The Owners of Cesarina Open Elvira in Ocean Beach | Eater San Diego

"Opening Sunday, November 19 in Ocean Beach, the Roman osteria-meets-pizzeria sequel to Cesarina Ristorante reactivates the former Bo-Beau Kitchen + Bar space after a loving renovation by Italian firm Limes Architetti. Run by Roman couple Niccolò Angius and Cesarina Mezzoni with partner Giuseppe Capasso, the restaurant—named for Angius’ great-grandmother—is imbued with her grit and generous spirit, with family photos on the walls and some of her recipes on the menu. As executive chef and co-owner, Mezzoni has built a menu to introduce locals to Roman food culture, including homemade pasta classics like tonnarelli cacio e pepe and bucatini all’amatriciana, the crispy fried artichokes from Trastevere, and a lamb “cotoletta” inspired by her family’s butcher shop in Campo de’ Fiori served with arugula, artichokes, shaved pecorino, and fresh mint. The partners honor Rome’s piatti del giorno tradition—Tuesdays are meatball day, Fridays are for fish, and Saturdays will feature trippa alla romana—and will offer a reinterpretation of Roman-style pizza in teglia (pan pizza) in a round shape at dinner from a wood-fired oven overseen by Palermo-born pizza chef Ignazio Tagliavia. Wine is served in osteria fashion by the quarter, half, or full-liter carafe as well as bottles, with selections from Lazio, Campagna, Abruzzo, and Marche, alongside local and Italian craft beers and cocktails such as the Carciofo (scotch, Cynar, and bitters). Launching in January will be a private dining experience called “Cucina di La Nonna,” hosted in a room off the kitchen with a separate fixed-price menu aiming to recreate the atmosphere of Elvira’s Italian kitchen at mealtimes. Elvira is located at 4996 W Point Loma Blvd, Ocean Beach; dinner service starts at 4:30 p.m. (through the week of November 27) with regular hours listed for lunch and dinner throughout the week." - Candice Woo