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

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

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 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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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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Came for our first time on Mother's Day. The atmosphere was totally chill and classy with Cranberries playing in the background. Had something for everyone. We had Crudo Tuna and Kale salad appetizers with Pizzas. Ask for Russ. He's a great server. Very attentive and has great knowledge of the menu. Prices were very reasonable for the area and the experience. We will definitely be returning. read more

Catania - Menu - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

Food is delicious but what made our 20th anniversary dinner so special was the service. We felt so cared for from the moment we checked in! We got complimentary prosecco and dessert and they even printed out Happy 20th Anniversary on our menus. The chef came out to wish us Happy Anniversary too. The ambience is lovely: rooftop ocean views and comfy chairs, and not too loud. I'm was so happy we made our reservation here. Thanks to Natalie, our server, and the rest of Catania! read more

Catania - Menu with Happy Anniversary message printed for us! - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

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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This Michelin mentioned restaurant sits on a rooftop of La Jolla. I would have preferred to be seated outdoors but it was chilly. The service was great giving enough time to enjoy your meal course without feeling rushed. Very attentive staff. The food was simply presented, no frills but the flavor is there. I ordered mushroom pizza and that's what you got. Thin crust mildly charred not overwhelming with cheese making sure the main ingredient was the star. Same with every single dish we ordered. Spot on Catania! I will be recommending and will be back with friends and family. read more

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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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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

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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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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My favorite Italian place in downtown La Jolla! The food is incredible, the views and ambiance are great and the staff is attentive and warm. We got the ziti al genovese which was the perfect savory and rich pasta dish and the Diavola pizza which had a good amount of spice and excellent dough. 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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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

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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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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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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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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thank you so much to our server, malcom. he absolutely made our night. he was extremely attentive, kind, constantly checked in and filled glasses, answered any questions, and gave us recommendations. everything was delicious and to perfection. not to mention, he was so so kind in allowing us to try the snap pea salad (so good!) on the house. truly a remarkable experience to dine with them. a woman with ginger hair was also the sweetest! she was extremely sweet and lovely to talk to. thank you to the team at catania- we'll be back! read more

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This place is a Michelin star restaurant, which we were unaware of when we booked our res. The vibe is fab, our server was great, and the food?!! UNBELEE! incredible. We had our 2 small dogs with us and they gave us a great outdoor table and they sat at our feet while we ate. great vibes. 10/10 recommend. 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

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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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

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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Awesome drinks and a view at Catania today. Met a friend visiting for the holiday and La Jolla cove was the perfect spot for lunch and drinks. Located on the 3rd level, overlooking Gerard, Catania had a good selection of Italian inspired drinks and menu items. Loved the patio space facing the ocean and ample bar seating. Staff was super attentive and helpful. Would definitely stop back in for food and drinks next time. read more

Catania - Drinks and a view! - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

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was really looking forward to this dinner with another couple but - we arrive and were told our reservation was for the next night- even after we show them our confirmation from open table, then we get a long explanation how -open table does this often to them and automatically will switch the date??? What??? but our confirmation was for that night- whatever- but seems if this happens enough to them why don't they do something about it? Started with great cocktails and AMAZING SERVICE from Kevin. We took most of his suggestions- ap[pies were wonderful. The our entrees arrived and each of them was so over salted we hardly could eat them. We really shared the steamed fish for all of us because the others were inedible, The shrimp Mezzaluna that sounds so amazing we had to send back. It seemed whoever made the stuffing added way to much salt but also didn't stir the stuffing enough- and we tasted no lemon or tarragon. We all like salt- but this was just to much. Kevin took it to the kitchen and we did appreciate the chefs honesty- We were told that the chef tasted our dish and said the stuffing was over salted so they couldn't just give us a new dish- because they would all be like this- it was in the prep. Since all the dishes were so salty- seems the prep is off in kitchen, just hope they didn't serve at least this dish to any others. We finished our wine, ordered bread for something to be in our stomach and left for a different restaurant to be able to have dinner. Kevin was wonderful but we won't be back- with the 4 hostesses all telling us "open table" issues and all the dishe4s so salty just seems no one is really "running" the restaurant anymore. 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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If you're looking for a true Michelin-star dining experience, Catana Restaurant absolutely delivers We sat on the patio, which made the evening even more special -- beautiful ambiance, relaxed yet elegant, and perfect for a memorable night out. We tried the squid ink risotto, octopus, steak, black cod and kale salad -- and every single dish was exceptional. The flavors were perfectly balanced, presentation was stunning, and you can truly taste the quality in every bite. The highlight of the night was definitely the squid ink risotto -- rich, creamy, and unforgettable. It was one of the best I've ever had. From the food to the service to the atmosphere, everything was flawless. Highly recommend for a special dinner or celebration. read more

Ambiance, location and food quality was amazing! Friendly staff too. Menu was not big or overwhelming. The dishes we had were well prepared. Definitely a place to visit! read more

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Fantastic meal with excellent service. Had the crispy octopus, seasonal cauliflower, mushroom pizza, and duck sugo orecchiete. Everything was very rich and flavorful. Too stuffed for dessert. Highly recommend and would come back again. read more

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Went there with co-workers, everything we ordered was so delicious. The waiter was very knowledgeable and nice. His suggestions all turned out well; for drinks, wines, antipasto, pasta, secondi, and desserts. Great experience. We caught the sunset too from the rooftop. Loved the Christmas decorations as well. Only downside is they didn't have their own bathroom and there's a code for it. The hostess was very nice in telling me where it is and the code. But I was just focused on remembering the code so didn't really pay attention to her directions. At least it wasn't hard to find. read more

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Lovely, bustling Italian spot a little ways away from the beach. We were able to walk in after 6 on a Thursday night and get an outdoor table without a wait. Service was friendly and attentive. Plenty of outdoor heaters. Pressato: Nice citrus-y mocktail Crispy octopus: Although I was worried about the lamb, the sausage was tasty and not gamey. I was disappointed in the octopus, however. The tail was crispy, but the rest was kind of tough and chewy instead of being tender. Sauce was tasty. Sicilian pistachio pesto pizza: Well executed. Nice combo of ingredients and just a bit unusual. Crust was on the thin side and had a nice chew to it Cardamom panna cotta with huckleberries: This was the clear winner of the night, a must get. Loved the cardamom profile. Huckleberries were delicious. Would definitely come again read more

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During a small vacation in La Jolla I decided to visit Catania for some delicious Italian food. I did make a reservation in advance to make sure I wouldn't wait in line. The reception and service was on point. The server would always make sure my needs were fulfilled. The steak was cooked to perfection and the octopus was crispy and delicious. It was a great vibe on the outside patio with some nice Italian music playing in the background. I would definitely dine in again if I'm ever in the area. read more

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The absolute best pasta you can get in San Diego. Came here for my anniversary and was met with great service. I usually would never order duck, but our server recommended it so we got the duck sugo orecchiette and the flavors were incredible. We also had the tagliatelle alla Portofini and it was so simple but sooo good. Noodles were cooked just right. I couldn't stop eating! We also tried the pesto pizza and they gave us complimentary limoncello at the end. Thank you! read more

Catania - Tagliatelle alla portion & duck sugo orecchiette - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

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Great atmosphere- with patio seating. Service was really great as was the food! I highly recommend the cauliflower starter and the octopus starter. And the duck Sugo pasta too! read more

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Dined here on Valentine's Day and had a great experience!! Fiance and I were seated at the outdoor bar and had an incredible view of the sunset over the ocean (even caught the rocket launch). The staff was very attentive and service was quick! I had the sea bass and it was one of the best I've ever had, great flavor profile. Overall 10/10 experience read more

Catania - Outdoor bar view - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

We recently came here to celebrate our 6 year anniversary! This is the restaurant we went to on our first date, so we felt it was a perfect time to go back! The staff made us feel so special. Our menu said "Happy anniversary" on it, we received two glasses of Prosecco on the house, and a free panna cotta dessert from our waitress! AMAZING CUSTOMER SERVICE. As for our pasta dishes, excellent!!! We ordered the duck sago and the ZITI ALLA GENOVESE. Would recommend both, but the ziti was our favorite! We also love the view during sunset. read more

Catania - ZITI ALLA GENOVESE and Duck Sago - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

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