we loved James! he was so awesome with his recommendations and we loved the food and ambience thanks to him for real.

this place is absolutely the best! we ate here while we were out in san diego and everything about it was great. we did have a reservation which i would recommend for people coming into town. it was really busy so we got sat outside which was fine because the weather was great. it took a while for us to be greeted after getting sat but honestly it was worth it. we ordered the meatballs, the gnocchi pesto pasta, and the cheese wheel pasta. all were very good. our server was so kind and helpful as well. the only critique is too just check in a little more often as we ran out of space on our little table for all of our food. overall, everything was well and we really enjoyed it thank you! read more

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Overall my experience at monellos was okay. I was able to get seated quickly and the food was okay but I expected a little more for the hype that surrounds it. Maybe I'll give it another try one day but most likely I won't be back. Food: We opted for a margarita pizza instead of an appetizer it was delicious and fresh 5/5. The Arrabbiata pasta was good but the sauce was a little dry, I don't think I'd order it again 3.5/5. The cheese wheel pasta was the best imo. They cycle out the pasta weekly but the price was pretty hefty for what at the end of the day is a plate of pasta. 4.5/5 Service: Although everyone was nice, service was lacking, servers seemed confused and we were almost accidentally served a plate at one point. We had to flag someone down for our check and we waited so long for our food we thought maybe our server forgot about us. The neighboring tables got their food before we did. Etc: Parking is a little difficult to get but we were able to find free street parking a few blocks down. Bring some coins for the meter or prepare to pay for lot parking. read more

Monello - Arrabbiata - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Amazing food, service, and overall atmosphere. Would highly recommend the gnocchi and octopus pasta read more

Monello - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

While walking around Little Italy we decided to drop in for dinner. Nice roomy space . Welcoming staff; friendly and attentive waiter. The pasta was so fresh- our grandsons who we were concerned might not care for it really enjoyed it and their kids meal was a big portion and the price was reasonable. Tasty- cooked and seasoned well- very happy. read more

Monello - Seafood ravioli- so yummy - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Great spot for Italian. The wait staff is very on point with their recommendations and attention to details on your order as well making sure drinks are always full. Must do is the cheese wheel. They pick a different pasta each day that if ordered they mix it in the cheese wheel in front of you and it gets the amazing Parmesan flavor melted and mixed in and then they scrape slices of it on top of the dish it's amazing. The serving size is very large can split between 2 and it's the perfect amount. read more

Monello - Parma Sandwich - piadine rolled bites - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

I'd say this is a solid 4 star Yelp place, but I can't give this place more than 2 stars after our experience. We had a pretty disappointing time actually. We came here for my birthday and an early dinner and wanted to try the Cheesewheel Pasta that everyone keeps talking about. I was really disappointed though we didn't get to watch them spin the pasta in the Cheesewheel. My Wife and I both assumed that was part of the experience. Whether they come get us to watch where they do it inside or they do it at our table. Otherwise what's so special about spaghetti with cheese sauce and black pepper on top? In fact, when our waiter gave us our cheesewheel pasta it didn't have black pepper on top and the waiter immediately recognized it and said the chef forgot... right then we knew something was up. Of course after we get our food, 15 minutes later we see a couple inside watching them spin pasta in the cheesewheel. After that it kind of killed the experience and my birthday dinner. We went around 2:00pm and there were 2 people seated inside and we were one of two groups seated outside. So it definitely wasn't too busy to let us watch. We also ordered the Tortelloni Al Tartufo, along with the Calamari for an appetizer. The Tortelloni Al Tartufo was just "ok". The pasta was excellent, but the stuffing left me with wanting more of something. The stuffing tasted kind of bland. And the truffle was pretty heavy. The calamari was solid though. Overall a poor experience, which again is disappointing because we always enjoy eating in little Italy. We probably won't be back here and I can't really recommend it to others. We went when there was almost no one there, and for our experience to be that poor, I wouldn't want to go during actual dinner time when things are poppin' and busy. read more

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We came into Monello with relatively high expectations because we heard that everything on the menu was good. However, we were quite disappointed. We ordered the parma piadine (good, but definitely overhyped and not worth the price imo), lasagna monello (also pretty good but nothing special), and the spaghetti alla carbonara (I only had a bite but I honestly did not enjoy this - the bacon chunks were too big and the sauce was unpleasant to me, and I am not a picky person). We may have just ordered the wrong things, but for the price, we were expecting to enjoy the food more. We were seated outdoors, which was still quite nice since there are heat lamps and it's a nice area, but I feel like the waiters tend to forget about outdoor seating because it took a while for us to get our waiter's attention for our check. The waiter had also knocked my knife off onto the floor and said he'd replace it, but never came back to do so LOL read more

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SEED OIL FREE!!! I had pizza and some other small items and I can't say enough good things about the food everything tasted amazing . I will say plan on arriving 20/30 minutes early because parking is awful but other than that I can't wait to come back. read more

I order lasagna at every Italian restaurant I visit. It's my favorite dish, and I've never been disappointed... before today. My friends and I were excited to visit little Italy, to dine at monello. I was looking forward to this restaurants lasagna. Once the food came out, I was eagerly waiting to try it. I took a bite, and immediately recoiled at the taste. It tasted exactly like Chef Boyarde's beef ravioli. Don't get me wrong, the beef ravioli isn't inedible, but its not good. I was very disappointed in lack of flavor, as the only thing I could taste was Chef Boyarde. I couldn't even get close to finishing my plate. This restaurant has good dishes, as my friends ordered different items which tasted pretty good. I'm just severely dissatisfied, and upset over the terrible lasagna. read more

So let's start off with the location/place. The place is a little small but it is cute and still feels high end. I came for my birthday and we opted to eat inside. They didn't put us in a squished location where we would be bumping into people anytime we scooted our seats out. That was sooo appreciated. Now service, they were so nice from the time we checked in, to the seating, to checking out. Just every aspect was pleasant! When we asked the server for honest opinions he gave them to us and was knowledgeable about items on the memo. Food: I ordered the tortelloni al tartufo and my sister order the gnocchi. Portions: mine looked kind of small so I didn't think I'd get full but honestly I only finished half the plate ...the food was delicious 11/10!! My sisters dish was a good portion and it was also delicious! We got the meatballs as appetizers , we liked the portion size! Some places only give 3/4 meatballs this place gave 8. The meatballs were good but nothing special. Probably a 6.5/10, not horrible but not memorable. The dishes however are undeniably rememberable. This is our new favorite spot. Quality food and good vibes. And since it was my birthday they brought out tiramisu and it was so creamy...honestly just overall we enjoyed this place and will be back. 15/10 recommend! read more

I recently checked out Monello in Downtown San Diego's vibrant Little Italy neighborhood. I was most impressed with this sleek, modern Italian restaurant with excellent service. Attention to detail is on full display in everything they do. Monello has been winning numerous awards since they opened a little more than a decade ago. Such a unique place that specializes in 25 different kinds of handcrafted pasta daily, highlighting traditional Milanese street food and the popular cheesewheel pasta. I ordered the Tagliatelle with Ragu, described as grandma's style all beef red meat sauce. How could you go wrong with that! The dish was outstanding with al dente pasta, and richly flavored sauce. Portions were quite generous and so beautifully presented. Highly recommended. read more

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The cheese wheel pasta was surprisingly mid and the meatballs were not great. The atmosphere is pretty but overall was not impressed with the quality for what I paid. Maybe I came in on an off day read more

Monello - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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We ordered three different pasta dishes and they were all delicious. The cheese wheel pasta was great for my family, too cheesy for me. The service was ok. We made a reservation in advance but got an outdoor table. It's a bit chilly and loud in little Italy area. I would go back to try different dishes. read more

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Very hip Italian place, i imagine hard to get in without reservations bc the girls at the front be bluffin' for a wait for indoor seating even with reservation. They say they cannot guarantee indoor or outdoor seating just first come first serve but who wants to sit outside in this cold global warming weather. Our table was ready by 7pm for a 6:45 reservation. They only have 2 separate bathrooms here so it can be a wait to use one. Service was very nonchalant and we never saw our waiter after our order. The caesar salad was amazing split 3 ways.. homemade dressing has a nice kick like i love! The cheese wheel pasta is a unique offering and adds an experience of watching them make it live in the cheese wheel which is very fun. The squid ink pasta was the table favorite but i personally liked the cheese wheel pasta best. I wish it had more brussel sprouts. But it was not salty at all and just addicting. I dont like salty food tho. Is a bit on the pricey side for italian and wish service was better but had an enjoyable dinner!! Best pasta i've had in awhile. read more

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Great atmosphere and food! The cheese wheel pasta was very flavorful!, and service was excellent! read more

Monello - Cheese wheel pasta - spaghetti in parmigiana cream sauce with sausage and peppers - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Favorite place ever time I go back to Little Italy. The best cheese wheel pasta. Drinks are amazing as well. read more

Extremely delicious food! The lasagna was by far the best thing we got! The drink was ok but honestly I just like them sweet....maybe too sweet so sometimes other drinks feel like maybe they might not be sweet enough but they probably are Service was great and the place was clean and modern looking. Would most definitely come here again! read more

Monello - Lasagna Monello - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Was looking for some good Italian pasta and made a reservation here. The place is cute and cozy. Not big but the place fills up quickly so make a reservation! They don't have parking so I recommend walking from your hotel or take the uber. Everything was amazing and they have cheese wheel pasta specials. Bummed the chef didn't do the cheese wheel right in front of you. I was expecting them to bring it to us and do it so I could show the kids.. read more

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If I lived in San Diego, I would be at Monello's HH once a week. This is truly one of the best happy hours to experience in your life. I was acquainted with Monello many moons ago when I came for dinner and still reminisce about their black squid ink pasta. I was wanting to try their cheese wheel pasta but I'll have to save it for my next trip. What makes HH fun here is how they provide amuse bouche bites with each HH cocktail you order. Think of these small bites as samplings of their full menu. It's chef's choice but if you go on a weekday you'll see they're pretty solid tastings. I recommend ordering a full size pasta on the side (of course I got the black squid ink pasta). Granted I had so many small plates of their pasta that I can attest everything is made fresh and with love. The gnocchi was divine too! read more

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We were in search of a nice pasta spot in little Italy and Yelp helped us narrow down a decision. The food was phenomenal all the sauces and noodles are made in house ! There is a variety of dishes for everyone to choose something different. I highly recommend the burrata ! It was the perfect balance of burrata cheese , pesto and arugula and seasonings. It came with a loaf of bread which was so airy and fresh ! Our server made several recommendations to us and showed us the daily specials. He remained attentive the entire stay! We will definitely be back ! read more

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The spaghetti was so delicious. And the calamari was crispy. My family had a dinner outside just beside the door. It was good to have a baby with us sitting outside. The service staff were busy all the time and they did very well to every table. read more

This is a beautiful place and a beautiful location. San Diego's little Italy is one of the most authentic and well kept Little Italy's anywhere and I've been to mist of them. This was a beautiful evening out to dinner and the temperature allowed outdoor eating so of course that's what we chose. I enjoyed thoroughly the traditional Veal Osso Bucco and it was a noisy eating experience. Mmmmmm. Lots of them! Happy servers top the experience off and the dreamy environment made for a perfect night out. So many good restaurants in this area. read more

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One of the best Italian restaurants in San Diego. This is your sign to go. I came here for pasta, pizza, octopus, mock-tails and I conclude: everything on the menu is a hit. I have been here several times now and tried the spaghetti neri (even once I ordered the neri with tagliatelle instead of spaghetti...) I've separately ordered the tagliatelle al ragu d'agnello and if you are thinking about ordering this dish just do it. Not only is the sauce dairy free but the lamb ragu is one of the best meat sauces I have ever tried. It is so creamy. I could eat this everyday. Finally I recently tried the spaghetti di zafferano con gamberi and this dish is spectacular. Again based on taste alone I would eat this everyday. But the dairy in this one is heavy for me so i won't. The pizza here is made with a dough that is soft and perfectly crispy. I recommend the margarita. I try to get it every time I visit. One more item that I think everyone should consider is the octopus. Monello has figured out the way to cook octopus. The octopus I was served here was actually perfect, and I'm not usually a fan of octopus. I've thought about coming here just to order that dish in its own. The portion is huge, too! Onto the service! It's amazing. I always get served by the same servers and they're so cool. It's been a while since I was last in the restaurant so I'm not remembering any names but the service is always quick and helpful. They also helped me out with choosing what to order on several occasions. If you opt to choose the cheese wheel pasta you'll get to see a whole show as well. Finally the ambiance of this restaurant is great. On that corner of little Italy the traffic is not too bad and outdoor seating is always a good option. However I usually choose to sit inside! Monello has huge glass windows and always has a good light balance. It's never too dim in here, even during the evenings. In sum, I recommend this restaurant for all purposes. Birthdays, dates, networking, etc- just come enjoy some of the best Italian that SD offers beside a pleasant ambiance and apt team of servers. read more

Monello - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Really great fresh pasta!! We came to try the fresh pasta and it was delicious. We tried the truffle tortellini, meat polenta, and of course the cheese wheel pasta. My only complaint was that none of the dishes were hot. Everything was pretty much room temperature. I would love to come back and try again though... there is just something SO good about fresh pasta. There is nothing like it! read more

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I highly recommend making a reservation especially on weekends. Once you check in at the hostess station, process is pretty smooth; they'll check you in using your phone number and you'll be notified via text once the table is ready. They didn't give me an option to dine inside and was seated outside. The heater can get really warm but they will adjust the temp based on how you feel/your preference. I had their spaghetti Neri con polipo (black ink pasta with octopus and lobster bisque sauce). Very tasty- My waiter was ok. He tried to upsell too hard... I'd be happy to come back and try other stuff :) read more

Monello - Spaghetti Neri Con Polipo $28 as of May 2024 - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Went in a Saturday night early, around 6pm. 5 minute wait for an inside table. The restaurant is loud, being made of glass and concrete. Service was prompt and pleasant. I ordered the cheese wheel tagliatelle with meatballs and asparagus. The dish came and looked deceivingly small, but never seemed to empty. The pasta was perfect, the cheese sauce rich but not overly so, and I thoroughly enjoyed my dish. I look forward to coming back here and trying the rest of the menu. read more

Monello - Dining Room - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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phenomenal! Best service and outstanding marinara sauce and the calamari was divine!! Definitely fully deserved a positive review!

We heard good things and we wanted to try it out. I don't see the appeal. We tried the calamari, the cheese wheel pasta special, and the tortelloni. The cheese wheel pasta special was salty and lacked flavor. Did they really prepare it in a cheese wheel? Who knows because it wasn't tableside. The mushroom tortelloni had an overwhelming taste of garlic and mushroom. I love garlic and I love mushroom even more but this dish fell flat for me. The staff wasn't all too friendly. Not just one person, but the majority of them. There was one employee (maybe a host) who was more attentive than our waiter. Runners who fill up water only fill up water half full and run off to other tables look overworked. We ordered our appetizer and expected to order our dinner shortly after. Fast forward to eating our appetizer and waiting for place the rest of our order with our MIA waiter. He finally comes by and we order our dinner. The food comes out super fast but the food was warm, not hot. What's going on here?? We don't see our waiter again until 20 mins after finishing our meal. At this point, we've gotten more attention from the food runners. Our waters were barely topped off. We had to get our own box for our leftovers and flag the waiter down for the check. We sat outside next to the heater. The cold breeze on one side and the hot heater on the other. I wouldn't liked to be inside but it is what it is. It seems to be that they added all these tables outside but didn't add the additional staff to accommodate the customers. The line to the bathroom was ridiculous. Two single bathrooms for the entire restaurant?? Guests would spend most of their time in this line than sitting down enjoying their lukewarm pasta. read more

Been wanting to try new places in little Italy and stumbled upon here that's just right off the main strip. Came on a Thursday night and it was busy but we got seated without a reservation fairly quickly outside. We ordered a prosciutto pizza to share which was amazing. Portion was huge and generous servings of prosciutto on top. The balsamic vinaigrette really put it to the next level for us. We also ordered a creamy shrimp pasta (forgot the name) and a lamb ragu. Lamb ragu was probably the best thing we ate here and I'd come back just for that. read more

Monello - Tagliatelle Al Ragu Dagnello - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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After watching some Italian pasta cooking show, we decided to go and try a cheese wheelpasta...Monello was recommended by a friend. I did notify our waiter that my boys would like to watch how to prepare their pasta when its theirs by the wheel but guess what??? They did it and did not let us know, it was just served all of a sudden. I noticed how other guest were notified, EXCEPT for us. I am so disappointed as this is the only reason why we went to this place, considering the price is also high. We were finally asked to come over to watch somebody else's pasta with the owner being there as well. So awkward! So turned them down out of courtesy of the owner's food and just asked for our check. Food is okay, i say Giardino over at lemon grove still have the best calamari and lobster bisque. Not coming back. I dont think everyone is being treated the same in this restaurant. read more

Monello - The served cheese wheel pasta and lasagna - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Loved this place! The food, ambiance and service were all excellent. We ordered the tagliatelle and lasagna and they were both amazing. I don't think you could go wrong here, will have to come back! read more

Monello - Tagliatelle Al Ragu Dagnello and Lasagna Monello - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Always a delicious experience! I wanted to add this time that there Parmesan production on their dishes are superb- went with a friend -she chooses this place every time she's in town, blown away by the friendly staff and delicious food. read more

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Everything was amazing! Great Presseco and the pasta is made fresh daily! Definitely worth the trip and price. Service was quick and they made sure were we warm out on the patio. Definitely bummed they don't bring the cheese wheel to the table anymore but we'll definitely be back! read more

Monello - Ravioli Di Gamberi - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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I haven't been back in so long and finally had the chance to come back in! We made a reservation and were seated inside. They do have a cute patio area as well! We started with burrata and the supplis. We were still waiting on a couple people and our server was super patient. Once everyone arrived, I ordered the squid ink spaghetti with clams. It was great as always and made me realize I need to come back more often! read more

I had made a large group reservation originally for 15 people really easily by contacting the restaurant. Our party sized changed due to covid, but it was nice that there was no minimum for a party that size and they were flexible. Service was quick, especially for a larger party. (it's been a while since I went and my review posting regarding covid affecting plans) Also, the cheese wheel pasta was amazing and obviously very photoworthy! Will be returning to see what the new cheese wheel special is. read more

Service was great and they let you take your time to enjoy. The food was tasty and the cheese wheel adds a nice experience. read more

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If you're ever in little Italy San Diego you must try Monello. The atmosphere is so fun the music is wonderful the staff are so attentive not to mention the delicious food they serve... We started with the baby Parm that was served with warm bread and we ate it just like a basket of french fries so creamy and shaved perfectly to the taste buds.... We had grilled octopus with arugula with tomato, and since we both love octopus so much we had the Ink squid pasta with octopus and a delicious spicy cream sauce... and a bottle of the Pinot Grigio.. unfortunately there was no room for dessert but believe me we will be back... read more

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Food was absolutely delicious! This is definitely not the place for you if you're in a rush, as the dishes are made to order and parking is an absolute nightmare! This are a few pay for parking lots semi around the area (5 min walk or so) if you don't luck out and snag a spot on the street. Nice wine selection! I enjoy the Tortellini Al Tartufo and I cannot get it outta my mind! Another person at our table enjoyed the cheese wheel pasta...an absolute MUST! Service was friendly just a little on the slower side but it's understandable. Very uptown NY vibes inside (dark/romantic) great for date night although my group was mixed coworkers. Seating is a little tight but they make it work. read more

Monello - Tortelloni Al Tartufo - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Thanks to my friend Tiffany's review here on Yelp for the heads up that Monello has cheese wheel pasta...! We were in Little Italy wandering around after happy hour, so my friends and I stopped by Monello and ordered some cheese wheel pasta, Caesar salad, and gnocchi ragu. Our server was super kind and friendly, and the vibe on the outdoor patio was nice and pretty relaxing, especially considering how busy the area was. We shared the Caesar salad which was really delicious, and completely covered in huge ribbons of cheese. If you're not a cheese lover, I don't think Monello is going to be for you. Seriously, so much cheese! When they were ready to make the cheese wheel pasta, we were invited to come inside to watch the preparation, so of course I got a video. The cheese wheel is 60 pounds and they go through one every week. EVERY WEEK!! The employee making our dish said they make 50 to 100 of the cheese wheel pasta dishes each night. Crazy! The recipe for the dish changes weekly, too, so it's an incentive to come back and try it again and again. Ours had orecchiette pasta with bacon, and of course... cheese. It was truly incredible. The portion size was generous too. The only thing I wasn't a fan of was the gnocchi. The texture of the gnocchi was fine, but the ragu sauce gave me some serious Chef Boyardee vibes, at least in flavor. It was a massive portion, which would have been great if we liked the dish. We did take home the leftovers but they weren't any better later, unfortunately. Luckily the cheese wheel pasta made up for the gnocchi and I would absolutely go back for more in the future if I'm back! read more

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