50 Best Italian Restaurants near Lemon Grove

“All the food here is so good! Ive tried the pizza, gyros, wings, mozzarella, hamburgers, and I have not been disappointed ONCE. They have so much to pick from, they even have FISH n Chips and fish sticks now. The barbecue wings are so good, they are my favorite wing flavor. I recommend this place!!“

“Awesome family owned business. Great food. Been around for decades.“

“The food is so good! 100% recommend the vodka sauce! Stuffed mushrooms are fantastic. Ambiance is fabulous and service is so good. Alex was our server, he’s a keeper. This is our new go to Italian restaurant.“

“Food is good and the service is great.“

“If you are looking for a true Italian experience in San Diego, look no further than Vinarius! We worked with Giuseppe (owner) to host our wedding celebration here back in March, 2023. From the beginning, he was amazing to work with. Incredibly positive and accommodating from the start, we couldn’t have asked for more. The wedding ceremony was planned to be outside and of course, it rained that day. Guiseppe and his staff went above and beyond to accommodate us, allowed us to have the small ceremony inside the restaurant on short notice and made an incredible meal to follow. Our guests were blown away and we couldn’t have been happier. We recommend Vinarius to everyone we know and that is thanks to Giuseppe and his awesome staff. Grazie mille!“

“My wife and I eat at Ciccia’s regularly but this is our first review after 4 years. Sorry Francesca and Mario! (In my defense I practically never ever write a review.) We keep coming back for the food, ambiance and hospitality. **We’ve gone 3 times in the last week! The crab gnocchi is my wife’s favorite. I get something different almost every time. Every visit I ask Mario about the specials as I like to sample the beef and/or fish (Branzino!) they prepare in addition to pasta. Try the Tomahawk steak if it’s a special that day (call ahead) and you will be amazed. Too many times we fill up on appetizers like mushroom flan, breaded zucchini, calamari, antipasto, and the choices go on! But that’s what to-go containers are for. So much good food to eat at Ciccias we tend to order too many things. It is simply fun to dine there. Once you’re inside the restaurant area (patio area or indoor area) the ambiance is quaint and cozy. Ciccia’s is not big and it’s always filled, but we never feel like it’s too crowded. The energy is always fun and upbeat. Which makes people stay awhile, so let me recommend getting reservations. We’ve had to wait 10-15 minutes but nothing’s perfect! If you want a breezy quick dinner before going off to an event you may want to go to Ciccia’s on another night. Hospitality is what you would expect of a small Italian restaurant run by the owners. Terrific!! If it’s your first time, read their story on the website before you go. They are bona fide top chefs who followed their dreams to open their own place. What a gem it is tucked inside Barrio Logan. One thing regulars may notice is that staff doesn’t appear to turn over much as I’ve seen the same faces working there for years. I think that reflects well on the restaurant. I don’t take pictures of food very often but last night I did. We stopped by at around 9 just to get dessert and a cocktail. My wife had the ricotta cake with apricot and habanero sauce (wow!) and I had cassata siciliana which is traditional cake from Sicily. Pretty to look at and yes, it’s delicious. They do a good job with making an Old Fashioned, which always pairs well with dessert 😜 Buon appetito!“

“Always fresh and delicious Authentic Italian food . I highly recommend Monzu ❤️“

“Great food and great service! Food was fresh and expertly prepared! Probably the best service I have ever experienced and the place was busy at the time we were there!!“

“Spending my evening at a new restaurant in South Park called Il Posto. So far everything I’ve tried is spectacular.“

“Fabulous food served in a no-frills, casual atmosphere. The service was excellent and Chef Luciano Cibelli comes out of the kitchen and checks with every table to see how diners are doing. Great place to celebrate a special occasion. We enjoyed the seafood fettucini, chicken parmesian, and the catch of the day, which was sea bass on a bed of roasted vegetables, with beet purée and a delicious beurre blanc. Delish!“

“2nd visit and again food and service were great. only complaint was they cleared my dessert when I wasn't finished without asking. took that as hint to leave.“

“Absolutely fantastic experience at Osteria Cotto e Mangiato! The service from Andrea (owner) was warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. Every dish we ordered was incredible-from the rich, comforting Carbonara w/anchovies to the Captain's Treasure chest is unexplainable good, everything was cooked to perfection. You can really taste the quality and care in each bite. This place is a gem in San Diego for anyone craving authentic Italian cuisine. Oh, by the way, did I mention the Tiramisu... WOW!! Can’t wait to come back!“

“cordialità,buon cibo e ambiente raffinato“

“Great service great food will be back soon.“

“I came to visit my dad in Santee today and decided to go try a new place today. Great pizza. We got the Supreme, but now I have to come back to try the Sizzling Pickle Pizza. Sounds interesting. Anyway, I balanced our lunch with an antipasto salad.“

“good pizza, sandwiches 🥪 at won't hurt ur pockets. nom noms“

“Excellent food and the service was splendid.“

“Amazing food and a testament to being a good citizen of our planet.“

“This was one of the best restaurant experiences we ever had! The view, the atmosphere, the food, and drinks (must try "Italian Ice") - all great. The best, however, is the staff! Our Maitre De as well as our waiter David C made us feel like VIPs. We had a wonderful time and can't wait to go back.

Parking: Garibaldi will validate your ticket when you spend at least $50 - so parking becomes FREE!“

“Went here last night after a concert at The Music Box. We were served by the owner. Such a genuinely nice guy. We had the best experience. Beautiful space and such hospitality. We’ll definitely be back.“

“Ordered pizza thin crust. Taste was great but failed the stiff crust test. This on you pizza makers. 12 inch pie takes slightly less than one ladle of sauce. Put a little less cheese in the middle. Then the crust stays flat when you pick it up. Otherwise , you pick up the piece and all the toppings fall on the plate.“

“Ordered the Torpedo sandwich and it hit the spot!!“

“C est la troisièmement fois que nous venons dans ce restaurant italien et nous sommes toujours aussi satisfaits des produits authentiquement italiens et de l accueil, aussi bien pour un repas le soir que pour une formule du midi. Nous y retournerons dans doute à notre prochaine visite à Paris“

“This place food, ambience, decor, patio, services, etc, etc, etc gas not competition around san diego,“

“The Chefs Cheese Wheel pasta was absolutely amazing!!“

“This place is absolutely amazing. The service was exceptional and we felt so welcomed. The handmade pasta and dishes are to die for. My husband has the special and I had the pescatore dish followed with dessert. We will definitely be back!“

“We tried a new restaurant in North Park. Cacio e Pepe is off the hook. The linguine with sugo had italian sausage, meatballs, and pork rib. The linguini was al dente. It was all very authentic and nice sized portions. My Nonna would approve. It's my new "go to" place for Italian food in North Park.“

“The Margarita pizza was the best . Thus far from any pizzaria I’ve had“

“The food the service is amazing. VERY bad experience that little Roma restaurant I should’ve known better that there’s no place like Nonna’s.“

“Excellent authentic Italian food. Service was great.“

“Best cannoli of my life. This is an absolute must stop in Little Italy.“

“100 percent outstanding service and food“

“Excellent service, friendly atmosphere..food very satisfying“

“EVERYTHING! Best food and nicest employees in the area.“

“Fresh and flavorful! Very good service, I’ll try again!“

“This place is a beautiful gem tucked right in downtown—ideal for a romantic date night or a classy business dinner. The prices are incredibly reasonable for the top-notch Italian cuisine you get. The owner, originally from Rome, brings authentic flavors and heartfelt passion into every detail of the restaurant. His dedication truly shines through.

If you're craving real Italian food, this spot is an absolute must. It’s a perfect example of why we should support local San Diego businesses. Don’t forget to check out their other location, too!“

“I want to here for my friend's birthday this past Saturday night. It is an Italian and Steakhouse blend restaurant. I wasn't really sure what to expect although they had good reviews online. This place exceeded my expectations. If I'm being frank, I think this is the best restaurant I've gone to this whole year and I dine out to fine dining restaurants ALOT! Every appetizer to remain coarse and dessert was amazing. And it didn't stop there the ambience of this place is very dark Chic elegant with a lot of character, it looks like it would be loud but actually the volume is so perfectly balanced! Are waitress was so nice, super tentative, and very informative through our whole entire dinner experience. For appetizers we started with a lamb chop lollipop per person, sourdough bread and calamari. The Lamb Chop was so amazing we said we would come back and just order a few of those for a meal! The dip they had for the calamari had a lemon zest which was so well-balanced with every bite. They also include fried green olives with a calamari which I've never experienced before and me and my husband were obsessed with! I ordered the ribeye for my main entree my husband ordered the New York strip and a few others ordered ribeye and steak as well. Somehow we found it in us to order dessert, my husband and I shared the tiramisu cheesecake which was astonishly amazing! The cheesecake itself is definitely made fresh into the traditional recipe. I was very impressed. Since we were celebrating two birthdays but they brought out a little espresso cup filled with ice cream and candles for the birthday people. I will definitely be coming back here, I was overjoyed by my experience!“

“Never had a bad experience here. The staff are always super friendly and make you feel welcomed and take good care of us. This is our favorite no-frills, reliably good food, hole in the wall spot. Our son loves the food here too! Highly recommend“

“I love the food. Fast Service and friendly . I recommend this place. The food is great.“

“3/5 for a first timer during restaurant week… the special menu was $50 per person…. we never got any bread with our dinner (and didn’t realize we were left out until we were on dessert)… and, portions were small, so the bread would have been nice, especially for $50… also, the server made us make our food order at the same time as our drinks… personally, i like to have a drink or two before i order my food… so, the service was rushed in that sense… and no one asked me if i wanted a second glass of wine i had the veal and my friend had the lobster ravioli… both tasted decently but, again, small portions… the burrata was amazing and the desserts (tiramisu and lava cake) were pleasant i think i’d like to try again on a night that isn’t as busy, and order off of the actual menu“

“Excellent fresh chicken salad with mix of tomatoes, sliced cheese, cucumbers, grilled chicken, pepperchinis and delicious red onions... got to have that special Pesto Craft Italian Chop.. Served with fresh gralic bread to complete this wonderful healthy dish.. I am coming back for lunch and enojoy the outdoor patio.“

“very delicious pizza great amount of toppings and cheese , really enjoyed their cheesy bread😋😋“

“Get the white sauce gnocchi! Omg! An explosion of cheesy goodness in your mouth. I wish the plate was bigger, cuz it’s that delicious! It does need some bread of some sort to soak up the extra sauce… because I’m not licking my plate again ?“

“Great food and atmosphere!“

“Great food, excellent service, and reasonable prices…the trifecta“

“Enjoy the atmosphere and great food.“

“Outstanding waitress . She was by herself and still managed to keep her cool. Definitely liking this place one thing, the. Chicago beef gravy is way too salty and you guys need to roast the green peppers . pizza was outstanding. Thank you.“

“Amazing menu, something for everyone…i recommend to try something outside your comfort zone. We had a little of everything and couldnt pick a favorite. Great atmosphere and very knowledgeable staff!“

“the food is SO tasty, welcoming honey atmosphere, wonderful service in an intimate setting.“

“To sit and enjoy The entire staff is friendly and the owner and his son are amazing!! They have the best atmosphere, food freshly made! Lasagna is so good - pizza is seasoned well and the dough is good“