47 Best Italian Restaurants near Rancho Santa Fe

“This is one of the best restaurants I’ve eaten at in a long time. Food was fantastic. Service was great really neat little place. We had a post wedding party there and it was a really neat experience. I had the Santa Fe chicken pasta, which was full of flavor and a side salad that was amazing and huge! will definitely go back next time I’m in town.“

“We had the most exceptional experience and I will certainly be back. Giovanni took care of us as if we were part of his family, with generosity and such warmth. His knowledge is impressive!Let alone his passion for food, wine and spirits.Food was excellent, coffee as well.A little hidden gem!“

“This is our favorite Italian restaurant in this area. They are vegan friendly, and the food is delicious.They have a small selection of vegan pizzas and have vegan cheese.My husband is from Chicago, so picky about his pizza. So far, their flatbread, is the only pizza he's found that is likes.We've ordered to-go for two large events over the past three years and everyone loved the food.“

“Such an amazing and authentic taste with a family vibe. Great service and cook to order food. You can't go wrong if you want a great Italian meal. I've had their pizza, chicken parmesean, spaghetti and meatball sub. All amazing, however, pizza is my favorite.Parking: Parking can seem a bit of a challenge but you will find a spot in the small lot“

“Best pizza I have had In the area, in a while! We ordered several different pizzas, crime scene, BBQ chicken, pepperoni and a gluten free olives/sausage. My personal favorite was the Crime Scene, fresh ricotta and the meatballs were a great combination! Delivery was spot on their time estimate which made planning dinner for a group easy. 10/10 will be ordering from here again and we highly recommend it.“

“Their food is decadent and amazing. Their staff, a wonderful group. Never need to ask for anything. Their wine ? spectacular. This is a very small place. Reservations recommended. Don't miss out on the best Italian Cuisine in North County. Price $$$“

“I had a very pleasant experience at Rosina's last night! We had a group of 6 for my nephews birthday. Our waiter, Colin, was sweet and attentive. Parking is street and they do have a side lot. It was busy even on a Wednesday so we walked a little but not far at all. The bread is delicious with the dipping sauce. We started with the arancini which I recommend! They are slightly smaller than I'm used to, so get 2 orders if you have a bigger party. I had the fusilli aka vodka with chicken and gluten free pasta. The G Free pasta is better than what I usually make at home, which was a major plus! I really couldn't tell the difference. Everyone enjoyed their meals! A great experience! Oh, and Wednesday is half priced bottles of wine!“

“In the 90's this place would've been next to a local movie rental and arcade real close to the theater and would've been the peak Pinnacle pizza experience for young and old alike. My only regret is that I'm only passing by.If you want good pizza go here. The gelato is amazing as well.Down with the big chains up with the single slice!!!#CorePizzaMemoryVegetarian options: It's a pizza and gelato place.“

“Much better than past visits. Too many times you're just ignored by the teenage cashier or food is just not cared for due to being busy. Place was busy, but it was clear management was on it that night (Mon 3/11) could see some guests were just plain rude or disrespectful, but the staff kept with it and killed it with kindness, service and stuck with the quality of food you'd expect for a place with the name, "Best Pizza?". Glad to be back home and see such a turn around“

“This is a hidden gem in a Vons shopping center! The food is incredible and truly authentic Italian. It is a deli for takeout but they make hot sandwiches pasta too. I love the meatballs & marinara. Just walking in a smelling what's cooking is heaven!“

“Absolutely delicious. Authentic taste and you can taste the quality of the cheese! I'm not from this part of CA, but would plan a little weekend trip to the area just to come again. The gelato is also terrific- créme brûlée or birthday cake flavor!“

“Glad to be able to have authentic Italian in my neighborhood. Celebrated my mom's birthday. I always order carpaccio di manzo, and calamari fritti. It was rainy Monday at 6:30. The restaurant was very crowded. Recommend to make a reservation.“

“Called to ask if they delivered our hotel. The food arrived hot and right on time. We got wings and two pineapple and ham pizzas.Food was great and they even threw in cups and plates since we were getting delivery to a hotel.Would recommend to anyone looking for good pizza after a built day.“

“Amazing food and customer service!!! my parents have been coming here for years for all their special occasions, anniversaries, and birthdays. My mom passed away very quickly a few weeks ago and Yanni and his staff were amazing and so helpful with us preparing a special meal for all of our family, to celebrate such an amazing woman! THANK YOU! ❤️“

“The OPERA and CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER were delicious! My daughter loved her Black Vanilla. We have been to the Encinitas location many times and love Tiramisu and Salted Caramel flavors if those happen to show up here.The worker was a sweetheart. It's such a great location, just up from the beaches. I am so happy to have one closer to me. I enjoy their gelato as much as anything I tasted in Italy. It's really fresh and natural.“

“From the moment I walked into Maurizio Trattoria, I knew I was in for a genuine Italian treat! This place not only captures the essence of Italy through its staff and ambiance but elevates your dining experience with exceptional culinary creations. The owner and the chef are both Italian, bringing authentic flavors and recipes straight from Italy to the heart of San Diego.The standout dish for me was the vongole pasta; it was nothing short of spectacular! Each bite was a perfect blend of fresh clams and al dente pasta, beautifully seasoned to enhance the natural flavors. It’s clear why there's always a line out the door – the food here is worth waiting for!The restaurant prides itself on using locally sourced seafood and fresh ingredients, which reflects in the quality and taste of every dish served. The staff, mostly Italian, are not only knowledgeable about the cuisine but also exceptionally welcoming and attentive, making us feel like part of the family.Maurizio Trattoria is a true gem in San Diego for anyone seeking to indulge in top-notch Italian cuisine. The combination of authentic dishes, a warm atmosphere, and stellar service makes this place a culinary landmark. Highly recommend making reservations to secure a table at this prized establishment. Cinque stelle all the way!“

“Cute little pizza shop. Harry was super nice and helpful! As we were ordering all our individual slices, he mentioned that ordering a whole pizza would save us money. We got a full bbq chicken and a half pepperoni and half specialty (pepperoni, onions, and jalapeños). The pizza was delicious!“

“Buonasera is great! They have tons of pizza ready to go by the slice that they'll heat up for you real quick. We went here after a walk on the beach and it was the move. I had the bacon chicken ranch which was delicious. The Antipasto salad was also super refreshing and yummy with the little mortadella and provolone rolls. My dad had the Pepperoni and Sausage and the Red Veggie which he said were also both delicious. They have a nice large outdoor seating area with a bar where you can watch the game. It's a nuce easy spot for some great pizza after a day at the beach.“

“First time trying this place and will be coming back again and again! The zucchini/calamari/shrimp appetizer is to die for and the eggplant parm was delicious. Cozy space with great ambience added to the wonderful evening. Can't wait to come back!“

“We dined inside and the acoustics were nil. The noise level didn’t work for my hard of hearing MIL. The server was great. I didn’t get his name. I had butternut squash ravioli. Yum! I was not impressed by my husbands lasagna but he ate the whole thing. My MIL had chicken with a giant sausage on top. She loved it. Then, we shared a chocolate lava cake. It was a delight. We will wait to again when it’s warmer and we can dine on their patio. The staff was super friendly.“

“We come to eat here when working in this area.Let me say the Spaghetti and meatball dish is Amazing! Comes with garlic bread .We also got an Antipasto salad.....so yummy .Thanks again for such wonderful service and food.We will definitely be back again .“

“So good!!! I had the burrata pizza and let me just say it was delicious! The pesto was amazing and had a bit of sweetness to it. Very good! The tomato sauce was to die for! Probably the best ever! The crust was delicious and had a nice flavor! Also there is a quite the groovy and cool aesthetic! Bathroom as sparkling!“

“I Own a Philly cheesesteak place downtown so I wanted to try this place out. First off the staff is amazing and friendly. Very welcoming. Right when you walk in you see the smiling employees and you can tell this is a family establishment. The hot pastrami was one of the best I’ve ever had. I love supporting businesses like this. 10/10. Thank you Kelly!“

“We pop in occasionally for lunch. I really enjoy their patio, the bread is tasty and better than many Italian restaurants(I really think a restaurant could win over customers with an excellent bread service). I occasionally get a craving for their Capellini al Pomodoro, which is a simple angel hair with a savory yet meatless red sauce.“

“I went in because the place was local, I had a coupon and the sandwiches looked great. They took my coupon without any problems and I got the Sandy Koufax (pastrami) and the Tommy Lasorda (Italian) - both came with pasta salad (there's an option for chips if you prefer that). The pasta salad was really good - I feel kinda dumb raving about it, but it was really well made.The sandwiches themselves were awesome. Even without the coupon, the prices felt justified. Quality sandwiches, no skimping on the meat and tasted great. Would definitely come back!“

“Excellent food, especially if you’re looking for some authentic Indian-inspired cuisine! We had the chettinad chicken pizza and it was really delicious; reminded me of pizzas that you would get in india. The day we visited, they also had a dosa stand and it was as authentic as it gets!“

“Met friends there. Easy to get there. Parking available but limited. We got lucky and found a spot right away.Food was very good. I had a daily special, a clams and mussels risotto.Lots of choices for wine, both foreign and domestic.We sat inside due to the weather, although a covered heated patio was available. It was fairly noisy, mostly from the street.“

“What a little gem! This place instantly turned into our favorite Italian restaurant in the area. The 2-pasta meal is perfect to try things you can't decide between. And everything was done really nicely! The cream sauces are fantastic.“

“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!“

“Hidden gem located in a Sorrento Valley business park, this place was packed on a Saturday evening. Small but great ambiance, top notch service, and phenomenal pizza. This is a sit down restaurant and pizza by the slice isn't available. Tip - Mom's delivers to a 5 mile radius“

“True family Italian meal, nothing pretentious just perfect food for the soul. Who cares about the location and fast food atmosphere when you have such an honest cooking that brought me back to Italy, sharing a joyful meal with my friends. Highly recommend it.“

“So so so good! I enjoy finding new lunch spots in the area because things get real boring and real quick around here. I ordered for delivery and I was surprised with hot and fresh everything came as well as the portion sizes. The soup was great and full of veggies. The zucchini sticks with the marinara and ranch hit hard, they were addictive. The pasta surprised me the most because I feel like it can be hit and miss at most places because apparently seasoning your food is hard or something. But everything was flavorful and a great price I gotta say. I'll probably dine in at some point because I'd like to see what their dinner service looks like and what the vibe of the restaurant itself is like, but all in all I highly recommend.“

“Came here for lunch with my family and the service, food, and views were spectacular. I loved my eggplant parmigiana and my niece loved her pizza. I know their pizza is famous! I highly recommend coming here.Vegetarian options: The eggplant parmigiana and the margarita pizza were spectacular vegetarians options. My dad loved his mushroom risotto (I can’t remember the exact name.) Everything there is honestly delicious“

“Joes Italian is a good choice when I'm in town. The antipasto salad is an excellent choice. The eggplant parmigiana is very delicious the flavor was excellent. The service is good. They cook the food fresh, the ambiance is good. I like the retro Italian restaurant vibes. I have been here multiple times and Joes never disappoints.“

“We had the apple salad to start and the creamy vinaigrette was excellent. Make sure you get the right dressing here. The star of the show was the pizza. I rarely get a medium since the value is usually in the large but even though I like a thin crust, the larges I saw looked a bit anemic. We went with medium. The crust was perfect! The meatballs were perfectly crisped and the ricotta was added after it was cooked so it maintained the creamy texture instead of hardening on the outside when it is cooked. Trust me here, this is my favorite pizza and pizza is one of my favorite foods. The sauce is also the exact acidity I'm looking for. The only downside to this place is how far it is from my house.“

“Great local restaurant with a variety of menu options, including gluten free. Staff was friendly and helpful. Looking forward to visits in the summer to leverage the outdoor seating! Definitely a go-to in the neighborhood! Only con, the parking lot can be very tight but there is street parking available.“

“Absolutely amazing experience, fortunate enough to have the chance to speak with the owner who's very passionate about pizza and has a deep understanding of the origin and history of it. Ordered 3 pies and was pleased with all of them. I will be back again and will recommend to others as well. Thank you for excellent and over the top customer service!“

“What a great gem! We were visiting the area and used Yelp to find a place for dinner. We settled upon Crust Pizzeria and were so happy we did! The place had a small comfortable bar and there were also tables available. The bartender, I believe her name was Faith, was very sweet and took great care of us. My husband enjoyed the Cheese Ravioli, and I ordered the Penne Sausage. It was excellent - the sausage was a touch spicy, and the tomato cream sauce was delicious. The portions were adequate. If only they had a location near our home - we would certainly be regular customers.“

“Crust is one of our favorite places to eat in Solana Beach! Our family eats here at least once a week! There's so many options, pizzas, pastas, sandwiches, they have a really great lunch menu! The service is always great! I love that this family, friendly restaurant is so good to the community! They have separate rooms, so you can have a bar atmosphere, or sit on the outdoor patio. They even have a private room you can rent out for events. We love this place!“

“I cannot encourage y'all enough to go to Ciccotti's restaurant in Cardiff! Not only have they been a consistent go to for family meals and beautiful sunsets but they went out of their way to be professional, kind and on time for my father's funeral reception this last week. In dealing with the owner himself, he was respectful and on point with his suggestions and pricing. They delivered the food on time, cleaned up when we were done and allowed us to bring home The trays that were not fully consumed ( I'll be bringing them back !) Please support this local business with their professionalism, their delicious food, and great location! We ordered the bread with the yummy red dipping sauce , house salad , lasagna ( omg!) and ravioli with cream sauce - all delicious!“

“Their original restaurant on 6th Ave used to be a family favorite back in the 60's and '70's where you could watch the pizza makers tossing the dough. They currently have 2 locations. This family run Italian restaurant is a real gem. Their menu is fabulous and the food is outstanding. You must give them a try. You can thank me later.“

“We were shopping in Encinitas on a Friday night when I spotted the front signage for Forchettaboutit Pizza. We decided to stop in for a couple slices. The joint was jumping on this Friday night and we had to wait a few minutes for an inside table. They do have outdoor patio heaters but it was still too windy to dine outside.We chose the white pizza with chicken and caramelized onions and their meat lovers pizza, and the Caesar salad with chicken. Everything was delicious.The salad was one of the best I've had. The meat was warm, so it was cooked to order and not refrigerated. It was juicy and had great flavor. The chef knows his chicken.The pizza was great if you don't mind a softer crust. It had a wonderful bite and really good char on the underside. Seasoning was great and the toppings looked fresh and really generous.Our waitress gave us a small ramekin of their marinara and it was sooo good. I will definitely try their pasta next time I'm in Encinitas.Service was excellent. All the waitresses had high energy, were fun, and very attentive.The only draw back was soda was from a can so no free refills.“

“It's good pizza, however the last two times I got it, it seemed smaller than it usually was. Did you guys reduce the sizing? Also the crust seemed a little thiner. I might be imagining things, but it seems a little different. Anyways still good.“

“We've been eating at Uncle Tony's for many years and love it. During the "pandemic", aside from the great food, Uncle Tony's restaurant was an island of clarity surrounded by an ocean of insanity. The atmosphere is great and the background music is perfect. I'd say the lobster ravioli are amazing but then everything else on the menu is also. Family owned and operated, so you'll find Tony talking with customers from behind the bar or around a table.“

“All their sauces were delicious. We tried their pesto and sun dried tomatoes sauce. Quantity was good.Staff is friendly and quite accommodative to vegetarians. They use separate utensils to make each pasta.Pretty decent seating and an affordable place.Vegan and Vegetarian friendly.“

“Wow! I didn't expect the quality for this mom'n'pops shop. I ordered the chicken ceaser salad with the dressing on the side. The salad was fresh and crisp, the chicken was freshly made and cut and the best part..... the croutons are made in-house!!!!I'm pretty sure the dressing is also made in-house, and it all just was perfect.I will be returning to try the pastas another time. You can't beat that price!!! Please support this restaurant and eat here!“

“We had already been to the location in uptown Carlsbad and had always wanted to try this location by the beach. The crew members were very courteous and attentive. We were seated at an ocean view location, which was perfect til the screaming kid next to us kept testing the acoustics in the building. The parents had no intention of calming him down. We asked to move to another seat, and we took the option of sitting in the bar area. The outside dining area wasn't available for another hour. Unfortunately, we could periodically still hear the kid screaming, but it wasn't as loud. The food was great! Our waitress was excellent! The seating in the main lobby could've been a little more spacious, and the parking could be an issue if it weren't for the great valet parking. We definitely will be back.“