp and Google Reviews. This place can be hard to find. It is tucked away on the third floor of a business plaza, which makes it hard to identify from the street. Although it was initially difficult to locate, the front staff was polite and sat us quickly. Beyond that, we felt as though the wait staff was nothing standout. She took our drink and food order quickly, but there wasn't much meaningful conversation about the menu or restaurant beyond that. We ordered the Tagliatelle Alla Portofino and the Ziti Alla Genovese. The Tagliatelle dish was a 7/10, as we believe the portion was small for the price, and the flavor wasn't anything special. We feel as though this dish could be easily recreated at home for half the price, with double the flavor. The Ziti Alla Genovese was a 6.5/10. The braised beef was tender and flavorful, and overall carried the dish. The pasta noodles lacked flavor, and the dish overall seemed to be cold/at room temperature, as if it had been sitting out before it was served. A few other key factors to mention..although we sat on the side of the restaurant, the main patio and indoor area appeared to have a nice view of La Jolla Shores, which seems to be the main attraction of the restaurant and a key point for many of its reviews. Additionally, the restaurant shares a bathroom with the rest of the businesses in the center, meaning if you need to use the restroom, you will have to obtain an unlock code from the hostess or your wait staff. While it is a nice place to soak in the scenery of La Jolla Shores, if you're looking for a standout meal, Catania could be passed on. read more

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Catania offers amazing food and views to match if you're lucky enough to sit outside during the sunset. It can be a bit pricey, however, the food is fresh and more than worth it. Service is great - the staff is incredibly helpful and ensures no possible allergy exposures if needed. Really the only thing I can critique is the chairs on the patio almost felt like lawn chairs, but the cushions were comfy! The bathroom is also not located within the restaurant, it's on the same floor but it's a little bit of a walk. read more

It's places like these that make me love living in San Diego. It's so romantic to have dinner overlooking a rooftop area with the sunset. The only issue I had was the service. They brought over my partner's dish to me and my dish to my partner's without saying what it was. Halfway through, we realized we were eating each other's order instead. We didn't know since they were both pasta dishes that looked similar. The pasta itself was great though. read more

Catania - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

Traveling to La Jolla and trying out the Duck Sugo was well worth the drive from OC, the staff members were attentive and created a welcoming experience. I loved Tate as he made us felt welcome, they even printed out menus that included Happy Birthdays for birthday celebrations which was a nice touch! read more

Catania - CAT Duck Sugo ' - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

Wonderful experience at Catania. The service was attentive, the view was beautiful and the food was amazing. The focaccia and grilled octopus appetizers were delicious. (Grilled to perfection with an amazing sauce with sausage and capers). All the entrees and pizzas were perfectly prepared. Our server Kevin was very kind, gracious and personable. Only challenge of this location is the parking. I look forward to returning. read more

Food: Absolutely Delicious! We got the crispy octopus to start which was delectable and crunchy. For our main course, we shared the Duck Sugo pasta and a Margherita pizza. Both were incredible and paired wonderfully with our cocktails. The Duck sugo has a rustic flavor profile that we enjoyed. To drink, we were blown away by the Marzo and Bosco cocktails. The Marzo was so bright and refreshing, it felt like drinking a healthy juice (with alcohol!). The Bosco was a unique combination of flavors. Our server was attentive, helpful, and truly worked hard to make the experience special. We felt it was the best restaurant service we received throughout our entire vacation. The views were immaculate as we watched the sunset over the ocean. Thank you Catania for such a wonderful dinner! Definitely a new favorite spot in La Jolla! read more

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The crisp octopus and the smoked duck liver crostini were superb. The whole branzino with clams was also delicious. I liked how the fish is deboned and not overly salty. The clams were also sweet and fresh and I liked the touch of bread crumbs for texture. The Nutella semifreddo was a great finisher. Not overly sweet and great to share. read more

Crispy octopus and the duck sugo are a must, they're signature dishes for a reason. Never had such a tender octopus in my life and such a light but filling duck pasta. The Nutella semifreddo was ridiculous. So good and such a great way to finish off a fantastic meal. Highly, highly recommend ordering the cucina sixer. Never seen that on a menu and it's such a cool and easy way to show some appreciation for the kitchen staff. Recommend coming with a reservation unless you're fine with a long wait! We waited about an hour and used the time to walk around which was really nice honestly. Finally, if you can, sit outside! They have such a beautiful deck and it's always a waste to be inside in San Diego. read more

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The food was amazing Wild mushroom pizza: 10/10 Duck orecchiette: 11/10 Crispy octopus: 1000/10 Although the food was amazing, our server Nick was probably more amazing. He a 10000/10. The view is beautiful, please enjoy your aniversary here. read more

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There is non-parallel street parking on Girard Ave if you are lucky enough to snag the 90 minute parking spots. We were seated on the heated patio looking out towards the ocean. It's also great people-watching. We enjoyed some delicious cocktails, which were well balanced. Our server Clinton was friendly and attentive. He recommended we start with the smoked duck liver mousse crostini, which was delicious. The cranberries and dried fruit on to complemented the mousse very well. We also ordered the crispy octopus, which was the superstar appetizer, very well seasoned, cooked to perfection, with chickpeas and a delicious broth. There is no kids menu, despite conflicting reviews about this, with some saying there is one. Our kids were able to share a pizza, and they were nice enough to accommodate salami on one side for my son, and just plain cheese on the other half for my daughter. No complaints from our picky eaters. The pizza was huge but my mind was boggled as they actually finished it. Must have been good! For dinner the squid ink pasta and the duck sugo orechiette were both outstanding. So much flavor and perfectly al dente homemade pastas. It was that moment in Eat, Pray, Love, where you finish the whole plate of pasta even though you know you're full and you just can't stop eating it. I paired the duck sugo with the Barolo wine, and it was a match made in heaven. For dessert, we shared some Gelato, mint chocolate chip, chocolate, and tiramusu. Even that came out beautifully presented. We had such an excellent dining experience here and would not hesitate to return. read more

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We were here for a work event and had family style meals. I think I would given it five stars if I had a choice to order off the menu. Ambiance was so pretty and warm. Service was great, constant water refills, changing of plates and utensils. Food- arancini (cheesy!), apple salad, nice, fresh and light. Fusilli with pesto - delish, very rich. Steak, perfectly cooked, a little fatty, Black cod, my fav fish was slightly overcooked, I'm guessing due to the mass quantity we had on the table. The desserts all look amazing but I was beyond full. GINORMOUS portions. Would definitely come back! read more

Omg! This place is AMAZING!!!!! love our waiter Nick! So polite and attentive. The food is to die for. I got the tagliatelle, wild mushroom, cauliflower and wagyu. Paired it with Chardonnay! Chefs kissssss. Finished off their Nutella gelato dessert. In shock how good this place is and mad it took me this long to find it read more

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I grew up in La Jolla and my family has been in the Windansea area of LJ since the late 1980s and I would say that Catania is one of my favorite restaurants that's been in town over the decades. I dined here 6 years ago and had a wonderful dinner and did again this past weekend when I was in town for Thanksgiving and I, as well as the rest of my party, all had a fabulous dinner. It's right in the middle of The Village (also known as downtown La Jolla) on the top of a small shopping center where World Core and Bessel surfboards used to be. It has great views of the Pacific Ocean and downtown La Jolla. It's especially nice if you go at sunset. They offer indoor seating and heated outdoor, plus a bar. Our server was extremely polite and everything that we ordered came out very fast. We also dined outside during a cold November night and they did a great job by keeping the heat going so it was nice and warm. None of us got chilly at any point. For this visit, I started off the meal with a Green Salad and thought it was a really nice light start. I enjoyed every bit of it and felt it was a good choice. I would like it if they would have a sliced heirloom tomatoes or Caprese option but I still enjoyed this. For my entrée, I had to get my favorite dish of the restaurant which is the Whole Roasted Branzino. I had it 6 years ago and loved it then and loved it again this visit. It has a great lemon caper flavor to it and they really do a good job removing most of the bones. I also love how they add clams and broccolini with it, which are also two of my favorite things. Overall a fantastic dinner and it's consistently good which both of my reviews will prove. I highly recommend and will be back again many times in the future. read more

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