Went to Dolci for a family dinner and to carb load before my tennis match. Really great experience, we all thoroughly enjoyed our food. I had the linguine piccata and it was exactly what I was looking for. It really hit the spot. My husband has the ravioli di carne and the sauce was perfect for scarpetta (taking bread to sop up the leftover sauce). We cleaned the plate! My parents also enjoyed their ravioli and seafood fettuccine. The thing that really set Dolci apart was the service. I only comment on service if it's really good or really bad, but the service here was phenomenal. Shout out to our waiter, Tony, who took great care of us and had a great sense of humor. Everyone else that stopped by to check on us was also super friendly and made our experience great. The owner even stopped by to chat for a bit, which was really nice. Our meal ended with a pistachio gelato, that the owner told us was imported from Italy. The quality was great - there were hunky pieces of pistachio in it. We all really enjoyed it. We'll definitely be back for the food and the great vibes. There are so many more dishes on the menu I want to try! read more

Dolci Cafe Italiano - Linguine Piccata - Italian Near Me - El Cajon, California

Amazing food. If you're looking for good Italian grub and live local to the area, you should check it out. Service. Meh....I've had better. The server had the 'specials' memorized to a T, but didn't offer us bread upon arrival and just wasn't overall to attentive. She wasn't mean...just inattentive. read more

Birthday dinner, a treat from my wife. I had the lamb chops. They were so tender and flavorful along with the side veggies. Thank you my dear for a wonderful meal out with you! Server, again wonderful and attentive. The owner always gives us warm and friendly greeting. read more

Dolci Cafe Italiano - My lamb chops and appetizer. - Italian Near Me - El Cajon, California

Well 2 weeks in a row, it's that good! Our waiters were great especially Tony! He's been there since opening day! Very nice and attentive! We shared a beet salad that was delicious. My wife had the special lobster ravioli that she loved! I had the angel hair pasta with seafood that had salmon/shrimp/calamari and mussels. It was delicious and very filling to the point I couldn't finish it! Their pasta plates are big so you might have to consider splitting a plate. We split the salad and paid extra 2 bucks to do. We also started with bread and vinegar and oil which was very savory. They had some Italian music playing that gave it a nice Italian ambiance! If u like great Italian food...come here! read more

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Dolci Cafe Italiano brings "Little Italy" to East County with and pizza dough made in-house daily, fresh ingredients, and great options for lunch, dinner, and brunch on the weekends! We dined during brunch and got a few breakfast items and a few lunch items to get a taste of everything. Our favorites were the Salmon Benedict, of course the pizza made in their wood-fired oven, and a pasta dishes that they let me modify (linguine Alfredo with ‍ and ) ! Everything was so flavorful and the pizza crust was perfectly crunchy yet soft with the perfect amount of toppings. Kid friendly! Follow @allthingsfoodinsandiego for more must try San Diego restaurants, date night ideas, food experiences, kid friendly spots, with a sprinkling of home-cooking! read more

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Lunch in El Cajon, California... My cousins and I were looking for something different to eat and decided on Italian cuisine. I found Dolci Cafe Italiano on my Yelp App! Parking was free and easy in the shared lot. We didn't have a reservation and walked right in. There was no air-conditioning, but we were hungry. We thought that inside would be cooler than outdoor dining... I'm not sure. It was a bit warm in both areas... Service was pleasant and efficient. I ordered the lasagna. It was cheesy, hot, meaty, and good! It was like comfort food to me. I would have enjoyed it more if there was air-conditioning... haha! read more

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The food is delicious. The pasta was cooked perfectly, the shrimp was tender and not over cooked, and a hint of spice. The calamari was crispy & the sauce that came with it was the best. The lamb was so tender and flavorful. Tony was so kind and the service was fast. I definitely will be back. Super relaxing music and dress code is cute casual. read more

If your in the Rancho San Diego area this is a great place to try! This is my second time here I've been here for lunch and it was great. This time we went for dinner and it was just as good! Our waitress was super friendly and personable. Everyone was just pleasant there! Great atmosphere I like sitting in the patio area everything is still enclosed for any type of weather! read more

Dolci Cafe Italiano - Italian Near Me - El Cajon, California

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Came here on a whim. Food was delicious. Service was attentive. Sat outdoors and felt the breeze. Such a cute place!! Wish I took a picture of the lasagna and caprese but we ate it too fast!! read more

Dolci Cafe Italiano - Fettuccine Cartoccio - Italian Near Me - El Cajon, California

Great food and friendly staff! Our waiter was Tony and he did an amazing job helping us out. The owner even came out to have a quick chat which was a nice surprise. The pistachio gelato was really good too and comes imported from Italy. Shout out to Tony for the amazing service. read more

Dolci Cafe Italiano - Linguine Picatta - Italian Near Me - El Cajon, California

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Superb Italian food in a lovely, intimate location. Such a treasure for Rancho San Diego.

My family has been going here for years and it has never disappointed. The food is excellent and consistent (my favorite is the Chilean Seabass special), and the service is remarkable. The owner is friendly and knowledgeable about food and wine, and the server Tony is so kind and attentive. Highly recommend! read more

Easy parking. Covered patio a bit warm even with fans and mist. Italian music. Good service. Spaghetti and meatball meh.

Great food as well as a caring staff Easy parking and great service You leave with a very happy stomach read more

It was my first time here and I was pleasantly surprised by the food! The ambiance and the service were also amazing. Tony, along with our other servers, took amazing care of us. The fig jam cannot be skipped! Loved the bruschetta and the white cheese pizza read more

Went here for dinner wanted pasta. Mine was mid but my partners lamb shank with risotto was super yummy! The meat fell off the bone but a lil gamey, not enough rice to meat ratio, my chicken pasta, chicken was on the dryer side but I def loved their cheese and meat board with the jam that was my favorite read more

Great atmosphere and even better food. Lasagne is the bomb! Like a little Time Machine back to old Napoli.

Food was amazing and Tony provided the best service. I have never had such an attentive waiter. Definitely recommend read more

Dolci Cafe Italiano - Lasagna Bolognese - Italian Near Me - El Cajon, California

Amazing food! The Branzino and lamb chops were divine!! Anthony/ Tony was such a pleasure! He named the specials and we were sold! A bottle of Lodi old vines wine, great service and wonderful ambiance. read more

Dolci Cafe Italiano - Branzino. - Italian Near Me - El Cajon, California

After working a long work week I drove 40 minutes to eat at this restaurant and I stood at the front podium and people just walked by me. Finally a female said I could sit on the inside area since I was alone. I looked inside and there was only one table. Then a tall male walked up to me and said may I help you? I said I'd like a table by the front and he said let me look around as all the tables including the last one on the inside were all the same size where they seated 4 people and I pointed to a open table in the corner of the front of the resturant and he said no your only one person. So apparently being one person doesn't qualify for open area so with all the available seats it was difficult for them to accommodate me after a 12 hour shift when I wanted to enjoy a meal but apparently you don't rate good enough if your a single person who is still gonna spend money in their establishment to sit in a nice area of the restaurant. read more

Great food! Hardy homie Italian atmosphere. Tony was the waiter. There may have been two of him,he was so efficient!

Food was superb and had many gluten free options. The service was phenomenal- if you get Tony, you're in for a treat. Portions are large, filling and satisfying. When we come back to San Diego, we'll come here every time! read more

Stopped for dinnee on our way home from the casino just before 7pm on a Saturday. There wasn't a wait. We had the eggplant parmigiana, cheese ravioli with 2 added meatballs, linguine gamberi and we shared the beet salad. Everything was pretty tasty and food came out fast and hot. The ravioli pasta was just a bit too thick around the edges but that was really the only flaw in the food. Service could have been a little more attentive. The waiter didnt check in after the food was brought out despite walking by our table a dozen or more times. A server did refill our waters after bringing out the food and obliged when we asked for some parmesean cheese. The waiter eventually stopped by after we got up and helped ourselves to the to-go containers. He was very apologetic. Not at all a fault on the restaurant but we were subjected to loud music and street racing exhaust noises from cars in the parking lot the entire meal. Overall it was an above average meal and experience and definitely worth giving a try. read more

Dolci Cafe Italiano - .Eggplant parmigiana, cheese ravioli add 2 meatballs, linguine gambieri and a bwet salad - Italian Near Me - El Cajon, California

The owner was extremely rude, I made a special request due to a food allergy and called he me a dumbass and and idiot, that they don't do special requests. The food was over priced and lacked flavor. Unbelievable that especially the owner would address a customer like that read more

The food was incredible. I had the beef ravioli in mushroom sauce and my friend had the chicken Mac n cheese..We couldn't finish it all. Our waitress was amazing too. She made sure our drinks were refilled the whole time we were there. The restaurant was awesome too. It felt like we were eating outside. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who enjoys great food in a charming setting. read more

I didn't expect much with the location in a strip mall but, what a pleasant surprise! The food was phenomenal from the appetizers to the main courses. Wait staff was very attentive and Tony made the whole experience even better. read more

Lovely Italian restaurant with a relaxed atmosphere and attentive staff. The food is amazing! Personal highlights were the Lasagna made fresh per order and margarita pizza! Now let's talk dessert... the creme brulee is great but today we tried the flourless chocolate cake and it was deliciously decadent! Definitely 5 stars and one we'll come back to again soon. read more

Love coming here! The food is great, I always feel so comfortable and welcome thanks to Tony, he is the best!

Went Saturday afternoon for my birthday brunch and it was amazing!! The pizza came out hot and fresh, caprese was delightful, accompanied by some complimentary FRESH bread with butter way to build up our appetite! Our main dish was penne Michelangeloand it never misses! Always the best combination of creaminess and savory. My go to every time I come to this amazing cafe. Servers were very attentive as well as courteous. Our glass never ran empty and we for sure left very satisfied Had the pleasure of meeting the owner and wow you can tell he is very passionate in what he does! Such a lovely man! Ambient was very peaceful as well as very creative. Made me feel like I was in a garden read more

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This is hands-down, the best Italian food you will find in San Diego. The prices are reasonable and the servers are amazing!

Super yummy! This was my first time eating here and most definitely will go back! Had the Salmon Sanremo which was so good! Very flavorful and mouth watering. The chefs choice vegetables were very tasty. Before this we did try the crab cakes that I did not get a picture of, but they were pretty good appetizer. Service was really nice and friendly. And the atmosphere was lovely. Recommend going here for any occasion. read more

Dolci Cafe Italiano - Salmon Sanremo - Italian Near Me - El Cajon, California

Amazing service, owner is kind and inviting, workers are all very nice. 10/10 service. Food is fresh and clean. Seating, ambiance, and atmosphere are very calming and nice for chatting. Tony, our waiter, is always amazing and a super friendly guy! Pricing is extremely reasonable and worth every dollar. read more

Service was great. Food served within 5 minutes. It's been 4 or so years since we've eaten here and I was disappointed. I won't come back. :( we used to love Dolci. They don't have marinara or olive oil dips with their bread anymore. The Alfredo sauce and macaroni and cheese were the EXACT same sauce, the only difference was one had cheese and a different noodle. The Mac had a small amount of bacon too. Booooo read more

If you're looking for authentic Italian food -- this place is it! I just got back from Italy and I was craving some good pasta again. Their recipes are unmatched. And the decor is super cute! Definitely coming back. And the waiters are very sweet and welcoming! Top notch customer service. They actually look like they enjoy interacting with people I love that! The owner was super nice, has some amazing stories if you get to chat with him do it :) he's awesome! read more

Dolci Cafe Italiano - Pasta - Italian Near Me - El Cajon, California

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We ordered to go, but it did take me 5 phone calls to get through. I almost gave up! Glad I didn't. We ordered the meat ravioli (soooo good), Alfredo -rich and delicious, and the dolce pizza!!! We really enjoyed all of it and especially the ravioli. We would return, 4 stars due to not being able to reach them and also, slightly pricey. 3 dishes about $55. read more

Dolci Cafe Italiano - Ravioli di Carne, fettuccini Alfredo (special order with chicken only), Dolci Pizza - Italian Near Me - El Cajon, California

Late post. Happened to be in the area and this place came up nearby in Yelp search. So glad I tried it. Ordered the calamari and lasagna. Huge orders, delicious, and tasty. read more

Dolci Cafe Italiano - Calamari - Italian Near Me - El Cajon, California

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I reserved a table for 8 using the online portal with a special request for patio seating. We arrived and were taken straight to our table, on the patio, tucked nicely into the back corner. The decoration and ambience is nice and the layout is perfect to keep the space quiet enough to have conversations. Half of my group was gluten free and the staff was attentive, helpful in identifying options and got the orders 100% perfect. Quite a heroic achievement of the wait and kitchen staff, especially considering almost every order had special requests. Great prices and respectable serving sizes. Highly recommend and we will be returning next time we're in the mood for Italian. read more

We go here at least once a week, and it's our absolute favorite. Extremely friendly staff, and the food is always soooo good. Cannot recommend this place enough read more

Everything (food, service, ambiance,price) is always excellent. It's worth the drive from wherever you're from. read more

Dolci Cafe Italiano - Pollo Parmesan. The best ever!!! - Italian Near Me - El Cajon, California

I would like to give Dolci Cafe Italiano a huge shout out and a stellar review! AMAZING FOOD, SERVICE, AMBIANCE AND ATTENTIVENESS! We have found ourselves very irritable at lunchtime in our office because we have been ordering the same old lunches for years...one of us for 24 years! We sent one of the owners of the company I work for out on a mission to find new lunch spots. This is how we found Dolci! We ordered 6 different items to share so that we could try several items. Grande Lasagna Bolognese, Americana Pizza, Italian Fest Panini, Fettuccine Cartoccio, Dolci Chicken Mac & Cheese and Penne Michealangelo. Every single item was so delicious. The flavors were rich and the portions were generous! It gave the feeling of FINALLY being satisfied with lunch which we have not had in a very long time! We all agreed we needed a nap after lunch because we stuffed ourselves in the most gluttonous manner! The only problem is that we were so stuffed no one wanted to get back to work! We are very pleased with the quality of ingredients, the order being ready on time and even after driving 15-20 minutes back to the office the food was still hot! Thank you Dolci! We look forward to ordering again with you in the very near future! read more