This was more than dinner. It was an experience…read more We sat tucked away in a little corner that honestly felt like we were having dinner in someone's grandmother's house, and I mean that in the BEST way possible. Cozy, warm, intimate and welcoming. And the FOOD?! I was convinced somebody's Italian grandmother had to be downstairs hand making that pasta because there was no other explanation. I had the lobster ravioli and started with the bruschetta tostada. Everything was absolutely chef's kiss. Fresh, flavorful and tasted like it was made with love. But what made the experience even better was our waiter, Mauricio! He was simply amazing. He genuinely took care of us, shared the story of the restaurant and talked about how much he enjoyed working there. And you could tell. It showed in the way he treated us and the attention he gave throughout the entire meal. Great food is one thing. Great food paired with genuine hospitality is something completely different. I will DEFINITELY be back the next time I'm in San Diego. If you're looking for homemade pasta, amazing food and that warm family feel, put this place on your list. You will not be disappointed.

Great find. Looking forward to our next visit here. Ask for a Luca You won't be disappointed…read more.

The atmosphere of this place is great. It feels very homey! The service was top notch…read more First we had the complimentary bread and it was amazing I couldn't stop eating! Then we had the Tartufona and I think that's my absolute favorite pasta! We also had Arrabbiatissima and it was a little spicy but it was good. I definitely prefer the Tartufona better though. We also tried the octopus and everything they had on the plate just works SO WELL together. We almost licked the plate clean!! I normally don't like a lot of seafood but I loved this appetizer. For dessert we had tiramisu and they brought up the ladyfingers separately and poured espresso and other stuff on it in front of us so the ladyfingers dun get too soggy. I'm usually not a sweets person but I loved this too. First time trying tor Italian soda. They said blood orange one is the best but it was so out so we tried lime. I liked it. Also ordered a lemonade. It's very mild but it was very good, not too sour. Wish they brought this restaurant to Chicago! 100% recommend!!!

Outstanding. I loved my experience here…read more I appreciated the service, I had a reservation and was seated quickly. If you don't have a reservation you may wait a while as it was packed even on a Monday night. They were attentive to my requests and quick to offer recommendations when I asked. The cocktail I tried was perfectly balanced and I loved the addition of the thyme, it actually added to the experience of the cocktail rather than functioning as just a garnish. I love a Spanish octopus dish so I couldn't pass this one up, AND I don't recommend you do either! It was exceptional. I think romesco and pulpo are a match made in heaven. Please try it. Couldn't pick between the pastas so I ended up with both the bolognese and funghi options, the bolognese being my favorite. The pasta was cooked beautifully. I did love the rich umami of the mushrooms, but if anything it may have been a bit too much on the rich side. The portions are truly massive so any of their pasta dishes can function as several meals. Not featured in the pictures is their tiramisu which was a reason to go all by itself. The restaurant was a bit warm during the heat wave but still pleasant. the vibes were comfortable, colorful, and welcoming Overall a really great experience and I'll certainly be back next time I'm in town

Amazing freshly made pasta! We came here for dinner on a Tuesday night without reservation, and…read morethere was no wait. We were greeted warmly and seated promptly. We got the squid ink gnocchi and the cheese wheel pasta, and the cheese wheel one is the best pasta I've ever had! Adding bacon elevates the experience even more. The delicious balance of truffle, mushroom, and cheese was amazing! Highly recommend! The ambiance is intimate, good for a romantic night out or catching up with friends. Service was great as well!

This place is really nice and elegant, perfect for an intimate dinner date. The staff was all so…read morenice and the food was great. I got the cheese wheel pasta, while it was good, I wouldn't rave about. The pasta itself was good, but the sauce was meh. The zucchini flowers were the standout dish for me. Definitely would've ordered another if I didn't also order the pasta. Great place to grab dinner in quaint little Italy!

First time in this restaurant. We ordered oysters, bone…read moremarrow, carbonara, lobster fusilli, and lasagna. Food was amazingly delicious, every bite was a fireworks in our mouth. We finish our food like literally clean out plate. They have great customer service too. We feel we are welcome in their restaurant. We sat outside. It was a perfect weather, I think I didnt like the leaves fallin our table and our table is a bit dusty.

I came here a few years ago and l loved it. The food was good. The squash blossom is a favorite of…read moremine. I got the tagliatelle funghi, or something like that. It was good but by the time I got it, it was a little cold, didn't taste freshly made. Service was ok, the server was attentive. The inside can get really loud. We were seated in the corner where the music was on blast, the speaker was right by us. Avoid getting seated in the corner.

Enrico was the best! The vodka pasta and pizza was amazing! Will definitely be coming back.read more

We made a reservation at Rusticucina for Restaurant Week and tried their $40 three-course menu…read more From the moment we walked in, we loved the beautiful décor and romantic, dim lighting. It's such a charming spot and definitely feels like the perfect place for a date night. For our first course, we ordered the Calamari, Cesare, and Cacio e Pepe Croquette. Everything was delicious! The Cesare was perfectly dressed, the cacio e pepe sauce was incredible, and the calamari was lightly battered and cooked just right. We even dipped the calamari into the cacio e pepe sauce--and surprisingly, it was such a good combination! For our entrees, we tried the Branzino, Pollo Siciliano, and Rigatoni Piccanti. Each dish was flavorful, beautifully prepared, and delicious in its own way. Of course, we had to save room for dessert! We finished with the Cannoli and Limoncello Cake, both of which were the perfect sweet ending to our meal. Overall, we had such a wonderful experience. We were honestly surprised by how amazing everything we tried was and couldn't believe we had never visited Rusticucina before. Our waiter, Marcello, was outstanding and incredibly helpful with his recommendations, which made our experience even better. We're so glad we finally discovered this gem and will definitely be back!

DEBBBBYY!!!! 10/10 best server ever. Insanely good service and even better pizza. Also great…read morephotographer that went around with free pictures!

This place is very good. Fast service , we had a reservation so make…read moreSure you get it or you'll be waiting a while. Food was delicious and made to order . They have inside seating but we liked the outdoors was very relaxed and not so noisy . We had chicken parm and pizza . We will be back again soon .

Great date night spot! Will be back again!…read more Food: 5/5 everything single bit was delicious. Incredibly fresh, unique flavors while highlighting traditional Napoli cuisine. One of the better meals I've had in a long time. Service: 5/5 very welcoming, attentive and placed our courses perfectly. Got a complimentary cheesecake as we're celebrating our anniversary. Ambiance: 5/5 so very Italian in the best way. Clean, well ventilated and airy while also being romantic.

Great Italian food. Tests real authentic fresh food!…read moreA little pricey and very casual. Highly recommended

One of the best Italian places in San Diego I've tried so far! I've noticed this place is always…read morevery popular, and it lives up to the hype. Service is good; the servers are very enthusiastic about recommendations. They seem to tend to make small talk in case that's not your style. They are very attentive with checking in and clearing plates. Food: 1. Artichoke special - Delicious, super rich and a little sour. Comes with 3 big hearts/stems, olives, and parm. 2. Caprese - They use an excellent quality burrata. Rich and milky and paired great with their heirloom tomatoes. 3. Squid ink pasta - Lots of fresh seafood. Light tomato sauce for those who aren't into cream sauce. 4. Pumpkin mushroom lasagna special - Don't be discouraged by the pumpkin, the flavor is very mild. Adds the barest hint of sweetness. Very cheesy, overall a solid lasagna. 5. Ear pasta with sausage - Came highly recommended as one of their most popular items. I loved it! It's like a combo sausage pizza in pasta form, and I say this very positively. I love the crunchy broccoli pieces which add a different texture and some sweetness. The cream sauce is super savory and not terribly heavy. The sausage has a fennel flavor which some might not be for everyone but I was a fan. 6. Osobucco with mushroom tagliatelle - Well executed. the osobucco is just slightly on the milder side. The tagliatelle was also delicious, a nice light cream sauce with lots of umami mushroom flavor. The only negative to me was the bread. A little dry, not served very hot. They make all their pasta fresh in house which is a nice plus. Overall a great meal. Definitely recommend as a nice date night place, and you can watch the gorgeous sunset views or walk around the streets of South Park after.

Tried it again after a couple years went by and it's still pretty good…read more The gnocchi again I we good but not the best but one of the better ones in San Diego. Their carbonara is good as well. Went here for a birthday and it was nice. They have a corkage fee is $18 for the first two bottles and then it does up to $23 I think they said. But it's nice. Definetly worth trying out. Small little place but nice.

I'm always happy with cucina. At this point I've probably been about 8-10 times since 2014/15 and…read morehave never had a bad meal. Initially I had a friend on their waitstaff but now I go because I love the food. They have continued to evolve over that time while keeping their classics like the stuffed squash blossoms on the menu. It's a lovely atmosphere and the service is excellent. It's usually tight with bookings so I do recommend a reservation

We've been wanting to try this Italian spot in Bankers Hill for a while, and I'm glad we finally…read moredid! The layout is super cool and unique -- the restaurant sits below street level, which gives it such a different atmosphere and vibe. It was pretty busy when we went, but the staff was great. Everyone was friendly, attentive, and took their time explaining the menu and answering our questions. The food was delicious, and we really enjoyed everything we ordered. It's definitely on the pricier side, so I'd consider it more of a nice night-out or special occasion type of place, but overall we felt like the food, service, and experience made it worth it. Definitely glad we finally got to try it!

Here's a polished version you can post:…read more What a fantastic find! We stopped here after spending the day at the zoo, and it was one of the best meals my family and I have had in a long time. The service was absolutely outstanding--friendly, attentive, and made us feel so welcome from the moment we walked in. The food was some of the most authentic Italian cuisine we've ever had, and every dish was delicious. The desserts were just as incredible and were the perfect way to end the meal. If you're looking for amazing Italian food with exceptional service, I can't recommend this place enough. We'll definitely be back before we head home!

I walked into this little Italian restaurant and found it completely packed. I asked the gentleman…read moreat the front how long the wait would be for a table for one. Without hesitation, he poured me a glass of Prosecco, invited me to wait outside, and assured me he'd have a seat for me in just a few minutes. Sure enough, about two minutes later, he came out and seated me. This restaurant made you feel like you were in Italy with the ambiance and vibe. I had done my research beforehand, so I already knew what I wanted. I ordered the lasagna, and it was absolutely incredible. The portion was generous, and my server let me know it would take a little extra time to prepare, which was perfectly fine. It didn't take long for me to realize that the man who seated me was also the owner. As I watched him greet guests throughout the evening, it was obvious that he genuinely loves what he does. We had a great conversation, and he was warm, welcoming, and personable. After finishing my meal, I ordered a double espresso and tiramisu for dessert. The tiramisu was easily one of the best I've ever had. Exceptional food, outstanding hospitality, and a memorable experience from start to finish. I will definitely be back the next time I'm in town.