We love Roger's. It's a smaller restaurant in a smaller plaza, but don't underestimate!…read moreEverything is always prepared fresh and everything we've ordered has been delicious. In fairness, that's not much because we love the Stromboli, pasta, and Philly cheesesteak so much that we order the same thing every time! Speaking of Stromboli, you can find calzone anywhere, but Roger's is the only place in East County that we've been able to find and it's excellent! Did I mention that the staff are just about as nice as can be? Because they are. Go.

Had take out for Father's Day!! Italian sub and meatballs subs are amazing! Fries were ok, jalapeño…read morepoppers were good! The stars here are their sandwiches!!

A secret of east El Cajon, or just south of the 8 in essentially Lakeside, not far from Santee--we…read morestopped for dinner after picking up supplies at a neighboring store. They are still sticking to the original recipes and I appreciate the dough of our Italian Sausage & Mushroom pizza. We also shared a Caesar salad. I like that they have a room for private events - they had the Padres game on in that room. Our server would pass by a few times so that we could ask her for anything additional. We skipped dessert this time. Our pizza was better the second day! The way they prepare mushrooms was the way my hometown pizza place did. And the CHEESE! So delicious and melt-y!!!! Enjoy it

Went in to purchase cannoli shells Staff was very helpful…read morebut I thought the shells were overpriced Lesson Learned I ordered the house torpedo to-go and the whole sandwich was PERFECT

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

I would like to give Dolci Cafe Italiano a huge shout out and a stellar review!…read more 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!

been going there for years and years absolutely love the…read moreservice and food i would drive miles for the best quality of food.

We ventured to the other side of El Cajon tonight to try out the early bird special and 1/2 price…read moreappetizers. Opening the door we were greeted with the old school charm of a restaurant that has been around for over 50 years. Our server was delightful and very fast. In fact the entire staff had a warm energetic family feel. And, happily we beat the rush giving us the ability to hear each other and take our time enjoying the meal. Dad and I started with the chicken tortellini soup which was a little too salty for us. Tortellini was slightly overcooked making it flowery and missing meat or cheese. Mom's house salad was ok. She did comment on being disappointed in the oil served with it. Our appetizer was shrimp scampi. This was good, full of flavor. Shrimp was slightly overcooked giving it a semi rubbery edge. On to the entrees. They were huge! I had lasagna. I think when you see it delivered in a sea of sauce you need to be a bit wary. The sauce was spicy, as it should be. Noodles were thick and prominent . Sadly that left little to no room for my favorite part - cheese and meat which were limited. Dad gave the manicotti a try which was ok. Mom had eggplant parmesan, one of her favs. Her sauce was a little bit tart. Eggplant was a nice moist and tender slice with just the right amount of cheese. She loved how the strands of spaghetti wrapped around her fork so she could dip it into the sauce without a spoon. Yup, she really liked the Pasta. Overall she felt it was a nice Italian meal. Very popular spot as it filled up before 6pm and a party of 30 was expected! You can see it's a neighborhood

Jen did a terrific job! She is straight-up the epitome of awesomeness. Staff is incredible. Great…read moreteamwork. Food is out of this world. The best cuisine I have ever had in my entire life. I would have eaten everything on the menu if I could. You will never find another restaurant like this one. Just when you thought the last dish was tops, yet another incredibly delicious and perfectly presented meal was delivered to our table. Buona appetito!! Extras: The complimentary focaccia bread was fabulous. The staff stayed late for us. Coming up on a holiday weekend, too. (We unwittingly didn't realize how late it was. We weren't rushed whatsoever.) The staff is all just fantastic. Everyone was very sweet! Jen offered refills on the drinks. Very personable. The staff makes you feel like family here! The food makes your taste buds do the Tarentella Siciliana! Your taste buds will dance with delight!

Tried Ottavio's in Lakeside for the first time last night, and overall, it was a really great…read moreexperience. From the moment we walked in, you could tell the place was slammed--but in the best way. The energy was high, and the staff worked seamlessly as a team to keep everything running smoothly. A special shoutout to our bartender, Leah, who was absolutely fantastic. Even with how busy it was, she stayed attentive, friendly, and made us feel taken care of the entire night. We started with the mussels in clam sauce, and they were outstanding--fresh, flavorful, and a perfect way to kick things off. For entrées, we ordered the short rib ravioli and the carbonara. The short rib ravioli was a standout--rich, tender, and packed with flavor. The carbonara, while still enjoyable, could have been executed a bit better. It didn't quite hit the mark compared to everything else, but it was a small note in an otherwise excellent meal. To top it all off, we were treated to dessert since it was our first visit, which was a really thoughtful touch and left a lasting impression. Between the hardworking team, great atmosphere, and mostly fantastic food, Ottavio's definitely delivered. Even with a minor hiccup on one dish, we left impressed and would absolutely come back again.

My daughter graduated from ECVHS and chose TPI for her graduation dinner. I attempted to make…read morereservations earlier in the week, not realizing the restaurant closes early. Tonya assured me not to worry about the timing and went above and beyond to accommodate us. Needless to say, my daughter thoroughly enjoyed her graduation dinner. I truly appreciate the dedication, flexibility, and commitment Tonya and her staff showed to make her special day memorable. Thank you for the excellent service and hospitality!

We just had another amazing meal at Testo Pepesto, and somehow it feels like they've gotten even…read morebetter than before. This place has always been a favorite of ours, but tonight everything was especially on point. The atmosphere is old school, warm, and classic, with that true Italian ambience that makes you want to stay awhile. My family and I love coming here and we always end up ordering a little bit of everything: pasta, pizza, and of course the lasagna. And as an added bonus, Mondays they do half off lasagna, which is honestly a steal because it's worth every dollar at full price. Consistently great food, great vibes, and always a spot we're happy to come back to. Highly recommend!

Five stars. And I mean every one of them. I had driven past…read moreAromi countless times before my son finally convinced me to go for my birthday dinner. I had been looking at the pictures on Yelp all day, just getting myself excited. It did not disappoint. We arrived with a 6pm reservation on a Monday. When the host mentioned only outdoor tables were available, I asked if we could wait for something inside (the outdoor space is enclosed, but you can still see the parking lot, and it was my birthday. I wanted cozy). A second host appeared shortly after, took us to a table inside without hesitation, and turned out to be our server, Brad. So already, off to a good start. And cozy is the right word. The interior is adorable, exactly the kind of neighborhood Italian spot you hope exists but rarely find. The kind you want to be a regular at. Our server introduced himself as Brad. "I'm a Bradley, not a Bradford," he said. "Ah, as in Bradley Cooper," I replied. We were off to a good start. When I mentioned how old I was turning, he said he didn't believe me and asked to see my ID. I happily obliged. He then found out I wasn't planning to order wine because my stomach was being fussy, and before I could say another word, he said he'd bring me a taste of his favorite white. The Gavi di Gavi was delicate and lovely. Delicate stomach be damned. We started with the Burrata e Prosciutto (burrata, prosciutto, shaved parm, and honey). The camera eats first, of course. Simple, and absolutely divine. For my entree, I had been set on the Tonnarelli Cacio e Pepe all day, but Brad's description of the seafood squid ink pasta changed my mind on the spot. No regrets whatsoever. My son had the Fettuccine Tartufo with salsiccia, and my nephew went with the Carbonara. Everyone was happy. And then there was the tiramisu, made tableside, three spoons. Enough said. The entire experience was exactly what a birthday dinner should be, the kind that reminds you why you go out in the first place. Going out to eat is expensive now, and you feel every dollar. When it's worth it, it really stands out, and Aromi was worth it. If every restaurant had a server like Brad, who was attentive as if he had a personal stake in your evening, more people would keep coming back. I'll definitely be one of them.

Very pleased on coming here for my 55th birthday! Excellent Sicilian food, excellent ambiance and…read moreexcellent service! A true tri-fecta that is close to us in La Mesa. We will be back!

Delicious.... Friendly service…read more.. Best pizza in town.... Great for the whole family too meet up and have have a great meal

This location has gone downhill significantly. I loved the gluten free pizza - sad to lose a staple…read morein my takeout arsenal. The crust was so horrible that I actually scraped the toppings off and ate them separately. My husband got a meatball side to add and going in I was happy he didn't have to have an entirely disappointing experience: enter reality. His statement was that it was a ball of meat but it seems like they forgot to add the flavor packet that actually makes them good. Salad was our last bastion of hope. I've not been so offended by olives in my entire life. Watered down house Italian dressing plus old, papery peppers rounded out the waste of money experience. I guess the upside is that it was bad enough that we didn't eat enough to make it a waste of calories. We eat at the Escondido location as well when we're up there with family and they're amazing. Sadly they keep fresh in our minds what is possible and this location doesn't even try. Not worth the price or wait. I'm sorry they've deprioritized the palatability of food and now I have to deal with La Mesa Surfrider parking in the summer to grab takeout pizza.