I lived in Italy for 2 years and this is the most authentic Italian food in Encinitas that I've found!The service was also amazing!!! Kiwi, Shane and Luca were genuinely the nicest people ever!! If you're in Encinitas definitely go! 10/10 read more

Love love love this place. From the espresso martinis to their delicious pizza. The service was amazing The ambiance is so cute. Perfect for a date night and the location is perfect right in the middle of the heart of encinitas. Parking: i recommend you park behind the restaurant by the trolley station. read more

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I was hoping to like this place more for a good Italian option in north county. Food was decent but nothing I would think about post meal for returning. We tried the arancini, beef carpaccio, squid ink pasta, rigatoni and a sausage and veggie pizza. Overall edible but nothing remarkable. Main reason I wouldn't return is the unfortunate but absolutely horrible service. We were sat 1 hour past our reservation time. In addition they asked us to move tables within a minute of seating us. Which was a bummer but fine but the worst part was that even once seating us we were not visited by a server for another 10 minutes. They were kind enough to offer a round of drinks but despite that, it just wasn't good enough food or redemption in service to return. Recommend giving it a try as a walk in if you really want to but very mid to poor experience overall read more

What a cute place. I love the decor. Would be fun for a date night. Food was REALLY good. We had the cauliflower appetizer which was tasty but a VERY SMALL portion for a big price. The mushroom and arugula parpadelle was excellent. It needed a pinch of salt but once salted was just delicious. There was no skimping on the mushrooms either - we actually ate most of the pasta and still had yummy mushrooms left. My other friend had the octopus starter which looked amazing. She is picky and said it was fantastic. She also said the pizza was great. Our server was awesome. She was funny, and attentive. We are looking forward to going back and trying out more on the menu. Welcome to Encinitas Isola!!!! read more

Wow! Every dish was delicious! Compliments to the chef! If you have not tried this place please put it on your list. It's a great neighborhood spot. We will definitely be back. read more

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Isola is filling an unmet need in downtown Encinitas! Came in for lunch. It's bright and contemporary. Service was friendly and not rushed. The menu is really straightforward, not too heavy. My friend recommended the bresaola and WHERE HAS THIS BEEN ALL MY LIFE!? I checked and you just can't find this anywhere else locally. The rigatoni with a Bolognese sauce was perfect. I can't wait to come back and try more of the menu! read more

What an opening week! Our experience there was perfect and I never expect much of anything in the first month of a new restaurant but these guys have it down. The former DXT is now Isola, a pizza and Italian restaurant. The decor inside is lovely, very upbeat vibe and chic. Nice bar and smaller pizza bar to sit at with comfortable indoor table seating also. The service was perfect and cheerful. Water was always refilled. Our server, T, was just so friendly and helpful. Didn't try any of the very tempting and varied Italian appetizers but we will next time. We came for the pizza. Nice cocktail list and wine list. Partner really enjoyed the red wine that was from the family winery. Excellent Neapolitan pizza options. Reasonably priced menu options. Most people were ordering pasta when we were there and all looked delicious. We had the DOP buffalo mozzarella margarita which was amazing. Love that Neapolitan style that is not overly spiced or salted. Also tried the prosciutto and arugula pizza (minus the truffle oil which I just don't like) and it was also great. Love that they also have chili oil made with Calabrian chilis! Try that if you like crushed red pepper on your pizza...it's way tastier! No room for dessert but some lovely options including tiramisu and panna cotta. So we had a wonderful experience (they do take reservations) with ambience, service and food. I cannot believe this is their first week. They have a winner here. We will be returning often. The other Neapolitan place in Encinitas has some fierce competition now with Isola! read more

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I walked into Isola with my group to grab a couple of drinks and some food, and we had a fantastic experience from start to finish. From the moment we arrived, Kiwi greeted us warmly and made us feel welcome. Between him and the constant attention and excellent service we received from Ryan and Tao, I was able to find the perfect food and drink combination. I can't thank these three enough for the hospitality they showed me and my group. While we waited for our food, Luca, the bartender, poured us some delicious, well-crafted cocktails. Not only did he make the time fly by, but he turned waiting into an experience of its own. All in all, the service, food, and drinks were perfect. I'm already looking forward to coming back! read more

Isola - Italian Near Me - Encinitas, California

Great service and people (though one person did say to not trust the tap water so we can pay for the more expensive sparkling water) and good food overall. It was pretty warm inside from the pizza oven fyi but they have open windows at the front. The serving size of everything was on the small side so for a group of 6 we had to order 3-4 pizzas with an appetizer and pasta to feel full enough. Because of that it was on the pricier side so maybe better to go for a date to share. read more

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Okay we have been to all the locations for Isola and it does not matter which one you choose this is the very best it gets for Pizza. I know many will say other places are the best, but this is close to the Northern Italian pizza. For sure highly recommended and the service is always great no matter the location. Never disappointed. So look no further this is the place to be ! read more

Great food, great service and authentic pizza napoletana. I recommend this place in downtown Encinitas. read more

Isola - Italian Near Me - Encinitas, California

Food quality was waaaay too inconsistent to come back. Some of the food was really good and other things verged on being quite bad! Like overcooked, watery pasta. I had to send my drink back as well and I never do that. Also they have a high top table with bar stools and no back rests! Please get rid of those chairs! You need bar stools with back rests!!!! That is not a complicated thing to include. Get the comfort and consistency of the food in place and everything here will be well. read more

Amazing service from Jace! Amazing pizza and delicious food. We have the burrata and the arugula pizza.

Really disappointing experience at Isola. My husband and I waited nearly two hours for our food. The focaccia was burnt, and our sausage and mushroom pizza was also burnt, with very little sauce or flavor. After waiting about 90 minutes for our pasta, we asked our server to check on it. She initially said the kitchen was backed up, then came back and admitted she had never entered the order. We waited another 20 minutes for it to arrive. Mistakes happen, but what was most frustrating was that there was no real apology or attempt to make it right, not even offering to comp the pasta after such a long wait. Between the service and disappointing food, this was unfortunately a very poor experience. read more

My wife and I used to frequent the Little Italy location and later the La Jolla location before moving north. So when we started hearing rumors that they were coming to Encinitas, we were genuinely excited. The location couldn't be better. It's centrally located, the perfect size, and has a great vibe...especially after they dialed down the lighting a bit. It feels like a natural fit for Encinitas. The service was a little spotty at first. After the host seated us, nobody stopped by our table for about 25 minutes. That said, we chalked it up to the normal growing pains of a new restaurant. Once we spoke with the host again and got connected with a server, everything was off and running. The host even sent over dessert to make up for the inconvenience, which was a thoughtful touch and showed they genuinely care about the guest experience. The food is exactly as I remembered, absolutely delicious, unique compared to many other Italian restaurants, and served in portions that leave you satisfied without overdoing it. I love their pizzas, pasta dishes, and even their desserts. I'm generally not a huge pasta person, my wife loves it, but theirs is always perfectly prepared and consistently excellent. We're thrilled to have them in Encinitas and look forward to many more meals there. And I know they'll work out the kinks and we'll get to 5 stars, but I'm trying to keep my reviews honest. read more

This was my second time here and I was hoping my pasta would be everything I wanted it to be. Sadly it was not... I ordered the carbonara and upon first bite it was mostly tasteless with a hint of dirty pasta water. What's usually a luxurious sauce was barely clinging to the pasta.... No amount of cheese, chili flake or basil could save the dish, I ate about half hoping each bite would be better. It was not. They need to improve this dish. Flavorless dirty pasta water pasta is not it. Our service was great which is why the rating is 3 instead of 1 stars. Do better, I know you can! read more

First visit, dinner, not bad. Had high expectations visiting which were mostly met. Tried two of the handmade pastas: mushroom pappardelle and meat ragu as well as the Margherita DOP pizza. Pastas were good, pizza was a good first impression but bit too charred and had a slightly bitter taste. I guess what detracted most from the experience was how noisy the place was, bit like eating at a busy city train station, aiming for modern ambiance but ultimately a bit soulless although the service was competent. Perhaps catching the place at an off hour is the way to go for a nicer experience, despite food being good not sure if I'd race back but worth giving it a try! read more

Great addition to downtown Encinitas!! Yes, there's many pizza options, but only Isola has a Neapolitan pizza oven! All our food was DELICIOUS (and served piping hot)! I loved the spicy salami pizza and rigatoni ragu! The pasta is made fresh and the pizza dough is fantastic, just the right amount of chew! We can't wait to go back and try more menu items! Great service too and they did a really nice remodel here. We'll be frequent diners! read more

Isola - Rigatoni and spicy salami - Italian Near Me - Encinitas, California

What a great surprise in Encinitas! Isola serves delicious, authentic Italian food in a really cool, lively atmosphere. We loved the farinata - super yummy, fluffy chickpea fries - as well as the carbonara with crispy bacon, the spaghetti al nero di seppia and the pizzas! Everything was delicious, and our waitress was incredibly friendly and welcoming. We're here on vacation and already planning to come back for lunch later this week! read more

This is definitely a welcomed addition to North County. They have a really cool location, and the service is top-notch. In terms of cost, considering the quality of the food and service, the pricing is very reasonable. The appetizers -- bruschetta, arancini, and cauliflower -- were exactly what you would expect from a really good restaurant in Italy. The homemade pastas were excellent, and the Neapolitan pizza was the real McCoy. I think they will force the competition, especially Vigilucci's, to raise their game or risk being left behind. read more

My friend and I had a wonderful experience! Adorable corner table overlooking the street. Perfect Aperol Spritz! Super friendly and attentive staff. Food was great! read more

(1) FOOD. Way overpriced. 2 individual pizzas, 1 beer, 1 low quality prosecco: $95.00. Come on now, we all know cost of food went up, but......this is crazy. Pizza was all crust, cheese and sauce lacking. (2) Service. Good. (3) Ambiance. Loud, colorful atmosphere. Will not be returning. read more

We absolutely Loved the service here thanks to Thau! She was amazing, very attentive and extremely friendly. She even gave us advice about visits Brazil. Food was phenomenal, so fresh and so flavorful. Definitely will be coming back again, and hopefully Thau will be our server again! read more

Really great new restaurant in Encinitas. The service was very good - very attentive! Food was delicious. Will be back!

A bit of a snob for good Italian food. This one checks the box with both good food and wine. Prices are reasonable as well. Service was excellent. Would recommend and will definitely come back. read more

Isola - Italian Near Me - Encinitas, California

Our first visit, food and service all 5 stars. Can't wait to try again. I do have one comment that might be taken the wrong way. Within sight of us, after we arrived, a party with a pet were seated. Subsequent parties that were offered the table next to the pet refused the table. I too would have refused it. I have pets. Love them. They dine at home. I feel badly for the party seated at an adjacent table prior to the pet table, with no choice. I encourage Isola to allow pets OUTDOORS ONLY. read more

Delicious food, excellent friendly service, and a great location in downtown Encinitas. Have enjoyed several pizzas, pastas, and appetizers over a couple of visits now. All excellent, you can't go wrong. Kiwi was our host both times and he's the best! Might come back just to see him again. Great place for a date night or catching up with friends. read more

I'm Italian, moved to San Diego 20 yrs ago. I grew up eating really good home made food by my grandma and my mom. I wanted to try Isola restaurant in Encinitas and have to say it is really, really good. The seabass was fresh and very tasty, well prepared on a bed of spinaches. The focaccia, cooked in the wood fired oven was crunchy and reminded me the taste of focaccia in Italy... hmmm... delicious. Strongly recommend this restaurant read more

I can't rave about this place enough. The host, the service from Thau, the pizza, dessert, I swear this is the best spot for Italian in Encinitas! Best time to go is in the evening after 7:30 when the lights are low and the vibe is SEXY!!! read more

For starters, the vibes are bad here. The bartender was very cold and not welcoming at all. The restaurant itself is very echoey so the normal dinner rush sounds LOUD. (I'm 26, not an old person) The forks and knives clanking around are loud, people are yelling, service was bad. It's very overstimulating and did not feel like their og location. I wouldn't bring friends or family here unless I had a megaphone with me. No need to respond to this review, we won't be back. read more

My 70+ friend influencer and tried this new Italian restaurant in Encinitas called ISOLA. OMG this has to be one of the BEST Italian restaurants I've ever been to...even better than many I've been to all over Italy. The owner Mossimo definitely knows what he's doing. We highly recommend it not only for great food but good prices and a great staff from the the host at the door to the wonderful young lady that was our server. We will definitely be back and everyone should give it a try!!! Denise & Wendy read more

Pros: cute ambiance, good music, friendly staff. Cons: smell of pine sol (or fabuloso?), yuck. Pizza was good texture, but bland, sausage tasted like unsalted hamburger. Would have ordered another beer if anyone ever came over, they all talk in the back corner instead. Won't be back. Too bad. read more

It was a Sat. evening a few weeks ago, very busy time of the year here in Encinitas. I had a reservation for 10 for my BD. This is not a great review and I go out a lot in N. County. The drinks arrived at different times, the food was good as was expected, except the pizza, which was greasy and not edible. I had requested the server I had once for this big table but had a different server, who was bustling, but behind in tending to the table. I tipped her well anyway. Didn't have a great experience that night, sadly. Not a venue for a big group, which was my mistake. read more

I would say this is a well deserved rating because the customer service was great, food was really good. I would highly recommended this place if you're looking for Italian food especially if you're looking for seafood past AKA Nero De Sepia! Overall highly recommend for anyone looking for Italian dishes by the coast! read more

Isola - Italian Near Me - Encinitas, California

Didn't have a great wine selection. Ambience was nice. Only had a salad, so I really can't say anything about their food. Nice addition to the neiborhood. read more

Family group of 6 to celebrate b'day. Absolutely too noisy to carry on conversation. Tables crammed together, food mediocre at best. 2 ordered steak-didn't like, spaghetti pomadora was ok, but nothing special. Staff was friendly, knowledgeable and service great. However, too many wonderful restaurants nearby, to give this a second chance. read more

Food was average, not great, and still expensive. Super loud and hot inside. But service was great and our waitress really nice. Overall not worth it. read more

The perfect date night spot without broken your wallet! Took my girl on anniversary dinner, and definitely the best Italian restaurant I've been in Encinitas ! Good pasta but the pizza is just beyond delicious! The service is quick and friendly! Manager and owner are very involved in service, and it shows ! Just brilliant! read more

Such a delightful dining experience! Everything we tried was scrumptious; my mouth is still watering thinking about the gnocchi! Kiwii was such a wonderful host - we felt well taken care of the entire evening. The tiramisu was the perfect ending to our anniversary celebration! Vibes were immaculate. Location is ideal too - so many great places to walk around after eating. read more

Isola - Italian Near Me - Encinitas, California

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I went with some friends. I was not super impressed. It is a good location. Nice decor. The service was not good at all. The water was warm and our water glasses were empty often. Getting staff attention for refills was not easy. The gnocchi with pesto was not impressive. They were light, but I am going to say too light. They tasted like they absorbed too much water. There was no taste or substance. The pesto was fresh but bland. When the pasta was brought out, there was no parm cheese offered. I tried to eat it without but it was so bland and unenjoyable. My dish sat for 10 min before I was able to get staff attention and request parm. The food is not cheap. For the price, I wanted better service and to enjoy the food more. read more