Cicciotti's Trattoria Italiana & Seafood

Absolutely amazing happy hour seven days a week 330 to 6 PM in the heart of Carlsbad Village. Draft beer well drinks in housewife five dollars. The house Chardonnay was chill and excellent. I ordered the meatballs. ($7) and penne pasta with meat sauce ($9), and both were absolutely delicious. They offer a half dozen food plates for seven dollars each and nine food plates for nine dollars. This enables the budget conscious diner to enjoy the highest quality Italian food expertly prepared. I happen upon this place around 5 PM on a summer Saturday afternoon and the Mater. D read me and seated me quickly and was very attentive. And absolutely extraordinary experience, both in terms of quality and value.

Located just off the main drag of Carlsbad Village, this place is a gem with great indoor/outdoor dining, a fun bar scene, and a great happy hour (lots of options, rare for most places). Oysters for $1.50ea at happy hour are a steal and they are good (but sometimes do run out). Good cocktails and amazing wine list. Prices very reasonable. Parking is street only (no lot).

The food was really good but overpriced thank God we had a Groupon to use. The tables were very close to each other and a little bit noisy but overall, I would come back again.

I am definitely going back here. The food was outstanding the service was outstanding, I suggest reservations you can get them online but we definitely will be back Husband got the surf and turf which came with a generous portion of filet a lobster four or five shrimp and veggies. I got the appetizer shrimp barsac, which I didn't like and sent it back because it was not peeled properly so I just ate off my husband's plate and it was really good

One of the best meal ive ever had. Osso bucco was the tenderest most flavor lamb ive ever had. The steak could be cut with a fork it was soo tender.

Excellent service and food! This was our second visit, and both occasions were great! Giorgio was our server and did a great job. I had the surf and turf and loved it! My wife had the ravioli, and she also enjoyed it. Our appetizer was brucheta with mozzarella, tomatoes, and a lovely dressing. All excellent! The dessert was tiramisu, and it was the best I've ever had. I highly recommend this establishment.

Stopped in for an afternoon bite, Nick was welcoming, made great drinks and his service was on point. Food was amazing! Definitely recommend! 10/10

Went here for dinner with my spouse. We have been coming here for years but this was the first time we had an actual issue while dining in. We ordered the Quattro formaggio pizza, the cannelloni, and penne dello chef. The food was really yummy as usual and we love how there is a dog friendly patio with a doggy menu. However, when redeeming our Groupon voucher, the menu stated there is an 18% included gratuity (I have no problem tipping), and when Dave, our server, redeemed our voucher and brought back our updated bill, it included a 20% gratuity. I know it’s only 2%, but it’s the principle of that extra being forced on me when additional tipping is by choice. When we mentioned this, our waiter offered to give the money back. This was the only issue I have ever had out of all the years I’ve been coming as a regular customer. Other than that, the food is super flavorful, has tons of sauce, and is very fulfilling

Good food and service - Tuesday evening, nonresrvsti(n, tables available. Friendly staff,and were attentive. Salad was fresh and right amount of dressing. Pasta with pesto and shrimp was ok. Fettuccine Alfredo had excellent consistency - not too soupy, but had no flavor. Adding salt and pepper helped. We live in Encinitas and usually go to Il Truli or Maurizio and wanted to try this restaurant. While it was good, it wasn't special enough to make our "regulars" list as we like our favs & know the staff, and there are other places to try. We do recommend you give it a try.

After reading the reviews I thought we were in for a special dinner. Not the case. I don't know how this restaurant ever received a decent review. There was nothing fresh or unique about any of the dishes. Everything was bland and flavorless. We started with meatballs for an appetizer, which were cold when served and tasted like something out of a can. The chicken parmigiana was over cooked. The veil parmigiana was tender, but the sauce was bitter and watery. The only saving grace was the salad, but the dressing was not from scratch. Lastly comes the service. It didn't exist. Honestly, this was just a disappointing dining experience.

I received a gift card to this restaurant and was excited to try it, as it was raved about. I went on a Saturday night with my partner and no reservation. The place appeared crowded, but they were able to seat us outdoors with no problem. We ordered: 1. Oysters Rockefeller (4/5) 2. Pappardelle Shrimp Funghi Tartufati (1/5) 3. Ravioli Al Pollo Genovese (4/5) 4. Old Fashioned (3/5) The ravioli Al Pollo Genovese was nicely seasoned. I really wanted to like the pappardelle shrimp funghi tartufati, but it honestly lacked any flavor or salt. The service was fairly well; however, when one of the staff brought out our food, we had 4 empty plates on our small table (the rockefeller plate with empty shells, the empty complimentary bread plate, and 2 of our appetizer plates). We had to be the one to re-arrange our table and stack our plates to make room for the main dishes... and guess what? The staff NEVER took our dirty plates. So we ate a good amount of our main dishes with the dirty dishes in between us until the main waitstaff realized and came to take the plates away. The biggest disappointment is the fact that the first check came at $103.66 and I had presented my gift card. He asked how much was on it, which I informed him was $100. He came back and the check was $122.90. He explained that because I used a gift card, there is an automatic 20% gratuity added. I think this is insane-- never have I been charged to use a gift card and we weren't even a party of over 6! Not to mention the service wasn't to par to deserve a 20% considering the dirty dishes left on our table. Needless to say--I won't be back, and I won't be recommending this place.

Location is in a good area. The food was good, and the restaurant was neat inside. My only dilemma was the service - i was in the middle of ordering my wine when the host pulled our waiter to go attend another table. The waiter nor the host apologized nor bothered saying "I'm sorry we will be right back to finish taking your order." He simply just left me talking to the air. Not sure i would come back.

We always enjoy Cicciotti's for Happy Hour. YUMMY food options. Tasty red wine Great sitting at the small horseshoe bar & conversing with folks

Came for happy hour and would definitely be back! Got oysters, wine, and a filet and everything was excellent and service was even better

Great place for happy hour! Their Caesar salad is my favorite and they have lots of yummy dishes to bite on. Rolando is a great bartender and is always very quick and friendly! Casual inside very cute patio outside

We came here on a random Tuesday for dinner. They had a great special on wines, 50% off. The atmosphere is very homey, and the food was delicious. I had veal scallopini, and my wife had seafood pasta. I must say, out of all the Italian restaurants in Carlsbad, it was one of the best meals we've had at a reasonable price.

Stopped by here for a weekday lunch and tried out chicken piccata. The side pasta was simple but tasty and perfectly al dente. The chicken could've been more juicy and had too much citrus. The complimentary bread was much appreciated but lacked the crusty exterior and was overall too soft. All in all not bad but could've definitely been better.

Service staff good and location great, but every item barely edible. Veggies tasted like they've been sitting in dirty fridge for a long time, sauce was like plain tomato sauce with no herbs or flavor, garlic bread bland. I could go on. Just skip this place. It needs a full kitchen staff turnover. We could not wait to leave and left more than half of food uneaten despite being hungry.

I had been watching this place for a while after I noticed them on Groupon. I really wanted to check them out since they did have good reviews and 2 locations. We went to the Carlsbad village location, as the offer was for only this place. Tried the fried calamari and zucchini, which came together. The zucchini outshined the calamari, which had a slight rubbery texture. The bruschetta which I think we ordered, was just bread with a chunky marinara-type sauce. As for the shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo, this was a definitely a great choice. Even when the small amount was reheated, it didn't turn to an oily mess the following day. The spinach and sausage pizza was totally delicious and would have to order this again on a return visit. Yes, I would come back.. Many rave about the drinks here too, but on this day we did not imbibe. Would like to stop in and try eventually. The only small knock on this place was using the Groupon. It had confusing restrictions and we were able to redeem it, but I felt like in the end it really wasn't much of a discount. It did still though provide some savings, which is for sure a good way to hit up a new restaurant.

Fantastic veal Marsala- just unbelievable- service was off the chart as always and the wine list is always changing and so many delicious options - the ambience is immaculate and always clean

Cicciotti's Trattoria Italiana & Seafood is my go-to Italian restaurant. It's at a wonderful location on the corner of Grand and Roosevelt in the heart of Carlsbad Village. There's an option for indoor or outdoor seating. Love the atmosphere...very welcoming and casual with a touch of sophistication. When we were seated and placed our order, the service was fantástico from start to finish. I had unforgettable fabulous dining experience. I enjoyed their flavorful authentic food which was filling...asked for to-go boxes. It was absolutely deliziosa! I highly, highly recommend!!

Friendly Italian staff and good food. Carbonara was right on key. Clams and linguine was delish. Shrimp & crab pasta was al dente. Risotto seafood was perfect and delish! Live music and TV to watch the fight and baseball games sports etc. indoor and Al fresco outdoor dining as well as bar seating. Nice wine selection and full bar. Super friendly service! Great for large groups and celebrations too.

Rustic Italian Restaurant on the corner of Grand and Roosevelt St. Plenty of street parking around. Was able to get a table near the heater as it was a cool night. Taking a look at the menu, it featured many traditional Italian dishes. We had to opt for the lasagna and seafood ravioli. They are quite pricey but you do get quality food. You get rich, creamy, herby flavors amongst the two dishes. If you do purchase items via Groupon special, you're obligated to pay an 18% gratuity. We paid extra tip since the server we had was great.

Overall, a fair Italian restaurant. Nothing amazing here, but what you would expect from an Italian restaurant. Overall, service was good and the food came out pretty quickly. However there was nothing special or amazing about the dishes. My only other comment here, is that the prices are quite high for what you get. I think this is because they heavily rely on promotions (Groupon, Synergy, Costco meal giftcards, etc), based on the fact that if you use a promotion then there is a mandatory 18% gratuity. If you do use a pro, then the prices are fair. Otherwise a bit overpriced for the ambience and overall food.

If you're in Carlsbad Village, stop by for Happy Hour. Drinks were around $9 and appetizers were $7 which is only available if you sit in the bar or the patio. Theres a good selection of drinks and appetizers. I got the aperol spritz and an order of calamari which were both good. The marinara that came with the calamari was the highlight of the dish. The size of the appetizers are fairly small, so order a couple if you're with a larger party.

A relative who enjoys good food came to visit us this weekend, and we gathered the local family for what was supposed to be a festive dinner at Cicciotti's. The food was really good, but the occasion was ruined by the musician. Nobody warned us when we made the reservation that there would be such loud, dominant music. She was actually quite talented, but if our goal for the evening had been to listen to a music performance, we would have booked via Ticketmaster and not Yelp. We wanted a restaurant but got a music hall. The music was so loud that the waiter was unable to hear my order correctly, even though I shouted it twice. What he ultimately brought me was excellent, but it wasn't what I ordered. I ate all of it while wondering what it was. The waiter did his best, but it was difficult for him to hear over the amplified sound. In retrospect I probably should have just pointed to the menu. One member of our group couldn't tolerate the volume of the music and sneaked out to walk the 2 miles home. We saw him out the window and sent someone to drive him. By the time the driver got back no one was really in the mood to resume our dinner, so we loaded our food into lots of boxes and left to our separate homes. No longer festive, but I finished the drink that he left behind when he snuck out.

Dog friendly so plus for us. They have a dog menu, but when we asked them to confirm that the meatballs don't have onions or garlic in them (we were told they think they do because they're the same as the ones served to people) which dogs aren't suppose to eat. So make sure to ask before ordering one for your dog. Nice outdoor patio and friendly service. Nice that you get bread to munch on 1st. My wife got their Pappardelle Shrimp Funghi Tartufati. Shrimp was a little more fishy than other places, I could smell it from across the table. She thought it was ok. I got the Gnocchi Al Pesto and it was okay.

I've been here several times and the food is always delicious. I love their ravioli with the pesto cream sauce, and this last time I got the lasagne with the meatballs and it was to die for. I also love the bread and tomatoes they give you to start- so yummy. Also try the fried goat cheese balls- they come on a salad but you can also just order them to try! Great thing about this place is they always have a Groupon, so check that out before going to save some money. Only reason I didn't give 5 stars is because the servers here frequently have a bad attitude. The bussers and food runners are always super kind and helpful, but the last couple of times our server has been rude and short. Even blamed me when they got the order wrong. Still- they have great food, and a nice little Italian restaurant vibe, so for sure recommend it!

Amazing daily happy hour. We had the pepperoni pizza and calamari. Both were delicious. Draft beer, house wine and well drinks for $5 each. What a deal. We will be back

My friends and I love the happy hour food and cocktails, and a shout out for the friendly service.

Dined here on Wednesday with a Fun Best Friend of mine. We've been here for Happy Hour a few times and it's always been Great. We arrived 15 minutes before Happy Hour and had our choice of seating at the Bar. We both had two glasses of Cicciotti's House Cabernet to start off with and Toast each other. She wanted to try the Petite Filet Mignon topped with Gorgonzola sauce and vegetables (Super Tasty) served on Monday through Thursday. She wanted Medium Rare & I wanted Rare. The Medium Rare tasted and looked like it was Rare Filet. Yum! Had the Artichoke with the shrimp - tasty as well as the lightly fried Calamari with tentacles and Zucchini Fritti. The Calamari tasted excellent. We also had their Happy Hour Bread and Balsamic oil & vinegar to dip it in. Light but Super Healthy Food Choices with House Wine made our afternoon and evening lots of Fun. We Love this place for Happy Hour. There was a Farmer's Market around the corner so it gave us something else to do. Lots of shops and the Beach is right down the street. Service was great thanks to Rolando our Bartender. Looking forward to our next Happy Hour here.

We were driving by the area looking for Italian food. I wasn't in the mood for anything trendy; I just wanted a low key cozy spot where I can show up in my dressed down comfortable outfit and enjoy spaghetti and meatballs and this place offered just that. To start, their house bread and tomato sauce was a nice change from your run-of-the-mill marinara. This was bruschetta style and the garlic and basil really shined. For a starter salad, we noticed many people getting served a small sized Caesar so we asked for a "side salad" with our meal. There was some miscommunication because we were each served a large entrée salad. It turns out those small sized salads were for those who split the entrée sized - note for the future. I must say it was a noteworthy Caesar. Our entrées were a hit with the eggplant parmesan having a slight edge over the spaghetti and meatballs. I wouldn't hesitate to return when I'm in the area again or perhaps I'll give their Cardiff location a try - it has an ocean view!

We came here for dinner last night for the first time. They have a great happy hour and seating accommodations. We will definitely be back!

Ehhh....ordered sautéed baby calamari in marinara and it was flavorless and really runny. There was a decent amount of calamari (why 3 stars). I ordered it to go and for $25 you think you'd get some bread and butter with it. Can't rate the service or ambiance since it was to go.

Good food Good service Italian ownership Competitive pricing Outdoor seating Older building Good location

I really enjoyed my time here came here for the happy hour with live music. The calamari was pretty decent. I wish it was crispier. Same thing for the bruschetta. The beer was very good. Kind of restrictive that you cannot take your happy hour drink to the dining table

Wonderful home cooking! If you love Italian fare than this is the place for you. A little pricey, but for high quality preparation this is the place to go.

We come here regularly. Not like weekly or anything but we live in the village and they have a decent happy hour. Ordered a glass of Super Tuscan ($16) and it was sour. The bartender said he would open a new bottle until I mentioned I'd wait at the bar, rather than go to my table, to taste it before he poured it. He then changed his mind and refused to open a new bottle, citing he would get in trouble. I'm sorry, I'm ordering your most pricey, "by the glass" wine and you are unwilling to give me a fresh pour. No thanks, not ordering food either. Buy Bye Cicciottis.

We went there to celebrate a birthday. We read the reviews and were pretty excited to try it. The waiter was nice and even gave us recommendations which we listened to and followed. We had bread (plain and nothing special) and shared a salad which I liked better than my friend did and the food arrived timely and hot. We waited almost 30 minutes (28.6 to be exact) for someone to come and check on us. In that 30 minute time span, we discovered the shrimp was so overdone it was tasteless and bland. My friend's pasta was drenched in a broth like sauce that can best be compared to top ramen with noodles well below al dente. My penne vodka pasta was good but the overdone and tasteless shrimp kinda ruined it. Neither of us finished even a quarter of a the dish. They did remove the two entrees and we ended up paying very little as we had a Groupon. I was willing and would have happily paid a lot for a delicious meal.

Very nice waiter, mediocre Aperol spritz, good food and OK atmosphere. We had a Grupon, won't go there and pay full price.

This place is a bit pricey but if you're ready for a bit of a splurge it is soooo bomb. Also if you come during happy hour or use a Groupon (note: not at same time) you can save a bit of cash that way. The food though is fantastic. I also really like whatever Pinot Noir they use as their house Pinot. I think one of the bartenders said it was Mondavi? It's like my favorite Pinot Noir I've ever had.

I had no expectations of anything when I arrived. But I loved the time we went since there were only 6 people in there. We were seated right away and sat near the door. It wasn't loud, they had the sports channel on, and some music playing. The nice person, whose name I forgot, gave us our menu and waters right away. We ordered the oysters on the half shell and Bruschetta mama Mia, cannelloni, aperol spritz, beer, and pappardelle funghi tartufati. The Bruschetta was interesting because at first bite, it's as if the bread is stale, but still good. I've never had Bruschetta with smoked salmon on it and i enjoyed the change. This was my first time trying an aperol spritz and it was interesting. Reminded me of licking an orange peel. The beer which was called a Sal, was quite sour. The pastas were absolutely great! I would definitely come here again.

Just don't order food from this place ever. I ordered $70 worth of food and because I am staying in a hotel with my four year-old, left explicit instructions that we definitely needed utensil so we were able to eat said food. Should I be surprised that the order arrived and there were no utensils nor anything related to the notes? And yes, I was furious that I had to then run around the hotel asking for utensils which they didn't have and had to go ask an employee who had extra disposable ones!! Insane to ignore notes for any order let alone an order that expensive!!

If you get anything from this review, just know that the dinner and the complete experience at Cicciotti's was terrific! Dropped in simply out of convenience, since my girlfriend and I were visiting Chicago for a few days, and we attended the Titanic exhibit in this shopping mall. When we left, I just used Yelp to find a nearby place with some decent selections, not to mention options for my girlfriend's many dietary restrictions. This place had terrific reviews, and I can see why. Dinner was phenomenal! Seriously, everything was delicious, especially the things my girlfriend ordered. She was relieved and delighted with everything we ate. The service was also fantastic. Waiters were attentive but not bothersome. And the ambience of the place was perfect. We felt comfortable dropping in with our casual clothes, but the place definitely had s nice classy feel, so we would've been just as comfortable if we had been dressed up for a date night or special occasion. The price was very reasonable. You know how you make a guess as to what you think the bill will be before you receive it? I often factor in the ambience if the place, the service, and of course the menu items ordered. Things usually seem affordable while we're ordering from the menu, but we tend to order whatever we want and the bill tends to creep up by the time we are done. However, I was surprised that the bill was very fair, and way under my usual expectations! It was a delightful surprise finding this gem! If we lived closer, we'd be regulars at Cicciotti's.

My parents were visiting me from Pittsburgh and we wanted to go to a nice spot in Carlsbad that was laid back with a variety of meal choices. We decided to check this place out because I've walked by it a few times and never had the time to go in. My parents each ordered Chicken Alfredo and I ordered GF Pasta with Sauce and Meatballs. Everything came out at a perfect temperature and stayed hot throughout the entire meal. Eric was our server and he was outstanding! Jumped into conversation with us, gave us a warm welcome and friendly experience. Plus, he also took a family photo for us! All smiles from him - always makes a difference when dining out! They have an outdoor seating area, indoor seating area and a bar area.

Amazing dinner tonight. Rolando the Bartender was so awesome and accommodating. Excellent service and great food!! Highly recommended. See Rolando for great service!! The spaghetti and meatballs were amazing. The bread and bruschetta were delicious But the service by Rolando was the difference maker!! I would give 10 STARS if I could! You won't be disappointed.

Came here on a whim shortly after they opened on a weekday not expecting much and we ended up having one of our favorite meals from the entire trip! Can't wait to go back on this years trip, already looking forward to it- every single thing we ordered was DELICIOUS!

A not-so hidden treasure right in the heart of Carlsbad Village. I went with my family and friends to enjoy the mid-week happy hour. We sat outside on the sidewalk deck and enjoyed some cocktails with the filet special and great appetizers. We came in the late afternoon during a lull, so the bartender was our server during that time. He was super attentive and helped us decide as it was our first time visiting. One of our favorites was the chocolate martini-- a nice treat for adults -) WE also enjoyed the calamari, the filet with spring veggies, the flatbreads, and the salads. It was great for adults and teenagers alike and when the bill came, it was very reasonable for the price. I'd love to return for happy hour and check out the regular lunch and dinner menus.

Definitely recommend this place! I wanted a nice Italian meal for my birthday dinner. My friends and I stopped at a few around the village and were just not interested and we came around this one and it was perfect the food was wonderful, the service was fantastic very attentive and collaborative and just an amazing experience for my friends and I. I saw there was a variety of options for dogs too so maybe we will be paying another visit for my dogs birthday lol.

Our party of 8 (3 adults and 5 kids) happened upon this place on a recent Friday night when strolling through Carlsbad Village in search of dinner... There was a super long wait at a few other places we looked at, so we were thrilled to use the Yelp Waitlist and get seated outdoors at Cicciotti's pretty quickly... Service was attentive, food was very good, and prices were moderate. We had bread, salad, calamari, pasta, and a few other items amongst the group. Everyone was happy and fueled for soccer the next day. I would definitely return if craving Italian and in the area.

What a gem! I don't know how I came across this place but am glad I followed my instincts. Cicciotti's has a killer happy hour menu. $9 cocktails, $9 plates and fresh buck-fifty oysters! I was expecting elbow to elbow seating and a bit confused why it wasn't the case. My curiosity only heightened when Nick served up delicious martinis as we began to order. Fresh oysters from BC - Clams - Salmon tartare - Beef tartare- Cicciotti's is a real gem of fresh food, good service and great vibes. See you soon!

We stopped by here for date night on our way south. The whole area is a cute place to take someone. We got two items, the gnocchi and pizza. The gnocchi was super creamy and the texture of the pasta itself was great! The pizza was fresh baked in their wood fired oven and the taste really came through. I got the one with artichoke hearts, mushrooms and olives. The artichoke hearts are a must! Overall everyone here is so nice and the restaurant has a great family feel! I would def recommend checking this restaurant out!!

Good food as usual :) We tried the Kabobs this time. The scallops were sweet and juicy

Our entrees were amazing! The complimentary bread was subpar, but the dipping sauce was good. The service was great, very good about refilling water. There were a ton of flies by our table which was off putting. It was also interesting that the recommended tip tier starts at 20% all the way up to 35%. Gone are the days when the tip tier was 15%, 18% or 20% (for excellent service).

Stopped in for an early lunch with a friend basically right at opening. The gentleman working was polite and the ambiance super lovely with lots of sunlight. The food was rich, generous portions, and a lovely sauce to pasta ratio with lots of meat in all dishes. Entrees ranged from $19-28 or so, more for seafood options, but well priced for the area and the quality of food. The cocktails were excellent and we also had espressos at the end of the meal which were perfectly steamed with nutty delicious fresh brewed shots. Highly recommend!

Another great evening and authentic Italian dishes. Best egg plant Parmesan. Very busy for Memorial Weekend but servers were excellent and brought us all we needed !!!

Cicciottis is probably the most consistent food experience I've ever had. I've literally never had a bad meal here and have been eating here for 7 years now! The chicken parm remains my favorite and I swear it's gotten better over the years somehow .. I think it even beats Arthur and Son's in nyc.. this is the HIGHEST praise. The service is always impeccable and the gentleman who runs the house is always on every aspect of service. So glad to have such a great Italian restaurant that always feels so welcoming.