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.“

“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!“

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

“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.“

“Atmosphere is a bit old fashioned apparently on purpose. Black leather booths, dim lighting etc. Food and service however were top notch. Extensive menu of Italian and Italian American classics really well prepared. Service was prompt, friendly and professional.“

“Amazing food, staff & atmosphere!“

“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.“

“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!“

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

“Excellent pasta! They even have gluten free!“

“Great food. Fantastic spot inside UTC“

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

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

“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!“

“Delicious authentic Italian meals artistically served .“

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

“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.“

“Marco and I had such a great experience at Colosseo Cucina Italiana! We ordered the Pizza Calabria and the calzone, and both were absolutely amazing. Everything tasted fresh, authentic, and truly traditional Italian. The flavors were delicious, and you could really tell there was care put into the food. Definitely a great spot if you’re looking for authentic Italian cuisine. We’ll absolutely be coming back.“

“The owners here are Italian and super focused on executing their family recipes. A meal here is like visiting their home towns and you'll enjoy it even more if you get to meet them. It's like an easy trip to Sicilia and Napoli. Sonya and I have visited twice and we are new to town!“

“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.“

“Truly delicious, authentic, Italian cuisine. Tastes just like my family’s homemade Italian cooking. They even have delicious Spumoni Ice Cream. You can tell ALL of the staff put their heart into your dining experience. Go here, delizioso!! 🤌🏻“

“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!“

“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.“

“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....“

“1st time GF pizza amazing“

“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 !!!!“

“I went here on 08.20.26 for a late dinner. Kayden greeted me star the door and gave me multiple suggestions.

I eventually ended up getting the California smash burger and some spaghetti.

The food was good and filled the belly. I would recommend this establishment to family and friends.“

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

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

“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!“

“A really good Italian restaurant specializing in traditional pizzas with fresh ingredients. We were glad that they had vegan friendly options for one of our guests with allergies. Seafood linguini was tasty and the lamb shank entree was generous and rich. Quiet on a Sunday lunchtime and service was quick and efficient. Will definitely come again!“

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

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

“I came here on a Wednesday evening around 6:30 PM. We requested a table by the window hoping to catch the sunset, but the windows have a covering/tint on them to help block the sun from shining directly into diners’ eyes. Because of that you really don’t get much of a sunset view. Ironically, the sun was still getting in our eyes so we ended up playing a little game of musical chairs throughout dinner.

The service, however, was excellent. We were given great recommendations, checked on frequently, and everyone was very attentive.

I ordered:

• Bread Service: The bread is phenomenal. It comes out fresh and warm, and honestly, portion control is difficult because it’s that good. A server also prepares a plate of balsamic vinaigrette and olive oil at the table for dipping.

• Insalata Alle Pere: This was so fresh, light, and delicious. I highly recommend it.

• Daily Special Risotto: The special that evening had filet in it. I asked for no mushrooms, and they were able to accommodate that without any issue. It was absolutely delicious. The portion was also huge so I took about half of it home, and it reheated perfectly.

One downside was how warm it was inside. They definitely need to have the AC running more or add some fans because I was actually sweating through the back of my dress.

It was also my friend’s birthday. I had made a note of it on the reservation and mentioned it again to a waitress, but unfortunately it wasn’t acknowledged and nothing special was done.

Overall it’s a really cute place with phenomenal food and excellent service. You don’t quite get the sunset view you may expect, and it can get pretty warm inside, but the food was excellent. I’m already looking forward to coming back and trying more of the menu.“

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

“Food is delicious, bruchettas are great and tomato soup was so good. there's a relaxed fun environment and most of all staff service is just excellent I highly recommend 👌“

“I got there on a Sunday night and it was the only place open besides fast food. I really didn't want to go that way so I tried walking in and they took super good care of me even if they were closing. Really solid people. Thank you so much“

“Grilled calamari… Brussels…. Yum!“

“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.“

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

“This family owned restaurant makes you feel like family. Besides the parents who own the restaurant, husband who is the chef, daughter is part of the wait staff, plus their amazing staff are helpful, kind. To me their pizzas are the star. We love coming here for excellent food and a wonderful staff.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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!“

“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!“