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Cesarina San Diego Reviews
I drove down to San Diego for the weekend for a late
I drove down to San Diego for the weekend for a late birthday trip. I booked my reservation through open table and I forgot that when you make account, you punch in your birthday. Upon checking in, they asked me if it was my birthday and I was like oh, why yes it is... how did you know? Hahaha little did I realize that I made it under my account. Food: I ordered the Pacherri Vodka and Scampi and the lasagna. Both were delicious and filling. My personal favorite was the Pacherri vodka and scampi because I'm a huge seafood lover and it was the perfect creaminess. Service: From the moment we sat down, someone comes to serve water and 3 different types of focaccia bread. They let you know your server will be coming shortly. Very kind and attentive wait staff. I never felt like I was trying to flag someone down because they were always on top of their service. Parking: The restaurant offers valet service for $8. We got lucky and found street parking! Ambiance: We were seated outdoors. They have this cute little patio with lights and live plants everywhere. We were even sitting next to this little planter with fresh rosemary! Not gonna lie, their bright colors of their decor and menu caught my eye initially. Thats what drew me into this place but after eating here, it sealed the deal. From the time we were seated till when we left, the outdoor section was at full capacity. That's when you know the food is delicious! I will definitely be coming back here. One last thing: For your birthday, they give you a complimentary chocolate gelato and if you'd like, they will take a Polaroid for you! The Polaroid is decorated with their beautiful colors of the restaurant. I'm a huge fan of the company branding and colors so I was excited to take home a piece of it through a picture!
I've loved the delicious offerings from Cesarina since they
I've loved the delicious offerings from Cesarina since they started out at the OB Farmer's Market back in 2018. The pasta was incredible then, and it is still fantastico now... Over the years, I've dined at Cesarina on Voltaire a number of times - and I have consistently been pleased by the delightful ambiance, delicious food, and wonderful, attentive service. Our most recent visit was on Saturday night at 7:15pm - and it was another birthday celebration for yours truly. We sat at the first booth in the beautiful and welcoming dining room. Everyone who came to the table kindly wished me a happy birthday - and it really made this gal feel special. After noshing on the complimentary foccacia, we shared the Caprese salad which had a generous portion of burrata atop fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, basil and sun-dried tomatoes. The balsamic and olive oil dressing complemented the ingredients perfectly. It was a very refreshing and tasty way to begin our feast. As I've noted in previous reviews, I love mushrooms... so my go-to dish at Cesarina is Rigatoni pasta with the mushroom sauce (funghi). The sauce was perfectly creamy and decadent and had plenty of mushrooms to make me happy. The homemade rigatoni are wonderfully doughy and, of course, they were perfectly al dente. M. had the Rigatoni with Bolognese sauce and he also ordered a side of Polpette (meatballs). He ate every bite and enjoyed it tremendously. We paired our meals with two glasses of the CiuCiu red that was one of the highlighted wines for the evening. It was smooth and also paired well with our pasta. No birthday celebration is complete without dessert, so we opted for the lemon cake. (M. does not like coffee, so we skipped the table side tiramisu, but I've had it before and it is scrumptious!!) The lemon cake was served with 1/2 a lemon filled with lemon sorbet - and the lemon cake itself was sooo good. Fluffy, lemony and covered with the softest and sweetest whipped topping. It was literally lemon heaven. Then to top it off, Giuseppe C. brought over a dish of charcoal vanilla gelato with a little candle. How sweet! And the gelato was unique and really tasty, and also paired well with the lemon cake! Lastly, a photo was taken of us with an instamatic/polaroid camera - and it is in a really cute Cesarina frame. This was such a lovely gesture to help us remember this special evening. Cesarina is the real deal - from the service to the food to the ambiance - you cannot go wrong with a meal here. Notes: I took pictures of the other items we ordered, but for some reason, the only photos that came out were us with our wine and the Caprese salad. Mille grazie, Cesarina!!
Came here to celebrate a birthday and boy I'm glad we came
Came here to celebrate a birthday and boy I'm glad we came here. Their fresh pasta is divine and the marinara sauce that came with the complimentary bread was sooo good. I ordered pasta with tomato and basil with meatballs and it was so delicious. It had a creamy texture and the grated Parmesan cheese elevated the dish. Their tiramisu was heaven. So light and not too sweet. Their birthday cream puff with fresh strawberry and chocolate syrup was tasty was well. Service was fantastic and all the staff we met were so nice and friendly. Their decor is so pretty and colorful. Only thing is kind of hard to find parking in the area but other than that their food is great.
I very much understand why this is one of the top rated
I very much understand why this is one of the top rated restaurants in the area now. Everything we ordered was excellent. Staff came around just often enough and were all so friendly and helpful. You can tell everyone was definitely working very hard everywhere. Our appetizer octopus dish was so flavorful and the octopus wasn't chewy at all which happens a lot with octopus dishes. Even the bread and sauce had a very unique strong flavor. My gnocchi was amazing and my fiancés pasta game with a giant full prawn. Don't skip out on the tiramisu after either! They make it table side and it was excellent.
Finally got a chance to try Cesarina! I came here around 5
Finally got a chance to try Cesarina! I came here around 5 pm on a Saturday with two friends. The staff was attentive and offered helpful recommendations. We ordered one appetizer, three pastas, and three drinks. The total came to about $240 with gratuity. Overall, I felt the restaurant was a bit pricey for pasta dishes. There are definitely other Italian spots in San Diego that are more affordable and just as good. I'd probably only come back for the octopus. From most favorite to least: - Polpo: 5/5!!! The star of the night. Crispy on the outside, perfectly cooked on the inside, and full of flavor. Easily one of the best octopus dishes I've had. - Paccheri Vodka & Scampi: 4.5/5 The pasta was cooked al dente and paired beautifully with the creamy vodka sauce. I love vodka sauce, so maybe I'm a little biased, but it was delicious. I just wish there were more shrimp in the dish for the price you're paying. - Pappardelle Tartufona: 4/5 A solid dish, but not standout. The truffle flavor was balanced, but nothing unique. You can find a similar version at other Italian restaurants for less. - Ravioli (Pasta of the Day) Funghi: 3/5 Ravioli stuffed with prosciutto but a bit too salty. The rosemary in the ravioli was also overpowering and we couldn't taste the pasta sauce at all. We didn't enjoy this one. - Complimentary Bread: 2/5 Disappointing. The sauce served with it was cold like it was brought out straight from the fridge. Save your stomach space and pass on this.
A little pricey but one of the best pasta experiences I
A little pricey but one of the best pasta experiences I have had in SD. Delicious fresh pasta and many sauce options. The table side tiramisu was absolutely incredible. Never had tiramisu like that in my life
Amazing food here.
I know it is a bit pricy, but the portions and the taste make up for it. The server provides great service to make you feel at home and enhances the experience by being so attentive. Despite how busy it is, the ambience here is extremely cozy and relaxing (we were indoors). My only gripe are the bussers. They visit the table too frequently and dont clean thoroughly (smeared sauce across the table with a dry cloth). I took my lady for her birthday dinner here and was provided with a tasty dessert and a memorable picture at the end. I would defintely recommend this place to others for their special occasions.
Amazing food, great service, beautiful ambiance!!
Amazing food, great service, beautiful ambiance!! Everything is 10/10. One of our all time favorite restaurants. Some of the best Italian food I've ever had. The pastas are always perfectly cooked and sauces are just right. The octopus and carpaccio are our favorite appetizers. I try to order a different entree every time, and sometimes I end up ordering two! Lol I'm not even a dessert person, but we never skip the table side tiramisu! We try to come once every season to try the new items, and we love bringing our friends and family when they come to visit us.
A little pricey but well worth the money.
I will definitely be back. Best pasta I've had in California. Service was hella good, they checked on us more than 5-10 times throughout the meal. Staff is very attentive. I got the funghi with pappardelle added Panchetta & Paccheri Vodka E Scampi. Both were well sauced, well seasoned, pasta was very soft, freshly made, yummy !! The free bread was also very good. Plates, bowls, menu and even the water decafe was colorful and vibrant
The decor and vibe are everything, as is the food! Enjoyed
The decor and vibe are everything, as is the food! Enjoyed a lovely lunch on the patio with yummy drinks and food. I like how they let you customize your noodles and sauce, and they offer such fun shapes I haven't seen elsewhere. Their theming sets them apart from any other restaurant--from the rooster-shaped water pitcher to the beautiful place setting and menus, they had a vision and executed perfectly! If you're looking for delicious Italian food at a unique location, you've come to the right place.
Exceptional Italian in San Diego
Visited Cesarina for my parents 25th anniversary and it was an exceptional experience. For starters, my party had a bunch of dietary restrictions and the staff, including our server, Adriana, made excellent recommendations. The menu is excellently curated and has options for everyone. Some of my favorite items were the Gnocchi Porcini, Gamberi e Tartufo and the Super Cioppino. The staff also brought us a complimentary dessert, the Tableside Tiramisu, to celebrate. I highly recommend Cesarina if you are in San Diego! P.S. The house sauce that is served with the house bread needs to be packaged and sold. It was amazing!
Will be coming back
We really loved coming here, they had amazing pasta, top notch service. I’d recommend getting reservations at it was at capacity
Dreadful to park and not worth the wait.
After reading the reviews and the Michelin remarks we were very let down. The spinach pappardelle with beef cheeks looked such a mess and very unappetizing. It tasted just OK. My husbands entree was a vivid red color, neither of us could finish our meal. The staff were friendly though it took a while to be served. The place was quite rustic and busy.
A special night with great food, service and ambience
My wife and I had dinner for our wedding anniversary last night. The entire evening was perfect! The outdoor dining room was nicely decorated for the season. There was a chill in the air but the well-positioned heat lamps and individual lap warmers were ideal for my wife's needs plus our seating was very comfortable. Our server was great being very knowledgeable of both the dinner and wine menus and provided the perfect amount of service throughout the evening.
Run
The food is terrible, not fresh, microwaved and not a high end restaurant. We wasted a lot of money here sadly. Dirty, cheezy, disgusting. We wanted to love it but were shocked at how bad it was. Probably worst meal I have ever had.
Excellent pasta
The restaurant focuses on pasta and does an excellent job. The service is great and the food is tasty. The focaccia bread and sauce they serve to start is not warm (I wish it were) and parking is difficult (but they do have valet). But overall I highly recommend if you want some great pasta.
Party of 3 there on a Thursday early evening.
This place is very popular with 2 outdoor patios and a small indoor seating area. We had 3 different plates that were all good. I don't think you can go wrong with any menu item. One thing that really stood out was the Caesar salad. So delicious. But most importantly, our server Laura L was beyond fantastic. Her support team was very complimentary too.
We travel all the way from Michigan to eat here! This place
We travel all the way from Michigan to eat here! This place is the best pasta we have had in the USA. hands down the best restaurant with such a good vibe.
Really great authentic Italian food at a reasonable price.
I got it as a carry out and it was hot and perfectly packaged.
Awesome staff and great food! My go to place when I crave
Awesome staff and great food! My go to place when I crave good Italian food. The ambiance is also friendly and very attentive to the customers.
Darling patio with fire area, welcoming hostess, very kind
Darling patio with fire area, welcoming hostess, very kind servers. The pasta and salad was incredible.
the best dining experience i've had in a very long time!
the best dining experience i've had in a very long time! the staff were all so attentive and kind, the food was phenomenal, and we truly could not recommend it more. the waitress was so friendly and helpful. the outdoor seating was so nice and cozy. i can't say enough good things about cesarina! we will definitely be back!
Loved the ambiance and service.
The menu is perfect, simple, effective and food is delicious.
Delicious food, high quality ingredients, beautiful decor
Delicious food, high quality ingredients, beautiful decor and amazing service! This place has it all. I can't wait to come back, I love the customized menu and the pastas are to die for!
Best Italian place hands down, cannot recommend it enough.
it's pricey but it's worth it as a date night
Cesarina is a cute spot with a patio area at entrance, has
Cesarina is a cute spot with a patio area at entrance, has good ambiance & decor inside and out. We reserved through Yelp! and upon arrival were seated quickly. Our host and server were nice and throughout our dinner server was very attentive with water and checking in. We sat next to the pasta making station, so we watched pasta being made throughout our meal. Ordered: fungi gnocchi-the pasta was like butter, mushrooms were really flavorful and delicious! My husband ordered Arrabbitissima (fresh tomorrow sauce w/ pork, burrata & parsley), which was also very flavorful and spicy! We ordered Side Polpette, for appetizer very most & flavorful. For dessert my husband ordered their Tiramisu. He really liked it, they pour the coffee over the top at the table. Yum! The had many vegan options which was also appreciated. Everything was great, their drinks were delicious too! I had a Spritzer & my husband opted for Whiskey. Make this your next date night or girls night out!
Cesarina is a culinary treasure deserving of every one of
Cesarina is a culinary treasure deserving of every one of its 5 stars. Let's start with the food - exceptional. Each dish is a testament to the artistry and passion of the chefs, showcasing the finest ingredients and traditional Italian flavors. From the perfectly al dente pasta to the rich and flavorful sauces, every bite is a journey to the heart of Italy's culinary heritage. Now, onto the ambiance - charming. Cesarina's warm and inviting atmosphere and highly aesthetic area transports you to a cozy trattoria. Depending if you go against night with, the soft glow of fairy lights, or in the day time with a beautiful nature vibe, rustic wooden wall, and the aroma of freshly baked bread create a cozy and romantic setting that's perfect for a memorable dining experience. The chicken pitcher is an absolute two thumbs up in my book too! And finally, the service - exceptional. Their warm smiles and attentive service make you feel like family from the moment you walk in the door. I came on two occasions: one on a date and one to celebrate a birthday; both experiences so memorable. They gave a warm compress in the cold night and constantly said happy birthday when we celebrated there. We even got a free dessert (we got the affogato, it was delicious) and a free polaroid picture! They go above and beyond to ensure you have a wonderful dining experience. Parking is limited to street parking but depending on the day of the week they have valet. Cesarina is more than just a pasta restaurant; it's a culinary oasis where every dish tells a story and every moment is savored. With exceptional food, enchanting ambiance, and impeccable service, it's a place that captures the essence of Italian cuisine and hospitality. Five stars, without a doubt.
Went here for dinner, food was very good and service was
Went here for dinner, food was very good and service was good. really enjoyed the plates and bowl designs. First altercation came when i recieved my 17$ cocktail it was only half full!! And then when it came to dessert they simply pile the tiramisu ingredients up in front of you with a light drizzle of coffee. Absolute murder, it doesnt even soak in coffee its just a pile. Unheard of...
My brother-in-law invited us to the restaurant and the food
My brother-in-law invited us to the restaurant and the food and service was well above board!! The plates and cups are unique, which are from Italy, but the food was simply great! If you enjoy tiramisu, this was the best I've had so far.....but I haven't been to Italy.....just yet! They prepare the dessert at your table, so there's no soggy lady fingers at Cesarina's!!
Holy cow, this may be the best pasta I've ever had in the
Holy cow, this may be the best pasta I've ever had in the states. We were in town for a family vacation and a cousin told me to come here and I will have to thank him for the recommendation. We sat outside but they had heaters and these cute little blankets which the kids loved. It's super family friendly! Their service was incredible... really helpful waitstaff with the best recommendations for sauce pairings! We had the papardelle with their arryabatisima (omggg that spicy pork slapped), the gemelli with the tartufona (the truffle crumble is so perfect), and two of their ravioli specials with the funghi sauce (do not miss this one!), and the pomodoro fresco. Paired it with their Chianti which was really fruity and fantastic! If I come back to town, I will absolutely be back! We also had their tiramisu which is actually prepared table side... not my favorite but the kids devoured it.
This is a follow up to my previous 1 star review for poor
This is a follow up to my previous 1 star review for poor customer service. I immediately received a phone call from one of the restaurant owners, Nick. He was very apologetic and interested in what occured so that he could follow up with improved training. Beyond that, I felt he was sincere in correcting the incident and wanting my return patronage. This personal touch is what makes Cessarina's outstanding.
I'll tell you why his is getting 5 star review: Customer
I'll tell you why his is getting 5 star review: Customer service! The food was really good, but to be honest the best thing I had was the tiramisu. I was pretty close to giving an okay review and leaving a low tip because although our waitress was lovely she kept forgetting some of our requests for menus, adjustments to the food etc. I was disappointed by the lack of attention to our table but I'm not the type of person to make a scene. When she realised that she had forgotten a pretty important request, she made it up to us by comping our dessert AND giving us a free gelato. Seriously that changed everything for me and I will go back here because of it. I'll make sure to take some friends too. Thank you guys for a lovely evening and turning things around! (This is why patience and a seconds chances are so important)
Simply amazing.
I recommend everyone go. I got the braised wild boar paparadelle and I'm excited for whenever I go back
Cesarina was a great time! We made very late reservation
Cesarina was a great time! We made very late reservation and probably kept the serving staff longer than we should have. We had pasta and some wine and they were very good. The ambiance was beautiful. We sat in the outdoor area and loved the overhang and the greenery all around us. Other than your occasional passing plane, the sound was perfect and the staff was very friendly and helpful. We were celebrating 2 birthdays and they gave us an authentic tiramisu. Loved it!
I've been trying to come here for months but you have to
I've been trying to come here for months but you have to reserve a couple weeks ahead so planning it was pretty stressful. However I noticed when we were waiting for our table to be set that they did take some walk ins so thats nice to know for the future. It took probably 15 mins after our reservation for our table to be set so they had us sit at the pasta bar to wait, and gave us some delicious free bread to start as we watched the man make ravioli in front of us. The menu is fun and filled with so many options for pasta shapes and sauces to mix and match, and our server happily answered all our questions! The Arrabbiatissima was very meaty and was a lot spicier than I anticipated, but still very delicious! I just wish there was a little more burrata to balance it out though. The tartufona had a strong truffle flavor and was delicious, but we were really disappointed in the portion size of the ravioli, especially after paying $4 more than the other pasta shapes. I would highly recommend the funghi, it was so creamy and rich of mushroom flavors. Our friend also ordered the cotoletta alla diavola, a chicken dish, and her portion was HUGE, after sharing the dish we barely made a dent. Overall, all the portions were generous and the bread really fills you up. I'm looking forward to coming back and trying other sauces and combinations!
I don't know why there is so much hype around Cesarina.
It was one of the most disappointing dinners of our trip. I'm giving the place three stars because the ambiance is warm, the pasta fresco red sauce was great, and the table-side tiramisu was fun and mascarpone not too sweet. But the pricing v portion sizes v tastiness was not ideal and there are better Italian places in San Diego. Squash blossoms - 1/5 - The best squash blossoms in town are at Cucina Urbana and Cucina Enoteca where the ricotta is piped into the blossom and the fritto misto frying (think Italian tempura) is perfect--you get the crunch of the delicate petals and leaves, the creaminess of the ricotta, and the satisfying zucchini finish. At Cesarina, the blossom is flattened into submission so you don't get the delicate bite of the petals. You get a fried disc of flour. You then use the "blossoms" like a greasy, bland potato chip that you eat with a freakin gobful of ricotta. This was a poorly conceived dish. Polpo Crocante - 2/5 - The octopus was grilled to a good texture--not too chewy. But it came out to us room temperature/cold, apparently having sat at the pass for too long. The romesco sauce was tasty. Cesarina Salad - 1/5 - flavorless and not enough oranges. Moving on to the pastas. The pasta noodle itself was very very good. But the sauces were almost universally disappointing. I wanted to add more pecorino, Parmesan, and/or lemon/tomato to everything for acidity, zing or umami. Pomodoro Fresco Spaghetti - 5/5 - best dish of the night. The spaghetti is almost translucent and the tomato sauce was very fresh and not overdressed. Kids' Fettucini Alfredo - 1/5 - this was bad and bland. It lacked the sharpness and flavor of any cheese. Like eating gobfuls of unflavored creamy cream. Overdressed and drowning in cream. Funghi - 2/5 - we got this with the mafaldine, which was a good shape. But the funghi sauce was like the Alfredo. All cream, no umami even from the mushrooms and definitely not from any cheese. Pacherri Vodka and Scampi - 3/5 - pink sauce with almost no taste of tomato. Like all the other cream sauces, it was underwhelming. The shrimp was good but there was only one. If I were to come here again, I would stick to the fresco sauce and avoid any cream sauces (they love their ricotta and mascarpone but need to embrace their pecorino and Parmesan. I might also try the arrabiatissima. Cesarina is overrated.
Great homemade pasta and tiramisu served by kind, knowledgable staff
We went for dinner to Cesarina. We ate outdoors in back and it was a really nice space with outdoor heaters and blankets on the back of every chair. We were brought foccacia with dipping sauce right away and they were quick to refill as desired. The homemade pasta and tiramisu were served by attentive, friendly, terrific staff. Everyone who worked he went above and beyond to ensure our experience was great. The staff was really knowledgable and able to help us make decisions on what would be best for our group which included some vegetarian diners.
Expected much more.
My family met at Cesarina for dinner and to celebrate two birthdays. My husband and I selected the salad Super Romana and an entree of Lasagna Alla Bolognese which was an evening special and not on the menu. It took a bit of time for the food to finally arrive which is understandable. But, we had requested that our salad and entree be brought at the same time...the lasagna arrived and more than five minutes past before our salad arrived. The salad was not what we expected. Yes, it is made with romaine lettuce, however, the large uncut lettuce leaves are simply stacked on the plate with sliced red onions and a dash of some type of dressing. The lasagna was definitely a bit over baked , so much so that the top was very crispy. One of our party requested Tiramisu for dessert because it will be prepared at table side and she was intrigued. The waiter brought the large long bisquits, poured cream sprinkled cinnamon, stuck two candles in and that was it. Not what we expected. The highlight was the Ricotta Cheesecake topped with berry sauce. Delicious and well plated. The prices overall I thought a bit high. Parking is very difficult to find as the restaurant has very limited parking slots. But, this is my experience. The place was packed. Reservations booked well in advance. So maybe this was a one time not so great experience. A lot of people seem to really like this place. For them, I say Enjoy!
𝐈𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐓𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐭 - 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐲 𝐞𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
Review: Cesarina, San Diego — Overall, this restaurant lives up to their reviews, although I can't say it's Michelin Star Level. - Michael Glinter has traveled to 68 countries and 36 states to get the flavor of some amazing foods. His view on reviews is simple – Taste, Presentation, and Service. He believes telling the reader a positive and negative unbiased look at the restaurant is essential. -- The atmosphere at Cesarina is energetic, with an eclectic view of Italian decor differentiating themselves from other restaurants. The restaurant was bustling with energy, but it never felt overcrowded or noisy. The staff was attentive and knowledgeable, providing excellent recommendations and answering our questions about the menu. — Speaking of the menu. It was very diverse, with a diverse group of great options. What I wasn't impressed with was their lack of flexibility on the menu. I wanted the Spigola Al Limone, but instead of the potatoes, I wanted a small portion of fresh pasta. They said it wasn't possible. He told me I would have to buy a $25 pasta entree with the meal. I find that ridiculous. — We started with the Fiora di Zucca Scomposto. The dish was great. I love the way they utilized the squash blossoms and lightly breaded them. However, the dish was lukewarm at best. We sent it back to make one from scratch, and the manager said he would pay for it. When we got it back, it was still Luke warm. My biggest issue was with the sauce; it was almost cold. — They also serve homemade focaccia that they make in the morning. While it is traditional Italian to order room-temperature bread, what boggled my mind was the cold tomato sauce served on the side. Mind you, In Italy, we don't serve sauce. But, the sauce being cold is problematic. — Entrees - this is what got us back on track. The Fettuccini con Le Polpettine and Parpadele Arrabbiatisimma were amazing. The pasta was homemade, and the mix of flavors, especially the homemade sauce with the mushrooms, pork and peperoncino, was a perfect blend of sweet and savory. — Overall, my experience at Cesarina was great. The combination of delicious food, impeccable service, and cozy ambiance made for a memorable and enjoyable evening. If they work on some of the small things, it would genuinely be 5-star worthy.
Disappointing food, but friendly service & nice ambience
My server was very friendly and prompt, and the atmosphere of the restaurant was super charming, but I was very disappointed with the food. The complimentary focaccia was cold, as in refrigerated-cold, and it had a strange marinara sauce drizzled over it that made it taste simply like cold pizza crust with sauce. As soon as I saw the menu, which I neglected to check out online, I got worried: it was a "choose your own pasta to pair with a sauce" kind of place--this worried me because in true Italian cuisine, there is an art and a science to pairing shapes of pasta with sauce. I immediately understood that this was just a different thing--catering to customers who want a lot of choices. (That's not my style--I'd like a professional to figure out what will taste best with what, but if you like a lot of choices and don't necessarily care if they're going to taste great, AND want to pay too much for it all, this place is for you.) I ordered one of the predetermined pasta-with short-rib meat sauce dishes, and it was really disappointing. The sauce was gloopy and bland and it tasted more like chipped beef in a gravy. I actually felt a little nauseous as I ate it, because it looked like my cat's wet food from a can. It was also hugely overpriced--about $30 for the entree. There are many other wonderful Italian restaurants in San Diego, and I'll keep going to them.
I thought I was staying in Italy
When you put knowledge, soul and heart into the kitchen these are the results. Very helpful and kind staff. Top quality products not to mention the focaccia and homemade pasta. The only true Italian cuisine restaurant in California.
Eat like at home!!!
After days of American cuisine with burgers and chips, we needed to eat our Italian cuisine. We went to Cesarina and we not only ate well but we felt like we were in Italy!! The food and raw materials of excellent quality (the carpaccio was delicious), the delicate and strong flavors (we took the pappardelle with wild boar ragù and the paccheri with scampi cream), the super friendly and welcoming staff in a place with attention to every detail . Thanks for making us feel at home!!! True Italian cuisine in San Diego!!!
Save your money skip the wait
We ordered lasagna to go, shared large serving. This was overpriced the quality and taste left me stunned with the ratings for this place. The bread was awful it’s these 1x1 pieces of pre bought sandwich bread. I think there is no competition in SD for quality Italian food. They have nice looking to go bags.
Just what you want in an authentic Italian restaurant
I was hoping that we would have an excellent and authentic Italian meal for our first date night in some time. And this was PERFECT. We started with a salad that was perfectly dressed, fresh, and flavorful without being overwhelming. Then, you know when the waiter is from Rome and responds to my question by immediately recommending the Carbonara because it is what he (and the Chef) remember from home, you expect something terrific start. This did not disappoint. But sometimes the mark of a great place is the ability to take a "simple" dish and make you want to come back for me. My wife had a pasta with marinara (and added meatballs). I wish they sold the sauce, because I would have bought a case. Her plate was incredible. So, yes, I highly recommend eating here. This was so good that we plan to return to try more on the menu!
So yummy a delicious! It is fun to watch the pasta being
So yummy a delicious! It is fun to watch the pasta being made. The staff is great. Must have a reservation - good luck getting one! ; P
This was a great date night destination in a super cute
This was a great date night destination in a super cute neighborhood. Food was delicious. I got the Norma with these long wavy pasta noodles and my boyfriend got the papadelle with a pork and mushroom sauce. Both were awesome. For appetizer we had the polpo and bruschetta with eggplant. We did sit on the patio but were kept warm by heaters and blankets provided by the restaurant. We had great and attentive service! Thank you for a wonderful dinner
I was surprised that the ambience is so cozy even eating on
I was surprised that the ambience is so cozy even eating on the patio. I don't know how they did it, but this is such a chill spot to go with family or a date night. Food was delicious and free bread was so good. Crème brûlée cheesecake was my highlight!
Very authentic Italian food in the heart of Point Loma of
Very authentic Italian food in the heart of Point Loma of all places! The brunch had a perfect pairing of classic dishes with a twist and yummy pasta dishes (of course) as well. Service was 10/10, food was 10/10, ambiance was 10/10.
Everything was soooooo good here.
We started with the carpaccio and mussels. Then I got the madalfe with boscaiola sauce. 10/10, I cannot express how good everything was.
Simply fantastic.
Friendly service. Amazing food. Great atmosphere. Better than anticipated.
Connect with users posting reservations for Cesarina San Diego
AppointmentTrader is a community-driven platform where users can exchange their reservations or leverage their personal relationships with Cesarina San Diego. Buyers can make informed decisions using automated seller ratings, which reflect past transactions and reliability.
Each posting on AppointmentTrader shows you which user submitted it and along with that provides a trackrecord of that user which indicates how much experience
the user has and how many percent of their transactions resulted in them issuing a refund.
If there is no user posting that fits your schedule, you can bid on your preferred time.
Let's say Peter has a great morning and decides to take his three friends to Cesarina San Diego at 6 PM the same day.
He checks the restaurant's website and sees that no reservations are available. He then looks at the Cesarina San Diego page on AppointmentTrader, but finds that there are no user postings either.
That's where the community-driven bid process comes in.
Peter can place a bid on AppointmentTrader, which serves as a reward for any community member who chooses to work on securing the reservation. AT then notifies experienced users who may be able to help.
Step-by-Step Process
1.) Setting a Reward (Bid)
* AppointmentTrader uses historical data to recommend a reasonable reward amount for securing a reservation - let's say $100.
* Peter really wants to go, so he increases the bid (or reward) to $200.
* At this stage, the reservation does not exist yet.
2.) A Community User Picks Up the Bid
* ImmortalStep65, an experienced AT user, has a strong track record of successfully securing reservations and low refund requests, they receive a notification about Peter's bid.
* ImmortalStep65 picks up the bid, meaning they will now work on securing the reservation.
* Peter can now talk to ImmortalStep65 for any questions Peter may have as ImmortalStep65 user fills the bid.
3.) Finding the Reservation
* ImmortalStep65 now uses their connections at Cesarina San Diego to secure the table.
* If they successfully get the 6 PM table for four, Peter receives a confirmation that the reservation has been secured.
* If ImmortalStep65 fails to secure the reservation, the bid is returned to the pool so another user can try.
4.) Payment & Protection
* Once the reservation is secured, ImmortalStep65 receives the $200 reward which is credited to ImmortalStep65's AT balance, where users manage their own funds and can withdraw via available payout options such as bank transfer, PayPal, or Zelle.
* Peter can now enjoy the dinner with his friends at Cesarina San Diego!
* As with all transactions on AT, disputes and no-show fees are handled through the platform's community-driven resolution system. Users with a strong track record are incentivized to fulfill bids successfully, and community members can report issues to maintain trust in the marketplace.
