I hate that I love this place!! Let me explain why because this is seriously the best pasta I've had in my life. I ordered the lumache pasta with tartufona sauce and added guanciale on top and it was smooth, peppery, with the cured pork cheek perfectly topping everything off. The only problem was that it was so dang expensive! The price came out to be around $52 with tax and tip and the only thing I ordered was the pasta, that is a lot for a college student. Though they have free focaccia which tasted superb. Therefore I recommend this every once in a while for special occasions, unless you're super rich! read more

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We enjoyed our lunch at Cesarina in Point Loma, CA. This was our first time dining at Cesarina and it won't be our last. The owners are from Rome, Italy and opened restaurant in 2019, sharing many delicious authentic recipes from Italy. Cesarina is an award-winning Italian restaurant in San Diego known for its fresh, handmade pasta, vibrant atmosphere, and "build-your-own" pasta options. The restaurant is recognized by the Michelin Guide with a Bib Gourmand for good value and quality. We enjoyed the following and recommend trying: *Mozzarella Milanese appetizer *Build-your-own: Gnocchi pasta in Tartufona sauce with bone marrow *Lasagna allá bolognese *Their famous tableside tiramisu *Affogato ice cream with espresso *complimentary focaccia bread All of these dishes, desserts, atmosphere and excellent customer service from our server Jake and management get 5/5 stars!! We made reservations on Open Table. There's indoor and outdoor seating with limited parking across the street on building 4160. Give this place a try! Happy Yelping :) read more

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Michelin Bib Gourmand and lots of vegan/GF options so obviously I had to try it! Started with the polpo croccante and WOW the honey glaze was perfection. The octopus itself was slightly chewier/overcooked than I personally like, but the flavor? Impeccable. They also gave complimentary GF bread which was thoughtful, but honestly a little underwhelming compared to the homemade focaccia my friends got. I was hoping for something more elevated than standard packaged GF bread. I got the GF pasta (brown rice + corn pasta) with the pomodoro fresco, made dairy free with Follow Your Heart cheese (my absolute fav vegan cheese). Flavor was so tasty but presentation-wise the cheese felt a little lazy since it was just cut into cube slices instead of melted/incorporated more. That said, the colorful ceramic plates/water pitchers were SO cute and quirky and the whole restaurant has such a fun vibe. I feel like this place would be really magical at night with all the twinkle lights. My friends loved their dishes too. Definitely would go back, I just think there are a few little touches that could elevate it even more. read more

Everything about Cesarina is a 10/10! The food is beyond delicious Good wine & drinks The servers are all so kind and helpful The interior is decorated beautifully Only thing is parking can be tricky, so make sure you give yourself extra parking time before your reservation! read more

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Came here to celebrate a graduation with my partner, we had a Saturday evening reservation for the front patio. Service was great off the bat and consistent throughout, I wish we would have been checked on more frequently as there were moments we waited for someone to come by. The food was good, we both agreed the octopus appetizer was definitely the star of the show and worth the trip in itself. The main items were good but nothing that we felt was extraordinary. As we were celebrating something I asked if we could get a photo and the server said that is usually only for birthdays but he would have them come by (and they did!) that was a very nice touch and effort we appreciated! read more

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The pasta here is superb quality! The Pacherri Vodka and Scampi is one of my all time favorite pasta dishes of all time. The vibe here is great and is intimate with a family vibe. We really enjoyed the gnocchi too. Super decadent and great to share with how rich it is. The Tiramisu is also a favorite here with the at the table presentation. Definitely one of the top Italian restaurants in San Diego and would love to come back! Friendly service too with it being busy. read more

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Wow. Just wow. The food here is so good. The atmosphere is fun and welcoming, and the patio heaters are fantastic for chilly evenings. Parking is limited, but we all managed to find a spot near the restaurant. The pasta here is beautifully handmade and sauces delicious. You can taste the difference. I got the Paccheri Vodka e Scampi, which I shared with my friends. We also ordered the Pomodoro Fresco, and those were my favorite dishes. The non-vegan Funghi Gemelli was tasty too. I love that they have plenty of vegan options, from appetizers and salads to soups and pastas. I also loved my cappuccino. The mussels were missing a bit of flavor, but they weren't bad. Just needed some more salt and pepper. I enjoyed the garlicky broth. The blood orange Italian soda was also delicious, and they also offer virgin drinks. I look forward to visiting again and trying more items on the menu. Service was 10/10 as well. We even received a complimentary celebration treat, which was a really thoughtful touch. Thank you, Tanya for taking good care of us! read more

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3-4 stars. This is my second time here. I decided to celebrate my birthday here! We were seated outside, per our reservation. We were seated in the corner closest to the sidewalk. The waiters were very kind, informed/observant (of the menu and the special occasion), and quick. Cesarina really emphasizes the different courses and clearing/setting the table for the guests. After appetizers we got new plates and utensils, which I thought was not needed-- but a nice gesture of them. I did like the plates and bowls that they used. It was bright and bold with colors and designs. The outdoor patio was very garden like and had heaters too. To eat, we ordered: - $20 Impepata di Cozze, this is their fresh mussels in white wine, garlic, parsley, lemon, and cracked black pepper. Would I order this again? No. The flavor was really watery and lacking, almost mainly tasting like lemon water. I didn't taste garlic and the mussels weren't very desirable. The fried bread was a bit greasy and crunchy. While the presentation was nice, I didn't enjoy the flavors of the dish. However, the next appetizer we ordered was amazing! And next time we'd just order two of this instead. - $23 Polpo Croccante, this was their honey glazed crispy octopus tentacles! Underneath it they had mashed potatoes (with the flavor of cacio e pepe), roasted broccoli and cherry tomatoes, romesco sauce, red onions, and sliced almonds. I could probably do without the red onions and almonds, but everything else was very pleasant. For our mains, we ordered: - $43 Paccheri Vodka & Scampi, this was their shrimp and wild caught langoustine with vodka sauce. I liked the quantity of seafood that was given in this and the amount of paccheri (type of pasta). Although, as a personal preference -- I didn't enjoy the vodka sauce as much as I thought I would. My brother and mom really enjoyed it though! The presentation was once again very wonderful. Next, my brother ordered one of the $4 Pasta Ripiena aka Ravioli of The Day! He chose the fennel, sausage, and ricotta ravioli. With $33-bolognese and $6 guanciale. ($43) the ravioli was delicious! We loved the fennel and the sausage. It had great, bright flavor. The bolognese was well made as well. The guanciale was crispy and sliced nicely. For me, it was way too salty. But my brother appreciated its flavor. I ordered the Gemelli Shaped Pasta (not sure of price) with their $32, Arrabbiatssima sauce and $8, Polpette (aka meatballs, excuse me, 100% beef meatballs). ($40 ish total). While I enjoyed the pasta and how it was cooked al dente. I think the flavor of the sauce was lack luster even with the Calabrian Peperoncino, traditional Calabrian pork, burrata & parsley. It was very one noted. The meatballs were def 100% beef meatballs like it stated lol. A little dense and not flavorful - at least for me. Overall, this dish wasn't for me. - $15 Hibiscus Kiss Mocktail, the foam at the top was texturally not great. It reminded me of the hand pump soap foam. And the taste of the hibiscus drink was super perfume and lotion tasting. Overall, did not enjoy this. The presentation, once again was very lovely. Moving onto dessert, we ordered the $18, table-side tiramisu. This was maybe a 5x7 dessert. I was really surprised with the size of moka pot they brought out, it was quite small and I didn't think it would be enough espresso for the tiramisu. I think that since it was so little it only drenched the top, and did not soak till the bottom. Leaving the lady finger quite crunchy. The mascarpone was good and the cocoa powder tasted high end/ super lush! For my birthday, they brought out two scoop of gelato, from Bobboi's Natural Gelato. I recognized the charcoal vanilla gelato & the dragonfruit lemon sorbet. It had thin tuile cookies (reminding me of Langues du Chat) on it as well. On Cesarina's menu, this would usually be $15! I was surprised with the lack of vegetables available or incorporated into the menu. I think rather than everyone ordering their individual plates, choose 1-2 pasta and share with the table would have been better. I would skip the mussels and get the octopus next time only! While I may not have preferred several of the food items here...I think it's a nice place to come with a group or on a date! I recommend making a reservation a day or so ahead of time. The prices are quite high, so this restaurant would def be only for special occasions. Be sure to take the time reading the menu before deciding! read more

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Cute Italian restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. Very limited parking. Had to park in a neighborhood a couple blocks away. Service was fantastic. We were provided delicious Focaccia bread with marinara to start. We ordered Muscles (3/5) to start. I felt it was lacking in flavor. I ordered the Funghi with Gemelli noodles (5/5). It came with plenty of mushrooms and the sauce was rich and flavorful. The noodles were cooked perfectly. I will definitely be back to try more pasta dishes. read more

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My sister & I come here every year for our birthdays and it's become a bit of a tradition. Food: 5/5 we typically get the octopus to start and the flavor & texture are fantastic. We usually share 2 pastas as well, one funghi & one bolognese or another red sauce. We have yet to be disappointed, the pasta is always perfectly cooked and the flavors are delicious. The tableside TIRAMISU is a MUST order for dessert. Perfectly light & airy, perfectly balanced sweetness. Service: 5/5 servers are very friendly & attentive, though I would consider this a more relaxed dining experience. Dinner for two took over 1.5+ hours for a cocktail, app, entrees & dessert. Nothing egregious but just something to keep in mind when dining if you're in a rush. Maybe a quicker experience at lunch? My favorite part of our dining experience is the Polaroid they take with dessert so we have a fun souvenir to take home. I think they do this for birthdays & maybe other celebrations? Ambiance: 5/5 this restaurant does ambiance well. The menu is so fun and plateware, the rooster pitcher, etc. is so fun & whimsical. The restaurant has a lot of character & it feels high quality. Price & parking: on the pricier side for sure, which is why we typically only come for special occasions. Parking is tough, though about a block (uphill) away, there's a handful of residential parking. read more

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I love Cesarina! I go for my sister's birthday as well as my birthday every year, it's become tradition. We ordered the octopus for our appetizer and 2 build your own pastas. The ambiance is warm, cozy, and eclectic in the best way. We got a birthday dessert which was the scoop of ice cream and we also ordered a tiramisu because it's delicious. Cesarina never disappoints and the staff are always friendly. Can't wait to go back! read more

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The food was delicious ! Had a reservation for 7 pm on a Thursday and they were busy! Everything thing was delicious! So delicious. Definitely a cute place to visit. The bread was delicious for the table! Service was excellent, the patio was heated a little too hot for me but it was so good ! read more

Cesarina - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Omg cesarina is AMAZING!' The food, service, & ambiance are all immaculate!!! It feels like you're stepping into your grandmas kitchen in Italy! The only downside is it's pretty small and parking is neighbors parking on a busy street so parking is always a huge hassle. They also always are fully booked so it's really hard to get a reservation. read more

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All I have to say is WOW. Everything about this restaurant was great. My family and I came here for lunch. We were a group of 6 adults and 3 children. The service was excellent. I think our servers name was Nico (sorry if that wasn't it!). He was very attentive and made sure that we had enough fresh baked bread and water. I loved that he asked if we had any dietary restrictions. I forgot to mention my own food allergy and he said they normally have cashews on one of the dishes I ordered but they would make it without for me. They put a lot of attention to detail here. They have cute custom made dishes used for the appetizers. Even the to go bags were cute! My husband and I shared the Caprese Tiepida. The burrata was delicious! I went with the build your own pasta for my dish with gemelli pasta and funghi sauce. My girls got spaghetti with butter and parmesan. My husband got the super tagliata. The steak was cooked perfectly and super tender. The bone marrow was great as well. This is definitely the best Italian food we have had outside of Italy. All the pasta is made in house and you can certainly tell the difference. We also got a birthday tiramisu which was sooo good. I would recommend Cesarina to anyone looking for great Italian food in San Diego. We can't wait to come back. read more

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My favorite Italian spot in San Diego hands down. The service is always so good and the food is amazing. They have 2 patio sections and one section of indoor dining. The restaurant is more spacious than it looks! Parking can be tough, but they do offer valet service on weekend nights. I recommend booking a reservation to secure a table :) Our favorite dishes had to have been the mussels, the octopus, and the bone marrow gnocchi. Cesarina is a must try! read more

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Came here with my family for a celebration and really enjoyed our experiences. Our waiter (don't remember his name sorry!) had great recommendations. We ordered almost everything he recommended: polpo (octopus) for appetizer, paccheri vodka and scampi, steak, and mafalde pasta with tartufona and guanciale. Tiramisu for dessert. We also ordered two mocktails: lo spritzino and macedonia. Wow. This may have been one of the best meals of my life. Every dish was a hit. The octopus was soft, steak was buttery and perfectly seasoned, the pastas were at a good consistency and the sauces were flavorful. The mocktails were sweet and refreshing. To be honest, the tiramisu was not amazing, and I think you can skip that. Service was attentive. Must make a reservation! Parking sucks but there's valet in front. Decor, plates, and cutlery were very cute. Good for pics for sure. Also, it's really dark on the patio so older folks may have trouble seeing the menu. Overall, amazing experience. Worth a visit. Please check it out! read more

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I came here for dinner on a Monday night and had a reservation. I would definitely recommend having a reservation because even though it was a Monday night, there was still a substantial line outside of the waiting area for people as they were coming in. Parking: parking wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be, just given the area. I would recommend parking near the restaurant itself, but not in the little area of restaurants it's in. I was about 0.2 miles away from the restaurant itself up the street, and there was plenty of parking there. Service: Regarding the service, the restaurant itself seems to be well-staffed. There are waiters that are very attentive and seem to know the menu very well. They're very readily able to answer any questions or give you recommendations if you ask. Ambience: The restaurant itself is very intimate. There is an outdoor seating area that I definitely recommend. There are many tables for parties of two to four. The outside lighting is great for dates, and the volume itself is not quiet but not loud either. Very aesthetic would be great for dates. Food: the items that I ordered were the Funghi pasta as well as the Tiramisu. I think the pasta itself was solid, but I don't think that there was anything that stands out from any other Italian restaurants that I've had in the area. The Tiramisu was probably my favorite part of the night. The Tiramisu is made at the table side with their own homemade ladyfingers, espresso, and cream. Definitely a must-have. The only item that I wish that I was able to order was the octopus, since it seems to be hyped up, but I was so full from these two items alone. I don't think I could have ordered it and finished everything. I think overall between this restaurant and Elvira, I really do like the aesthetic of this place a lot, but I feel like the dishes here didn't wow me from a pasta standpoint Elvira did (but maybe that's because I ordered a basic pasta to their credit). I don't think I'm ready to say I'm fully done with this restaurant yet, and I would come back again to try more of their menu. read more

Cesarina - Tiramisu - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Best food of my life. AND SO AESTHETIC TOO! Let me start off with the FREE focaccia bread and marinara-- she was so garlicky and yummy bro. And it was like two types of bread too. Then we thought of the two most appetizing things on the menu!! Funghi mafalde with guanciale (cured pork check) and bolognese mafalde. OMG. Both shining stars. I'm usually a red sauce girly, and for me to be so wowed by a cream sauce speaks volumes to me. The bolognese was meaty as heck too so yummy. I do wish they had some spice to the bolognese, but I could've just fixed that myself with some red pepper flakes to the side. MAFALDE PASTA IS SO YUMMY #BestShape Then the waiter dropped a glass causing it to shatter so they gave us a Tiramisu on the house, but me and Josh were so full from the pasta, we got it "To-go". 24hrs later... Still a 10/10 tiramisu. Not too sweet, but sweet enough. Please I need to visit here again. Please everyone please try the funghi pasta in the mafalde pasta shape with guanciale (pork cheek). It's so good. read more

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Probably the best dining experience I've had in San Diego and definitely this year by far. From the ambiance to the service to the food, everything was 10/10. The hype about this place is real, the attention to detail in the menus they provide to everyone there saying happy anniversary to us, and remembering as we left, made this night so special. But the star of the show was the food, of course. The Vodka Scampi is an absolute must get. They pack it full of shrimp in a deliciously rich sauce, paired with the most perfectly chewy fresh pasta, it was incredible. And if you love mushrooms, the funghi pasta had the best cheesy mushroom sauce I've ever had. And save room for dessert because the table side tiramisu is really that good! Because it's made at your table, the lady fingers have a slight crunch to them that add to the texture, with a light and delicious mascarpone. Thank you Cesarina for a wonderful and memorable anniversary, we will be back! read more

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Our favorite Italian place in San Diego! We come here for birthdays all the time, including yesterday! Couldn't recommend Cesarina enough. The vibes on both patios and inside are fantastic. All of their plates, bowl, water pitchers, everything really - are so cute and fun. We've gotten a variety of different pastas and think they are all delicious. The tiramisu is insane as well, including the vegan one....actually so good. The wait staff is very nice, attentive, and quick. read more

Cesarina - Tiramisu - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Service from Tanja was amazing, she was super attentive and sweet. We told her we were celebrating and she gave us dessert on the house! Fresh pastas were delicious. I personally loved the Langostine pasta with spicy vodka sauce. The fresh spaghetti was tasty and bright as well. Fresh and juicy mussels! Loved that they have an extensive vegan/GF menu to accommodate some of our guests. Great outdoor patio, heating lamps kept us nice and toasty. Worth the hype! read more

Cesarina - Mussels appetizer - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Came here with my husband while we were in town visiting! The outside space is really nice, but we did sit inside and it was cute. It's fun that you can watch the chef make the pasta while you eat. The food was decent, though a little pricey for what it is. We had a great salad and carpaccio to start, and then I got a shrimp vodka pasta that i liked. We also ordered the tiramisu which is deconstructed and assembled at your table. It's fun and I thought it tasted fine. read more

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We've been coming here for the last five years and it is one of our favorite Italian restaurants in SD. Walk-in can be tough and require long wait times so I definitely recommend making a reservation. Parking is also tough - only about 5 spots in the lot + 1 handicap spot so make sure to account for that in your timeline. The italian food here is high quality. We love being able to create our own pasta and also like that there are vegan options. The complimentary bread they provide is great. We haven't tried too many of the appetizers and do wish they had a bit more variety. The drink and dessert menus are extensive though, and the table side tiramisu is an absolute must - we get it almost every time we come. The service has been consistently good. The last time we came this month, we went for our anniversary and they gave us complimentary prosecco glasses to celebrate on the house. We thought this was a nice gesture. Overall love this place and recommend it. We will be back. read more

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Found this Bib Gourmand spot through Eater (which is sometimes hit or miss). This place absolutely hits the mark. The handmade pasta Paccheri Vodka e Scampi was so good. The texture was amazing and langoustine just had the best flavor and aroma through every bite. Definitely worth it just to come for this alone. I should backtrack. The truffle carpaccio, which for some reason I wouldn't think would work (truffle seemed like it might overpower?) but obviously I know nothing because this dish was so good. It was paired with roasted garlic and toasted focaccia. Also I knew I was eating too much bread considering my main was pasta but I couldn't help it. How am I supposed to eat other carpaccio now? Service was great from front of house to table side. We sat in the patio outside the weather was perfect. 100% would love to come back if I was in town. read more

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Cesarina is named after one of the owners and this restaurant located on Voltaire St in Point Loma opened in 2019 by three native Italians. Their concept of making everything in house, in a casual setting with indoor and outdoor dining, kid and dog friendly atmosphere is what makes me a frequent diner here. Hence, this is an overdue review. Parking is a challenge. Reservation is best and less crowded pre or post the rush crowd. Love Italian food, especially when everything is homemade. Even though San Diego has Little Italy with many Italian restaurants, not all restaurants make Italian food that good. Cesarina is an exception, their pasta dishes are made with quality ingredients tastes as delicious as it looks and presented in the hand painted colorful plates. Service by the hostess and servers have been accommodating, attentive and courteous. The menu selections are limited and customizable to one's dietary preference whether or not you're a carnivore, pescatarian, vegan or gluten free. The made at your table tiramisú is fantastic whether or not it's your birthday, a must try and worthy of celebrating any special day. Recommend read more

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I'm glad the hype was worth it! Our servers were very nice and walked us through the whole menu since the build-your-own pasta was a little intimidating at first due to so many options available. My pasta (lumache with tartufona sauce) was lowkey life changing?? It was so creamy and rich, and the pasta shape definitely helped maximize the sauce exposure haha. Everyone enjoyed their dishes and drinks with zero complaints. The seating near the door inside smelled a little musty to some of us, otherwise very cute place and totally recommend coming back! read more

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Best part was the service! Unfortunately I thought the food was average and intensely overpriced. I understand the quality of ingredients is a key factor in pricing, but the overall flavor of the dish was lacking regardless so I didn't feel it was appropriately priced at $40. Was good, not great. Would not go out of my way to eat here. Maybe if I'm in the immediate area but honestly there was a Mexican restaurant right next door with fresh made tortillas and that sounded way better. Probably just a preference of mine, Italian food is super hit or miss with me. I grew up with Italian food, nothing fancy either, and that sort of set the standard. I can understand homemade and restaurants won't ever really align, but I swear I've had better frozen lasagnas. The taste and even texture of the dish was not great. Meat tasted overly processed/overly ground so it was kind of a sandy texture inside the lasagna instead of having obvious chunks of beef. Taste-wise, couldn't really decipher what was in the pasta. Normally, the Italian flavors are very obvious - garlic, tomato, basil, pesto, etc - but none of those really stood out in the dish. Bread was good, server was cool, restaurant advertises a dress code but the place looked super casual. I assume that just means no shorts and sandals per the California common. Thanks for having us, anyway. My friend enjoyed her food and I probably just ordered the most basic dish on the menu. read more

The food is lovely as all have mentioned. I also appreciated how thoughtfully designed the space and aesthetics are. It was as though the owners made this space thinking of it as a brand-- from the bright plates and chicken shaped pitcher to the roulette style dessert menu and colorfully designed takeout containers. Complimentary focaccia: delightful, and asked for balsamic vinegar + olive oil on the side, overall not the best we've had but still appreciate how they offer bread whereas other Italian places no longer do! Our orders: Paccheri vodka and scampi (43): seems it's their signature dish. we liked the sauce and the paccheri. The langoustine was cooked well and paired well with the sauce. Funghi pappardelle with guanciale (28 + 6): this piqued my husband's interest. The guanciale paired with well the pasta and we enjoyed the pappardelle Tiramisú (18): it's made tableside. The mascarpone was really good. Americano (5): 'twas good espresso! What we were debating against to order: polpo croccante (honey glazed crispy octopus), super cioppino read more

Cesarina - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

This restaurant is my standard for pasta in the states, and that bar is set high. Cesarina has made it difficult for me to justify spending lots of money at other pasta spots. My go-to is the vodka scampi and arrabbiata, ending it with their tiramisu for dessert. Vodka Scampi 5/5: an amazing seafood pasta with langoustine... the sauce is rich without a trace of the sharpness you'd expect from tomato-based sauces--just silky, sweet, almost buttery. This is a dish I take slow bites of to savor haha Arrabbiata 5/5: I love myself a spicy pasta, and this delivers. It's rich, sharp, and a standout dish for me. Every time I order it, I pair it with a different pasta style which makes it unique. Recommend the mafalde, rigatoni or gemeldi. This place is one of my favorite restaurants of all time, and I cannot recommend it enough to anyone who visits or lives in SD. Get a reservation because it's busy all the time and rightfully so! read more

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I had been anticipating my visit to Cesarina for weeks and it absolutely was everything I had hoped for and more! We made a reservation and opted to wait a little longer to get a seat on their main patio. The vibe is super cozy, cute and they offer blankets and heat lamps to ensure you're comfortable. If you're able to, I suggest sitting here. They brought out some bread which was delicious and a great start to our meal. We ordered two glasses of red wine, both were delicious. I got the Montepulciano while my partner got their house Cesarina red. The water pitcher was also adorable and a lot of guests were commenting on it. Now for the mains, we got the lasagna and the specialty ravioli (filled with potato, sausage and cheese) paired with the funghi sauce. The lasagna was really tasty, the flavor of the beef and the crispy cheese on top was a lovey combination. We both agreed that the Funghi dish stolen the show! Perfectly creamy and filled with a variety of mushrooms and fresh parsley, the sauce was to die for. The raviolis were cooked well and the filling was delightful. Everything was so so fresh! We had to get the table side tiramisu after all the reviews and it did not disappoint. While it may not look like your traditional tiramisu, it's because it's not -- it's so much better. Homemade lady fingers offered a crunch that most tiramisu lacks and the fresh mascarpone was the best I've had. The Italian espresso wasn't bitter, but smooth and complimented all the other ingredients beautifully. I'll be craving this tiramisu for the foreseeable future. Please do yourself a favor and give Cesarina a try! read more

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We had a reservation at Cesarina but arrived a little early and were able to grab seats at the bar with no problem. The host was very accommodating and made the whole process seamless. The bartender was also very friendly and welcoming, which set a great tone for the evening. I ordered a spritz cocktail to start -- it was just okay, nothing particularly memorable. But the complimentary focaccia completely stole the show. It was absolutely amazing -- warm, soft, and incredibly flavorful. Definitely some of the best restaurant bread I've had. For my main, I had the Arrabbiatissima spaghetti with a glass of red wine, and wow -- the pasta was to die for. Perfectly cooked with just the right amount of heat and depth of flavor. It was one of those dishes you're still thinking about the next day. Overall, such a great experience. Between the service, the atmosphere, and that pasta, I can't wait to come back. read more

Cesarina - ARRABBIATISSIMA SPAGHETTI - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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my two friends and I were looking for a dinner spot to eat at and came across this restaurant online so we decided to check it out. We originally wanted to dine in here, but unfortunately couldn't find long-term parking so we were able to find a 30 minute parking spot right outside of the restaurant and decided to order takeout instead. We were agreed by the host out front and told them that we wanted to order takeout and they were really kind and provided us menus. I personally ordered the vodka scampi and my friends and I decided to share their tiramisu dessert. We waited outside of the restaurant for roughly 20 minutes before we receive their order. They had a bunch outside so while we didn't wait inside the restaurant, we were still accommodated while being outside. This restaurant is also located next to a few other shops so during the waiting time we were able to walk a few steps down the street to get some ice cream. When are order was ready for pick up the first thing we noticed was that the packaging was really cute. The bag and all of the to go containers had a really colorful design which really stood out. The staff were really friendly and we left the restaurant feeling really good. My spicy vodka dish was really good. It was really flavorful, and the portion size was decent. The sauce was really flavorful and it came with one big shrimp and several shrimp bits. The tiramisu was also really good. It was light and tasted very similar to traditional tiramisu. Overall, this restaurant was great and I'm happy that we found it! read more

Cesarina - vodka scampi - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

So happy to venture back here and have it still be so good. Service is so friendly and the dishes are beautiful. The food is vibrant and made with fresh ingredients. They also are very accommodating and the restaurant is comfortable to sit in. The Cesarina salad had the best oranges on it and I loved the meatballs. My friend got their special ravioli and she loved it. read more

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Made a reservation ahead of time as it was for Mother's Day. Parking is pretty challenging as there is a lot across from the restaurant with a few spaces and the rest is pretty much street parking or another lot near an insurance place. The walk isn't too bad. The first thing I noticed was the friendly and welcoming customer service. Everyone was nice and welcoming. It seems the staff try to uphold the Italian culture, which was neat. Had an infant and brought a booster seat which helped. Our server, David, was very friendly and welcoming. Easy to talk to also. Did not feel rushed during our stay there either. They have someone making the pasta dough in the restaurant, which was pretty neat to watch also. Prices were reasonable and portions were good. Every item we ordered tasted delicious. Pretty chill ambiance too. I do have to point out that some of the chairs were very scuffed and black from overuse. Would recommend changing that out or getting those pink velvety chairs cleaned. It'll make the restaurant appear even cleaner. Only thing negative I have to say. The rest was great! read more

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Cesarina is such a fun spot! The vibe inside is fresh, bright, and inviting. Perfect for a laid-back, but elevated dining experience. We started with the Impepata di Cozze, the fresh mussels sautéed in white wine with garlic was a great light way to kick off the meal. The Paccheri Vodka and Scampi was a showstopper for us: perfectly cooked pasta tubes in a creamy vodka-scampi sauce with shrimp and that luxurious, rich flavor that makes you want to scrape the plate clean. We also tried the Lumache al Sugo Calabrese, our personal favorite dish! The bold, spicy Calabrian sauce, with the robust flavors of the dish was perfect. For dessert we ordered the tiramisu, which was classic and rich, but a bit too sweet for our taste. It was delicious, but we almost dessert-sugary overload by the end. Also gotta say: their takeout bag is vibrant and beautiful!! Overall, really great service and a tasty, memorable meal. Definitely a place I'd recommend for Italian food! read more

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My friend and I had made a reservation at 5:30pm on a Friday. There's no traditional parking lot, and you would need to find street parking. There was so many different types of pasta noodles and sauces you can choose from and I like how you have the choice to create your own. I had gotten the pappardelle with tartufona sauce, which was really good but definitely got tiring to eat after a while. My friend got the mafalde with norma, which was mildly spicy but super good. Everything was amazing and the service was spectacular. I would definitely come back again if I am craving some good pasta. read more

Cesarina - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Oh my, handmade pasta, fresh and rich and customizable?! Also tons of vegetarian friendly options?!! I've practically melted at the menu and the adorable illustrations of various pastas, one of which I still can't remember or pronounce but it was what I ordered because the very professional server, yet approachable and kind of beautiful, suggested I get that thing I can't pronounce with the fungi base. It was an excellent choice. The portion looked smaller than my stomach could fit, ended up just finishing my leftovers two days later and it was still delicious. Their seafood are fresh and highly advisable. I would have tried some if I loved shrimp or mussels but they looked and I drooled as if everything tasted like I imagine. Which is fat and happy. Service is great besides the beautiful wait staff and very friendly water pourers. It seems a lot of people come for the birthday because you get a free dessert and a Polaroid picture taken of the night to 'member by! The tiramisu was yum but too rich for me without any coffee. Would definitely want to come back on a somewhat celebratory regular basis. Reservation is highly recommended. read more

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This place has been on my bucket list for well over a year and I have always heard great things about it. I'm glad to report that it IS the best Italian I've had so far in San Diego or possibly ever. Something about their pasta is just so fresh, the sauce actually sticks to the pasta. I got the popular pasta with the prawn and I originally thought it wouldn't be enough protein for me but it was actually perfect. My friend loved her pasta as well. The colorful the plates and decor is a nice touch and service was great. Parking isn't the best as you'll probably need to park on the street around the neighborhood but it's not impossible. You definitely need a reservation to dine here as they're always busy but it is worth it. I can't wait to go back here again. read more

Cesarina - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Absolutely delicious, authentic Italian food. Service was great. Ambiance lively. Highly recommend this restaurant. We started with the Cesarina salad. Fresh crisp lovely. Then had pasta . One with bolognese and meatballs, the other an Arrabiatta sauce. Ended read more

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Came to update. Still 5 stars but i wanted to highlight other foods. Came with a group of 8 girlfriends ready to carb up. For the table we shared the following: 2 grilled octopus Fried mozzarella with prosciutto Mussels in wine sauce 2 Gnocchi dish with truffle sauce/bone marrow Seabream fish Pappardelle pasta with funghi sauce and added burrato Lasagna 3 pacceheri vodka and shrimp Tiramisu Everything was WOW. we all shared. The fish was delicious! The gnocchi was my favorite. The sauce was chef's kiss. Everyone enjoyed and we left with bellies full and happy. Service was amazing as always and i still highly recommend reservations. We went on a Tuesday night and it was still poppin!!! read more

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