We got the special. It was a nice dish--well-prepared and balanced. I've had squid ink pasta at other places where there was nothing special. This was a rich pasta with a white wine sauce and several chunks of seafood. It was a perfect size for sharing (if one weren't that hungry as I wasn't) or for eating on your own. Service was attentive and a pleasant. Matteo seemed to enjoy his job. I would go back and try some of the other dishes. read more

Osteria Romantica - Squid ink pasta with seafood (tonight's special) - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

This was a restaurant located just a block away from our hotel...so we decided to check it out for a late dinner. We sat out on their casual patio, and were able to enjoy the gorgeous sunset views! I tried their Farfalle Salmone E Vodka, and it was DEE-Lish! I think my husband tried one of the Pollo dishes, but can't remember the name. We also had the Fried Calamari for appetizer, which was solid. Service was also really good here, despite the bustling crowd. read more

See all

RUDEST WAITER EVER - AVOID THIS PLACE - Visited a few weeks ago and took my Mom here for her B day. After about 45 mins I see the waiter who took order see us, turn around, run to hostess then disappear. Hostess comes over to get our order again. Waiter clearly forgot to put the order in. Took over an hour to get food when restaurant was probably half capacity and others were in and out that came after us. No apology or mention of any error from the server, who acted like nothing happened. Hostess brought out some bruschetta bread that was stale as tasteless before the food came. Waiter never came by for drink order as we finished drinks early on and wanted to order more. Luckily the busser stopped by once to fill our waters. At the end of the meal which took well over an hour to be served, when restaurant was not busy and it was obvious our order was not put in, I asked to speak with the manager. The waiter immediately gets upset and very aggressively almost yelling saying what do to want the manager for? I let him know we waiter over an hour to eat and that they clearly forgot to put our order in. Asked that bill be reduced by 50% which seemed fair considering the circumstances and horrible service and evening wasted there. he continues to speak rudely to me , says manager isn't in but he will call him and adds that we waited 25 mins (clearly a lie) and says "you must have never been to a real Italian restaurant before" and walks away.... He finally comes back as I continue to be polite to him as I was the entire evening, I asked him why would he say to me I've never been an Italian restaurant before and be unnecessarily rude... he again is aggressively rude in his tone, says what does it matter you got what you wanted right? As manager did approve 50% off meals only, drops the bill and walks away......: i understand everyone has bad days but this guy was awful from the get go, took zero accountability for not putting in the order, and then was insultingly disrespectful. I would never dine here again and recommend everyone else to avoid this place as well. This was a short thin guy with a beard and an accent, if you see him serving best do whatever is possible to avoid him being horrible and aggressively rude for no reason. Overall food was bland and nothing special as well, but obvisouly this review is strictly based on interactions with the worst server of all time. Still left a bit of a tip for the sake of the busboy but this guy deserved nothing. Hard to believe that an expensive restaurant in an area like this would allow this type of behavior from their staff. read more

My lunch friends were so excited to eat lunch here because we heard the gnoochi was excellent. First of all, the service was great! The young lady was very attentive and helped with our requests but the food was a disappointment. The salad was very good but the gnocchi was not The parmesan sauce was very heavy for the supposedly delicate gnocchi. read more

Osteria Romantica - Gnoochi - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

See all

I was honestly thrown off by this restaurant because several people claimed it was authentic, the restaurant was full, and the decor gave off "from Italy" vibes. The restaurant also lists "authentic" on their site. Don't be fooled! Ordered the Cappellini Mari E Monti and the dish tasted home made...like when I make pasta with Ragu and the noodles come out past al dente and overdone. We also got the Pappardelle, which was tasty but we definitely were bloated and had food poisoning later that evening. The service was attentive so I'll give them that but otherwise, the food here was absolutely disappointing. read more

See all

The food is amazing, the desert is dreamy and this shot of espresso is heavily especially after the shore rider issue. Glad I came back to Osteria where the food and dessert are always served with a smile and friendly conversation read more

Osteria Romantica - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

Food was fresh, delicious, and very plentiful. You will not leave hungry. Very good value for the amount of food that you get compared to other restaurants on the street. read more

See all

Normally when I go down to Avenida de la Playa, I am going for Piatti. I didn't have a reservation on a Friday night, but was still feeling Italian. Conveniently, Osteria Romantica is right across the street! Service is insanely fast and attentive. The bread didn't quite measure up to Piatti, but the pesto pasta was delicious!! It had the perfect amount of creaminess and the green beans added a great crunch. The tiramisu hit the spot. Prices are very fair for the neighborhood-would try again! read more

This is my third time here over many years, and this place has been amazing every time. From their welcoming service to cute and cozy patio, and their super tasty and fresh food, this is a place I keep wanting to come back every time I'm in La Jolla. This time we got linguini Nere and the halibut. They were both amazing . It had all the right seasonings and flavors. I can't wait to come back read more

Osteria Romantica - Linguine Nere - with caviar and creamy leak sauce. So amazing - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

See all

We found you on Yelp! So glad we did, walked up to patio seating. The menu has many delicious dishes, had eggplant marina tasted so good! We also had tiramisu, it was so heavenly tasting! When I'm in La Jolla I will definitely be back! Thank You read more

Osteria Romantica - Delicious tiramisu one of the best - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

See all

my family has been coming here for years for the excellent food, service, and italian dining experience! we started with the artichoke, which was beautifully tender and marinated nicely with herbs. a must try, even if you aren't a huge artichoke person it may surprise you! you must try their fresh, in-house made pesto! the linguine al pesto was bright and refreshing, i have never had a pasta dish feel so clean! we ended with a decadent tiramisu, so creamy and light with the perfect amount of sweetness to end an incredible meal! read more

See all

First time at this little gem and I enjoyed the service and food. Our waiter was friendly, helpful and gave us suggestions. I had the halibut and bruschetta. Very tasty. The decor inside was clean and beautiful!! I will be back! read more

Osteria Romantica - Halibut - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

See all

Quaint, mom and pop restaurant with walls covered in all sorts of cute Italian themed kitchen items. Tables are covered in an adorable red and white traditional cloth, and a small square of white butcher paper! Highly recommend to sit inside and enjoy the lovely ambiance. Lots of choices on the menu! Server Andrea was fantastic - recommending dishes and appetizers to get started! They make their own pasta and ravioli in house - fresh, flavorful and so delicious!! Highly recommend a stop! Make a reservation if it's a weekend, this place stays very busy, and for good reason! read more

See all

This place is the real deal. We had a great all around Italian experience here. Starting with the server, moving on through the food, and finishing with the dessert. Love this place! read more

See all

Osteria Romantica has always had the best service and food anywhere. We would really recommend this restaurant Peter & Judy Corrente read more

Adorable restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. The staff spoke Italian and the dishes were fabulous. read more

Osteria Romantica - Mushroom Ravioli - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

See all

Great Italian spot! I chose a chicken dish that was absolutely wonderful. The chicken was moist and flavorful and the ricotta and spinach inside was delicious. The wait staff were kind and made you feel like you were eating in their grandmothers kitchen. The tiramisu melted in my mouth and I'd go back just for that. There is ample seating inside and outside. Definitely will be back the next time we are in La Jolla! read more

See all

I have been here twice now and it's always great! The first time, Simoné was our server. As a group of 6 we stayed way past closing, and he was amazing the entire time! He even comped a plate we didn't like, just such accommodating service. He was a pleasure! The second time, my spouse and I went on our own we had another server who was very kind. He recommended a great Italian wine and was very nice. Getting there is a bit tough because there's always a lot of cars going in and out of La Jolla. Parking is only street parking, so you do have to circle and look for it. I've never had trouble and the walk back to the car is nice after a big meal! read more

Osteria Romantica is our favourite restaurant. It reminds me of eating at the restaurants in the piazza in Italy, where your neighbours and friends stop by to say hello. The staff is very friendly and they stop by to say "hi" as well! Great service and, with a smile from the bus boys to the manager Fabio Speziale. I am Italian and love authentic Italian food. We bring our relatives here whenever they visit and, they all remember the restaurant and love it. We use Osteria for catering events as well. We recommend Osteria Romantica for the experience and the food. Lia, LaJolla read more

The staff was attentive, and our server was super friendly willing to take time explaining the dishes. All of the food tasted very fresh and you can tell it was made and presented with Care. Highly recommend the artichoke appetizer and radicchio salad! They have a lot of options for vegetarian or vegan preferences as well. We sat outside, but the inside is very cute and creatively decorated too. Definitely recommend and would go back! read more

Osteria Romantica - Outside table - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

I met a colleague for dinner at this superb Italian restaurant in La Jolla. It's a small , locally owned restaurant with great food and eccellent service. read more

How have we missed this restaurant? We were celebrating a friends birthday and walked in this afternoon. What a gem! The Tre Sorelle salad was the perfect start to our meal. We had the Halibut with lemon-butter caper sauce, served with artichokes and mushrooms on a bed of sautéed spinach and potatoes. Yum! The Linguine Di Mare was delicious, large amounts of nicely sized shrimp with mussels and clams. The Lasagna was the best I have ever had in a restaurant. Just delicious. Dessert was a generous serving of a Strawberry Cake (can't remember the exact name), creamy, light and the perfect end to a meal. We had the Limoncello Spritz; no other spritz can compare. read more

See all

We LOVE this place. I usually end up with a daily special, but everything is hot and delicious, the service is wonderful and even the prices are reasonable. We end up eating here 3 or 4 times per month. Enjoy ! read more

From start to finish, we had a wonderful dinner here. We were warmly greeted and sat inside; the decor made us feel very much like we were visiting Rome. Service from Vincenzo was excellent and the specials we ordered were very good and fairly priced. Don't miss the cannoli for dessert! Highly recommend. read more

Osteria Romantica - Seafood risotto with lobster tail - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

See all

This is a pretty good Italian restaurant in La Jolla Shores. There's indoor and outdoor seating -- the latter is nice on a warm evening. We've eaten here a few times with friends. The food and service are very good. Do I have a favorite dish or two? Yes ... the Linguine Nere is very good -- squid ink linguine with scallops and shrimp in a cream sauce. So is the Penne Vittorio -- penne with sausage, bell peppers and mushrooms in a spicy tomato sauce. I've also enjoyed veal dishes here. Street parking only ... be patient. read more

Osteria Romantica - Exterior - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

See all

Food was pretty good at this restaurant and tastes like authentic Italian food. Everyone who works there seems to be Italian too which really adds to the charm of the place. We were a big group of 10 and we all had a great meal. All the dishes look delicious, especially my friend's Oso bucco dish. I'll need to come back for that dish next time. Parking was an issue. We had to park blocks away and it wasn't even a busy weekend. We were there on a week night. Complimentary tiramisu for birthdays was a nice touch. read more

See all

Very charming restaurant--we were able to make a last minute reservation for 6 people at 8:30 PM on a Saturday. Service was super kind and attentive, and the ambiance was cozy. I liked the eggplant mozarella appetizer, and the savoriness and mix of textures was pleasant--would order this again. I also enjoyed the squid ink linguine, which had a reasonable portion of seafood like shrimp and scallops. Pasta was cooked al dente and the ratio of sauce was ideal. Would definitely recommend if you're looking for an Italian spot in La Jolla. read more

See all

The food was amazing, and that special wow it was something else. The ambience service were great. I would highly recommend!

We had a light lunch here - spinach salad with figs and carpaccio salmon over arugula - both fresh both good. Their warm bread roll is excellent. Nice location near La Jolla Shores beach. Indoor and outdoor seating. Fast friendly service. read more

See all

Attended a birthday party there resently, excellent food and the staff were exceptional. Great evening, will be back! Can't wait to try everything. read more

Osteria Romantica - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

The food was great, perfectly seasoned and a good sized portion. Our server, Danko, was absolutely amazing and made the experience great. I would recommend! read more

Osteria Romantica - Farfalle Salmone E Vodka Farfalle Salmone E Vodka Gnocchi Gratinati - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

The gnocchi is literally my favorite I keep coming back here just for this dish it is soooo indulgent and rich and cheesy and the gnocchi is the softest and most fresh I have ever had!! I love it so much read more

Osteria Romantica - Gnocchi Gratinati - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

See all

Food, service, ambience truly like being in Italy. Authentic ingredients, beautifully prepared. Service warm and attentive. Best Italian restaurant we've encountered in California! read more

Made a reservation (no option to specify indoor or outdoor) and when we arrived they said only outdoor was possible. I was with my elderly grandparents so didn't want them to catch a cold since it was getting chilly after the sun set and the heat lamp near us was broken so it took 20min for them to get a new one. The server was polite but always seemed to be in a rush and seemed to be covering quite a few tables. Our food came out quickly but the table next to us waited over 45min for their steak to arrive. The black ink pasta touted caviar on top (it was tasteless and very poor quality) and the pasta itself was pretty bland. I asked the server before I ordered it and he said it was heavy and creamy; however the sauce I received with it was light and watery. The halibut was pretty dry. The lamb pasta was the best though and you could clearly tell the noodles were handmade well! If I were in the area again I would probably try a different place but this meal was just fine. read more

See all

Tried this place for the very first time on a Thursday night for a girl's night. Was honestly not that impressed. First of all, our waiter was not very kind or accommodating and seemed to be rushing us through our dinner. We had arrived at 5pm and there were plenty of open tables around us so I did not appreciate his abrasive demeanor. The pastas we tried were all very saucy but there seems to be some flavor missing. I ordered the linguine nere and while there was a decent amount of seafood, it was lacking flavor. Parking in this area is extremely difficult so be sure to give yourself plenty of time. There are definitely plenty of other options for better Italian food and service in La Jolla. read more

See all

The Romantica salad was great! I ordered the Fettuccine, Ubriache. I asked the waiter if the Brandy sauce was a cream sauce he said yes. The sauce was not a cream sauce nor did it have any flavor of Brandy. Tasted more like a wine sauce. The waiter never came over to ask how our food was or if we needed anything else, he was missing in action until he brought the bill to us. Service was not good. read more

This was our first time here. We came before going to a play at La Jolla Playhouse on a Sunday evening. Our waiter Danko was wonderful. Very attentive and took all of our changes in our orders without a problem. Very accommodating. I had the veal Marsala and I wanted pasta with it rather than vegetables. My sister-in-law wanted the pasta without the chicken and wanted meatballs instead. And there were four of us and we wanted salads split and they did everything perfect. It wasn't very busy when we got there around 5 o'clock, but by the time we left the place was really hopping. We had a lit of their house Chianti that was delicious. We also had affogato for dessert. I forgot to take a picture, but they were very good and served in a tall glass. We all enjoyed our meals. Veal Marsala is one of my favorite dishes to get out. This one was good, but really didn't have any marsala flavor unfortunately. The veal wasn't as tender as I'm used to, but it was still good and I could cut it with a knife. Other than that, everything was fantastic. And we would recommend. read more

See all

The only disappointing part of our meal was the complimentary bread. Other than that, I enjoyed the home like Italian vibe of the place. The service was great and everything that we ordered was delicious. Definitely worth trying if you're in the area. read more

See all

Amazing food, ambiance, and service! After leaving a weeklong vacation in La Jolla, we stopped in at this hole in the wall, traditional authentic Italian restaurant. We were greeted with authentic accents, homemade pasta, and amazing wine. Bruschetta and artichokes were the best appetizers! The carbonara was a hit, and the linguine nere was to die for. After dinner, we finished with the tiramisu that tasted like a cloud, delicious cream puffs, and an unforgettable cheesecake. 10 out of 10 would recommend, and would definitely come back here in the future! P.S. the amount of wine they give you in a glass is something to be noted! read more

See all

I would highly recommend Osteria Romantica. The food was delicious and very authentic Italian food. The service we received was the best I've had in a long time; our waiter was very sweet and attentive. We ordered the Romantica salad which was simple and light. The Spaghetti Carbonara was perfectly al dente and the sauce was creamy but not heavy. My friend ordered the Risotto and it was a great suggestion from the waiter. We of course finished with a slice of tiramisu. Overall, I was very impressed and will be going back next time I visit California. read more

Osteria Romantica - Spaghetti Carbonara - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California