The restaurant is beautiful. Typical italian food, the best in San Diego. Mario, the founder of the place, is very kind. Service is very quick and friendly. read more

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Came on a Friday afternoon and got sat with Brandon. He was very knowledgeable and offered great recommendations. Makes a really mean limoncello too, would recommend getting it! The norma pasta was delicious with eggplants and the salmorosa offered a lighter flavor with the salmon being the perfect bites. The portions are large and took home half of the pasta to go. Will definitely need to come back read more

Trattoria Da Sofia - norma with guanciale and salmorosa with spicy pink sauce - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Fun Fact: Trattoria da Sofia brings a taste of traditional Italian cooking to San Diego, with a menu full of homemade pastas, gnocchi and classic Italian dishes. - I came here specifically for the pasta and was definitely not disappointed. We ordered the Pistacchiosa and the Cacio e Pepe Gnocchi, and both were really good. The Pistacchiosa was rich, creamy and full of pistachio flavor, while the Cacio e Pepe Gnocchi had that classic cheesy, peppery flavor you want from cacio e pepe. The gnocchi was soft and pillowy without being overly heavy. And the portions are VERY generous. We were definitely not leaving hungry, and I appreciated that the dishes felt substantial for the price. Overall, the food was the highlight of the meal. Both pastas were flavorful, comforting and well executed, and I would happily come back to try more of the menu. Unfortunately, there was one pretty major issue during our visit: flies. There were TONS of house flies flying around the restaurant and repeatedly landing around AND on our food. And I don't mean one random fly that happens to get inside. They were around throughout pretty much our entire meal. We mentioned it to our waiter, but unfortunately there wasn't really anything they could do about it. It's hard to fully enjoy a meal when you're constantly trying to keep flies away from your plate, especially when you're sitting there with a nice plate of pasta that you actually want to enjoy. So while the food itself would have easily been a 5-star experience for me, the flies unfortunately brought the overall experience down. Still, the Pistacchiosa and Cacio e Pepe Gnocchi were both excellent, and the portions were some of the most generous I've had at an Italian restaurant in a while. 4 stars, with the food deserving more, but the fly situation definitely needs to be addressed. read more

Trattoria Da Sofia - Pistacchiosa - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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We were very happy with both the service and food here, it was our first time trying this restaurant and it did not disappoint. Appetizers: Calamari & veggies 10/10 Well seasoned and cooked to perfection, it tasted and smelled so fresh and delicious! Garlic bread (marinera, pesto, aioli) 10/10 The bread was perfectly seasoned and toasted, all 3 dipping sauces were absolutely amazing! Entrees: Tartufosa 10/10 Creamy and flavorful, very generous amount of mushrooms Al Pomodoro 10/10 Simple, traditional, but of so tasty Ravioli de Carne 10/10 Great flavor, creamy with just the right amount of delicious carne Agnello Al Pistacchio 7/10 Pricier of the entrees but unfortunately was not cooked medium rare, it was slightly over and a little dry. Served with broccolini which was delicious and some potatoes. Filetto al barolo 6/10 Another one of the pricier dish that sadly SA disappointment. Filet was over cooked (asked for medium rare but tasted and felt like medium well) not tender and a little on the drier side. Served over spinach was a little bland and we asked for regular mashed parties which were nothing to write home about. We tried 3 different drinks: Sofia- which is similar to a spicy margarita 10/10 (amazing) Pick me up aka Tiramisu- wasn't too bad, but sweeter than I would've preferred 7/10 Pinot Nero 9.5/10 Smooth and slightly fruity We were celebrating a birthday so the service was great and the staff are all pleasant and very accommodating. The decor and seating is very authentic and cute, we especially loved their ceramic water pitchers. Overall the food and experience were great, the only thing is if you eat inside it definitely gets pretty loud. Definitely recommend this cute little restaurant and will be back again. read more

Trattoria Da Sofia - Calamari, garlic bread, Pinot Nero, Sofia - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Lots of street parking around restaurant. Once inside we were in time for Happy Hour. We were greeted and served right away. We got drinks, flatbread, meatballs, and salad all on Happy Hour!! Delicious! Then I had lobster ravioli with shrimp so good and huge portion, my husband had the bolognese! We were stuffed! Loved it! read more

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Great service, very family type of environment. The food was delicious and portions were very generous. Came here to celebrate my birthday and had a great time! read more

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Visited for dinner after a local sushi spot had no seating. Italian again, wah. To our surprise Sofia Trattoria was not too crowded, and we were able to get a table. We immediately ordered some drinks, and our server was friendly and awesome. The inside of the restaurant is decorated with clothes hanging on clothing lines and the walls are painted like you are sitting outside; on the streets of Italy. Pretty fun. The restaurant itself is relatively large, with seating closer to the entrance and then you have the actual larger seating part of the restaurant. They also have outdoor seating, so yeah lots of seating options. Onto the food. Yum! I forget you don't have to eat pasta at an Italian restaurant. Given that I wasn't in the mood for carbs, to the entrees we went. I ordered the: - Chicken Piccata- yum! It's served with mash and broccolini. The capers, lemon butter and wine sauce made for the perfect bite. - Agnello al Pistachhio- rack of lamb with potatoes and broccolini Both dishes were excellent. *The only feedback I have: Some of the smaller tables are very close to much larger tables. For example our party of two was sitting in a corner quietly enjoying our dinner, about halfway into our dinner a table of 10+ diners with adults and children (under 8) got seated directly behind us. Leaving us with little to no room to move nor breathe and or talk to each other for that matter. I am sensitive to everything (jk) just loud noises and misbehaving children. A couple things for a stronger review and or a second visit from me: A better table from the hostess to begin with would have been great (the restaurant was not too crowded). A server telling the party with lots of children to remain seated. It's not a Corvette Diner or the Station, it's not a brewery with a patio for children to run around, so what's the vibe Sofia? Maybe simply put Trattoria da Sofia caters to large families with children. I have no idea, I don't live in the neighborhood. Is Trattoria da Sofia strictly for those within walking distance to the restaurant? I suppose it's in the name. That is a tough corner, many restaurants come and go from that exact corner. I wish them good luck, and I hope they figure it out. As of now I dont recommend a visit to the Italian Corvette Diner. All they are missing are the loud music and clowns walking around ready to inflate balloons for the kids. Good old Kensington. read more

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Very nice return visit here (#3), after a more disappointing 2nd visit. They didn't have the pistacchioso last time, which I'd loved - and the patio can be cold in the fall/winter, since they only have a few heaters which are not that strong. But we came back on a warm July tonight and had an amazing time. 1. Even though the city is hot: their patio was breezy! I almost wished I had a jacket. 2. Nino was a super server, extremely nice and also funny. 3. Pistacchioso is back! YUM. They're using a different pasta noodle than when I had it last year, but it's the same delicious taste. 4. Sweetie got the chicken parm, which he said was excellent - but also, the portions are too big here! (yes, it makes us tempted to overeat - but we need to stop ourselves & take the rest home!) 5. Comp bread and pasta sauce is still good 6. Because their patio is so breezy, I decided even to get the soup of the day, which was tomato basil (with cream). It was very tasty. 7. Sweetie got a salad with spring mix, walnuts, grapes, pears and blue cheese. I had some walnuts and they were yummy. Only mild disappointment: the hugo spritz, which is my go-to when nothing else is tempting me, was a little watery. It still tasted like a hugo spritz, it still got me buzzed, but the flavor was extremely muted (that's the only way I can describe it). So I'd love for them to tweak the proportions in the recipe. But I still liked it and it was nice to have instead of the Amore cocktail (which is delicious, but gone after 4 sips, instead of the spritz, which I could sip on all meal). Anyway, super time. And we'll be back! read more

Trattoria Da Sofia - Current cocktail menu, July 2026 - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

My favorite restaurant in San Diego! Such a welcoming and amazing staff, that make you feel like family Food was perfect, service was perfect, and restaurant is beautiful Thank you all again for such an amazing experience for my birthday! read more

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We came here for a large party birthday celebration & our table was set up and ready upon arrival. I would recommend parking in the surrounding neighborhood. We had a nice section off to the side of the restaurant so it felt like a semi-private space. The ambiance here is lovely. I love the decor and felt like we were in a little corner of Italy. Our server (I wish I caught his name) was wonderful! He was very attentive and great at making suggestions on the menu. Service was fantastic, food came out quickly. The food blew me away. I had the spicy rigatoni with guanciale. The server did warn it was a bit spicy (he said a 3 out of 10 on the spiciness scale) and I would say it's closer to a 4 out of 10. Not painfully spicy but definitely has a kick! My husband had a fettuccini special with lobster & shrimp in a pink sauce. The pasta was homemade and tasted delicious. Overall, a 10/10 experience and I would recommend it to all!! read more

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@trattoria.da.sofia has such a cozy vibe, especially with their cool and charming interior! The food was served with an authentic Italian twist and, of course, everything was cooked to perfection. read more

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I know there are several reviews including the Spicy Rigatoni, but I still felt the need to do it as it was AMAZING! Truly the best Rigatoni Vodka dish I have had. The sauce was so cream and flavorful and the pasta was cooked perfectly. I added meatballs for a little added protein and that was the perfect addition. We definitely found our new favorite Italian spot! As for the service, I was to highlight a gentleman named Jose. From the moment we walked in he was so sweet and he was great with our toddler. He brought some bread out right away for her, was talking to her, playing hide and go seek and was so friendly when he brought her pasta out (which was also SO tasty!!). He also was so kind to us and helped us throughout the meal to make sure it was a great experience. Overall, it was a wonderful dining experience, the restaurant was clean, quiet, and well decorated. I truly enjoyed this restaurant and know we will be back very soon. read more

Trattoria Da Sofia - Spicy Rigatoni Vodka - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Great food and extremely filling! We ordered the fried burrata and I ordered the lamb ragu. There were large portion sizes and the food was cooked perfectly, the only reason why I made it down a star is because we were sat outside when the sun was setting and I was blinded for a good 30 minutes and distracted from the conversation. I had asked to be moved but they told us that we had already been assigned a server so we had to stay. It was a bit disappointing, but the food was good so I would just recommend sitting inside! read more

Trattoria Da Sofia - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Ordered 2 Hugo sprits from the happy hour menu, a tartufosa pasta, the meatballs, and a pear bruschetta. Everything was really delicious but I think the pear bruschetta could use a little more flavor. It was a little bland. My favorite was definitely the tartufosa - even though it's a mushroom pasta, the mushroom flavor wasn't over powering. It was subtle but flavorful enough. The meatballs were some of the best I've had. Highly recommend the food here. Service was good but nothing over the top. They took great care of us. read more

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Celebrated a birthday here last weekend and had an absolute fantastic experience. The vibes of the restaurant were right on point and the service was on par with everything. Our server was Ercules and he took care of us start to finish. The restaurant was full of energy and just what we were looking for. We had a round of drinks and everyone loved them all start to finish. I particularly loved The Sofia. Appetizers we had the tomatoes and burrata, the artichokes and truffle fries. All of them very good. With a large party it felt like we ordered almost every pasta dish. The portion sizes are big so feel free to bring your appetite. I had what I think was the star of the night. A delicious piece of seabass that was so perfectly cooked that I think about it at least once a week. I'll be back in SD soon and it will be round 2 at this place. read more

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We had a wonderful experience at Sofia for our friends birthday dinner! Thank you to the kind staff. Delicious food! Grazie to Yuri read more

Trattoria Da Sofia - Spicy Rigatoni Vodka - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Came here for dinner finally, with its ideal location on Adams Ave in the heart of Kensington. Service was good on a not so busy day, with our needs met and the seating and serving of the food in an efficient manner. We had the polpette/meatballs, which was soft and covered with a tomato based sauce. Flavorful but I wouldn't say it's the best or cheapest that I've had. I also had the carbonara, which was a filling dish and they did not hold back on the meat, cheese, or pepper sprinkled on top. The meat was not the meatiest that I've had, and I would've preferred the pasta to be less soft and a bit more al dente. My friend had the bolognese which was a hearty and flavorful dish. Overall, not a bad experience, not my exact cup of tea but it was definitely worth the try! read more

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We are on a continuous journey of trying the best Italian places in SD - especially if it's outside of Little Italy - and Trattoria Da Sofia was a good choice for date night. We had a reservation for a Friday night early dinner (around 5:30-6 PM) so we were able to find parking and be seated right away. We had a couple of cocktails, the Insalata Estiva for our salad, Spinacini with Guanciale, and Sugo Pittinicchi. The salad was SO good and flavorful that we had to remake it at home. The Spinacini was good but the Sugo Pittinicchi was alright and a bit too overwhelming for us - will definitely not order again in the future. Our meal also came with complimentary bread. Service was solid and there are both indoors and outdoors seating. The ambiance reminds me very much of being in Italy. Parking will be tough though as this is a busy area, so I would plan accordingly. read more

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I've had this on my list for a while and finally got to make it out here for dinner! I was blown away by the experience! When you walk in, you're immersed into Italy itself. The decor is so cute and cozy. They have indoor seating and also outdoor patio seating. The food is really out of this world. The pasta is made fresh and you can taste the difference by the texture of the pasta. It was perfectly cooked al dente with a nice chewiness to it. All the dishes were perfectly seasoned. My favorite dish was the Ravioli Carne! That dish is so good! I would come back just for that. There's short rib in the ravioli and on top. It's so soft and it's got this butter cream sauce that pairs perfectly well with it. I also got the spicy rigatoni and added chicken to it. The sauce is so good and has a suttle little kick to it. I wanted more of that sauce lol The Alfredo was nice and light. It wasn't too rich or creamy which is how I like it. The Caesar was really good too. It's not too fishy or overpowering. It had more of a light creaminess to it. If you like Italian, you have to try this place. It'll keep you coming back! read more

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A gem of a date spot in Kensington! The Italian food scene in SD sets the bar super high and Trattoria Da Sofia is holding its own. Everything from the branding to the decor feels intentionally curated and made with love. + Complimentary Focaccia & Marinara (5/5) Adored their complimentary bread basket! The focaccia was warm, light, and fluffy. It paired perfectly with the zesty marinara sauce. + Caprese Sofia (4/5) We love a caprese salad! This one was super fresh and herbaceous. The basil was so fragrant! Bonus points for their use of heirloom tomatoes. + Sugo Pittinicchi (4.5/5) One of their most popular pasta dishes! It features pork ribs and sausage slowly cooked in fresh pomodoro sauce on a bed of tagliatelle. Fresh and light yet savory and filling. No notes! + Spicy Rigatoni Vodka (5/5) This might be the best rendition of spicy rigatoni vodka I've ever had! It was soooo creamy with notes of tomato and a pang of spice. So well done. Many snaps. You have to come try it for yourself! Pro-tip: Their portion sizes are generous! Get some dishes to share! read more

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This place was cute, has seating both indoor and outdoor-- twas a bit chilly so my party opted for indoor. As pictured on their menu, they have a clothesline with actual clothes strung on the ceiling for a quaint feel. Our server was great and really knowledgeable on the dishes. They were very mindful of all our dietary restrictions and allergies which was great as we didn't realize pine nuts were mixed in a few of their appetizers. All our food came out in a timely manner. Appetizers were delicious-- artichoke was done well and the eggplant was cold and refreshing. Bread was incredibly fresh and so yummy with the pesto. I loved my ravioli and devoured the entire plate. My companions agreed the appetizers were delicious. The serving sizes are large, especially for the Sugo Pittinicchi. The meat in that dish was done really well, but the sauce was missing a little something. We ate very well and were bummed that we couldn't hang on a bit longer for dessert. We might just have to come back just to get the tableside tiramisu read more

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We made reservations for a table of 4 for 6pm on a Saturday and glad we did bc it was very busy. It was a little tight walking through the dining room as our table was against the back wall. Our server was good, checked on us often. The appetizers and cannolis were the star of the show. The entrees were good but not memorable. See breakdown below. Crispy burrata - 5/5 light and crispy, love the pesto and mortadella Bruschettone - 5/5 if you like the combination of prosciutto and figs this one is a must Sugo Pittinicchi - 3/5 per husband one note, just pasta with red sauce and a lot of meat. Good portion if you're hungry Pesce Arrosto - 4/5 Sea Bass was cooked well but under flavored. It needed a stronger sauce. Cannolis - 5/5 each order comes with 2 small cannolis with the crispest shells and the most delicious filling read more

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This place holds a very special place in my heart. The food is always amazing, the staff truly makes you feel like you are part of their family. 10/10 read more

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Came here for Christmas dinner. Hidden gem for Italian food outside of Little Italy. They had a pre-fix menu which came with appetizer and dessert. Inside of the restaurant is very cute and looks like the streets of Italy! Everyone is super nice and customer service was on point. We ordered the short ribs, risotto, and sea bass. The short rib was tender, risotto had lots of sea food, and the sea bass was super flaky. Recommend making reservation beforehand. read more

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Classy yet comfortable. That experience starts before you even get inside thanks to the warm glow of the block it's nestled in. The food was so good I'll definitely be coming back here again. Would probably be a good date spot if you do that sort of thing. read more

Trattoria Da Sofia - Spicy Rigatoni Vodka - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

11/22/2025 Another visit here to have dinner! Service was great ! Just have to say we had another amazing dinner and gotta have to say cibo davvero delizioso !!! Ordered the Bruschettone served with Burrata cheese, prosciutto, figs in balsamic reduction sauce !!! Barbabietola Salad served with arugula, beets, tangerine, fennel, feta cheese and citrus orange vinaigrette! Fiori Di Zucca served with battered 3 fried zucchini blossoms filled with basil ricotta mixture and drizzled with apricot jam! Polpette served with meatballs in pomodoro sauce topped with Parmesan fondue. Carbonara pasta served with spaghetti and guanciale ( pork jowl) egg yolk plus pecorino ( salty cheese) Ravioli Di Carne served with Short Ribs stuffed ravioli topped with braised short ribs in butter cream sauce! Caprese Sofia (the belle of them all) served with buffalo mozzarella ball surrounded with heirloom sliced red & yellow tomatoes , basil leaves then drizzled with balsamic reduction sauce! read more

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My friends and I came here on Saturday for dinner! Parking in the area is pretty easy to find. Lots of parking in the residential area. We were seated right away and made reservations on open table. Oh my goodness this place was delicious! The decor in the restaurant is cute and feels so cozy. I'll definitely be back to try more items on the menu. I recommend to anyone looking to try a new Italian restaurant! Food/drink review: Espresso martini: (5/5) I'm not a coffee person, but these were sooo tasty! My friend ended up ordering two. Pinot Grigio: (5/5) Refreshing and delicious! Caesar salad: (4/5) This was delicious! The dressing was fresh. I could've eaten the entire thing myself. Fiori di zucca: (5/5) I've never tried these before so I was hesitant, but I'm so happy we ordered it! Delicious flavor, texture, and the sauce on top had a hint of sweetness, which balanced the dish. Meatballs: (5/5) These were my favorite. They're super tender and flavorful. The sauce was delicious!!! Bruschettone: (5/5) So fresh and delicious! Perfect app to share. The flavors all blended so well together. Spicy rigatoni vodka: (5/5) YUMMM. The pasta was so fresh and the sauce was perfection. It wasn't spicy in my opinion. Sugo Pittinichi: (4/5) The noodles were so fresh! The meat (ribs and sausage) on top were cooked perfectly and literally fell off the bone. Great flavor! Not my favorite dish though. read more

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Excellent food, and the portions are perfect for a full meal. The waiters and waitresses were amazing and provided great service. The place has a cozy, lively atmosphere even when crowded. We celebrated our family Mother's Day dinner here and had a wonderful experience. read more

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Really great service, came in with friends for a "reunion" and were treated very kindly, also REALLY enjoyed the drinks!!

Best restaurant I've ever been to and definitely my new favorite spot! This was our first time coming in, my gf and I were nonstop laughing and having such a blast. Every single staff member treated us like family, and you can genuinely tell they care about the experience they're creating for their guests. They definitely hired quality people with big hearts who truly care about the service they provide, and that made our entire experience so special. The food was beautifully presented, but honestly, we'll be back for the service. You don't find that kind of genuine hospitality everywhere. We absolutely loved it and can't wait to come back! read more

Nice ambiance but it was pretty crowded/loud and hot (even at night)! The pasta was yummy but a tad chewy and the complimentary bread with marinara (unfortunately you have to pay for a second serving) was great! read more

Trattoria Da Sofia - Bolognese and Spicy Rigatoni Vodka - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

The moment you walk in this place you can feel the ambiance straight from Italy, very traditional decorations, the service was incredible and attentive to our needs, the food was absolutely amazing, i had a taste of the salmon and risotto and it was great! The cacio e Pepe was such good flavor and the sausage as well. The wine was also so good. 10/10 read more

Trattoria Da Sofia - Cacio e Pepe with sausage - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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We had such a great experience! Yuri, our server, was amazing and so friendly, attentive, and incredibly detailed. He really made sure we were taken care of throughout our meal. The food was delicious, the wine was great, and the whole place was such a vibe. Definitely worth the wait! If you go, ask for Yuri, he was the best! We'll definitely be back. read more

Trattoria Da Sofia - Spicy Rigatoni Vodka - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Tonite we had a reservation for 6pm on open table for 3 The hostess sat us right way she ask inside or patio. We preferred inside It was early on Friday nite and right off exit Adams From the 15 fwy. It took us less than 15mins. But parking is street parking there is small free parking lots it was busy but we got lucky and parked across the street. Table was high it felt like we had the table at our face. Services was excellent our waiter he was great I forgot his name but everyone was so wonderful and smiled as they came to our table We ordered we shared 3 appetizers I enjoyed crispy Burrata good Eggplant was thin and good sauce! Fried squash was a little too much oil. sauces, ricotta was good. fried was heavy Carbonara was excellent with guanciale now that's my favorite dish And had Norma The noddles were al dente it was good But the Carbonara stoled the show tonite. Inside it's very bright and welcoming read more

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This place is incredible. Some of the best Italian food I've had hands down. The spicy rigatoni is to DIE for. The truffle fries were also amazing. Large portion sizes which is not common for Italian places like this. I will be back! read more

Trattoria Da Sofia - Spicy Rigatoni Vodka - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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This has become my all time favorite Italian spot in San Diego thus far!! I have been here about 4x since moving here and have brought someone new with me each time and they love everything just as much as I do!!! The food quality is consistently delicious and the service is top tier!!! They make their pasta from scratch, which... come on... doesn't get better than that! Their flavors are on point and it's the most authentic Italian restaurant I have had here! I highly recommend making a reservation if you intend on dining there for dinner time, especially if it's a weekend, because they do get pretty busy. But it is so worth it read more

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This was one of the first restaurants I had after moving to San Diego. Loved it! Food was amazing. Also loved how it was all family size because my friends and I love sharing. Service was good, too, and our server was funny. Vibe is so homey and inviting. Want to come back soon! read more

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Good food and even better service. Alberto took very good care of us and answer all our questions such as do they have gluten-free options. Celebrated a friend's bday and they gave us a complimentary lemon cake with berries. Only advice would be to lessen the salt content. Seemed everyone's dish was a bit too salty. Really good otherwise. read more

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I've been here twice and the second time was better! My first visit was in April of last year, so not sure how things are now. We got a mocktail and cocktail to start with. The drinks were very refreshing. For apps, we shared the bruscettone, which had burrata, proscuitto, and figs on top. It was a nice balance of sweet and salty. There was another app that contained squash and toast bread. This one was okay. For our entrees, we got gnocchi with pesto sauce and a pasta dish with ham. They were both very hearty. We ordered a couple of glasses of wine to pair with the pasta as well. For dessert, we opted for the tiramisu! They even gave us complimentary limoncello at the end of our meal. The decor here is pretty cute. I like the clothesline that spreads across a part of the restaurant. The outdoor patio is nice as well. read more

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