Cesarina

"Step into this charming trattoria and you’ll instantly feel like part of the famiglia. A glass-walled pastificio provides a behind-the-scenes view of the production—from fusilli to tortelli, while a tableside tiramisu brings the show right to you.There's a warm, boisterous atmosphere here, accented by the hand-painted, mismatched pottery on each table, and a musical Italian lilt will make a glass of Valpolicella all the more enticing. Most of the menu is mix-and-match, with a selection of pasta shapes and sauces that can be paired to your liking (though the friendly servers may nudge you away from a bad combo). Those on a quest for indulgence should look no further than the truffled gnocchi with a cream sauce, served in its own copper pot." - Michelin Inspector

Best Restaurants in San Diego’s Point Loma Neighborhood | Eater San Diego

"Italian-born executive chef Cesarina Mezzoni presides over the weekly-changing menus at this indoor-outdoor trattoria also on the Point Loma–Ocean Beach border. Open daily for lunch and dinner, and brunch on the weekends, the fresh pasta (of which there are 10 shapes to mix and match with sauces and toppings) are handmade to perfection. Dish highlights range from a crispy octopus antipasto and whole grilled branzino to cannoli piped with filling tableside." - Keri Bridgwater

The 38 Best Restaurants in San Diego | Eater San Diego

"Having just celebrated its six-year anniversary, this vibey neighborhood trattoria in Point Loma charms with Roman romance and hospitality. From the lush vines and flowers trailing down the trellis in the cozy outdoor patio to the indoor dining area with rose-colored booths, bistro tables, and casual bar counter, it is ideal for a refreshing apertif or solo dining. The restaurant features an inventive menu showcasing pastas like pappardelle and ravioli, along with robust vegan and gluten-free options. A must-try is the popular cremini sauce, made with shitake and porcini mushroom sauce, on a pasta shape of your choosing. Don’t skip the tableside tiramisu, made with house-made ladyfingers, no matter how full you think you are. Know before you go: If you can’t get a table, head down the street about a mile away to their sister restaurant, Elvira. The casual hideaway also has house-made pastas along with wood-fired pizzas." - Candice Woo

The Best Kid-Friendly Family Restaurants in San Diego | Eater San Diego

"The Michelin-recognized pasta kitchen is an easy winner for kids and adults. Tucked away in Point Loma, this cozy trattoria has indoor booths and an outdoor patio decorated with climbing vines and trellised flowers. colorful bambini menu gives children the pick of spaghetti, rigatoni, gnocchi, or polpette with fingerling potatoes. Don’t pass on dessert here when kids can pick gelato or bombolone, an Italian-style donut filled with Nutella, from the kid’s menu. They may opt for the tiramisu made with scratch-made lady fingers and crema al mascarpone poured tableside. There’s also a vegan version of the sweet Italian dessert, along with a robust menu of vegan pastas." - Helen I. Hwang

The 25 Best Restaurants In San Diego

"At Cesarina, you choose your shape and sauce, and they churn out the al dente pasta right before your eyes in the open air pastificio. We suggest any shape with creamy funghi sauce, where cremini, shiitake, and porcini mushrooms almost outshine the pasta. Or the paccheri vodka and scampi, delicate and smooth with an entire langoustine on top. (It’s locally revered enough that the menu warns “BEWARE OF IMITATIONS!”) Camera flashes periodically light up the room—eat here on your birthday and your server will snap a Polaroid for you to take home as a souvenir, if the tableside tiramisu wasn’t enough of a treat already. Resist the temptation to steal your table’s adorable rooster-shaped ceramic pitcher on your way out. They’re for sale at the counter, so buy one instead." - candice woo, cora lee, candice woo, cora lee, candice woo, candice woo, candice woo, cora lee, cora lee, candice woo, candice woo, cora lee, candice woo, cora lee, candice woo, candice woo, cora lee, candice woo, candice woo, candice woo, cora lee, candic