Cesarina

“If you’re looking for authentic Italian food in San Diego, this restaurant is a true gem! From the moment we walked in, we were welcomed with warm, attentive service that made us feel like family. The food was absolutely outstanding—fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with high-quality ingredients. Every dish tasted authentically Italian, with rich flavors and beautiful presentation. You can tell that great care goes into every meal. The service was just as impressive. The staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive without being intrusive, making the entire dining experience enjoyable from start to finish. If you appreciate authentic Italian cuisine, excellent service, and a welcoming atmosphere, I highly recommend this restaurant. We will definitely be coming back!”

“I've been here twice now, and both visits have been amazing. The service is excellent, the staff is incredibly friendly, and the food is outstanding. Every dish is beautifully presented and full of flavor. My favorite appetizer is the Polpo Croccante - it's absolutely incredible. I also highly recommend the tiramisu for dessert. As for the entrees, you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Everything I've had has been delicious.”

“We had a delightful lunch on the outside patio. The seating was modest but comfortable and the patio is protected from the street by greenery. We enjoyed the generous complimentary focaccia bread and “Mediterranean salsa” (marinara), scampi, and tiramisu. The nonalcoholic espresso martini was just okay and Italian soda options were refreshing. Service was extraordinarily friendly. We were celebrating a birthday and received gelato and a Polaroid photo. Strongly recommend a reservation even on a weekday afternoon.”

“This is the best Italian food I’ve had in SD so far. We had the carpaccio cesarina for starters and it was amazing, the garlic and tenderloin was like butter. The pasta was perfectly al dente, we had the lumache with bolognese and pappardelle with funghi. The sauces were sticking and heavily coated on the pasta. The polpette was 10/10 too. I would just say that it was very dark in there, considering that most fancy restaurants lean to darker lighting, I think warmer yellow lights would really give it’s food justice, it deserves to be seen. Service was good. Reservations are recommended.”

“Michelin Bib Gourmand and lots of vegan/GF options so obviously I had to try it! Started with the polpo croccante and WOW the honey glaze was perfection. The octopus itself was slightly chewier/overcooked than I personally like, but the flavor? Impeccable. They also gave complimentary GF bread which was thoughtful, but honestly a little underwhelming compared to the homemade focaccia my friends got. I was hoping for something more elevated than standard packaged GF bread. I got the GF pasta (brown rice + corn pasta) with the pomodoro fresco, made dairy free with Follow Your Heart cheese (my absolute fav vegan cheese). Flavor was so tasty but presentation-wise the cheese felt a little lazy since it was just cut into cube slices instead of melted/incorporated more. That said, the colorful ceramic plates/water pitchers were SO cute and quirky and the whole restaurant has such a fun vibe. I feel like this place would be really magical at night with all the twinkle lights. My friends loved their dishes too. Definitely would go back, I just think there are a few little touches that could elevate it even more.”