Piazza 1909

Italian restaurant · San Diego

Piazza 1909

Italian restaurant · San Diego

1

7731 Fay Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037

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Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null
Piazza 1909 by null

Highlights

Authentic Italian in a 1909 beach house; great food & service  

Featured in Eater
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7731 Fay Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037 Get directions

piazza1909.com
@piazza1909lajolla

$30–50 · Menu

Reserve

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7731 Fay Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037 Get directions

+1 858 412 3108
piazza1909.com
@piazza1909lajolla
𝕏
@piazza1909

$30–50 · Menu

Reserve

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Last updated

Aug 7, 2025

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Where to Indulge in the Best Italian Food in San Diego

"Helmed by Milan native chef Stefano Ceresoli, the seasonal restaurant highlights Northern Italian cuisine. Don’t miss out on the asparagus ravioli, oven-baked fish of the day, tagliatelle with duck ragu and mushrooms, or black truffle risotto with seared scallops at this friendly restaurant in downtown La Jolla." - Helen I. Hwang

https://sandiego.eater.com/maps/san-diego-best-italian-restaurants-eateries-pizza-pasta
View Postcard for Piazza 1909

Hannah Kerns

Google
I booked the covered back patio for my intimate wedding reception and I was so incredibly impressed by the service! My guests were truly blown away by the food and how nice the staff was! Roberta was such an easy person to work with and really went above and beyond to make sure my day was special! My favorite compliment I received all day was from my father who praised my reception location choice by telling me I had "incredible taste". 10/10 If you're considering booking this space for any event - DO IT!

Elisabeth Bik

Google
What a great restaurant! We had dinner here after watching the sunset at the beach. We loved the friendly service, great food, and above all the cozy outdoor spaces with banana plants and bamboo walls. We had a salmon dish and the salad with berries as a starter. For mains we had ravioli and fish. No room for dessert!

Peter Schmidt

Google
We celebrated our daughter's wedding here back in February and loved everything about it. The way Roberta took care of our daughter and her needs and wants and the food and service on the actual day. There was SO much yummy food served, that not a single person was able to eat all of it. The gnocchi gorgonzola took the cake, it was absolutely delicious. Since the wedding day was all a bit of a blur to us, we decided to come back here for our anniversary and were not disappointed. The appetizers (calamari, prosciutto and melon and the burrata) were amazing. We enjoyed the coteletta milanese and the fussiloni and our guests devoured pizza, pesce and lasagne. Everybody loved it and we will definitely come back next year.

Mahsa Pourhamze

Google
Piazza 1909 hit the spot! We grabbed dinner there and the lasagna and pizza were on point. The pizza had that perfect balance of sauce and cheese. Cozy spot, great for a chill night in with family or friends.

Greg SH

Google
Tonight was our first try at Piazza 1909 since it was an easy walk from our hotel and so glad we dined at this friendly family-run Italian restaurant in the heart of La Jolla. Piazza 1909 is housed in one of La Jolla's oldest beach houses purported to have been constructed in 1909. The covered and heated patios that now surround the original house could definitely host large and small gatherings. Loved the Pizza Gorgonzola, Zucca & Speck (D.O.P. Gorgonzola, Ricotta, Speck, Roasted Butternut Squash), and our mains were the Cotoletta alla Milanese (two huge Breaded and Fried Chicken Cutlets) and the chef's special Scallopini Pollo (cooked with lemon). Dessert was a hefty slice of the homemade and very creamy Ricotta Cheesecake. Piazza 1909 is a dog friendly restaurant we highly recommend and would definitely return to.

Elysa K

Google
A cute little setting outdoors, but even on a cold night it was still very warm (it’s covered). We happened to be here for happy hour (4:30-6:00) so we got to enjoy some items that were almost half off (ie. arancino) as well as cocktails and wine at a discount. For the mains the heavy hitters were: - lasagna - special dish: short rib ravioli The other items we got which were good were: - pappardelle bolognese - cioppino - pesto with burrata Would definitely come again!

Lanie

Google
This place is amazing! The lights on the patio make the atmosphere very cozy. We ordered the burrata caprese, focaccia bread, chicken, and the lamb/italian sausage ragu. Everything was fantastic. We ordered the dessert special of the night which was an apple turnover with vanilla gelato. It was very dry but the gelato was fantastic. Would order a different dessert next time. We will definitely come back. 10/10 recommend.

Doctor Knows Best

Google
First of all, they don’t honor their reservation time. Their pizza is mediocre at best. Their salad had no taste whatsoever. There’s water doesn’t come with ice because they wanna make sure that you order bottled water and not regular water so they’re punishing you that way and even if you show up there, they barely will acknowledge you. It seems to be a little bit arrogant in terms of service and the food is way overpriced way overpriced for the quality that it is. Waiters keep pushing drinks and appetizers

Micah L.

Yelp
Beyond incredible food, truly authentic Italian; terrific ambiance and service was top notch. Can't recommend enough.
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Cathrine S.

Yelp
We had a beautiful evening at Piazza! This is such a fun Italian restaurant. There is patio seating, outdoor covered seating, and indoor seating. We sat outside towards the back of the restaurant and had our own private table tucked away, it was very secluded and allowed us to have a nice private dining experience. Our server was very kind, had a ton of recommendations, and was very attentive. The food was amazing, the pizza was fresh, the dough was light and flavorful and the sauce was perfect. Highly recommend stopping by if you find yourself in La Jolla.
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Marlette C.

Yelp
Food: 4/5 Service: 4/5 Ambiance: 5/5 They started us off with focaccia. We shared an order of the burrata caprese appetizer & squid ink frutti di mare. The caprese was amazing. Tomatoes were fresh and sweet. The balsamic caviar sounded and looked cool, but it didn't have much flavor. It came with 2 super thin slivers of buttered toast, which was tasty, but almost unnecessary. The squid ink frutti di mare didn't end up having squid ink spaghetti, just regular spaghetti. Some miscommunication in the kitchen our server said. I wasn't happy about that, but he offered dessert on the house. The dish was very good, shellfish was fresh, but the fish was overcooked. Not much pasta either. The sauce was delicious. Another bummer was that they were out of the Hugo Spritz because they ran out of elderflower. We picked the ricotta cheesecake for dessert and ordered an Americano. The cheesecake was excellent - very smooth texture and very light. The crust was a little too thick and hard though. Overall, it was a good experience. A bit on the pricey side. Glad I got the chance to try this place before heading back The Bay.
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Anna Z.

Yelp
The cutest spot ever!! Just to summarize, this place is a great spot to go on a date or catch up with some friends. The food, service and ambiance were all amazing! I forgot which pasta I got but I swapped the pasta out and everything came out hot and delicious. Not pictured but the bread it seriously SO good. Soft focaccia!! The servers were super kind and offered us an outside table although we were originally told it wouldn't be available. The drinks were good and well priced. I'll be back!

Sierra L.

Yelp
Eva has a TALENT making the best desserts!!! We didn't have time to take before pics because we ate it up FAST but here's the aftermath
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Blossom V.

Yelp
We come here often and it never disappoints! On our last visit we came as they were opening for dinner. It was a little chilly but they had heaters on the patio which actually makes it warmer than sitting inside. Great service and delicious food. We had refreshing cocktails and bread for a great start to our dinner-yum. I always order the veggie pizza, it's no longer on the menu but you can still request it. Best pizza dough cooked exactly how I like it. The veggies are crispy fried to perfection. This is my all time favorite pizza in San Diego. The salad was really good, too. Crisp fresh greens, garbanzo beans, beets, pumpkin seeds and of course the salad dressing always makes the salad... Our server was on point and provided excellent service. Will be back, as usual.
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Catrina R.

Yelp
What a wonderful restaurant! This place is very deceptively large and we had a spot in the back that was more away from everyone. Very romantic! We had their salami and burrata/polenta starter that was very tasty. Their alcoholic version of a Shirley temple was divine! Their diavola pizza was phenomenally spicy and their homemade gnocchi was fantastic. We finished off the night with their ricotta cheesecake. You NEED to try this. It was so very good!!! Special shout out to Lorenzo who was the BEST. Apparently he is the owner's son and it was great to find out this place was family ran. You can tell they put care into it and the food! Parking can be a pain because it's La Jolla but if you're patient you'll find a spot. We will DEFINITELY be back and plan on having our rehearsal dinner here it was so yummy.
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Nora W.

Yelp
My new favorite restaurant in La Jolla. The service was so great, our waiter was very attentive and patient. Everyone we spoke to was so sweet. The ambiance inside makes you feel like you are in someone's house transported back to Italy. The food was some of the best Ive had, I will be back soon!
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Michael S.

Yelp
Might be my new favorite pizza! I love spicy salami pizza (pizza Diavola) and I usually go for isolas for that, but I think this place might be better. The crust definitely was and the rest I think also has the edge. Service was really good and attentive so no issues with that. Ambiance is nice for small parties or dates. We are outside which was comfortable and quiet. The branzino was good overall. Didn't amaze me but it was good and what I expected. Cooked well and no bones. And the sauce was good. Probably will experiment with other food next time though. The free bread at the beginning was very good and had olives mixed into it. Not a huge olive guy but it was good. Overall I'm very happy with this place and I'm definitely going back.
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Norbert K.

Yelp
San Diego Restaurant Week (SDRW) menu enticed us back for one last SDRW Dinner. This was a 3-course dinner for $49. We had a nice table on the front porch with a heater for the evening chill. Service was excellent, including obtaining a sample of one of the SDRW menu items for us. For our Starters we had the VELLUTATA di PATATE e GUANCIALE (4/5) -- potato and grill leak Velluté with guanciale (pork cheek) -- and VITELLO TONNATO (5/5) -- sliced cold veal topped with a tuna sauce. Our Main Courses were GNOCCHI al GORGONZOLA e NOCI (4/5) -- housemade potato dumplings with gorgonzola cheese sauce and walnuts -- and PESCE del GIORNO al CARTOCCIO (5/5). For the pesce (fish), I chose whole fish bronzino ($9 uplift) to be baked in parchment paper with tomatoes, mussels and clams. It was outstanding. Our server fileted the bronzino tableside. We enjoyed both the PROFITEROLES (3/5) and RICOTTA CHEESE CAKE with a wild berry sauce (4/5). Overall, a very nice dining experience! Food ............. 4/5 Service ......... 5/5 Ambiance .... 3/5 Wines ........... 2013 Sagrentino di Montefalco (5/5) -- SDRW special not on Wine List
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Ray M.

Yelp
Fabulous food, setting and service! We brought our ocean swim club here and all 19 of us gave the Piazza team a bravo and 5 Star thumbs up!
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Tricia M.

Yelp
We had a lovely dinner here one Friday night! Reservations were easy to book through OpenTable and we scored a wonderful patio spot at the front of the restaurant. We had homemade bread basket and tomato confit and carpaccio along with a glass of prosecco for me, a negroni for my husband and Italian lemonade for the kids for starters. For our mains, my daughter and I shared the margherita pizza (size was good for two!) which was really just a classic Italian pizza. My son and husband shared the maccheroni salsissia and burratina pizza. Everyone loved what they ordered. Vibe was nice inside - lots of people on the patio having a good time!
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Pat O.

Yelp
We shared a wonderful salad and their bread basket with tomato comfit was sooo delicious. My sister had the Branzino and the waiter did a great job of filleting and deboning it. The fish was so moist, sweet and fresh. My other sister had spaghetti with meat balls. She didn't like the meat balls, whereas she is normally a fan of them. I asked the chef to create a dish, not on the menu, spaghetti cacio pepe. It was good. Not the best, but he/she was making my meal with alternative ingredients. The gelato was a nice end to a heavy meal. And they had good wine choices, which we enjoyed. Our only real complaint was the 3% surcharge to cover the cost of their employees health care!!!! That's a cost of doing business and is just plain rude. Just tack it onto the cost of the food and stop whining about it. Loved the décor and back patio. Very comfortable.
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Zaydian A.

Yelp
Came to Piazza on a Friday around 630pm, no reservations, no problem! We were able to get seated immediately in the outdoor patio (yes they have heat lamps). This place felt very cozy and the service was 10/10. As for the food we got the salad invernale, pizza diavola, tagliolini porcini tartufo with shaved black truffles, a bottle of Chianti, and their special dessert which was a vegan & gluten free chocolate cake/bar served with mixed berries & orange shavings. My personal favorite was the porcini tartufo pasta, it was rich & creamy with a good amount of mushrooms & black truffles. Only reason I am giving piazza a 4/5 is the prices. I've had better Italian food for much less, but I do understand this is La Jolla. Would I go again? Probably.

Mariateresa G.

Yelp
Last week we hosted our boutique holiday dinner at Piazza 1909. It was a lovely evening, with wonderful food, attentive service and a warm atmosphere. From the personalized menus to the holiday decorations, everything was just perfect! All of us truly enjoyed the experience and we will certainly be back. Thank you Roberta for helping us in organizing such a marvelous evening!

Richard R.

Yelp
We were invited guests at a recent wedding reception at Piazza 1909. Benjamin was the server assigned to our table. He was very friendly, personable, and professional to all of us. He was very attentive to everyone and provided excellent service to our table for the entire evening. He was also very interactive with the guests which greatly enhanced our experience with the entire venue.In addition to Benjamin's service, the food and ambience were superb. I was very impressed with Benjamin and highly recommend him and Piazza 1909 to everyone.
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Trish S.

Yelp
We hosted a large rehearsal dinner at Piazza 1909. From the start Roberta made planning from a distance easy, she made us feel like we were part of the family. Exactly the atmosphere we were hoping for. Stephano went out of his way to welcome us and everyone loved his special attention to detail. The food was never ending, the Piazza team was friendly with amazing service and every one of our guests enjoyed. Piazza 1909 felt like a big Italian family filled with love! Highly recommend!
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Yianni A.

Yelp
Very disappointed in my experience since we were also celebrating our Anniversary. We came 30 min early as we had a reservation and when we showed up I asked for a table in the front. The hostess would only seat us in the back because we chose that online as I explained first time and would like a better outdoor seating arrangement. She told me the back is great and her favorite. Let me explain the real estate seating - very few people eating, the 2 front sections empty and where I asked she said oh they all have reservations till 6-7pm. When we left there were still about 5 tables free that we could have sat at. Ok it was a small table in the back like no air ventilation or anything and we were greeted by a rat that came out of a hole and stared at me where he quickly went back under the floor. There were tons of gnats everywhere and of course since towards the back they had pots of vegetables all over a table like it was Armstrong garden center. The food was ok, North Italia tasted better and since it was our Anniversary the establishment didn't congratulate us or acknowledge. Now I'm not one to be hey you should give me something for that but at least give me a white glove perfect experience since I chose to eat there instead of other places on my list.... Very disappointing, I would not come back. Also, I'm ordering an expensive charcuterie board and you ask if I want bread with it not even telling me that it is a charge. $4 extra and I really thought it was part of the board.. shady place!!! The bread was stale too... The only thing worth mentioning was the sangria. Also why put us next to a group of people while the whole area was empty!
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Emma K.

Yelp
If you're looking for a cozy Italian restuarant in La Jolla, Piazza 1909 is a great choice. They are dog friendly with lots of outdoor seating and a relaxing ambiance. Service was very good. The waiter was attentive, and our drinks/food came out pretty quickly. We ordered the shrimp gnocchi and diavola pizza. The gnocchi was fresh and pillowy, and the shrimp was nicely cooked. I enjoyed the creamy, aromatic sauce. The diavola pizza was also very tasty. The tomato sauce was fresh and the spicy Calabrese salame had a good kick. The crust was slightly denser than I prefer, but it had a nice flavor. They also give you a bread basket with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and a pepper sauce. The bread was very good! I would definitely come back to try more of their menu!
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Stephanie V.

Yelp
Such a wonderful authentic Italian restaurant in La Jolla. We celebrated my son's graduation with friends and family, and the restaurant treated us like family. Service was on point, quality of food was exquisite, and we enjoyed everything. The food portions were enough to share and you can tell love & pride is taken into the food served. I am butchering the spellings of each item, but we started off with the fresh made focaccia and tomato sauce (mind you sauce is served cold), the calamari that included shrimp and fried fish, and the bruschetta trio... again quality and fresh tasting. Second courses were gnocchi, ravioli, tagliotini, pizzas, another pasta (forgot the name). All items came out hot and did not need extra seasoning like parmesan or red pepper. Everything was perfect. We loved the attention given by the host and our server. I believe this is a family owned business and there is a lot of love that goes into this place. I highly recommend and would come back again. Wished we stayed for dessert, but were pretty full and even had to pack food to go. Thank you!!
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Yueming Q.

Yelp
Very romantic and beautiful place at the center of La Jolla. I made a reservation at Open Table for Saturday dinner, and we got a nice seat at front patio. The service here is quite nice, the hostess gave us a nice table even we were 25 minutes earlier arriving. The foods here are delicious! We enjoyed the pizza and the lasagna. The dessert ricotta cheesecake was so so, it was too light, we prefer the New York style.
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Ika I.

Yelp
Delicious food, warm services, and excellent value! Located within the popular hotel/dining district in La Jolla, this cute Italian restaurant was definitely a gem. The restaurant appears to be in a converted single family home, with a vast outdoor dining area and a small indoor dining area. Parking is limited to on street parking only. I made my reservations through OpenTable, and availability was ample for early dinner hours. When we first arrived, we were greeted warmly by the server, and we were allowed to pick our table. Since it was an outdoor table, our server turned in the heat lamp right away. The server told us the menu has recently been condensed. The menu offers good varities in homemade pasta, fish, and meat. We ordered the regular size fruit salad to be split among us, and our server was kind enough to bring it out in two portions. For the entree, I had the homemade ink pasta with seafood. The quality of the homemade pasta really shined as it was chewy yet soft. As for service and ambiance, the restaurant felt small and intimate, and it would be a wonderful place for dates or small gatherings. Our server was attentive, but he also gave us a lot of privacy to enjoy our meals. For the cost, most appetizers and salads were between $18 to $25, and entrees were around $29-$35. The serving size was just right to make you feel full but not stuffed after a wonderful meal. Overall, the restaurant offers excellent food at tremendous value. Highly recommend!
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Chris G.

Yelp
We loved our experience at Piazza 1909! After a long day of taking our dogs out around the area we debated about having food delivered to our hotel or venturing out to find a close restaurant that accommodated dogs. We found Piazza 1909! It was a short walk across the street from the Empress Hotel! We were able to quickly be seated outside in the patio with our 3 dogs! The patio has a very nice atmosphere with christmas lights lining the outside. It was not too loud and our dogs loved it! The food and drinks were sooo good here! Wife had the bitter pineapple cocktail and the scallop risotto and loved both! I had the red sangria and the salsiccia pizza and both were amazing! You can really taste the quality of the food and ingredients used here! The food and drinks were very affordable and the staff here are very friendly and welcoming! We will definitely be back!
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Jacquie F.

Yelp
We had a special family party here, and it was memorable in all ways! The food was delicious and fresh, and even a preselected menu gave us wonderful choices. The wines were a great compliment to the meal. Dessert was the "birthday cake," a giant Napoleon, which was the perfect way yo round out our joyous celebration.
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Alyssa S.

Yelp
Not quite as good as the last 2 times we've been. Service was slower. But I still loved the wine special Falanghina (which had very helpful and spot on tasting notes on the menu). The salmon special taglioni was pretty good. The gnocchi sorrentino looked a little monotonous and bland. But we liked our meal overall. We'll be back but we took some new folks and it wasn't as good as when we'd gone just ourselves! Maybe because folks are off for the holiday weekend.
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Lynn S.

Yelp
We decide to take an overnight trip down to SD/La Jolla and stayed around the La Jolla beach area. This was one of the restaurants around the neighborhood we found on yelp and decided to give it a shot! We didn't have a reservation (long weekend Sat dinner) but decided to call and double checked how long the wait might be, the staff on the phone was super nice and let us know we can stop by within 10mins and they will have a table for us and our 3 pups. This is such a cute spot and have a lot of patio/outdoor seating, however, the highlight is definitely the food!!!! We ordered SALSICCIA (tomato sauce base with red bell paper and Italian sausage pizza) and the RISOTTO alle CAPESANTE e TARTUFO (it's basically truffle scallop risotto). The pizza is superb, especially the dough, it's so flavorful that I kept stealing the crust from SO's plate (lol), the risotto is cooked to just the right texture with yummy scallops. Overall, great spot for yummy food and drinks and it's walking distance to a lot of local hotels and the beach area!
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Kristin B.

Yelp
The food was very good, our server was great, and the drinks are tasty. However the restrooms need love. I felt like I was at a gas station restroom.

Ali C.

Yelp
I had the pleasure of having my baby shower here and everything was PERFECT! Roberta, Lorenzo, Chef Steffano and team were flawless in their setup of tables and linens, preparing amazing food, bringing out food and drinks, and helping me with the menu selection for my baby shower. The restaurant is so beautiful too, we had very minimal decorating! Piazza 1909 is my all time favorite restaurant in general. Their food, drinks and hospitality bring me back to Italy each and every time and they know how to host an event Italian style. Grazie mille per tutto e non vedo l'ora di organizzare il mio prossimo evento qui!
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Caitlin D.

Yelp
We walked here from the heart of La Jolla and the location is in an area of La Jolla that I've never explored before. The patio was beautifully decorated with string lights and wooden table features. It really provided a top tier ocean feel to it despite not having a beach view. Might I say it even had a romantic feel to it. The waiters were very nice and we had great & quick service. Originally we were seated outside, but since the outdoor heater wasn't on at the time we asked to be seated indoors (in hopes that it was more warm). Well, I must say...being outdoor was more warm than indoors! But I didn't want to make a big deal of it again so we stayed where we were placed. The interior of the restaurant was very quirky and different. Although very cute! We had direct view to the kitchen was well which I thought was very nice. The smell of seafood was very prevalent here and it reminded me of being back in Italy. I ordered the gnocchi allo Zafferano & Speck. It was: Potato Dumplings/ Cherry Tomatoes/ Saffron Sauce D.O.P. Speck Smoked Ham. My thoughts was that it looked really appealing. While the color of the sauce looked stunning and made my mouth water. The flavor itself was quite bland. And the gnocchi is bland as well, therefore it was a bit difficult to eat. The speck smoked ham was pretty salty which helped the sauce and each bite of gnocchi go down easier. The tomatoes in this dish added a squirt of acidity that didn't taste very nice in my opinion. The amount of gnocchi was a lot! It was $24. My friend wanted to come here because she noticed they had a separate vegan menu! Bonuss! She ordered Gnocchi alla Norma Vegani ($23). It consisted of: Homemade Potato Dumplings / Fried Eggplant /Tomato Sauce / Shaved Pecorino / Chillies. She said that the gnocchi texture was good. The eggplant was a great addition and made it a more unique tomato sauce. Although the price of the vegan dish compared to my dish was very similar which is quite shocking. Especially since hers had very simple ingredients, it just didn't make sense to have it so pricey!
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Andrew G.

Yelp
Dinner date with the wife on Labor Day weekend. We found street parking no problem. We didn't have a reservation but they sat us outside at a small bar facing the street. They have lots of options on there menu they even have a vegan and kids menu. I ordered gnocchi with ragu off the vegan menu and it was outstanding. My wife ordered lasagna with a cocktail and cannoli for dessert. She enjoyed everything. We both saw other menu items we wanted to try. Maybe next time we can bring the kids. The bill was a little steep but it's in an expensive neighborhood and everything was well executed.
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Kannica C.

Yelp
We came here after a long beach day in La Jolla and decided to try this place out after many people had recommended it. It did not disappoint! Our server was so lovely and accommodating to any questions we had about the menu. We ended up ordering the Cotto e Funghi (mushroom pizza), Lasagna and Gnocchi, all of which were incredible. And for dessert! Tiramisu. So good. We had to rush out of there, as it was pretty close to closing time-- but I'm excited to return, as I'm sure the atmosphere is fun and lively on the weekends.
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Evan T.

Yelp
We hosted a rehearsal dinner and brunch at Piazza 1909 for our wedding. The food was excellent and Roberta and her family are incredibly friendly and helpful. I really can't recommend this place enough--their food is better than surrounding restaurants and their prices are lower and very reasonable. We got tremendous value from our events and everyone had a great time. Their tiramisu in particular is delicious and we had several amazing pastas--Tagliattele alla Bolognese, Pappardelle di Mare, and Ravioli di Magro. Apps were great too (calamari, bruschetta, and polpette). If you're looking to do an event or just have a nice meal, go here.
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Melissa C.

Yelp
The pasta here never disappoints! I personally really like all pasta varieties here with seafood. The drinks and appetizers are wonderful as well. I'll be coming back regularly to try more dishes.
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Linda F.

Yelp
Piazza 1909 is the kind of casual place where you can go in jeans, yet still be coddled with wonderful service and authentic and masterfully prepared Italian food. Husband and I came for Restaurant Week brunch in October, 2023. It was excellent! A lovely, light prosecco added an extra sparkle to two beautiful Crabcake Benedicts, and, yes, there were shaved truffles from Umbria on the eggs. Delicious! Our eggs were poached perfectly, set atop nicely crisped crabcakes, cloaked with a fluffy, delicately flavored hollandaise, and served with well seasoned breakfast potatoes and a mixture of perfectly ripe and sweet berries on the side. We chose to sit on the "front patio" which is actually an open air, large front porch perfect for people watching as La Jolla tourists and locals stroll by. I was also impressed with the quality of service provided by the staff: the hostess, waiter, food runners, and bussers were all professional and warm-- just right for a casual, relaxing beach town Sunday brunch. All in all, exceptional quality for a great price. You can't go wrong at $29 for a brunch that includes truffles! Out of curiosity, we browsed the Restaurant Week dinner menu offered by Piazza 1909, even though today was the last day the special menu is on offer. It convinced us to come back this evening for dinner! I found the menu incredibly seductive, and when I saw they were also offering a Sagrantino di Montefalco (only my favorite wine ever!) at a special price for the week, we couldn't resist. We made our dinner res on the spot. You'll find photos of both special menus here in my review. The brunch menu is very similar, possibly identical, to the one they offered last year, and it's a winning formula. Fingers crossed that they offer the "Truffle Brunch" again next time. We'll be back, not only for dinner tonight, but again to order from the regular menu when it's not Restaurant Week.
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Tune N.

Yelp
Great food and vibes! Fast and great customer service. I would recommend the Gnocchi, so yummy.
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Megan B.

Yelp
*FOOD* I loved their diversity in options - not just pasta but meat and fish dishes on their own or incorporated in the pasta dishes. To start, we got the Tris do Bruschetta con Burrata and Insalata Estiva. The bruschetta came with three different kinds of bruschetta with burrata on the side. All were delicious, but my favorite was the classic tomato bruschetta. The salad was awesome - I've never had this combination in a salad but I couldn't get enough of it. For main dishes, we ordered the Risotto alle Capensante e Tartufo and Pappardelle di Mare. The risotto was a little watery for my liking, but still good along with the scallops and fried leeks. The Pappardelle di Mare is definitely the way to go! the sauce is delicious and it has a little bite to it. For dessert we got the Tiramisu, which was awesome. *DRINKS* They offer coffee drinks, which I appreciated. They have an espresso machine, so you can order any espresso-based drink. *SERVICE* These servers move around like a well oiled machine. Everything came out in perfect timing, and whatever we needed we got instantly. Our server was extremely busy, but she didn't show it or express it at all - she was a pro. *AMBIANCE* This spot goes way farther back than it seems from the street. There are several patios and different vibes of seating spots.
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Marc P.

Yelp
My mother loved her ravioli, but the wife and I thought our meals were just okay. Our server also seemed a bit over the top....I don't know how to explain the way he carried himself except as someone that is a bit of a "ham"; you know how someone hams it up on stage, well he sort of did that same thing but as a waiter instead of an actor. Although we didn't like it and won't be back, my mom definitely loved it, so I think depending on one's unique perspective your mileage will vary at this restaurant.
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Kate N.

Yelp
We went here based on the reviews but we found the food and the experience pretty average. We were on the early side for dinner - as it turns out before two very large parties arrived. Service started off well then was slow as they attended the other tables. Food was not out of the ordinary - pappardelle di mare was meh, caesar salad was overwhelmed by anchovies and otherwise just okay. Overall not anything outstanding.
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Marilyn G.

Yelp
After Visiting La Jolla Cove, we had Lunch here at PIAZZA 1909. Our 17 year old dog was with us, so I had to find a restaurant that is Pet Friendly, and PIAZZA 1909 showed up on my Yelp search. Their outdoor porch with a roof has plenty of space, we checked-in and got seated right away. We checked their Menu and it was nice to see that they also had a DOG MENU too, perfect for our Dog "Bambam". We were all craving for pasta, these are what we ordered: * TAGLIOLINI NERI FRADIAVOLO - Black Ink Noodles, Baja Shrimp, and Garlic Pachino Tomatoes. * SPAGHETTI alle VONGOLE - Clams, parsley, garlic, white wine, and cherry tomatoes. * PAPPARDELLE DI MARE - This one was originaly CIOPPINO, but we asked if they could add PAPPARDELLE . * PORCHETTA alla ROMANA e CARCIOFI FRITTI - This one is on CHEF STEFANO'S SPECIALS, it is pork belly and fried artichoke. * APPLE MULE * CHOCOLATE LOVER- exquisite chocolate ganache , dates , pecans , sliced Almonds , pineapple flambe/ crunchy caramel * FREE RANGE CHICKEN, on the menu for Dogs. For our appetizer I picked the PORCHETTA alla ROMANA e CARCIOFI FRITTI, it has my favorite meat, the one that I always used to order for my Sandwich for Lunch to bring in my School in Italy, it looks like Bacon, but it doesn't taste like Bacon 'coz it has another Italian seasoning, way better than Bacon. The one that I had in Italy had a stronger seasoning and was very addicting, this one was just light, but still good. The FRIED ARTICHOKE was good, it was actually my first time to try it Fried. And for my PASTA I had the SPAGHETTI ALLA VONGOLE, it had lots of CLAMS in Big sizes, it was very creamy and delicious. My husband's FRA DI VIOLO PAPPARDELLE DI MARE also had lots of Seafood, this order was originally CIOPINNO, but we asked if they could add a PAPPARDELLE on it, and they were nice to let us customize it, this one came with a nice light Marina sauce and the noodles were perfectly aldente. My son's BLACK INK TAGLIOLINI, has big Chuncks of Shrimps, it was very flavorful. Our Dessert, the CHOCOLATE LOVER, was so yummy. It had a nice rich chocolate with pineapple and Pecan bits, it was so good. My Drink was very light and refreshing. And for our DOG BAMBAM'S Food, he had CHICKEN and RICE, and he ate it so fast, it was like it was a clean plate ;) They also change some items on their menu from time to time, so there would be more selections , we will be back to try for some more next time . Good food , nice staff, clean place . It is a nice spot to dine-in here in LA JOLLA.

Brian M.

Yelp
We hosted our rehearsal dinner at Piazza 1909, and it was an unforgettable experience. The back patio provided a cozy, intimate atmosphere, perfect for our group of 33 adults, with ample room to move and mingle comfortably. The food was outstanding--standouts were the pasta alla norma, fried artichokes, and pizza, all of which received rave reviews from our guests. The staff truly went above and beyond, remaining attentive and responsive to every request, making sure we felt well taken care of. Our guests couldn't stop talking about the excellent food, ambiance, and service. If you're looking for a beautiful venue with incredible food and top-notch hospitality, I'd highly recommend Piazza 1909, Roberta and her team are fantasic!
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Steven H.

Yelp
The frozen lasagna at sprouts is better - this was super dry maybe reheated a few times - the pizza dough was not great - lacked cheese - loved 25 years in Europe and tasted way better here in SD in past 8 years. The focaccia and dip were sub par. Try isola nearby for a better Italian experience. Quite disappointed
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Jenny F.

Yelp
Made a reservation here because the reviews were positive. However, we were not sat until 30 minutes after our reservation. Once we were sat the service was slow. Food runner didn't know what the orders were and tried to serve us something we didn't order. Half of our party's food came out 15 mins late with no explanation or acknowledgement. We were never approached by management and our server never checked on us once the food actually came. Several of us became ill after dining here which was very unfortunate. Additionally, there were issues with being overcharged. Overall, I would choose to dine elsewhere when visiting La Jolla as there are many other great options.
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Yixi Z.

Yelp
We shared a pizza with tomato sauce, fried artichoke, arugula and burrata cheese--super interesting combo: the creamy cheese and crispy artichoke created beautiful contrast in texture, richness of cheese played off well with tanginess of tomato in terms of flavor tones. Salad was refreshing and seafood soup was light and filling. Ambiance was relaxed and classy. Def would recommend
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Dalit I.

Yelp
Finally a True Italian food Unbelievable tasty If you have been to Italy , and understand the quality of food, this restaurant is for you. We had the fish , that was amazing Pasta was great Service is wonderful And all these in very fair price We definitely will come more
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Rachel T.

Yelp
A really cute restaurant. We went here for a rehearsal dinner and it was great. A private area with several tables, a bar, and a serving table... The food was good and the focaccia bread was awesome. We also had some of the fried calamari appetizer. The drinks were great but the surprising hit was the Italian lemonade sodas. The servers were attentive and any additional requests came quickly. They also cleared any empty cups and plates out too. Really great service. They did have a couple gluten free options and they also accommodated vegans. There was also a dessert for gluten free people. There was a sorbet alternative to the tiramisu. My kid can't have dairy so we were able to give him the sorbet.
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Guillermo G.

Yelp
Excellent food and service! The cappuccino was delicious and the ambience was superb. Definitely recommended.
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Trevor T.

Yelp
Amazing ambiance. Amazing bread and oil and vinegar. The pizza was incredible. No price gouging. Food came out quick. The service on the back patio could've been better. The female server was good but appeared to be spread too thin possibly. She was the only server in the back full of people and the front had 4-6 people. I still give it a 5 star. I will definitely be back!
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Marc F.

Yelp
First, family owned and many of the servers are part of that family. We really enjoyed the service and how friendly, knowledgeable and charismatic the servers were. Everything we had here - pizza, pastas, bread - it was all outstanding. Thoroughly enjoyed it and we will be back.
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Kael S.

Yelp
We were really impressed with the ambiance, the service and the flavor and innovation of the food. Delish!