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Limoncello

4.6 (826 reviews)
PriceyItalian
Closed 4:00 pm - 9:00 PM
Updated 1 week ago

Order Limoncello Takeout or Delivery

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LIMONCELLO ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Trendy
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Limoncello

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guazetto
Dung N.

Can't believe it's been almost two years since I dined here. The decor is modern and clean. We were given complimentary bread with butter and olive oil. For drinks I got a mocktail and a limoncello martini, which came with a popsicle! We shared the guazzetto and the insalata limoncello for our starters. The guazetto had black mussels, clams, calamari, and prawns. It was a nice mixture of seafood! For our entrees, we chose the paccheri carbonara and branzino. Both dishes were very flavorful! He also ordered a cappuccino before dessert came. The chocolate molten lava cake was pretty good! Overall, I had a nice time here!

Tiramisu and cannoli
Richelle S.

Came here for restaurant week. We had a reservation and we got seated right away. Parking isn't the best but there's a paid lot nearby. For appetizers, we had the arancini and bruschetta. The arancini was so good and flavorful while the bruschetta tasted fresh. For our entrees, we had the pollo saltimbocca and the brasato. The brasato was super tender with bold flavors while the pollo saltimbocca had milder more herby flavor. Both were delicious! For our desserts we tried both the tiramisu and cannoli. The cannoli was not sweet at all if you're into that and the tiramisu was really good! I also had the limoncello martini and that tasted good! It didn't taste like alcohol at all it's dangerous lol. It's a small place with many tables so it can get a little loud inside. Service was fantastic though!!!

Mckinley K.

Everything was sooo good, I got mussels and clams to start and those were amazing then I got a pasta for my main and that was even more amazing, our server was soo good as well always checking on us to make sure everything is good, thank you

Veg raviolis
John M.

Interior is nice good atmosphere, service was what you need nothing more. Food was bomb! Thank you for the evening

Randall B.

What a delight. We were in no rush at all and the server took his time with us and it made the evening munch more special. The drinks were tasty and the food.... Wow. Yummy with a depth of flavor hard to match. The short ribs were scoring and the serving size was too big to eat in one sitting. The pasta with eggplant was also very tasty. Overall a great find for locals and anyone who allravites good Italian food.

Patio
Tammy J.

Lovely little Italian restaurant and will be back. I've been to this location before when it was another restaurant, hope this one is able to flourish. La Mesa Village has always been a fave little area close to home and I love to see small businesses thriving. Came here to celebrate someone's birthday and they were very kind. Our waiter Fillippo sang Happy Birthday with a cute Italian birthday cake and candle. The food was fresh and I like their price point. They also have a HH which I def want to check out in the near future. Dog friendly patio, so will bring my dood. Cute date night spot or to dine with your tribe.

Mikey H.

When a former student, well..actually a student who had to put up with me my first year teaching, so many years ago, said let's meet up for dinner, I suggested here. It had been a while since I've been, and it is a real treat to come here! This was also my first time sitting inside. It's a great dining room, and I love the circular couch in the center. I had to have that Limencello martini again...or is it the fact that it has a popsicle....hhmmm. We started with the crispy calamari, sooooo good! On this visit, I decided on the papparadelle pasta with meatballs, sausage, and short rib. This was so delicious! Vi had did her research and they have Pasta Tuesday special where you build your own. We ended our meal with the lemon cake and tiramisu. Both so good, but my favorite was the lemon cake...light and lemony! Service was warm and friendly! I need to come back soon!

Tiramisu
Cristina B.

Such a cute location with friendly service and amazing food! Located in downtown La Mesa with street parking only. Came on a Sunday right at open and got seated right away. We made a reservation, but it wasn't needed! They also take walk-ins. Anything off the menu is delicious, you cannot go wrong. From the innovative drinks to the decadent desserts, everything is very tasty!

Arancini
Gale R.

We are always looking for a good Italian restaurant, Limoncello, it was pretty good, but not entirely authentic. I say not authentic because they have a number of salmon dishes, Salmon is not a traditional Italian fish. We did enjoy the Arancini as an appetizer. We split the heirloom tomato salad, and it was unusual that the tomatoes had been sautéed.. The bread was good. I had the tutto mare with squid ink pasta. It was good, but a number of the shellfish had not opened.... My husband had the gnocchi with Burrata dish, which was also pretty good. He had the limoncello martini which was playful with a lemon popsicle included. Very pretty inside, but very loud it's difficult to carry on a conversation with your date/ table mates. Our waitress Francesca was very attentive and helpful .

Maria M.

Limoncello was such a beautiful experience from start to finish--the food is truly authentic, and it really shows that everything is made in-house.. delicious Ravioli pasta. The atmosphere also makes you feel like you've been transported to the Amalfi Coast. And Fillippo made the whole night even better--so friendly, thoughtful, and always making sure everything was exactly right for us. He's a real standout, and we feel lucky we had him taking care of our table. Thank you Fillippo! We really appreciated you

Pasta
Tiffany S.

This place was absolutely delicious! San Diego is by no means in lack of Italian restaurants. I saw this place and I wanted to try it, but was also a little hesitant on whether it would be worth my while. It was out of this world delicious. All of the servers were Italian and definitely knew the menu. Our server recommended. I try the dish that has broccoli and sausage and tomato, and it is the best meal I've had at a restaurant for months! I also had the lemon cello spritz and it was the perfect spring/summer drink! I will definitely be back! The restaurant is cute, cozy, and has the perfect mood lighting. Definitely interested in going back and trying the cheese wheel pasta made tableside! It looked so exciting and extra delicious!

Nick C.

Amazing dinner! Had some really delicious bites. I pretty much enjoyed everything I ordered. The gnocchi and salmon entree were my favorites. The pappardelle had good texture and the meatballs were moist. The gnocchi had the perfect texture. The only dish I wasn't feeling was the saffron risotto. Tasted very bland and the texture and consistency was off. Had great service. I'll definitely be back!

Tiramisú
Jillian N.

Limoncello has one of the best ambience in a la mesa small, but elegant dining setting. We enjoyed our evening with a larger party, but unfortunately it was not perfect. While the food was good there were multiple times that we had to repeat what we needed from our waiter. Half our party received their plates 20 minutes before the rest so by the time they ate their food was cold. Just a little bit more of attention would have made it better as the price point is higher than a casual restaurant. The saving grace was the desserts were very good. Not sure if we will give this restaurant another try.

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2 months ago

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1 month ago

Victor was fantastic, brought his sense of humor to our table and was very attentive to our needs

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2 months ago

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12 days ago

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3 months ago

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3 months ago

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12 days ago

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24 days ago

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7 months ago

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6 months ago

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3 months ago

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7 months ago

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7 months ago

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8 months ago

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2 months ago

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4 months ago

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23 days ago

Mateo was our server and he was very nice and attentive. the food was delicious and the service was great. I'll definitely be back.

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3 months ago

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23 days ago

Mateo provided excellent service. The food was amazing.! I'll be back soon. Great atmosphere

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6 months ago

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1 year ago

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3 months ago

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1 year ago

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5 months ago

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20 days ago

Great food! Great service. Miguel was very helpful, took great care of us. Beet salad especially delightfful.

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1 month ago

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7 months ago

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1 year ago

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2 months ago

Food was mid. Needed salt. Service was amazing! Great staff. Place was cute but could use a good clean.

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10 months ago

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6 months ago

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1 year ago

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20 days ago

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19 days ago

Food was great. Service was great. Miguel was prompt professional and funny! Beautiful place.

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4 months ago

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2 years ago

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6 months ago

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3 months ago

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2 months ago

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7 months ago

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Page 1 of 21

Limoncello Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Limoncello

What time is Happy Hour?

Everyday 4-5:30pm and ALL DAY Mondays!

Which oil is the food cooked in?

Do you have deserts? I did not see them on the menu.

Yes we do

When to you project your grand opening?

Can you post a menu please?

https://www.limoncellolamesa.com/menu/

I'm excited for this to open! Does anyone know of an ETA?

They are open 😁

View All 10 Questions

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Solid food but really weird pricing. Was told at the counter from a nice woman that gelato was 6.99…read morefor a scoop but 9.99 for 2. So I got 2 scoops and when rung up at the counter, I was told it was 13.98. Of course I paid it because I had already gotten it and didn't want to be rude. Blah. That and had to wait 20 mins to park in this establishment because they were towing a Tesla in the lot. Left such a sour taste in my mouth. Edit: You can look for my car in the parking lot circling around 10-15 minutes working around the tow truck, even waiting in the lot and then moving as other cars were trying to navigate their way around the lot. The food here is good that it was worth it in my eyes even with this inconvenience. I drive all the way from East county to come here because there aren't other spots like this. Regarding the incident, I can easily provide Life360 map pictures to show my drive, route and duration if you would like actual proof. I was told that the 2 scoops would be 9.99 by the woman. The single scoops are 6.99. I'm aware of this. I asked that the 2 scoops be in 2 separate cups so that my friend and I can share - not that I got 2 separate single servings. Then I got rung up at 13.98 in the front by the cashier. But you know what.. Good to know that this is how you respond to people as a business owner; it's actually so sad that you responded the way you did because instead of looking for clarification, you decided to say that I was not being honest.

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My husband and I came here for our Valentine's date... technically the day *after* Valentine's, on…read morea rainy evening. Honestly, it felt like the restaurant was magically reserved just for us. Cozy, romantic, and straight out of an Italian dream The decor is unreal. Vintage and wildly creative in the best way. There's a cork ceiling feature in the center, floral wallpaper that feels like a European café, chalk drawings of famous Italian landmarks, glowing green glass bottle lights that double as art, and, wait for it, an actual old Vespa sitting proudly inside the restaurant. It's whimsical, nostalgic, and charming without trying too hard. My husband chose this spot specifically for their cheese wheel pasta, and WOW was that the right call. The cheese is imported straight from Italy, and Monday is their famous cheese wheel night (10/10 recommend). The pasta changes weekly, but ours came with sage and wild mushrooms and tasted like an elevated, sophisticated fettuccine Alfredo. Rich, creamy, aromatic, and indulgent without being heavy. It felt fancy in the best ways without being pretentious. I ordered the short rib gnocchi, and while I personally wished the gnocchi was a touch less al dente, the flavors absolutely delivered. The meat was melt-in-your-mouth tender, deeply savory, and perfectly paired with the sauce. Great comfort food on a rainy night. And now... let's talk about the real star of the night: THE GARLIC BREAD. We ordered TWO because it was genuinely the best garlic bread we've ever had. Perfectly toasted on the outside, soft and fluffy inside, seasoned to absolute perfection. Surprise: it's drizzled with their house-made balsamic vinaigrette. I didn't know I needed balsamic on garlic bread until this moment in my life. I will never be the same. The service was just as delightful as the food. We drink a lot of water, and for funsies our waitress brought refills in different whimsical containers -- including a literal glass fish We were cracking up the whole time. Attentive, playful, and warm service that made the night feel special instead of rushed. This is officially one of our favorite Italian restaurants. We wished we lived closer, but even with an hour drive in the rain, it was 100% worth it. Romantic, cozy, creative, and absolutely delicious. Come hungry. Order the cheese wheel pasta. Or try any of their weekly specialty days. Do not skip the garlic bread. Trust me.

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Came here years ago and had a great experience and thought we would give them another try. This…read moretime was rather disappointing. When we pulled up the exterior sign was not lit up and we drove straight past. Pulled up to see if they were indeed opened and the open sign was on but you could barely see inside it was so dark. We should have aborted the option then but found a parking spot and proceeded. We were seated at a small table for two when there were many other tables open. Although the waitress was pleasant service was very slow and was almost 10 to take our drink order. Took forever to get our food and as a result she comped our desert which we took to go. The atmosphere inside was very dark, no overhead lighting only wall sconces which made reading the menu and check very difficult. As for the food, portions are still very good and it was very tasty, however, my husband got the linguini and clams and the clams were so small there was nothing to them Once they opened up they were the size of a pencil eraser. Could they find a smaller one? Don't think we will be back.

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This place is a gem for anyone who appreciates true house-made Italian food. Everything -- from the…read morebread to the fresh pasta and deeply flavorful sauces -- tastes like it was crafted with care rather than mass-produced. The freshness really comes through in every bite. The pasta is tender with that perfect chew you only get from fresh dough, and the sauces are rich without feeling heavy. Even the bread deserves a mention -- warm, flavorful, and clearly made in-house. It's the kind of meal that feels comforting yet elevated at the same time. Service has been consistently attentive and welcoming on every visit. Despite how busy they get, the staff keeps things moving smoothly without making you feel rushed. The restaurant itself is on the smaller side, which adds to the cozy atmosphere but also means it fills up quickly -- a testament to both its reputation and its excellent value. For the quality of food you receive, the prices are refreshingly reasonable. I can honestly say this place has exceeded my expectations every time I've come here. It's one of those rare spots that delivers consistency, quality, and warmth all at once -- the kind of neighborhood restaurant you hope never changes.

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Limoncello - italian - Updated May 2026

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