Catania

"One of the best outdoor terraces in La Jolla is on the third floor of a shopping center. It's at Cantania, an Italian restaurant with a powerhouse wood-fired oven (named Beatrice) turning out blistered, thin-crust pizzas. Order the Sicilian Pistachio with bubbling burrata, salty mortadella, and dollops of pesto. In terms of starters, they're known for their meatballs, but the crispy octopus charred in that same oven, served with merguez and briny capers, is a better choice. Enjoy the ocean breeze, and count the palm trees on the horizon in between bites of their creamy duck sugo orrechiette." - Sabrina Medora

"With views of downtown La Jolla and the Pacific, Catania sits atop La Plaza Center. Chef Dustin Karagheusian serves up coastal Italian fare, cooked over white oak on their woodfired grill, and pastas made with Double Zero Caputo flour. Try their crispy octopus with merguez and rigatoni alla Genovese." - Helen I. Hwang

"From a rooftop perch above Girard Avenue, this Whisknladle Hospitality restaurant serves an accomplished array of Italian dishes, from crudo and pizza to wood-roasted seafood, in a beautiful indoor-outdoor setting." - Grace Cassidy, Candice Woo

"In the historic heart of La Jolla, find this cool and hip retreat on the top floor of the Plaza Center. The artfully designed dining room features sunny Mediterranean colors and ceramic tiles. A large, elegant terrace offers panoramic coastline views.Come early for their aperitivo (cocktails and snacks), but make sure you stay to explore this kitchen’s modern twists. Start with a daily salad special, featuring lovely flavors like beet chips and butternut squash, crowned by ahi tuna crudo with poppy seeds and basil leaves. Then dive into a Neapolitan-style pizza from the wood-burning oven, or decadent pastas such as orecchiette mingled with slow-braised duck ragù accented by tomato coulis, porcini mushrooms and freshly grated parmesan." - Michelin Inspector

"The eatery’s carry-out Easter dinner is an Italian-inspired family-style meal for $38 per person that includes salad, an entree, sides, and dessert." - Candice Woo