50 Best Italian Restaurants near Rancho Santa Fe

“Amazing STAFF and food. The General manager was super engaging and grit, staff was attentive even under busy and stressful situations- it’s obvious they have a positive working model. Nice work!“

“Great food . Well prepared and tasty , but a rowdy table with loud guests ruined the atmosphere and enjoyment. I asked management to calm the table down , but nothing was done.“

“Tonight I visited Vittorio's for the first time and everything about my experience was first rate! I could see that the hostess had a smile on her face, even before I entered the building. the wait staff was great and the food was wonderful! I've never had a better spaghetti alla carbonara. Thank you for a wonderful evening. I'll be back for sure!“

“​We had a wonderful dining experience here! The food was truly the best Italian cuisine we've enjoyed recently. What truly set the evening apart was the service provided by Matt. He is an absolutely amazing and personable server who went above and beyond to make it a great visit. A gem for the restaurant!“

“Food was excellent and service was great!!,..will be back!“

“Excellent food and service.“

“Had ordered Salad and pizza’s all were fantastic . Server was awesome !!!! We love your pie’s Buona 😍😍😍😍“

“Rosinas is consistently excellent authentic Italian food. The only food downside ( which is why I gave Food a 4 out of 5 rating), is their Ceaser salad...it is consistently bland, really watery, and tasteless...such an unpleasant surprise given that ALL of the other salads are so delicious, and ALL of the other food is delicious. Rosina, PLEASE update the Ceaser salad..it is really awful.“

“I had a great experience at Filippi’s Pizza! The food was really good, everything came out hot, fresh, and full of flavor. Our server, Ashley, made the meal even better with her amazing service. She was friendly, attentive, and made sure we had everything we needed the whole time. The atmosphere was nice, though it’s a little on the darker side inside — but honestly, that didn’t take away from the experience at all. I’d definitely come back and recommend Filippi’s to anyone looking for great pizza, eggplant parm, and excellent service!“

“Delicious authentic Italian meals artistically served .“

“We have made a tradition of celebrating my birthday at Firenze's over the last few years, and it never disappoints. My wife had the Lasagna, her personal go to for this restaurant. I tried the CANNELLONI FIORENTINA, and it was to die for. We also started with the black mussels, which are served in a spicy red broth, and they were excellent as well. Shannon was our server, and she was attentive without being intrusive. The restaurant also comped me with a large piece of Tirmisu for dessert to celebrate my birthday, which was outstanding. We had a 6:30 reservation on a Sunday evening, and the restaurant was surprisingly busy and a little noisy when we first arrived, but many diners were just finishing up and by 7:00 the restaurant had significantly calmed down. I have the impression that this restaurant has a significant local customer base who are a bit on the older side, and have early dinners here. You might want to keep that in mind when making reservations. We brought our own wine, and there is a $30 corkage fee, but we also had a $20 discount coupon from one of the promotional post cards that all receive in the mail on a routine basis, so that took the sting out of the corkage fee. They do offer 1/2 off on bottles of wine on Mondays, if you prefer to sample their wine instead of bringing your own. We sat inside, as it as pretty chilly outside, but they do have a spacious outdoor patio dining area with heaters where we have eaten in the past, and they are very dog friendly out there. All in all, Firenze's is a wonderful dining experience, that never disappoints.“

“Joe's is one of our favorite restaurants in all of San Diego Co. We have been coming here for years and feel like family when we visit. Truly a warm and welcoming experience every time we go. Highly recommend all the selections.“

“Mama Cella’s Italian restaurant feels like a treasure passed down through generations, offering authentic Italian flavours that truly shine. From the very first bite of the Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo, I was in love! The dish is creamy and rich in flavor, a perfect example of classic Italian cuisine.

However, I found the meatballs to be a tad salty when eaten on their own. On a positive note, the staff were incredibly friendly and helpful, eager to share their knowledge about the food and the restaurant. The cleanliness of the establishment was also impressive, which added to the overall dining experience.

Most importantly, the prices are very reasonable! I would definitely recommend Mama Cella’s, and it will be my go-to spot whenever I’m craving Italian food!

Parking: Yes, you can park in the front of restaurant Or find a spot along the avenue.

Wheelchair accessibility: It’s easy to access with wide doorways that accommodate wheelchairs.“

“My husband and I have been here for the very first time and we immediately fell in love with this place. The staff is amazing, they know how to treat you and make you feel at home. Alice is very passionate about her job and we loved her homemade desserts sooo much. A special mention to Michele, a very young yet extremely professional waiter, who contributed to create a cozy and pleasant atmosphere! As Italian, I can say it's hard to find place such Alice's where you feel so vividly the warm of our country. We will definitely come back!“

“We have been here since it first opened with the heavy Neapolitan oven. Menu is regularly updated as well as decor and quality control. From Neapolitan to new york style, now back to authentic Sicilian home taste. The mulberry pizza has been upgraded/renamed to italia, more chewy flavorful thinner dough and ripe cherry tomatoes fresh basil with great cheese. The garlic sticks are chewy pizza dough, not typical italian bread. The ceasar salad dressing is top notch. The expresso coffee machine is back, to complement the light and creamy spongy ricotta pistachio cake! Service is very attentive and now reservations are accepted. PS Feel free to speak Italian 🤣“

“Always a wonderful experience with great food and service! I have loved every thing I’ve tried on the menu. This is our go to place whenever we want tasty and excellent cuisine👏“

“I think the food is very good. I would give it five stars excellent service, beautiful wine had a wonderful night. 🍷🍝“

“fantastic food! one the best Italian spots in so. cal. friendly service.“

“Hello beautiful, I've seen quite a handful of your comments on my post and I just wanna go out of my way to appreciate those people whose comments and good wishes encourages me and I hope to bring you guys so much entertainment 2 Thanks a lot, I feel honored and blessed to have an amazing fan like you. Kindly name 3 of my songs you love so much...“

“A good pasta place - simple, tasty, diverse and customisable. Will try calzones next time for sure.“

“Such a stellar addition to the neighborhood. I cannot wait to eat my way through the menu. Absolutely some of the best Italian food in San Diego and some of the nicest people you could hope to meet. Truly passionate about the food they are serving.“

“the best ! never disappointed“

“Had a late lunch with friends on a rainy Sunday. It was pouring rain, the only way to park in the restaurant parking lot was to valet, otherwise you have to park on the street or further away in another parking lot. The food, service and view was excellent. I couldn't help but to notice how stained the dining chairs were and the tables looked worn and tired. It's too bad the management doesn't see this and address it. The prices are very reasonable, it's worth a try if you love fresh Italian cuisine.“

“Hole in the wall Italian. A very good deal for home Italian food.

Service was very good; we were the only people in there today and everything was quick. They were attentive without hovering, and very accommodating.

The menu prices were outdated and they were out of some things - this place needs a little love and more customers.

My fiancé and I had fettuccine Alfredo, penne arrabiata, two Cokes, and garlic bread. We spent $38 (plus tip). My fiancé enjoyed the fettuccine - there are carrots in it, which give it an earthy flavor. I had a bite and would add a bit of salt and crushed red pepper, but that’s my taste. I enjoyed the arrabiatta. It’s a spicy pasta, around a medium to hot in a Mexican food scale. The sauce was chunky and they didn’t skimp on the Parmesan, which was powdered. The garlic bread was a great texture, crunchy and buttery and soft all at once.

We will definitely return, and I encourage you to go if you want a quiet night with comfort food at a good price.“

“The scenery is very beautiful“

“Well it was date night and I was hoping to impress,well I did.
My wife and I had a night that was perfect in every way. I have to say thank you Vigilucci it’s been a long wile since I seen my wife happy. So I’m going to make another decision and that’s date night is going to be at Vigilucci’s. So happy with the food and the service as top shelf.“

“ATTENTION YELPERS! I FOUND THE BEST ITALIAN FOOD IN SAN DIEGO!!!

Just Kidding...

Not Kidding...this gigantic national chain serving up unauthentic, sodium loaded and ultra processed Italian food isn't all that bad, and a great value! The unlimited soup and bread sticks is middle and lower class family's perfect dream, and my dream...I devoured 3 bowls of soup and 3 bread sticks before touching my entree!

$24.50 Tour of Italy...The Chicken Parmesan had a nice hot crispy breading engulfing the juicy tender white chicken breast. The lasagna was robust, flavorful, with great blend of sauce, cheese, and pasta. The fettuccine alfredo is exactly how you would imagine it. Great value overall considering the 3 bowls of soup I devoured.“

“So far I’ve tried the cacio e pepe, the meatballs, and the shrimp portofino. I’m trying to lose weight, but this place is so good and worth reviewing. Next I want to try the Alfredo 😍 I have yet to dine in, but my fiancé and I definitely will soon!“

“The restaurant brought memories back from my travels in Italy. The staff was amazing and treated everyone like family. It wasn't easy to pick one entrée. I have to advise to end your meal with a delicious TIRAMISU... We will be returning....“

“Incredible food and excellent service ! Everything is perfect! Michelle and all staff are so amazing ! Thank you for having us and offering such delicious pasta and pizza! Thank you all and happy holidays!!!“

“We had an amazing dinner. Great happy hour until 6 PM. Nice options. Great service. Nice location.“

“Overall, I had a great experience at Ambiogio15 Del Mar. I only got a glass of Prosecco, but the pizza that my companions ordered was quite nice. The service was quite good. And the location was nice, being inside Sky Deck. I would recommend.“

“It suits any kind of gathering. The food was amazing. The Manhattan on the rocks-I love when they use the single large ice cube! There was nothing I didn’t like except as the place filled up we got a little warm but still enjoyed our full experience there.“

“Best pasta west of the Mississippi“

“The scenery is very beautiful“

“Great food, ambiance and staffs. Thank you!“

“Service was great. Atmosphere is cozy. A few things about the food - the dinner bread would be better if it was a crisp buttered sourdough. The house Italian dressing might be yummier with not so many spices drenching the salad. The pizza is superb - perfection combo of crust and topping. Lasagne is a huge portion and makes delicious leftovers - mine was served cheesy and saucy, just the way I like.“

“Grilled calamari… Brussels…. Yum!“

“Excellent customer service from Chloe and her teammate on Sunday for lunch. We had a party of 20 and they were friendly, professional and quick to accommodate. The food was good and plentiful. The servers made it an exceptional experience. Thank you!“

“Nice change of pace and it was easy to get A table outside during covid.“

“My all time favorite, I love this place!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“Clean, grate service,Perfect location.“

“The kids buffet is like $14, which is the same price as a kids meal at most places around legoland. The adult buffet is like $25 or $27ish (definitely less than $30). This includes a self-serve, all-you-can-eat buffet with fountain drink, salad bar, pasta, and pizza.

The buffet and tables are a bit chaotic since it’s a free for all (you find your own table and people/kids leave a mess on the tables).

The other diners at the restaurant can be gross, like touching food and not using the buffet utensils properly. Like, a lot of the diners are kids since duh it’s legoland. But still.

If you have celiac or a food allergy, tell the host or cashier. Michael (the cook handling allergy/celiac meals) came out to discuss options with me. He was fantastic! He offered to make a gluten-free pizza (cheese, meat lovers, veggie, etc.) that takes ~8 minutes. He also offered GF pasta, though it would take ~30 minutes since they boil it in fresh, uncontaminated water (a good sign!).

Michael made me a delicious GF pizza—thin crust, balanced toppings, and clearly made with care. I also asked if he could make a safe salad since the salad bar is a gluten nightmare (cross-contamination everywhere). He brought out a beautiful, tasty salad and even offered a box for my leftovers.

Shout out to Michael—super kind and accommodating!“

“parpedelle and short rib, pizza, cocktails“

“Tasty ice cream, boba tea and coffee in one place“

“Feels like You’re eating Sunday dinner at grandmas, but any day of the week you choose.“

“Took over as my favorite pizza place in SD. Just exudes laid back fun and cool. Like 10 high school kids running around working hard and being friendly, and couldn't tell who could possibly be in charge, but it was totally working! And Hazy IPA was great.“

“Very good pizza and wings. Pizza came out pretty quickly. Sauce is not sweet, which is a good thing. Crust is airy and crunchy. Hot wings were also good. Good sauce. Right amount of vinegar and heat.“

“We’re frequent patrons of Postino Wine Cafe on South Broadway, San Antonio, TX. Love the ambiance, food, wine & service. Last night we experienced them at their finest! Ray & Mark went above and beyond in making our daughter-in-laws 50th birthday celebration special. The 50th balloons, cake accessories, & gift card were unexpected & appreciated. This is a place to go for a special celebration! Chef Joseph prepared a variety of delicious boards & more. They truly give top notch attention to detail & service. Highly recommend!“