50 Best Italian Restaurants near Lemon Grove

“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.“

“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.“

“Food is good and the service is great.“

“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!!“

“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!!!!“

“Walked in last night and had the best pasta I’ve had in a while. I’ll be thinking about that pappardelle. Excellent portions and service.“

“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!“

“Excellent food and the service was splendid.“

“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!“

“cordialità,buon cibo e ambiente raffinato“

“The Last Meal of the San Diego Stay at My Favorite Dinner Spot. Its Downtown Little Italy. Great 10/10 Service. Bar Staff Outstanding. Overall Service. DESTINATION SPOT.“

“I love this place! I came here for the first time a few years ago for brunch, for my husband’s birthday and we loved it. Last night we decided to come back for dinner to celebrate our anniversary and it was the best decision we made! We sat on the patio facing the bay at sunset. It was so relaxing on the patio, not super busy. The service was amazing and the food even better! My husband had the prawns and I had the black risotto. Delicious! They even gave us a complimentary dessert in honor of our anniversary. So sweet! We will definitely be coming 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.“

“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!“

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

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

“Really nice little chocolate shop with a good variety of treats. Everything looked fresh and nicely presented, and there were plenty of different flavors to choose from. I liked that they had both simple chocolate options and some more interesting ones too. The staff was friendly and didn’t make things feel rushed while looking around. Prices seemed pretty reasonable for the quality. It has a nice, relaxed feel to the place and would be a good spot to grab something sweet for yourself or pick up a small gift. Overall, a pleasant experience and I’d be happy to check out more of what they offer.“

“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 .“

“Genuinely the best pizza I've ever had, I try lots of places in my free time and I've gone all the way to LA just to try some good pizza, and that pizza was definitely worth the trip, this place TOPS that which says a lot, the service is great too and they gave me free ranch. Super nice staff!!!“

“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“

“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“

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

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

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

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

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

“Acqua Farina was amazing! Delicious food, a very special vinegar, incredible pasta and sauce, and wonderful fresh bread. The atmosphere, music, and friendly staff made it even better. Roberto, Cristiano, and Anel were the best servers ever—so attentive and helpful, and they made our first visit truly special. We loved the place and can’t wait to come back!“

“best italian in 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!“

“Overall, a very good Italian dining experience. The food averaged around 4 stars, but the excellent service and great atmosphere made the experience very special.

For appetizers, the tuna tartare was very good, and the chopped salad was amazing. The Sunday Supper spaghetti was a solid four stars. It was a heavier dish, but still enjoyable. The cream sauce pastas were also very good, earning four stars. The branzino was a standout at five stars, while the polenta was a solid four.

The service was excellent throughout the meal, and the atmosphere made the experience even better. While not every dish was exceptional, there were several highlights, and the overall dining experience was definitely worth four stars.“

“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.“

“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“

“After a disappointing experience at a neighboring restaurant, we came to Filippi’s for a redemption dinner, and it absolutely delivered.

At first, we weren’t quite sure where the restaurant was because you walk into what looks like an Italian market, but the dining area is tucked away in the back. Once seated, our waitress was attentive, friendly, and witty, which made the experience even better.

I ordered the lasagna with a meatball on the side, and the portions were huge, especially considering how reasonably priced everything was. We finished with plain cheesecake and tiramisu, and the desserts were to die for.

Great food, generous portions, reasonable prices, and wonderful service. This ended up being exactly the redemption dinner we needed. Would definitely recommend and come back!“

“Do not sleep on this hidden gem of a restaurant! You don’t need to go to Little Italy for a taste of Italy.

Omar is a wonderful character who provided us the BEST service. The Alfredo cheesy bread, salad and pizza were all amazing! Highly recommend!“

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

“Went to Trattoria da Sofia again. The food is amazing. They make all their pasta from scratch. They have "Nonna" is in the back room cranking out pasta. The polenta is authentic and the pasta is al dente. The bolognese sauce is definitely home made. It all reminded me of home.“

“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!“

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

“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“

“Excelent food and service !!!“

“Excellent pizza! Great food & love the atmosphere!“

“I Came Here For Some Delicious Spaghetti And Meatballs. Yup Definitely Wasn't Disappointed. I Ate @ The Bar & The Bartender Was Beyond Fantastic. He Was On Point And Should Teach Other Servers How To Give The Best Customer Service. Oh Yeah The Lady In Front Had Me Running Back & Forth Telling Me I Had To Pay @ The Bar. I Actually Wish Someone Would Tell Her Cash Sale's Can Be Paid In The Front.“

“Easily the best sandwich shop in all of SD!!! While you and I might make sandwiches at home, none of us is making a Peperone Rosso. All their Sicilian sandwiches are made on freshly baked schiacciata bread. My choice, the Peperone Rosso balances unctuous salami with peppery arugula, roasted cherry tomato, creamy stracciatella cheese, Pesto di pistachio, and red pepper cream.

I can't wait to go soon and try their other offerings.“

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

“I can’t say enough about this place. Every time we go it feels like we’re part of a big family. The hospitality in the service are wonderful. The food is excellent. Tonight I had pistachio pesto with shrimp (Campanelle Pistacchio e Gamberi). It was excellent. Can’t wait to return.“

“Enjoy the atmosphere and great food.“

“Best Italian I’ve ever spent money on…been coming here from Atlanta for 3 years and it’s always my first stop…ask for Rudy, he took good care of me…fantastic food, even better people!“