50 Best Italian Restaurants near San Marcos

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

“The scenery is very beautiful“

“Been enjoying everything since I was 5 great food and better service love it“

“Best pasta west of the Mississippi“

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

“I have been coming here for 45 years and it the best Italian good place around. The three sisters that run it are amazing women that take pride in their work always so uplifting and with a smile on there faces. If you haven’t tried this place what are you waiting for. Get in there and taste everything they have to offer you can’t go wrong with anything you order. And with plenty of leftovers for lunch the next day😀“

“Incredible food and service. Pricey, but worth it!“

“Shane’s Pizza & Pints is such a staple in our neighborhood! Their pizza and boneless wings are my favorite! They always have great beers on tap as well as wine and kombucha! Shout out to our favorite bartender Jason who always has our drinks in front of us before we even have to ask! Love my restaurant home away from home and kudos to everyone who make’s Shane’s such a special place! ✌?“

“Try Lunch specials...lunch pizza really good. Salads are good. Service is friendly and usually fast. Servers have to dish out salads and drinks slowing them down. Good access and parking.“

“Excellent food and service.“

“Delicious authentic Italian meals artistically served .“

“Ciao is our new local favorite Italian go-to. We are fairly new to the area, having moved from Carlsbad where there is no shortage of excellent restaurants, and Ciao is right up there with wonderful food! The atmosphere was nice, casual and comfortable , the staff is friendly and attentive, and the food was excellent!

We were also pleasantly surprised to find that they also offer delivery with the two big food delivery services, and the to-go food is almost as good as dining in. Serving sizes are quite large giving you at least two meals per order.“

“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!“

“Family owned Italian restaurant with pride in everything that they do and everything they serve. Our meal was perfect, from the homemade bread to my pasta primavera and the spumoni after the meal. We got the opportunity to chat with one of the family members about the history of this fine eatery and that just reinforced the dining experience. It is like family there; our server was in her 14th year. They must be doing something right!

Wheelchair accessibility: Disabled spaces a short distance away. Room for all sized wheelchairs inside.“

“The food - when it came out 1 hour on the dot after our arrival (cringe) - was good as usual. But the service was painfully slow. The waiter - a tall bald man - seemed scattered, brought our drinks after our appetizer (and had to be reminded), and overall, we felt as if we were not taken care of well at all - with the exception of the busboy Jose, who was incredibly attentive as always.If the food wasn't good, we wouldn't come back. Please please do something about the exceptionally slow service & lack of attention to detail.“

“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.“

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

“Forchettabouddit, soon to be Forchettina never, ever disappoints. I've made it a point to try different dishes the times we've been here and everything is always authentic and tasty. The atmosphere is awesome and the service even better. I absolutely love this neighborhood place.“

“This is where my wife and I met on our first date . It holds significant emotional meaning but it's also simply amazing food. we never have any issue and we bring family and friends here often.“

“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...“

“Jackson was amazing. He helped guide is through the menu and each of our individual tastes. The chef accommodated my tweaks I always make. Get the dessert flight!!!! AMAZING!!!! Very unique menu! Seasonal! The special was packed with local fish. I will be back and highly recommend going.“

“the best ! never disappointed“

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

“Our food was great. Just know that inside the restaurant is loud with the piano music. If you're wanting conversations with whomever you're with, sit outside. You can talk and still enjoy the music. Unfortunately, we did have trouble with getting our table cleared of empty plates and the bread bowl. Even though it was clearly seen, we still had to ask to have things removed instead of it just being taken care of. The empty bread bowl stayed on our cluttered table our entire dinner.“

“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....“

“The sauce!! Mmm.... ordered a gluten-free pie with garlic, spinach, feta, artichoke, & tomatoes & a meatball sub with added bell peppers and mushrooms. My wife loved the pizza. Said it was the BEST gf pizza she's had (have tried loads). The meatball sub was dang near perfect, though I'd prefer the meatballs cooked just a bit more and pan seared for a nice bit of crust. The balls were smashed, which evened the sub bites (no bites of just bread after getting a whole ball in one bite). Love the idea & and I will be doing it from now on at home as well. Wouldn't be surprised if they make the hoagies for the subs. Lovely buttery roll, though, did start falling apart towards the end. I enjoyed just as much with a fork, though again the meatballs may have been just a bit undercooked/mushy. We added just a bit of parm and loved everything. We complimented on the sauce and was told, "My mamma makes it every day!" Seriously loved this place and want to be back ASAP to try some traditional Italian fare. Definitely recommend!“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“Food comes with a huge plate!!Amazing!
My husband and I had a dinner date tonight. It's been a long time since we came to Olive Garden. I tried the new shrimp and steak fettuccine, it was so good! and my husband had the classic lasagna.
And, I had the Italian Rum cocktail, perfect! Well, it's my first time to have this drink. Highly recommended to try. And of course, my husband had the Apple sour Sangria.
Jose, our server was very attentive and with good attitude.

Good job Olive Garden for the good food and service.😋👍“

“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!!!“

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

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

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

“The only reason I have 4 stars for the atmosphere is the music is LOUD. Love the pizza specials; their food is DELICIOUS!! I would call their pizza artisan, the flat pie crust is yummy! Consistently get good service and yummy food. A must....“

“Friendly staff- one staff member communicated through lip reading and she stored my pick up pizza while I had a beer and brought my pizza out as I made my way to the counter.
Super chill vibes.

Parking: Pretty obvious. Not hard to figure out.“

“So this review is going to be a little bit different. I haven't been to Borelli's in probably 33 years, since I was 10 yrs old. That is because I moved out of the area four years later, up to Riverside County, then eventually out of state (to a few different states) to Montana where I am now. But I can tell you that when I was a kid going to Borelli's, it was my favorite restaurant in the whole Encinitas area. They had the best food and the best service out of all the places there. My step-dad and his family (Marshall) were friends with the owners, if I'm not mistaken. I have many happy memories of eating there, and many memories with my family there. So thank you, Borelli's, for the amazing childhood that you contributed to and created lifetime memories for me. If I ever make it down there again, I will definitely stop by and have some delicious food. Best wishes to all the staff and owners!“

“I used to frequent this place often when I worked in North County.

Their food was always on point and delicious. From their soups to sandwiches.

The place was clean and the staff were always friendly and welcoming.

It'a nice to see they are still in business and going strong.

If you are in the area be sure to drop by and give them a try.“

“pizza is delicious and wings are fantastic“

“Wonderful happy hour and dinner at this little gem. I'd been to the restaurant over a year. I love the inside. It feels like it's been renovated or maybe I didn't pay attention to the interior decor before but it was modern and fresh. Happy hour is a great deal with cocktails for around $7 each? And then appetizers and flat breads were $3 off. We ordered the Brussels sprouts, garlic fries, meatballs, and whipped ricotta with yummy bread. Sooo good! Our server was fantastic and brought us some ice cream to go with our raspberry cheese cake for dessert. Sooo good! We will be back (maybe even tomorrow!!). Go! It's very good, wonderful food, fantastic service and great ambiance!“

“I had their toasted roast beef sandwich and it was amazing. The bread was wonderful. And for me to say the bread's good it means a lot because I'm from upstate New York.“

“We made the drive from LEGOLAND since this place had the best reviews in the area for pizza. It was definitely worth the drive. Louie, the owner, made some excellent pizzas for the family (including some picky kids) to enjoy. He knew the regulars by name, which is always a great sign.

The pizza was excellent, a thinner and crispy crust with a good amount of toppings. The pepperoni was perfectly caramelized with a bit of crunch, just the way I like it. Great service too, with a quaint atmosphere.

I will go out of my way to come again on our short trip from out of town.

Kid-friendliness: Plenty of kids and families dining here. Lots of TVs to distract them with too.“

“Such a wonderful evening at Delusso! Highly recommend this family owned Italian restaurant! Delicious, flavorful cuisine served by such kind hearted people 🩷 Awesome service! Love the atmosphere and the outside patio w a beautiful fire! Will definitely be going back!“

“They are now delivering!!!“

“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!“

“Cusimanos pizzeria is amazing! Delicious Pizza , Fresh Salad and the staff was awesome! 👍 👍“

“Great food and service. Awesome value and will definitely return“

“Great food and service. Ordered two giant pizzas for pick at two different times on same day for BDay party both pizzas were great and consistent. Customer service was great! Will definitely be back! Anyone wanting to feed a crowd w good pizza highly recommend the Giant pizza you won’t be disappointed.“

“First time trying this fantastic pizza place. I was very excited to try the chicken Tikka pizza it was very tasty and flavorful. I was greeted right away, It's family owned. Also their mango lassi was very delicious. I would definitely recommend this place“

“Amazing food! Biggest Calzone ever and so reasonably priced and delicious!“