50 Best Italian Restaurants near Lemon Grove

“This small pizzeria is just getting under way. In addition to pizza, they also offer calzones, sandwiches, pastas, wings, salads, and gyros sandwiches and plates. I had the latter in the form of a sandwich on a pita for $9.99 plus tax a la carte.The gyro sandwich was good. I liked the gyro meat. It had good crispy edges, was tender, and tasted good. I would have liked a little more meat. The pita bread was good, too. It was soft and warm. The sandwich came with plenty of lettuce and tomatoes and some red onions which I liked.The gyro sandwich definitely needed more tzatziki sauce. I suggest that they offer a small container of sauce on the side or, at the very least, add a nice drizzle on top.Service was friendly enough. The pizzeria offers some inside seating.“

“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!“

“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.“

“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!“

“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!“

“Altamente recomendado!! Comida deliciosa, servicio de primera, ambiente confortable. Todo excelente!!“

“Very good italian delicious fresh food.“

“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.“

“Excellent food and the service was splendid.“

“Great service great food will be back soon.“

“Their gluten-free pizza is hands-down the best pizza I've ever had, gluten-free or gluten-full! Their gluten-free pasta is phenomenal as well. Incredibly fast service for a Friday night as well.“

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

“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!“

“This is an old-school Italian restaurant. Spaghetti and meatballs are simple and delicious! A bottle of the house chianti is a bargain. Don't expect fancy, but do have an appetite, the portions are very generous. We didn't have the pizza, but by the looks of it, were glad we went with the pasta.“

“Fast and friendly service. Great food. Been here several times and tonight I am having my “go to” Supreme Pizza with added pineapple and jalapeños. I also like anchovies, so I personally added them. Don’t kink shame me. Garlic Parmesan wings were hot, buttery and delicious as usual“

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

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

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

“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.“

“I have been eating here for over 15 years! One of the best-not just food (which is incredible) but also service. Some of the best staff out there!“

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

“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“

“Excellent authentic Italian food. Service was great.“

“Great food and atmosphere!“

“Had bruschetta to start and lasagna for main washed down with a carafe of burgundy, all heavenly and served with a smile! What more could you possibly ask for? Would definitely recommend The Mona Lisa!!“

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

“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“

“The good: Steaks cooked perfectly (though a tad salty), surprisingly delicious pasta dishes (spicy rigatoni and Orecchiette with tomato were standouts!), and a truly excellent carrot cake.

The not-so-good: Service was efficient but lacked warmth. Our server removed our wine bottle prematurely, so be sure to speak up if you're not finished. No complimentary desserts for birthdays.

Overall: Good food with some exceptional dishes, but the service could be more attentive and personable for the price point.“

“This is the best Italian restaurant In San Diego everything it's fresh and delicious! ❤❤❤“

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

“This food is off the hook and this husband and wife owned restaurant is the best I've ate at in my entire life (57 years). Great customer service. 8:00 pm and we have been moving all day. I happened to call and they said they were closing but would stay open for us. We got there and seated right away., they never rushed us. This is by far the best authentic Italian restaurant I have ever eaten at and I have worked in 2 myself. I would highly recommend stopping by while your in town“

“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“

“The best and freshest italian food I've found in San Diego! Try their fresh daily pastas!“

“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 ?“

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

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

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

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

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

“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.“

“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.“

“Military here. Just came off a deployment of 9 months. Friend suggested this resturaunt. Fantastic food, payed over $130, seems decently worth due to great food very easy to handle table, very clean. Few drinks and some food. Came down to pay, the gentleman serving us, watched as I put in a small tip, I do not believe in huge tips, especially for an easy table, and a $10 tax. But he said only that much? And gave me a stank eye. I then finished and thanked him, he was extremely kind and nice the entire time until the end, where he said nothing else after and looked at my like I was a homeless man walking in and pi**ssing on the floor. Ruined the whole night.“

“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!“

“Great food! spacious dining place.“

“Great service, great food, flavor on point! The employees and owner served with excellence and great care. While sitting and observing I saw the owner of the restaurant waiting by the door to open the door for customers as they left. That right there sold me on the respect for his customers and dedication for his Resturant, as a previous Resturant owner myself that is the service that will keep me coming back!“