"Less than a year after opening Giardino in Lemon Grove, owners Marco Provino and Karina Kravalis are celebrating the launch of Verandina, their new restaurant in Imperial Beach which brings a mostly Italian menu to the seaside community’s main thoroughfare. The 2,800-square-foot space features two levels of dining; the lower level dining room includes a bar serving craft beer, wine, and cocktails and a dog-friendly patio while the upper level boasts ocean views and can be reserved for private events. Provino’s Sicilian heritage and background of cooking in Italian kitchens is reflected in Verandina’s offerings, which draw from the cuisine that can be found in the coastal towns of Italy. Starters include shrimp fra diavola, seafood salad, crab-stuffed mushrooms and signature pastas range from squid ink spaghetti and lobster ravioli to linguine with sea urchin. Entrees include whole grilled branzino, cioppino, and Sicilian-style swordfish. The eatery will also serve flatbreads and burgers; in keeping with the seafood theme there will be a salmon burger and flatbread topped with clams, mussels, shrimp and calamari." - Candice Woo
