Cesarina
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I recently came here for an anniversary. Everything was amazing from start to finish! Our waiter was extremely helpful and gave honest recommendations which I really like. Their complimentary focaccia with the dip was really good. They even let us take extra to go! The mozzarella Milanese was probably my favorite dish. It was a nice appetizer to share with someone since it was a little big. The gnocchi gamberi was my next favorite. They put a good amount of truffle and it was super flavorful! They said it was limited though so I don't know how long they'll have it for. The tiramisu was also fantastic! Parking was a little expensive if you pay for the lot across. Overall everything was great. They even let us take a cute Polaroid (usually for birthdays) which was really nice!
Cesarina is my favorite pasta place ever, and certainly one of my favorite restaurants in San Diego. You must have a reservation to dine there, as they do not take any walk-ins. The restaurant itself is so cute and intentional with all of the decor. They have beautiful colorful ceramic plates straight from Italy, fun rooster pitchers, and even their to-go boxes and bags are so prettily designed - every detail is well thought out. I would recommend sitting outside on the patio as it is so cute out there! The staff truly care about giving their customers a good experience. Now onto the food - I love a pasta with a creamy flavorful sauce, and Cesarina always delivers on that! I love doing the build your own pasta option, where you get to choose your pasta shape (mafalde is my personal favorite), your sauce (these rotate out throughout the year, but my 3 favorites are the boscaiola, funghi, and the tartufona [truffle]), and your topping (I will say I wouldn't recommend the meatballs, but any of the cheese toppings are lovely). They also provide delicious complementary bread with marinara sauce for dipping! For dessert, if you order the homemade tiramisu, they make it for you at the table and it is so fun and delicious. Truly such a wonderful restaurant! Can't wait for my next visit.
i visited SD a year ago in july for my birthday... and because a birthday girl can't think ahead, i didn't reserve in time to visit cesarina... to my very sad dismay, i told myself next time. I did NOT think i'd be in SD this soon again, yet tis was the year, AND I FINALLY RESERVED THIS TIME RAAAHHH :PPP I loved loved loved the make your own pasta concept. the forgot what we both ordered for our pastas, but they were DELICIOUS. you can absolutely taste it's made in house. its unbelievably pricy if you want to add proteins or anything, but it was nonetheless delicious. I will say it's mainly the presentation that wows, because any fresh pasta place would be this yummy ykyk. but if you want the date-night-once-in-a-while-time-out experience, this place is beautiful. plus, the service is AMAZING. they constantly checked up on my table, i never went a second without water. not only did i recieve tiramisu for my birthday dessert... BUT THEY TOOK A POLAROID PIC OF US TOO :,D SOOO CUTE!! very very yum, warm, welcoming... but come with the budget queens im a broke college student--
What a relaxing setting with delicious freshly made pasta We all gather to enjoy a nice lunch time with family What a gem here I can't wait to have a dinner here This place is voted one the best here San Diego Our server was very polite with a great knowledge on all this dishes And specials also we all had the best pasta And rich sauces were phenomenal We all were very content They make a tiramisu at your table That's amazing next time
SOOO I finally got to try the famous 'Cesarina'!!!! Wowowow I was blown away. The decor of the restaurant, both inside and out, is clearly meticulously handpicked & thought out. It is absolutely beautiful. They have wonderful music playing at a reasonable volume to accompany watching raviolis be made right in front of you! The service is exceptional. We never had to even think of needing water, menus, anything extra - it was brought before we anticipated it! Our server Tommy was wonderful & thought of everything. Now, the best part - the FOOD!! Their pasta is so obviously handmade in house, the texture and butteriness of the noodles was extraordinary. I ordered the fettuccine with the vegan mushroom sauce & added shrimp - divine. I think one of my favorite parts of the menu is the pricing with vegan items. Too many times vegan items are doubled in price & they had everything equal - INCLUDING the DELICIOUS cannolis!!! Such a wonderful experience. I cannot wait to be back!
After hearing good reviews about Cesarina, I made reservations to celebrate a friend's graduation on a weekday afternoon for lunch. I'm so glad we made the stop even though we had to find street parking. The servers were really kind and attentative and checked in multiple times to make sure we had bread, water, or needed anything. For the appetizer, we ordered the polpo croccante which our server recommended to have alongside with the complimentary bread. It was very savory, and went on the bread like spread. The octopus was very tender and beautifully roasted. For the entrees, we ordered the Arrabbiatissima, funghi, and paccheri vodka and scampi pasta. All the pasta was fresh and perfectly creamy. For the tiramisu, the staff prepared it on sight with a moka pot and the house-made ladyfingers which ended our lunch on a sweet note. I would definitely come here again to celebrate.
We ordered a lot of food because I wanted to try everything. The pastas here were all sooo good. The shrimp was definitely worth it. I would skip the lasagna alla bolognese and the super cioppino and the pollo alla scarpariello. Just stick to the pasta here. The paccheri vodka and scampi is a MUST GET! We also ordered the funghi with mafalde pasta. Also soo good. I can't wait to come back and try more pastas. The interior is so playful and also romantic at the same time? Service was fast and we were in and out of there rather quickly.
Cesarina was highly recommended by another friend so we chose it for dinner our Little Italy experience. Reservations were easy to make via Open Table, even the same day (but it might be later than usual dinner time). Outdoor seating was the only option available so don't forget to bring a jacket because evenings can be a little brisk/cool. We started our meal with drinks (I had the Tiramisu-tini which tasted a lot like tiramisu & wasn't too strong. We shared the beef carpaccio which was tender & tasty. The fun part of Cesarina's menu is being able to choose your pasta shape & pasta. One of my friends chose rigatoni with vodka sauce with burrata & my other friend chose steak that comes with bone marrow. I chose one of the fresh ravioli of the day (sausage, ricotta & burrata) with a mushroom truffle sauce. It was the perfect portion & I shared a few bites with my friends & we all agreed that it was delicious! You gotta have dessert & they are famous for their deconstructed tiramisu which is assembled tableside which we ordered & we also got the deconstructed cannoli that you fill yourself. The tiramisu was our favorite & is famous for a reason. Definitely get it for dessert! Service is warm & helpful.
I visited San Diego for the weekend and am so glad I stopped by this restaurant. We went on a Monday night and it was quite busy, so I recommend making a reservation in advance. Once we were seated, our server brought us some complimentary bread and sauce. We decided to order the lasagna bolognese and seafood platter, both of which were delicious. My lasagna was hearty, filling, and so flavorful (also shoutout to the plates, they were so unique and beautiful). I loved the cozy, warm, intimate, and romantic ambiance of the outdoor dining area. Service was great, with our waiter checking up on us often. Make sure to mention to them if you are celebrating a special event, since you get free tiramisu and a polaroid photo taken of your party.
When I first heard that Cesarina was named Yelp's #1 date spot, I was a little skeptical... but they definitely proved me wrong! The outdoor sitting area is nicely decorated with florals (I prefer sitting outside than inside!). Even the tableware is thoughtfully chosen and perfectly matches Cesarina's aesthetic. I really want to take home the rooster pitcher. For appetizers, I ordered the octopus, followed by the paccheri vodka and scampi as my entrée. Both dishes genuinely impressed me. The octopus was chewy with a beautiful char, and the mashed potatoes paired with the rich tomato sauce created a great balance of flavors. The pasta was some of the most perfectly al dente I've ever had, and the tomato sauce was rich, creamy, and packed with flavor. FYI, if you're celebrating a birthday, they'll take a Polaroid photo for you to keep as a fun little memento :) There are three parking spots reserved for Cesarina guests across the street in a small parking lot, but they're hard to get. Street parking may be your best bet. EDIT: On one of my visits, the octopus came out smaller than usual. Before I even had a chance to mention it, the chef sent out an additional portion on the house. That level of attentiveness is not something I see everyday!
I've heard a lot of good things about this adorable Italian restaurant, so I'm so glad that I finally got to give it a try! They start you off with lots of complimentary bread. I believe there were 3 different types, although I forgot what they exactly were. All of them were really fluffy, soft, tasty, and yummy though especially with the marinara (?) sauce they serve with it. I also really liked their rooster pitchers LOL For our main course we got the paccheri vodka and scampi and oh my god is this a must try!! The langoustine was sooo sweet (i.e. it was fresh), the sauce was so flavorful and creamy, and the pasta was al dente! My favorite thing I've ate in a while! We also tried one of their raviolis (I forgot what it was exactly called) with truffle sauce, and I loveee truffle so this one was very flavorful as well! I like how they let you choose the type of pasta and the sauce to go with it so you can mix and match to your taste! The paccheri was definitely still better tho :) The outdoor seating was nice! Very cute vibes, and server was nice!
Love love love it here! Celebrated our 1 year engagement anniversary (as this is the restaurant we went to the night we got engaged as well) You can't go wrong. Everything on the menu is divine! I mean anywhere that has a hand painted rooster water pitcher has my heart for always!!! They spoiled us again with a complimentary glass of prosecco to celebrate our anniversary. You can always count on the servers to bring the vibes, they always elevate the experience. This time we tried the Polpo Croccante--perfectly crispy and flavor blasted all at once. The spaghetti with arrabbiatissima and guanciale is such a comforting classic that they do so well. Will be coming back time and time again, also am wanting to try their sister restaurants!
Everything was genuinely so delicious. The food we tried was some of the best Italian food I've had in my life! The outside seating area was stunning. I loved the designs on all of the dishes. The employees were very hospitable and kind. We even received a free gelato for my birthday. The only "issue" is the parking, but it was so worth fuss. I'll definitely be coming back soon!
2 days ago
Cesarina - it was such a pleasure being a customer here! The food was incredible, the service was phenomenal, and the restaurant itself was absolutely gorgeous. Thomas was our waiter and was so attentive and made sure we were well taken care of the whole time. I was also celebrating a birthday, and the manager surprised us with a delicious dessert and a really sweet Polaroid picture to remember the day. Such a thoughtful touch! We did have a little situation with the mussels. They were great, just weren't for me personally. I mentioned it to Thomas, and they were kind enough to take them back without any issue, which I really appreciated. Overall, such a great experience. 10/10 I would absolutely come back! read more
For a birthday celebration, the staff helped make it special with a birthday tiramisu dessert and a Polaroid photo. We also enjoyed building our own pastas--our favorite was the arrabbiatissima, though we weren't as big a fan of the romesco and vodka vegan sauce. The outdoor patio has a relaxed, refreshing ambiance, the service was excellent, and we appreciated the chance to build our own negroni. Still a great Italian option if you're in the PL neighborhood. read more
3 days ago
5 days ago
I recently came here for an anniversary. Everything was amazing from start to finish! Our waiter was extremely helpful and gave honest recommendations which I really like. Their complimentary focaccia with the dip was really good. They even let us take extra to go! The mozzarella Milanese was probably my favorite dish. It was a nice appetizer to share with someone since it was a little big. The gnocchi gamberi was my next favorite. They put a good amount of truffle and it was super flavorful! They said it was limited though so I don't know how long they'll have it for. The tiramisu was also fantastic! Parking was a little expensive if you pay for the lot across. Overall everything was great. They even let us take a cute Polaroid (usually for birthdays) which was really nice! read more
Cesarina is my favorite pasta place ever, and certainly one of my favorite restaurants in San Diego. You must have a reservation to dine there, as they do not take any walk-ins. The restaurant itself is so cute and intentional with all of the decor. They have beautiful colorful ceramic plates straight from Italy, fun rooster pitchers, and even their to-go boxes and bags are so prettily designed - every detail is well thought out. I would recommend sitting outside on the patio as it is so cute out there! The staff truly care about giving their customers a good experience. Now onto the food - I love a pasta with a creamy flavorful sauce, and Cesarina always delivers on that! I love doing the build your own pasta option, where you get to choose your pasta shape (mafalde is my personal favorite), your sauce (these rotate out throughout the year, but my 3 favorites are the boscaiola, funghi, and the tartufona [truffle]), and your topping (I will say I wouldn't recommend the meatballs, but any of the cheese toppings are lovely). They also provide delicious complementary bread with marinara sauce for dipping! For dessert, if you order the homemade tiramisu, they make it for you at the table and it is so fun and delicious. Truly such a wonderful restaurant! Can't wait for my next visit. read more
i visited SD a year ago in july for my birthday... and because a birthday girl can't think ahead, i didn't reserve in time to visit cesarina... to my very sad dismay, i told myself next time. I did NOT think i'd be in SD this soon again, yet tis was the year, AND I FINALLY RESERVED THIS TIME RAAAHHH :PPP I loved loved loved the make your own pasta concept. the forgot what we both ordered for our pastas, but they were DELICIOUS. you can absolutely taste it's made in house. its unbelievably pricy if you want to add proteins or anything, but it was nonetheless delicious. I will say it's mainly the presentation that wows, because any fresh pasta place would be this yummy ykyk. but if you want the date-night-once-in-a-while-time-out experience, this place is beautiful. plus, the service is AMAZING. they constantly checked up on my table, i never went a second without water. not only did i recieve tiramisu for my birthday dessert... BUT THEY TOOK A POLAROID PIC OF US TOO :,D SOOO CUTE!! very very yum, warm, welcoming... but come with the budget queens im a broke college student-- read more
What a relaxing setting with delicious freshly made pasta We all gather to enjoy a nice lunch time with family What a gem here I can't wait to have a dinner here This place is voted one the best here San Diego Our server was very polite with a great knowledge on all this dishes And specials also we all had the best pasta And rich sauces were phenomenal We all were very content They make a tiramisu at your table That's amazing next time read more
SOOO I finally got to try the famous 'Cesarina'!!!! Wowowow I was blown away. The decor of the restaurant, both inside and out, is clearly meticulously handpicked & thought out. It is absolutely beautiful. They have wonderful music playing at a reasonable volume to accompany watching raviolis be made right in front of you! The service is exceptional. We never had to even think of needing water, menus, anything extra - it was brought before we anticipated it! Our server Tommy was wonderful & thought of everything. Now, the best part - the FOOD!! Their pasta is so obviously handmade in house, the texture and butteriness of the noodles was extraordinary. I ordered the fettuccine with the vegan mushroom sauce & added shrimp - divine. I think one of my favorite parts of the menu is the pricing with vegan items. Too many times vegan items are doubled in price & they had everything equal - INCLUDING the DELICIOUS cannolis!!! Such a wonderful experience. I cannot wait to be back! read more
After hearing good reviews about Cesarina, I made reservations to celebrate a friend's graduation on a weekday afternoon for lunch. I'm so glad we made the stop even though we had to find street parking. The servers were really kind and attentative and checked in multiple times to make sure we had bread, water, or needed anything. For the appetizer, we ordered the polpo croccante which our server recommended to have alongside with the complimentary bread. It was very savory, and went on the bread like spread. The octopus was very tender and beautifully roasted. For the entrees, we ordered the Arrabbiatissima, funghi, and paccheri vodka and scampi pasta. All the pasta was fresh and perfectly creamy. For the tiramisu, the staff prepared it on sight with a moka pot and the house-made ladyfingers which ended our lunch on a sweet note. I would definitely come here again to celebrate. read more
1 month ago
We ordered a lot of food because I wanted to try everything. The pastas here were all sooo good. The shrimp was definitely worth it. I would skip the lasagna alla bolognese and the super cioppino and the pollo alla scarpariello. Just stick to the pasta here. The paccheri vodka and scampi is a MUST GET! We also ordered the funghi with mafalde pasta. Also soo good. I can't wait to come back and try more pastas. The interior is so playful and also romantic at the same time? Service was fast and we were in and out of there rather quickly. read more
Cesarina was highly recommended by another friend so we chose it for dinner our Little Italy experience. Reservations were easy to make via Open Table, even the same day (but it might be later than usual dinner time). Outdoor seating was the only option available so don't forget to bring a jacket because evenings can be a little brisk/cool. We started our meal with drinks (I had the Tiramisu-tini which tasted a lot like tiramisu & wasn't too strong. We shared the beef carpaccio which was tender & tasty. The fun part of Cesarina's menu is being able to choose your pasta shape & pasta. One of my friends chose rigatoni with vodka sauce with burrata & my other friend chose steak that comes with bone marrow. I chose one of the fresh ravioli of the day (sausage, ricotta & burrata) with a mushroom truffle sauce. It was the perfect portion & I shared a few bites with my friends & we all agreed that it was delicious! You gotta have dessert & they are famous for their deconstructed tiramisu which is assembled tableside which we ordered & we also got the deconstructed cannoli that you fill yourself. The tiramisu was our favorite & is famous for a reason. Definitely get it for dessert! Service is warm & helpful. read more
I visited San Diego for the weekend and am so glad I stopped by this restaurant. We went on a Monday night and it was quite busy, so I recommend making a reservation in advance. Once we were seated, our server brought us some complimentary bread and sauce. We decided to order the lasagna bolognese and seafood platter, both of which were delicious. My lasagna was hearty, filling, and so flavorful (also shoutout to the plates, they were so unique and beautiful). I loved the cozy, warm, intimate, and romantic ambiance of the outdoor dining area. Service was great, with our waiter checking up on us often. Make sure to mention to them if you are celebrating a special event, since you get free tiramisu and a polaroid photo taken of your party. read more
1 month ago
When I first heard that Cesarina was named Yelp's #1 date spot, I was a little skeptical... but they definitely proved me wrong! The outdoor sitting area is nicely decorated with florals (I prefer sitting outside than inside!). Even the tableware is thoughtfully chosen and perfectly matches Cesarina's aesthetic. I really want to take home the rooster pitcher. For appetizers, I ordered the octopus, followed by the paccheri vodka and scampi as my entrée. Both dishes genuinely impressed me. The octopus was chewy with a beautiful char, and the mashed potatoes paired with the rich tomato sauce created a great balance of flavors. The pasta was some of the most perfectly al dente I've ever had, and the tomato sauce was rich, creamy, and packed with flavor. FYI, if you're celebrating a birthday, they'll take a Polaroid photo for you to keep as a fun little memento :) There are three parking spots reserved for Cesarina guests across the street in a small parking lot, but they're hard to get. Street parking may be your best bet. EDIT: On one of my visits, the octopus came out smaller than usual. Before I even had a chance to mention it, the chef sent out an additional portion on the house. That level of attentiveness is not something I see everyday! read more
I've heard a lot of good things about this adorable Italian restaurant, so I'm so glad that I finally got to give it a try! They start you off with lots of complimentary bread. I believe there were 3 different types, although I forgot what they exactly were. All of them were really fluffy, soft, tasty, and yummy though especially with the marinara (?) sauce they serve with it. I also really liked their rooster pitchers LOL For our main course we got the paccheri vodka and scampi and oh my god is this a must try!! The langoustine was sooo sweet (i.e. it was fresh), the sauce was so flavorful and creamy, and the pasta was al dente! My favorite thing I've ate in a while! We also tried one of their raviolis (I forgot what it was exactly called) with truffle sauce, and I loveee truffle so this one was very flavorful as well! I like how they let you choose the type of pasta and the sauce to go with it so you can mix and match to your taste! The paccheri was definitely still better tho :) The outdoor seating was nice! Very cute vibes, and server was nice! read more
16 days ago
Love love love it here! Celebrated our 1 year engagement anniversary (as this is the restaurant we went to the night we got engaged as well) You can't go wrong. Everything on the menu is divine! I mean anywhere that has a hand painted rooster water pitcher has my heart for always!!! They spoiled us again with a complimentary glass of prosecco to celebrate our anniversary. You can always count on the servers to bring the vibes, they always elevate the experience. This time we tried the Polpo Croccante--perfectly crispy and flavor blasted all at once. The spaghetti with arrabbiatissima and guanciale is such a comforting classic that they do so well. Will be coming back time and time again, also am wanting to try their sister restaurants! read more
2 days ago
Everything was genuinely so delicious. The food we tried was some of the best Italian food I've had in my life! The outside seating area was stunning. I loved the designs on all of the dishes. The employees were very hospitable and kind. We even received a free gelato for my birthday. The only "issue" is the parking, but it was so worth fuss. I'll definitely be coming back soon! read more
Ambiance: beautiful decorations, nice plating, fun chicken pitcher Complimentary bread: the red one was my favorite Paccheri vodka and scampi: was very al dente and chewy. Not my favorite vodka pasta Funghi pasta: surprisingly a "lighter" pasta and adding red chili flakes made it better Would come back to try more things and dessert! FYI they add a small surcharge read more
Cesarina is one of the most popular Italian restaurants in San Diego for a reason! Highly recommend coming with a reservation, otherwise you'll be waiting for a while. The interior is so cutely decorated and they have some outdoor seating as well. The paccheri vodka & scampi is a bit on the pricier end compared to the other pastas but sooo worth it! I don't really crave seafood pastas too often but I think about that pasta often and would 100% go back to get it. So if you're on the fence, take this as a sign to get it. The flavor of the pasta is so good. The funghi pasta is also amazing and my husband craves that one often as well. The arrabbiatissima sounded really delicious from the description but was too acidic for me the couple of times I tried it. For my friend's birthday, they brought out a small dessert and also took a cute Polaroid for us to take home which was so sweet. I've recommended this restaurant to friends whenever they ask for San Diego restaurant recs and they have all said that they really enjoyed their meal here! read more
Charming Italian spot that is highly regarded by lots of locals. The Langoustine Vodka Pasta was good, but I guess I'm just not used to it as the langoustines were difficult to eat in a nice setting, and the flavor profile was good but still a 8/10 at best for me. Octopus was well cooked but didn't wow me the way some other restaurants have, like Dio Deka in los gatos. Service was nice overall, i'd definitely recommend Cesarina, but just because the langoustine vodka pasta is the most frequently reviewed on yelp, does not necessarily warrant getting it in my opinion. Honestly the service was good read more
A reservation and arriving early is definitely recommend for this restaurant. It is BUSY during dinner rush and street parking is also difficult. The service is excellent, all the waiters were super personable and friendly. Food arrived quickly and hot! Polpo Croccante - 100/5, extremely well rounded app. Genuinely wish this was an entree, I'd get two orders of this app! The octopus leg had a crispy exterior and tender interior. The mashed potatoes with almonds, capers, and mild harissa? Sauce was incredible!!! Table favorite for sure! Paccheri Vodka E Scampi - 10/5, the vodka sauce is GOOD! Very tangy, tomato-y and creamy. The whole shrimp on top is DELICIOUS, insanely sweet like eating a mini lobster. Lasagna Alla Bolognese - 5/5, WOW! The bolognese sauce is so flavorful and meat forward! A little on the saltier side, but truly delicious. The lasagna noodle layers are on the thinner side but there are many of them! Funghi - 5/5, very creamy and lots of whole mushroom in the pasta sauce! Tartufona - 1/5, very disappointing personally! The "sauce" was dry and more oily than creamy. The truffle flavor was not to my liking as I could barely taste it. The pasta noodles are delicious, but wish I ordered a different sauce. Caprese - 4/5, solid app but the other dishes really outshone this. It could've used more pesto sauce. read more
3 months ago
We stopped by for dinner and had a great time We tried the fennel salad - light salad but delicious - the house bread is so good too! We also made our own pastas - tried the mushroom sauce and guanciale - delicious!! The spinach ravioli with bolognese was also a classic for us with both options We finished with the tiramisu they make at the table for you - definitely order this!! One of our favorites tiramisus!! Service was great - all the servers are professional and have great recommendations The interior is very nice but the patio is beautiful!! read more
This place completely lived up to the hype and reviews for us! I was a little sad there were only outdoor reservations when I went to book a few weeks ahead, as the inside of the restaurant looked so charming. We were going for my sisters 21st birthday so I wanted it to be special. But boy were we so pleasantly surprised at the patio and ambiance of the outdoors. They decorate the covered Parklet patio with so much greenery, colorful Italian ceramics and makes you feel like you're in an outdoor oasis. They offer valet parking for a feasible price ($8 I think?) which made it stress free in a relatively busy area where street parking g would otherwise be hard. We were promptly seated when we arrived. The servers and hostess were automatically friendly and warm and set a good vibe for the evening. The food all around was so delicious. The salad was a little underwhelming to start but the octopus appetizer we had was delicious. We all got to choose a pasta to our taste and they all were so delicious. Perfectly al dente and full of flavor! They also gave us a complimentary tiramisu dessert for my sister's birthday and it was so so yummy! Everyone around us seemed to be enjoying their dinners and they looked like they would've allowed us to also bring a cake and serve it. Would highly recommend this place to anyone for a night out or special occasion and hope we have a reason to return soon! read more
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
2 days ago
My favorite place to get Italian food in San Diego hands down. Firstly, the free assorted breads are always so good - it's super difficult to not immediately fill up on this! We usually get a second or even third serving of that anyways though. Their pasta is always cooked to perfection and covered in delicious sauce, and they're very good with substitutions and custom orders usually. I feel like the only knock is that their meatballs are a bit mid tier, but everything else is usually very yummy! Their service is always extremely good and they treat us very well there - I always appreciate the Polaroid and free tableside tiramisu at the end, always a sweet end to an amazing meal! Their interior is super cute and I love their fun animal plates as well, we ended up buying a few in Italy because we liked them so much! read more
3 months ago
I really enjoyed my dinner here! I'll premise this by saying I had been told by several people this was the best Italian food in San Diego, so I had high expectations! It was really really good, but I wouldn't say out of this world. The rigatoni with pomodoro sauce was super fresh and light, and the burrata on top was great. Awesome service was well! And the house Chianti was great! And of course the tiramisu was awesome :) would certainly not be mad about returning read more
26 days ago
Dined here a few times since this review and seeing that it was four stars I needed to upgrade to 5 stars as it has been that every time since 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
My partner took me here to celebrate my recent graduation, and we were able to sit outside on the patio, which made for a really nice atmosphere. The drinks were alright, not bad, but nothing particularly memorable either, kind of right in the middle. For our appetizer, we ordered the octopus, and it was easily the star of the meal. Everything on the dish worked so well together, and it was honestly the best thing we had that day. We both went with pasta for our entrées, and while they were decent, they didn't stand out quite as much as the appetizer. All in all, it's a nice spot. If you do decide to come here, I highly recommend ordering the octopus. I highly doubt you'll regret it. read more
3 months ago
Beautifully decor and great management of busy traffic that visited during my dining experience. Management was attentative, checking on patrons as they waited to be seated. One seated, we were approach to get beverages ordered, and informed that our assigned server would take over to get our food orders. The menu consisted of authentic Italian appetizers and meals. The ability to learn about different types of noodles, and select for our meals, added to the experience. In addition to noodle selections, we were also able to select the sauces that would accompany the dish. They all sounded unique and delicious. The Impepata di COZZE was our appetizer selection and had fresh mussels, white wine and garlic amongst other fresh ingredients. Serving size was more than enough for our party of 2, and was not able to finish in anticipation of our meals. For my meal, I ordered the Malfalde pasta with Funghi sauce. Sauce consisted of creamy fresh Cremini, shiitake & Porcini mushrooms, parmigiano, crispy Parmigiano, crumble, parsley. Added shrimp to complete the meal. Mafalde pasta was long and had a ribbon appearance similar to lasagna noodles. The ingredients spoke for themselves. Freshness throughout each and every bite! Will definitely return the next time. I'm in the San Diego area. The bar for Italian cuisine has been raised substantially!!! read more
3 months ago
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
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
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
4 months ago
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
1 month ago
Great experience! The pasta was to die for. Cooked al dente and a little chewy, we fell in love! The service was good. And ambience was super cute! Loved that you could see them making pasta. read more
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
4 months ago
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
4 months ago
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
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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More info about Cesarina
4161 Voltaire St
Ste B
San Diego, CA 92107
Ocean Beach, Point Loma
Directions
(619) 226-6222
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http://www.cesarinapasta.com
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Ask the Community - Cesarina
Gluten free options?
Yes! They have gluten-free pasta and they are very careful to not cross-contaminate. My niece has severe allergies to gluten, dairy, and nuts and she ate here perfectly fine! Even had a sorbet for dessert!
Is it a dog friendly place?
Ciao Mellion, Grazie Mille for reaching out to us! Well-mannered dogs are always welcome on our…
Do you sell gift cards so that I can give one as a birthday present to my son?
Buongiorno Khoa, Yes, we do sell Gift Cards. If you would like to purchase a physical Gift Card you…
Do you serve pizza?
Buongiorno Kiran, Grazie Mille for reaching out! We do not serve Pizza at Cesarina.…
What is the suggested dress code?
I’d say it’s casual/business casual. Of course depending on your occasion, date night/birthday you can always dress up a little more. I’ve gone in athleisure as well as a nice blouse/dress and it was fine. Enjoy!
Is the restaurant dog friendly? I couldn't find a reference on the Website
Yes! There is two patios , I don't believe dogs are allowed inside. The patios are great though blankets & heaters provided.
Do you have dairy-free options on your menu? Or can certain dishes be requested to be made without any butter/dairy? I have a member in my family who is lactose intolerant.
Buongiorno Amy Grazie Mille for reaching out to us! Please note that DAIRY is used in our kitchens,…
Gluten free options?
The have gluten free dishes such as meatballs (polpette) in sauce, salads, and steak (tagliata) but not gluten free pasta. Hopefully they will add at least one option in the future.
How can I make a reservation? Is there noise or would I have to call to make a reservation?
You can make a reservation online through opentable!
What is the corkage fee? Are u allowed to bring your favorite wine?
Ciao! Grazie Mille for reaching out to us! Our corkage fee is as follows:…
Where can I park my car if I want to have dinner at this place?
Buongiorno Angel, Grazie for reaching out to us!…
Is this restaurant reservation only?
Ciao Tracy, We are not only reservation-based, walk-ins are always welcome. We do not have a designated walk-in area in our dining rooms therefore table availability is…
Do you all still offer brunch?
Buonasera Vivienne, Grazie Mille for reaching out to us! Unfortunately, we no longer offer Brunch…
We have a reservation today and I can't seem to get in touch with anyone via the telephone. Wanted to modify our reservation. Please advise?
Ciao Veevy, you can call us at 619 226 6222, Ext 2. We are here and the phone is working.…
Are you guys going to bring back calamari in the menu?
Buongiorno Thuy! Grazie Mille for reaching out to us. We currently no longer feature it on the…
Do you have a happy hour menu?
Buongiorno Glaucia, Grazie Mille for reaching out to us. No, unfortunately, we do not have a…
How come the carbonara isn't on the menu? Can I still order it?
Buongiorno Nicolas, Unfortunately, we no longer offer the Carbonara. We change our menu a few…
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Cesarina - italian - Updated August 2026
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