Maurizio's Trattoria Italiana

We recently hosted a family event at Maurizio’s Italian Restaurant, and it couldn’t have been a better experience. From the very beginning, coordinating with Maurizio himself was effortless—he was responsive, accommodating, and genuinely invested in making sure everything went smoothly.

Even with a group of 50 people, the service was impeccable. The staff was incredibly attentive, ensuring that every guest felt taken care of without ever feeling rushed. It’s rare to find that level of personalized service at a large gathering, and it made the night feel extra special.

As for the food—absolutely outstanding. Every dish, from antipasti to dessert, was full of authentic Italian flavor and beautifully prepared. It’s clear that quality and tradition are at the heart of everything they do. Hosting a large event didn’t compromise the food one bit; it was just as delicious as if we were dining à la carte.

If you’re looking for a place to host a memorable gathering with incredible food and warm, professional service, Maurizio’s is it. Highly recommended!

Excellent lunch, our party had the Caesar Salad, pasta with sausage, linguine with pesto sauce and shrimp, and calamari appetizer. Everything was delicious!

Best Carbonara I have ever had. Would definitely recommend to anyone in Encinitas!

We absolutely loved our experience here!! We came on a busy saturday night, service was amazing and friendly. Everything from the bread, calamari and pasta were absolutely delicious. It all tasted so fresh and flavorful. I will be back!

Authentic Italian cuisine at its finest—expertly crafted, perfectly executed, and worth every penny. From the moment you step inside, Maurizio, the gracious owner, ensures a warm and welcoming atmosphere that feels like home. We indulged in the Bruschetta, Carbonara, and a special ravioli dish that was nothing short of divine. Every bite reflected a deep respect for tradition and quality. This charming little gem is not to be missed—it delivers on every promise.

Very overrated
Food was mediocre.
Service worse.
Unfriendly

Hand down the best Italian food in Encinitas!!!!

This is one of our favorite date night spots! The food is always incredible and every server we've had has been excellent. Maurizio himself is often there ensuring everyone is taken care of. We particularly love the ambiance sitting outside as it's a great spot for people watching.

Excellent local spot for authentic and delicious Italian. The atmosphere is warm and cozy, the staff is fantastic, very attentive, and the food is excellent. The chicken Marsala is the best I’ve ever had and the penne with vodka sauce was also divine. Penne was cooked to al dente perfection. The Caesar salad was delicious, love the dressing, it’s light and fresh. I’ll definitely be going back.

Very good place very yummy food. This place wasn't very busy when we went around 7 ok and we were seating quickly. The server was very nice as well. The gnocchi was really good and the salads were good as well. Don't really have much to say about this place but overall it's a nice place to eat Italian. Tiramisu was soooo good too. The restaurant was pretty nice and had a more casual vibe inside. There is some stret parking but it was all full but there is a big parking lot in the back.

Great service great ambience and delicious food.
This was a really good find after several side food trials around North SD area. We visited from LA so everything from breakfast to dinner were either mediocre or right out bad.
Linguine ai frutti de mare aka probably a seafood linguine was delicious. Seafood tasted fresh and sauce was tasty. I can't believe but I finished the whole plate and it was big. My husband created his own tagiliatelle Pesto. He loved his plate so much, he ordered the 2nd but didn't finish it. Complimentary bread was nothing fancy but still nice, warm, and soft.
Dessert were also really good. We got tiramisu and mud cake without ice cream.
Service provided made us feel very welcomed. All the staffs and one of the owners were very attentive and helpful.
We had a really good experience and highly recommend trying it out.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Delicious food. So good!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Tiramisu, Lasagna Bolognese, Spaghetti Carbonara, Linguini and Clams, Ravioli D'Aragosta

Great local find. Quality, fresh ingredients prepared simply. Maurizio oversees everything making sure it all runs perfectly... adjusting the outdoor heaters, seating people and describing each ingredient in each dish all while greeting every guest personally. Very enjoyable and vibrant atmosphere at about half the cost of fine city dining and every bit as good.

Dietary restrictions: Dairy free and shellfish free not a problem

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 4

Recommended dishes: Lasagna Bolognese, Insalata Della Casa, Linguini and Clams, Insalata Di Arugula

My manager recommended this place, saying that the owner Maurizio is very attentive and always has his Italian friends present. My friends and I did not experience the experience she had for some reason. Kind of disappointing and will not return..

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4

Really great authentic Italian in Encinitas. Penne with vodka was phenomenal. Bruschetta, lasagna and tiramisu all worth writing home about.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5