50 Best Italian Restaurants near Lemon Grove

“Absolutely wonderful experience. Kind, polite. Nice to talk to and I absolutely appreciate that. But this pizza pie is on point. It's delicious. It's clean. It's light you eat a whole pot every few weeks and do it a dough cleanse and it takes everything out of your body. It's wonderful. Nothing else can do that.“

“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!“

“Food always on point!!!!“

“We absolutely loved our dinner at Monzu in the Gaslamp! From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was warm and welcoming, and the staff struck the perfect balance of being friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. We started with the tartare di tonno, which was incredibly fresh and flavorful—an excellent beginning to the meal. The housemade focaccia deserves a special mention: airy, perfectly seasoned, and quite possibly the best I’ve ever had. For the main course, I enjoyed the bucatini all’amatriciana. The pasta was clearly house-made, cooked to perfection, and the sauce had that authentic depth of flavor that only true Southern Italian cooking delivers. We finished with an affogato, which was the ideal ending—simple, rich, and satisfying. Monzu offers authentic Southern Italian fare with genuine hospitality, and everything we tried reflected both freshness and craftsmanship. I would 100% return and highly recommend it to anyone looking for an unforgettable Italian dining experience in San Diego.“

“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!!“

“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!“

“cordialità,buon cibo e ambiente raffinato“

“Kelsey was amazing!
She was so knowledgeable, kind, inviting and had amazing suggestions
The swordfish was perfectly prepared and the whipped feta?! A perfect accompaniment with fig, hazelnuts, honey and sage
Loved the speakeasy vibe without being packed in like sardines. Beautiful view, amazing service by Kelsey and spectacular food“

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

“Everything was incredible! Kika, our server, was so kind and helpful. I am celiac and she guided me through what would work for me! The food was delicious. We loved the vibe and greatly enjoyed our visit! 100% worth a visit!“

“Excellent food and the service was splendid.“

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

“Great service great food will be back soon.“

“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.“

“Me, my husband and my service dog went to order two pizzas at 8:50 pm on 10/29/2025 and the young man that helped us was polite and friendly. We're from of town and our experience was a great one. Our pizzas were delicious and the prices were good. We'll be returning to this establishment on our next trip. Thank you.“

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

“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 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!“

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

“Was in San Diego for a family reunion and found this restaurant by accident. Great place for some good Italian food. After living in Italy for a number of years nice to discover a place who knows how to prepare authentic Italian food. Next time we come to San Diego we will be enjoying food at Tavola Nostra Pizzeria e Cucina. Grazie per tutte - cibo e buono .“

“Angie's service was so warm and welcoming. We didn't have to wait long for seating or for our food. I loved the chocolate cheesecake I ordered and my friend's eggplant parmesan sandwich had great taste! My other friend ordered a steak sandwich and was well satisfied with it. The Indoor Seating was very cozy and comfortable. We were able to have a pleasant conversation without having to shout over loud overpowering music.“

“I had the arancini, pistacchiosa on my first visit. Both were excellent choices. The arancini were well crusted on a delicious ragu bed. I decided not to add any extra parmesian or red pepper in order to enjoy the original flavor of the pistacchiosa. I look forward to returning and trying other items like the risotto and tiramisu. Grazie Trattoria da Sofia for a pleasant experience!“

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

“Enjoy the atmosphere and great food.“

“As someone who’s pretty picky about Italian food in San Diego, this is one of the few spots that consistently delivers. The portions are generous, the prices are fair, and the quality doesn’t slip.

Get the chicken parm. The red sauce is the standout. You can tell it’s made with care, not just thrown together.

On top of that, the staff is genuinely welcoming, which makes the whole experience even better. This is one of those places I keep coming back to and always recommend without hesitation.“

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

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

“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!“

“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“

“Excelent food and service !!!“

“Simple yet delicious Italian food. Who knew that a rigatoni marinara could taste so divine? The giant meatball and gnocchi were amazing as well. Excellent service. It was a cool and windy evening, so my only complaint is that the restaurant gets the wind blowing through it, so it was colder than comfortable, at least for me.“

“We had an amazing experience, and a big part of that was thanks to Sergio! From the moment we sat down, he was attentive, friendly, and genuinely cared about making sure everything was perfect. His recommendations were spot on, and he checked in just the right amount without ever being intrusive. It’s rare to come across service like that—professional, warm, and efficient all at once.

Thank you, Sergio, for going above and beyond and making our visit so enjoyable. We’ll definitely be coming back!“

“it was really good I enjoyed it“

“We love Parma Cucina!! The food is authentic and they treat everyone like family! Bellissimo!🇮🇹❤️“

“Cardellino was a solid choice for my Valentine's Day last night. My partner and I were seated right away by the sweet hostess at the front according to my seating preferences which I appreciated. Within the first few minutes we noticed a sliding door leading to a speakeasy which I think added to the lively ambiance of the restaurant. Our service support was very kind in his greeting. Our server was average. Although he was kind, he wasn't very attentive. I understand that the night was busy how ever I feel as if the service we were given didn't match my expectations for an elevated dining experience. I was expecting more of a personalized experience to say the least. He offered his recommendations and that was about it. At one point of the night, a woman I'm assuming was a manager or supervisor visited our table to check in and I had asked her for a specific drink she said they didn't have at Cardellino, but they could make in the speakeasy next door which she went and got for me. SO SWEET and matched my high quality service expectations. Drinks were good. For appetizers we ordered the prosciutto arugula salad and lamb lollipops. Both were delicious. Once our entrees came, The cacio e Pepe bucatini pasta the server recommended came out cold. The steak's texture, flavoring, and cut reminded me of a pork chop. It lacked memorable luster. The fingerling potatoes were good, and the egg on the asparagus was cold. If the server would have visited our table before we finished eating all of our food, I would have told him this. However he did not check in with us until about 20 minutes after the food was brought to the table. However when I did let him know, he took it off the bill which I did appreciate, I just wish he gave me a chance to let him know sooner. Overall, I'd say the ambiance, drinks, and appetizers would be the only thing keeping me coming back.“

“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.“

“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!“

“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.“

“Great nights whenever we're there. Excellent pasta dish with lots of sauce and garlic bread. Accompanied by talented singing crowd on Saturday karaoke nights, pleasure to listen to. Kid-friendly management/staff... a real family treat. Be there.“

“Amazing! Great options and friendly environment!!“

“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“

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

“Went to RomaMia tonight for dinner and it was beyond expectation!! The food was exceptional and so flavorful. It was like it was home cooked by an Italian grandmother, with care and love. The bruschetta was delicious, and the Carbonara was absolutely amazing! We will definitely be coming back again!“

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

“Great food and atmosphere!“

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