Where to eat good Italian in San Diego?

[Vadala]

Little Italy no?

What is a good place?

Thank you so much

[Diva Barbarella]

Cucina Urbana or Tre Porcellini (this just opened a few weeks ago on University Ave. by Baja Betty's, I had a wonderful experience there the other night). I'm dying to try out that new one in the Atlas building mentioned above, I hear it's also very good.

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Baja Betty's
1421 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92103

[Beach Chick]

It's been awhile but I've always had great meals at Baci's on Morena and Manhattan's in La Jolla..both classic old school Italian..

[SaraAlison]

I'm married to an Italian from NY and we live in Little Italy, so I consider myself somewhat of an expert here. I haven't had a phenomenal meal in any of the Little Italy restaurants. However, Mona Lisa is very good. Nothing fancy or gourmet, but they have a really strong red sauce. My fave dishes here are eggplant parm and the white pizza (big chunks of ricotta!).

Looking forward to more response so we can try out new places and put 'em thru our East-Coast Italian review committee. :)

[jmtreg]

That really depends on what you're looking for. If you want authentic Neapolitan pizza, then Pizzeria Bruno Napoletano fits the bill. Arriverderci in Hillcrest serves what I would consider some of the better pasta dishes in town. If you are looking for classic, red and white tablecloth 1950's style Italian food, I'd go with one of the many Busalacchi restaurants (several of which are in Little Italy). Saying that, though, I do mourn Sorrentino's which closed some 15 years ago.

I've heard good things about Cucina Urbana, and a couple of the places in Tierrasanta, who's names I can't remember, but they're along Santo Road. Frankie's Italian Deli (in Mira Mesa) serves pretty good homestyle Italian food, but I think its closed. Hopefully, that'll help. Oh, and Volare's Italian Restaurant is pretty good in the old-school Italian category.

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Cafe Zucchero
1731 India St, San Diego, CA 92101

Trattoria Fantastica
1735 India Street, San Diego, CA 92101

Arrividerci Italian Restaurant
3845 4th Ave, San Diego, CA 92103

Volare' Italian Restaurant
3528 Barnett Ave, San Diego, CA 92110

Frankie's Italian Deli
9225 Mira Mesa Blvd, San Diego, CA 92126

Busalacchi's Italian Restaurant
3683 Fifth Ave., San Diego, CA 92103

Pizzeria Bruno Napoletano
4203 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA 92103

CUCINA urbana
505 Laurel Street, San Diego, CA 92101

[pantani]

Zolezzi's was the only really good Italian restaurant San Diego has ever seen.
Never been anything close since.

[pantani]

Go to Assenti Pasta in Little Italy.
Buy pasta, sauce and cheese of your choice.
Add whatever else you like.
Go home and cook it and enjoy.
End of story.

[honkman]

Never bought their sauces but at least their pasta is OK but nothing outstanding or comparable to pasta from a really good Italian restaurant. They are also one of the reasons why the pasta dishes at Cucina Urbana are just average for an Italian inspired restaurant

[pantani]

That's just crazy talk. Assenti is real, fresh pasta made by Italian's who are passionate about what they do. They also have a wide variety of flavors and forms of pasta you won't find anywhere else. Most Italian restaurants use plain old packaged white pasta you can buy at Von's.
So what in your opinion is a really good Italian restaurant and do they make their own pasta?
(I make my own at home and grind my own wheat).

End of rant

[honkman]

I haven't said that there is a good italian restaurant in SD but Assenti's pasta compared to good Italian (or Italian influenced) restaurants like Osteria Mozza (LA), Fraiche (LA), Scopa (Healdsburg), Oenotri (Napa) who make their own pasta is rather disappointing. Just because San Diego doesn't have any good Italian restaurant which makes their own pasta means that any pasta which is better than this (very low) bar is automatically good. And if you cook pasta at home anyway than why not make your own which is not very complicated and also produces better pasta than you can buy.

[pantani]

Thanks for the clarification.
Like I said below the only really good Italian I have in San Diego was at the former Zolezzi's which closed many years ago.

[Fake Name]

Berlin! Don't forget Berlin!

[honkman]

Actually Berlin has indeed a quite large Italian population and very good Italian restaurants.

[sdnativa]

Il Postino Ristorante on 30th.

http://www.ilpostino-sandiego.com

[Josh]

Pizzeria Bruno is good for Neapolitan pizza.

[cstr]

I believe our CH 'Dining Diva' gave a ringing endorsement, which I totally 2nd, to Anitca Trattoria on Lake Murray Blvd in La Mesa.

Not sure where you're from, Vadala, or what your expextations are for Italian, hope this helps.

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Lake Murray Cafe
5465 Lake Murray Blvd, La Mesa, CA 91942

[DiningDiva]

cstr is right Antica Trattoria is great. The owner recently opened a place on 5th in Hillcrest, the name of which escapes me now

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Antica Trattoria
5654 Lake Murray Blvd La, Mesa, CA

[mimosa]

Where on 5th in Hillcrest is their new place? Did they take over someplace that closed?

[phee]

Osteria Origano

http://osteriaorigano.com/

3650 5th Avenue, by Pennsylvania.