50 Best Italian Restaurants near Del Mar

“Great food . Well prepared and tasty , but a rowdy table with loud guests ruined the atmosphere and enjoyment. I asked management to calm the table down , but nothing was done.“

“great pizza. amazing atmosphere can't beat pizza by the beach“

“Best pizza I’ve had in as long as I can remember!!! It was fantastic!!! Super friendly on the phone when they called confirming my Internet order (I’m really impressed they reached out to confirm - above and beyond great customer service!) and the delivery person was incredibly nice! Delivery was lightening fast. Highly recommend!“

“A great restaurant with amazing views of the Pacific Ocean. Branzino was excellent and the spumoni gelato was delicious. Definitely, we will be back.“

“Delicious, fresh food, made from scratch pasta, wood fired meat and pizzas....and outstanding service!“

“Great meal. Dessert was a wow.“

“Where to begin,,,, Been coming here for 35 years! Was greeted by Nancy Odonell, the owner as we were seated. The ambiance is old school perfect! Fhe wait staff is top notch. And the food,,,,,, The food is on another level. Table side caesar salad for two. Grilled veal chop. New York cheese cake. Simply the best. In this era of the decline of fine dining restaurants, the is a true gem.“

“Rosinas is consistently excellent authentic Italian food. The only food downside ( which is why I gave Food a 4 out of 5 rating), is their Ceaser salad...it is consistently bland, really watery, and tasteless...such an unpleasant surprise given that ALL of the other salads are so delicious, and ALL of the other food is delicious. Rosina, PLEASE update the Ceaser salad..it is really awful.“

“Great food. Fantastic spot inside UTC“

“Had ordered Salad and pizza’s all were fantastic . Server was awesome !!!! We love your pie’s Buona 😍😍😍😍“

“This restaurant never disappoints us! Always amazing food and service! Love love coming here.“

“Great food. Great wine. Great servers. Dog friendly. Friendly dogs. Friendly dog owners.“

“Delicious authentic Italian meals artistically served .“

“My friend and I had such a wonderful experience at Firenze, and what made it truly special was not only the food, but the kindness and care from everyone there.

Before we even arrived, Jeff was incredibly kind and helpful on the phone. Jeff took the time to answer questions patiently and made us feel genuinely welcomed and cared for. That level of kindness set the tone for the entire evening.

When we arrived, Raquel was absolutely amazing both on the phone and in person. Raquel was so understanding, supportive, patient, and accommodating throughout our visit and helped us find a table that worked for us. Raquel was patient as we tried 3 different tables. Raquel made us feel comfortable and relaxed, and her warmth and attentiveness truly shun through.

Sandra was also incredible — Sandra's knowledge and expertise were so appreciated. Sandra thoughtfully helped identify dishes that would be safer for me to eat, and somehow still managed to recommend something absolutely delicious. That level of care means so much. Sandra was kind, compassionate and supportive to making us feel safer and comfortable to eat.

They graciously seated us outside next to the fountain, away from the crowd, which created such a peaceful and beautiful atmosphere. The sound of the water made the evening feel calm and intimate, and everyone was so accommodating about making sure we were comfortable.

The food itself was outstanding. The crisp thin breadsticks were addictive — light, delicate, and perfectly crunchy with that satisfying snap when you bite into them. Dipping the warm bread into the olive oil and balsamic vinegar was incredible. The olive oil was smooth, rich, and slightly peppery, while the balsamic added the perfect balance of sweetness and tanginess. Together, they soaked beautifully into the bread and made such a simple starter feel luxurious. The bread was soft and airy on the inside and crisp on the outside.

I also loved the pasta. The shape held onto the sauce perfectly, giving every bite a wonderful balance of texture and flavor. The pasta itself tasted fresh and tender with just the right firmness. Every forkful felt comforting and thoughtfully prepared.

My friend absolutely loved the chicken parm. It was beautifully done in a true Italian style — thin, tender chicken with a perfectly crisp coating that wasn’t heavy or greasy. The sauce tasted vibrant and fresh with rich tomato flavor, and the melted cheese on top added just the right creamy finish without overpowering the dish. Every bite was balanced, flavorful, and delicious.

This was one of those dining experiences where you can truly feel the care from the staff in every detail. Thank you to Jeff, Raquel, Sandra, and everyone at Firenze for such a memorable evening. We cannot wait to come back.“

“Tonight I visited Vittorio's for the first time and everything about my experience was first rate! I could see that the hostess had a smile on her face, even before I entered the building. the wait staff was great and the food was wonderful! I've never had a better spaghetti alla carbonara. Thank you for a wonderful evening. I'll be back for sure!“

“Da italiana, ho cenato più volte in questo fantastico ristorante e vi dico che il cibo è ottimo. Qualità dei prodotti 🔝, servizio impeccabile. Il locale è veramente tanto delizioso. Ve lo consiglio vivamente non rimarrete delusi!“

“We had my birthday celebration at The Godfather and their private room is ideal for large parties. The food was delicious and the service superb! A huge thank you to Salvatore Ercolano, the new Godfather! He was the perfect host for our event and made sure that everything was perfect!“

“Amazing food, staff & atmosphere!“

“Nice and friendly staff. Great food!“

“I just wrote this review on Tripadvisor on 5/22/23 Title: A family run restaurant just like in old Italy! Cafe Milano is a hidden gem. After dining there for the first time and being incredibly impressed by the entire experience, I was amazed that my wife and I could get seated without a reservation. There should be a line of patrons waiting outside this establishment every evening they're open. Cafe Milano may be La Jolla’s best kept restaurant secret. First off, I love the ambience of its interior. The place is very attractively decorated in dark, earthy tones with tables covered in white cotton tablecloths with matching napkins. It is clean and very well maintained. The family members (owner, his wife, his sister, brother-in-law, and sister-in-law), do all the cooking, setting up of the tables, greeting and seating the clientele, and serving the food. Actually, there's also a family friend, Bri, who was our lovely and attentive server. It felt like I had stepped back in time to dine at an intimate ristorante tucked away in a small courtyard off a cobblestoned street in Firenze in the ‘70’s. Our dinner started with a glass of wine and a generous serving of bread. Our first course was a Caesar salad for two which was one of the tastiest Caesars I have ever had. For a main course, we both chose a grilled salmon over fettuccine with olives and capers. It was perfectly done to our liking and huge, the biggest serving of a filet I had ever had. In fact, our server offered to box up the remainder of our salmon when we were only half done, apparently because most diners can't finish it at one seating. We did. However, when we were finished, we were stuffed with no room for dessert - but Pasquale, the owner, tempted us with a piece of tiramisu that was out of this world in yumminess for which we somehow managed to find the space. I'll tell you this. When we return to place our order, which will be very soon, my dinner plan will leave room for one of their myriad dessert choices. Right now, I have my eyes on one of their three tartufo offerings.“

“What a sleeper!! We are thrilled to have found this gem. Authentic Italian food. Warm and genuine service. Exceeded our standard for local Italian for lunch. They say to arrive early for dinner, by 5:30 because this place gets busy. Make a reservation if dining later.“

“My husband and I have been here for the very first time and we immediately fell in love with this place. The staff is amazing, they know how to treat you and make you feel at home. Alice is very passionate about her job and we loved her homemade desserts sooo much. A special mention to Michele, a very young yet extremely professional waiter, who contributed to create a cozy and pleasant atmosphere! As Italian, I can say it's hard to find place such Alice's where you feel so vividly the warm of our country. We will definitely come back!“

“fantastic food! one the best Italian spots in so. cal. friendly service.“

“We love this restaurant.. we happened upon it years ago and every time we are in LaJolla we dine there not once but twice ! We brought our kids and grandkids here for one of our anniversaries …Amazing dishes , great wine , best gelato , and a delightful owner who is so welcoming and full of great stories and information …sure wish this was in Illinois !!!!“

“1st time GF pizza amazing“

“What a find!!!! Like being in Italy , sans the commute. Food was on point...meatballs to die for. Lowkey , judge an Italian restaurant by their meatballs quality..10 out of 5 stars 🌟 for the service...all the staff we encountered was even Italian!“

“Excellent food, and the leftovers taste great even the next day when reheated.“

“I really enjoy their lunch specials, order a penne pasta and it came with a side salad. Food was excellent and the staff was so friendly.“

“My favorite Italian restaurant in Diego, I take my family and friends here all the time They have a killer wine list with a lot of natural and organic Italian wines, the pizza is Roman style so very thin, which I love, and the cannelloni pasta was to die for, with the creamy buffalo ricotta pairing perfectly with the mushrooms Service was spot on as always, they are very kind and knowledgeable but not overbearing Super recommended“

“Tasty ice cream, boba tea and coffee in one place“

“We came here with our dog on a rainy Saturday night. We were so glad to find a place with a covered patio. But then we were pleasantly surprised with how amazing the beer and pizza were. Duh. It’s in the name. lol. Anyhow there was some confusion about our pizza but Donny went above and beyond to make it right. It was a little hectic because it was so busy but if we weren’t visiting we’d definitely be regulars. Try the Detroit style hot honey, I’ll be dreaming about it.“

“Our first time Sunday doing the brunch and everything was so delicious! Our server Nic was superb - very attentive, polite, fun and made sure our experience was perfect in every way. Highly recommend the brunch and be sure to ask for Nic as your server. ❤️“

“Amazing food. Casual atmosphere. Great service to go along with the great food“

“Our dining experience at Vigilucci's Trattoria was absolutely exceptional from the moment we walked through the door until the end of the evening. We arrived and asked if our 6:30 p.m. reservation could be moved to 7:00–7:15 p.m. to give the rest of our party more time to arrive. The manager at the host stand immediately accommodated our request with a smile and made us feel genuinely welcome. It was the first of many examples of outstanding hospitality. While we waited, we enjoyed the bar, where Amy took wonderful care of us. She was warm, friendly, and incredibly knowledgeable about the wine selection. She helped us choose a great wine and even took the time to tell us about the other Vigilucci's restaurants. Her genuine enthusiasm and engaging personality made the wait fly by. Around 7:00 p.m., the manager came over to let us know our table was ready and invited us to be seated while we waited for the rest of our party. He wanted to make sure we had a great table, and that thoughtful gesture did not go unnoticed. Our guests arrived just a few minutes later. Our server, Trevor, was outstanding. He was energetic, attentive, professional, and had a terrific sense of humor that made our dinner even more enjoyable. He struck the perfect balance between being attentive and giving us time to relax and enjoy our evening. The food was every bit as impressive as the service. We enjoyed the Caprese Salad, Insalata Mista, Linguine Luciana, Pollo Piccata, Gnocchi Alla Sorrentina with sausage, and Capellini alla Checca with chicken. Every dish was beautifully presented, prepared with fresh ingredients, and absolutely delicious. What truly sets Vigilucci's Trattoria apart is its commitment to hospitality. Exceptional service has become increasingly rare, yet everyone—from the manager to Amy and Trevor—made us feel like valued guests. They created an experience, not just a meal. Thank you for a memorable evening. We will absolutely be returning and highly recommend Vigilucci's“

“My family and I have been coming to Lorna's for over 30 years & love it every time. My husband always gets the Tagliatelle Bolognese, which is outstanding, and I really like the Gnocchi with rich garlic cream sauce! The restaurant is casual, with fantastic service and generous portions. And their pizza is excellent too! Highly recommend Lorna's for delicious Italian food!“

“We had an amazing dinner. Great happy hour until 6 PM. Nice options. Great service. Nice location.“

“I always crave NY style pizza and am always disappointed by places that claim to have it. Pauly’s hit the mark- this was true NY pizza, right down to the required fold. The Gilato was delicious too- try the cannoli flavor! Not only was the food great, but the customer service matched. The two ladies were beyond friendly and helpful. We will definitely be back!“

“Feels like You’re eating Sunday dinner at grandmas, but any day of the week you choose.“

“Very good pizza and wings. Pizza came out pretty quickly. Sauce is not sweet, which is a good thing. Crust is airy and crunchy. Hot wings were also good. Good sauce. Right amount of vinegar and heat.“

“The restaurant brought memories back from my travels in Italy. The staff was amazing and treated everyone like family. It wasn't easy to pick one entrée. I have to advise to end your meal with a delicious TIRAMISU... We will be returning....“

“Grilled calamari… Brussels…. Yum!“

“Great food, ambiance and staffs. Thank you!“

“Some of the best pizza I’ve ever had definitely recommend the Popeyes pizza“

“Nice change of pace and it was easy to get A table outside during covid.“

“Amazing STAFF and food. The General manager was super engaging and grit, staff was attentive even under busy and stressful situations- it’s obvious they have a positive working model. Nice work!“

“Fantastic, Amazing, wonderful. Atmosphere Perfect. Staff Exquisite. Dined there twice on our 4 day vacation. LUCREZIA is my Happy Place. Jason, Rodrigo, Andrew, and Kat Thank You. Just Lovely Food, Drinks. Service, and more.“

“Great pizza!! This location is very convenient, quick and the pizza is amazing!! Our whole family loved it. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a new place to order from! We will definitely be back!“

“Love love loved there pizza“

“pizza is delicious and wings are fantastic“

“Great atmosphere, Cold beer and amazing food! We came for lunch and stayed for great service. Well dine“