Ristorante Illando
Italian restaurant · San Diego ·

Ristorante Illando

Italian restaurant · San Diego ·

Tuscan comfort food with romantic lighting and downtown views

lobster ravioli
reservations recommended
romantic atmosphere
seafood pasta
calamari
outdoor seating
friendly staff
delicious food
Ristorante Illando by null
Ristorante Illando by null
Ristorante Illando by null
Ristorante Illando by null
Ristorante Illando by null
Ristorante Illando by null
Ristorante Illando by null
Ristorante Illando by null
Ristorante Illando by null
Ristorante Illando by null
Ristorante Illando by null
Ristorante Illando by null
Ristorante Illando by null
Ristorante Illando by null
Ristorante Illando by null
Ristorante Illando by null
Ristorante Illando by null
Ristorante Illando by null
Ristorante Illando by null
Ristorante Illando by null
Ristorante Illando by null
Ristorante Illando by null
Ristorante Illando by null
Ristorante Illando by null
Ristorante Illando by null
Ristorante Illando by null
Ristorante Illando by null
Ristorante Illando by null
Ristorante Illando by null
Ristorante Illando by null
Ristorante Illando by null
Ristorante Illando by null
Ristorante Illando by null
Ristorante Illando by null
Ristorante Illando by null
Ristorante Illando by null
Ristorante Illando by null
Ristorante Illando by null
Ristorante Illando by null
Ristorante Illando by null
Ristorante Illando by null
Ristorante Illando by null
Ristorante Illando by null
Ristorante Illando by null

Information

1825 India St, San Diego, CA 92101 Get directions

$$

Order delivery
See Menu
Restroom
Popular for lunch
Popular for dinner
Dinner reservations recommended
Cozy

Information

Static Map

1825 India St, San Diego, CA 92101 Get directions

+1 619 693 5204
illando.com
@ristoranteillando
𝕏
@landinisillando

$$ · Menu

Features

•Restroom
•Accepts reservations
•Popular for lunch
•Popular for dinner
•Dinner reservations recommended
•Cozy
•Romantic
•Trendy

Last updated

Jan 17, 2026

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Landini’s Pizzeria Lands Italian Restaurant in Pacific Beach | Eater San Diego

"I note that since 2016, Leo Landini and his wife Christine have operated a Tuscan trattoria called Ristorante Illando in the space above Landini’s original India Street location." - Candice Woo

https://sandiego.eater.com/2020/10/1/21496949/landinis-pizzeria-scuderie-italia-italian-restaurant-pacific-beach
Ristorante Illando

Sky T.

Google
Super intimate and small space so definitely recommend reservations. The food is classic Italian food that is made well and the space is romantic with string lights all over the ceilings. It’s on the second floor so may be difficult if you have an older persons that have trouble with stairs. I ended up getting the seafood pasta and it was super delicious! Lots of seafood from shrimp and mussels in a rich and vibrant tomato sauce. Good place and would come back!

Jasmin A

Google
We came for my sister’s birthday and we got to sit in the presidential room, so cool! This restaurant had amazing workers and amazing food.

daren G.

Google
Don't blink or you'll miss it. It's hard to spot this restaurant as only a podium and a doorway mark the entrance to the upstairs Restorante Illando. It's it's a top another restaurant but that gives it nice views looking over little Italy. Once inside you'll love the little place and the delicious food they serve. Authentic Italian fare and a quaint little dining room. It's definitely worth the dining experience.

Sam D.

Google
This restaurant is very tasty and cute for a date night.For dinner it is a dark room lit up by string lights on the ceiling making it romantic. We had a large group and ordered several different pasta dishes and all were very tasty. The carbonara was very authentic and tasty.

Chris M.

Google
Our experience at Ristorante Illando in Little Italy was exceptional, and Carol is the reason it went from great to unforgettable. From the moment we sat down, Carol made us feel genuinely welcomed—not just served. Her knowledge of the menu was outstanding; she offered thoughtful recommendations with confidence and enthusiasm, and every single suggestion was spot-on. She timed everything perfectly, checked in just the right amount, and somehow anticipated what we needed before we even asked. What really set Carol apart was her warmth and professionalism. She struck the perfect balance between attentive and relaxed, making the entire evening feel special without ever feeling rushed or over-managed. It’s clear she truly cares about the guest experience, and it shows in every interaction. The food and atmosphere at Illando were fantastic, but Carol elevated the entire night. If you’re dining here, do yourself a favor and ask for her—you’ll leave already planning your next visit.

Kimberly R.

Google
We came to little Italy for fresh Italian food. Our server Luca, was amazing! We had caprese, Rizoto, lobster raviol, chanti wine, and a canoli and tiramisu for desert with port wine. Rustic modern decor with lots of lights. Everything was flavorful and delicious! I loved our server who was from Italy and was very knowledgeable about the food & the regions.

Melissa C.

Google
Lovely, delicious dinner. Made a reservation for Saturday night. The area was packed. We had a table by the window overlooking India St - could see all of the people and the planes landing. Staff was attentive but did not rush us. Wine, food, atmosphere - all excellent. We love trying new places in Little Italy but this tiny gem is worth another visit. They are upstairs from a pizza place, can’t say enough good things about this place!!

Jeremy M.

Google
Food was great. The lamb was delicious, the risotto was great, and the bread was perfect. The waiter was on point from the beginning right up until the end. The 3-star rating is because the waiter thought it was prudent to stand and look over my shoulder while I was paying. The tip was going to be near 30%, but since he acted so rude, I dropped it just below 20%.
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Kai R.

Yelp
Really cozy spot with a warm, family-style vibe. The fresh pasta was definitely the highlight--simple but flavorful, and you can tell it's made in-house. Service was friendly, though a bit slow during the dinner rush. Portions were generous, and the tiramisu was worth saving room for. Overall, a great little Italian place I'd happily come back to.
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Chase L.

Yelp
Loved this place! Food was great and the staff was awesome. Will be returning next time we're in town

Alex E.

Yelp
Great food. Fantastic service. Luca, our waiter, was super attentive and friendly. Overall a 10/10 experience.
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Annie B.

Yelp
Staff super friendly! Reservations made prior to coming so wait time is about 5 minutes. Caesar salad: good, decent, lettuce is fresh! Cake: was complimentary because we were celebrating birthday Vodka Ravioli spinach: 100/10 YOU HAVE TO TRY THIS DISH AT LEAST ONCE in your life or at least try the VODKA SAUCE. because me and my friends were cleaning the ravioli plate vodka sauce with the bread it was that good. Bread basket is complimentary and fresh!! came back here after 2 weeks bc it was on our mind. will be on my places to go to pasta!
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Anita M.

Yelp
Had a mediocre experience here. Pros: I liked the taste of the fettuccine and the complimentary bread. My partner did not like the chicken parmesan. Collectively we did not like the arancini as it tasted more like a meatball and had little rice. Good flavor but mostly beef. The service was poor as we felt our server was short with us. We waited a while to get a box & the check. Side note that no one acknowledged the note in our reservation that we were celebrating a birthday, the server also didn't ask if we were celebrating anything. Quaint spot & we sat inside.
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Mark C.

Yelp
In Little Italy in San Diego? How do you choose an Italian restaurant? Through Yelp Elite reviews. That's what I did and the top rated (and most well deserved) is Ristorante Illando. Ristorante Illando is ABSOLUTELY EXCELLENT in every way. Our hostess was extremely nice and a Yelp fan as well. Gave us a nice table in the corner next to a window. It gave us a feeling of almost like we were the only ones there. The wait staff was phenomenal. Our waiter Luka is probably one of the best, most complete waiter I've ever had, (SERIOUSLY). Luka was extremely pleasant and gave great recommendations for both the food and wine. Of course we took him up on it. We had brussel sprouts w/ pancetta as an appetizer....(to die for!!!) I had the Chicken Parmigiana and my wife had the Ossobuco All Milanese. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!! Oh yeah, the wine a fine red was excellent! So, follow the words & wisdom of Yelp Elites!
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Youn S.

Yelp
Food: 4.5/5 delicious. Service: 5/5 friendly servers Ambiance: 4/4 could be more clean Overall: will comeback again
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Pedro G.

Yelp
Delicious food! I'll definitely be coming back. I had a reservation but arrived earlier than expected -- they were super accommodating and seated us right away, offering the choice of indoor or outdoor dining. Since it wasn't chilly, we chose to sit outside. The outdoor vibe was perfect, though I do wish the tables were a bit larger. They start you off with complimentary bread served with balsamic vinegar and olive oil -- a nice touch! Everything we ordered was made to order, hot, and tasted incredibly fresh. I had the Caprese for my appetizer and the Gnocchi a la Pesto for my main course -- both were totally worth it! Portion sizes and pricing were very fair. I definitely recommend outdoor seating in the evening, especially since Little Italy has such a great atmosphere at night.
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Jan D.

Yelp
Service was awesome and the food was definitely clean and felt super home cooked. I like Little Italy as there are so many choices. I however was drawn to this restaurant and it did not disappoint. The risotto was great along with the calamari and the brussel sprouts.
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Darlene N.

Yelp
One of Little Italy's truly hidden gems, Ristorante Illando is tucked right upstairs above Landini's. As soon you come up the steps, it feels like you've stepped into a cozy Italian escape. The intimate atmosphere, beautiful lighting, and charming decor make it the perfect spot for a date night or a quiet dinner with friends. I've been a great fan of the Landini family of restaurants throughout San Diego, and Illando absolutely meets, if not exceeds, their already high standards for warm service, incredible food, and genuine Italian authenticity. Every dish here is worth savoring...the kind of dishes that left us debating whether to finish every last bite or take home leftovers just to experience it all over again later. It's easily one of the most underrated spots in Little Italy, and honestly one of the few Italian restaurants in San Diego that can hold its own against the Italian cooking I'd find back home in NJ. Just like Landini's is one of the few pizza spots that remind me of back home, Illando delivers that same comfort and excellence in every plate.
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Alan P.

Yelp
5 Star Service- chilled vase with water and basket of delicious bread arrive immediately, accompanied by a plate, applied table side w/ olive oil and balsamic vinegar. YUM! Made same day reservations for 5:45pm on a Saturday. Enjoyed perfect weather and vibrant street activities dining outside. Spaghetti Carbonara and Pasta Bolognese (see photos) were delicious.
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Soup H.

Yelp
Jeovanny, our server, was wonderful. His voice booms across the room. He checked in on us, made small talk which kept the atmosphere light and joyful. He made jokes about how young we looked when one of us ordered wine and we all had a good laugh about it. The food was great. Salmon that I got was moist and the top crispy layer has the perfect amount of crunch. I love the gnocchi pesto. Lastly, the tiramisu was amazing. It was light with the perfect balance between sweet and espresso bitter.
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Tina K.

Yelp
Nice little spot! They have outdoor seating or indoor seating upstairs. Our server was great! Very helpful & polite. Food was delicious & we have no complaints!
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John G.

Yelp
Don't keep on this tiny Italian spot! Amazing and I mean amazing calamari! It comes with perfectly cooked fresh calamari, fritti shrimp and somw jalapeños. Absolutely delicious!! Can't wait to come back for somw pasta specials!!
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Robin L.

Yelp
The food was delicious ! My tortellini was amazing. The service was great and quite quick. It was such a nice night out since the seating was outdoors. I enjoyed this spot
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Lorie D.

Yelp
Down here in San Diego for the weekend and was craving Italian food. Did a quick search on Yelp and came across this super cute house turned restaurant gem. We were greeted by the very friendly hostess and taken to our seat upstairs right away. We were about 8 min late for our reservation due to our long walk from the Navy Seal museum but they sat us with no issues. Our waitress was very helpful in choosing favorite dishes and boy was she correct! Our meals were hot, freshly cooked and tastes amazing! They have inside and outside seating. If you're in the area I highly recommend stopping in if you want an amazing Italian meal.
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Josephine F.

Yelp
This restaurant is right next to a pizza place so we were a little confused looking for it since the pizza place is a lot more obvious. The warm complimentary bread is so good! Pasta dishes were also excellent. Chill atmosphere with attentive service.
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jon k.

Yelp
Great dinner last night at this cute, upstairs restaurant in Little Italy. We enjoyed the service by Luca who created a tasty, relaxed dinner for us. We started with Calamari and Octopus appetizers. Our mains were Lamb Chops and Salmon along with mushroom risotto and a classic Roman red sauce pasta with nice smokiness. Luca kept our glasses filled with tasty Italian wines throughout the meal. And we finished with Tartufo and Cannoli!
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Sky T.

Yelp
Super intimate and small space so definitely recommend reservations. The food is classic Italian food that is made well and the space is romantic with string lights all over the ceilings. It's on the second floor so may be difficult if you have an older persons that have trouble with stairs. I ended up getting the seafood pasta and it was super delicious! Lots of seafood from shrimp and mussels in a rich and vibrant tomato sauce. Good place and would come back!
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Hallie G.

Yelp
*chef's kiss* The pasta here is so good, it's not funny. Located above Landini's Pizzeria, walk up some stairs and you'll find this quaint and cozy restaurant. We had a reservation for 8 on a Monday night and it was quite a bit of wait to get served after we got seated (~15-20 minutes). However, from the sounds of it, the kitchen was pretty backed up and this is likely a rare occurrence so the servers were doing the best they could! They were very friendly and even gave us a complimentary dessert for the wait. Regardless of the wait, the pasta was DELISH. 〰 Fettuccini Gamberi e Pancetta (10/10): Delicious. No notes. The pasta was perfectly cooked, the vodka sauce was delicious, the shrimp and bacon added such a good flavor to the dish. Arguably one of the best pastas I've ever had. I'd definitely recommend this. 〰 Housemade Tiramisu (10/10): Wow. DELICIOUS. I would get this again if I came here again. Yummy!!!!
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Maria S.

Yelp
What a great find in Little Italy! Italian restaurants are a dime a dozen in the area, but what made this restaurant stand out is its generous portions that still maintained its flavor and depth. You can eat comfortably family style and still walk away full and satisfied. It is easy to miss this restaurant when walking in india Street because the main dining area is on the second floor. You will need to go up about 20 steps to reach it. But once up there, you get greeted by a warm, non-pretentious and cozy spot.
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Stanley R.

Yelp
We had a Double date with my girlfriend's grandson and his girlfriend! I wanted to choose a special place close to the harbor in a fun neighborhood. Ristorante Illando was the perfect choice. Parking in Little Italy is a bit tricky but fortunately I have a credit card so...problem solved. The restaurant is up a little staircase above a pizza joint. The aroma is otherworldly! The ambiance is very special, almost like a secret world of deliciousness! The service was wonderful, I had a reservation but we arrived 45 minutes early and they were happy to accommodate 2 seniors and two teenagers. The menu is spectacular! Our waiter looked like a movie star and was Italian to boot! Every dish was an amazing treat! The house red was spectacular and delicious. I can't recommend the experience enough!
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Evelyn B.

Yelp
10/10 would recommend this place! The food was delicious and the service was great! We got there a little earlier than our reservation and they still took us in. We decided to sit on the outside which was nice because you get to see little Italy go from day to night lights! The food was made to order, came out hot, and was so flavorful!
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Stella C.

Yelp
Very average Italian food; I've definitely had better in this area. The pasta was cooked a bit hard for our liking with a very one-dimensional taste and the bruschetta would benefit from adding cheese. The complimentary bread was delicious though. Our party of 5 was able to be seated outside with no wait on a busy 4th of July Sat night ~6 pm. Parked at the Little Italy Parking Structure ($15 max). Service was meh.
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Miranda C.

Yelp
Such delicious pasta!!! I love bolognese and this place does it right! The Pappardelle is perfectly al dente and it just tastes so good with the meat sauce. A simple yet delicious meal. Our waiter was also so incredibly nice. He was so smiley and had such positive vibes. The restaurant is upstairs so it was nice to be able to sit near the window and be able to see the street of little Italy from above.

Dylan M.

Yelp
Octavio was an absolute pleasure he was one of the most outstanding servers I've had in my life. This restaurant continues to impress me. I never stray from bring friends and family here for an amazing meal. Could not recommend more!
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Christian C.

Yelp
I really wanted to enjoy our dinner at Restaurante Illando, but unfortunately, the entire evening felt disorganized from start to finish. We had a reservation, but still ended up waiting over an hour to be seated. Little Italy was understandably busy, but if a restaurant can't honor their bookings, they shouldn't be taking them. What made it worse was the lack of transparency. We kept being told "just a few more minutes," when it was clear they had no idea how long it would actually be. I would've preferred an honest estimate over feeling strung along just to keep our business. When we were finally seated, the disorganization continued. Staff seemed flustered and out of sync--we were a party of two but were given three place settings, followed by another round of plates and silverware from someone else. At one point, while we were already at our table, the restaurant called to let us know it was ready. That pretty much summed up the whole vibe. As for the food--my Diet Coke was flat and syrupy, and my dish was underwhelming. It was essentially an overpriced bowl of pasta in a homemade tomato sauce with chunks of ham tossed in. The pasta itself was fresh, which I'll give them credit for, but dish wasn't worth $27. To top things off, I got home to an email saying our reservation had been canceled. No explanation--just canceled, even though we were very much there. I get that restaurants have off nights, but this felt like more than just a fluke. Illando seemed overwhelmed and unprepared, and the food didn't do anything to redeem the experience. Really disappointing.
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Shonda B.

Yelp
Pretty good Italian food, the burrata was nice and creamy with the prosciutto. Their vodka sauce is the best I've had in a long time, nice and creamy & the arancini balls were delicious. I ordered risotto (not pictured) it needed to be cooked a little longer, it was still a little crunchy but with the bread, appetizers and drinks I got full fairly quickly. Solid spot, good service.
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Yesenia V.

Yelp
Tried several dishes, all were very authentic. Also their spritz. Service was really good. Weather was perfect for outdoor seating. We tried the lobster ravioli, bolognese, calamari and seafood pasta. Definitely will come back and try more of their dishes.
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Leyon L.

Yelp
Honestly, could've had better elsewhere. The service was fine aside from the waitress not seeming alarmed that our plate had food residue remaining. Place is pretty cramped - if you're not into tight spaces, avoid this place. Food taste did not reflect the price point.

Sarah W.

Yelp
Great food, service and ambiance. My favorite Italian in Little Italy when I'm looking for a warm and inviting atmosphere and delicious food.
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Chris L.

Yelp
TERRIBLE FOOD not sure why my last review got deleted I'm sure they are paying Yelp to delete honest reviews. This place looks nice on the outside but the seafood pasta I had was awful and tasted like the seafood was rotten. This place made me avoid eating linguine de mare for a year since I don't want to even think about it. I'll upload the picture again of my meal that made me sick. Also, if this review somehow disappears again, I will go on social media and spread the word. People have a right to know about negative experiences and it is extremely unethical for Yelp and this restaurant to collude and delete negative reviews. Beyond disappointed with both businesses!

R G.

Yelp
Came to this restaurant for a family event and I wanted to share my gratitude to the chef and staff. The restaurant itself was classic and clean. The staff was attentive. The food reminded me of when I was in Italy. They even carried my favorite red wine. I was impressed. My large party ordered so much food, including desserts that I can't list them all. However, hands down the best Alfredo and the creamiest risotto in the states. Thank you for hosting us. Have recommended and will continue to recommend.
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Tim R.

Yelp
We had a nice time here in Little Italy. The outside dining experience was terrific for us and our clients at Illando. I had arancini and fried zucchini blossoms along with gnocchi. I would put these items as solid 7 out of 10. It's a problem that the last place I dined with our clients was actually in Italy this Summer. However, everyone seemed really happy to be there and loved their meals. I guess I've painted myself into a corner when it comes it Italian cuisine. However, I don't regret living in Italy but what I do regret is not being able to pop back there every time I am craving authentic Italian.
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Bahrah Y.

Yelp
Had a layover in San Diego and went to little Italy and this was the restaurant that had the best reviews. I sat outside because it was a beautiful day out. The restaurant wasn't busy so it was nice to enjoy a meal for one. They give you complementary bread with oil and balsamic. My favorite starter. I loved the bread, it was baked to perfection. I almost ate the whole basket. I got the meatballs and they were chefs kiss. Loved the sauce and the meat was very juicy. I enjoyed the pasta very much. Lots of meat in the sauce which I liked. Had leftovers since the portions are huge here. This was a very lovely restaurant and would recommend to friends.
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Jason L.

Yelp
Illando has a nice, cozy, homy feel to it. The restaurant is in an old house with an upstairs dining room, outdoor dining on the street and a to-go pizza shop at street level. High marks for the calamari (it comes with fried jalapeños) and the shrimp and bacon vodka sauce pasta. Delish! My man, Luca, was a great server and made our experience perfect. I'll be back.
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Jerome R.

Yelp
Ricardo our waiter was really kind and welcoming to our first visit at this restaurant. He even caught that my wife was pregnant and suprised us with a Tiramsu cake at the end to celebrate our babymoon! I would say the place looks unassuming on the outside compared to the other restaurants but this place is so great on the inside feeling like we were in a nice home. The food was really good especially the lobster ravioli and short rib tortalini! Definitely reserve and book time to eat hear as it can get busy!
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Allyson C.

Yelp
IG: @allysxn.eats great ambiance, it's on the 2nd floor and kind of feels like you're in italy. got the two different risottos, spinach salad, fried zucchini, and clam spaghetti. all the dishes were excellent, my favorites being the salad and the mushroom risotto. the clam spaghetti was tasty too, but i can imagine that some people may think it's too simple/bland - i liked it though. the fried zucchini was good, but not sure i would order again since it was expensive for only a few pieces. the only thing is that it's hard to find parking in little italy.
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Rodney G.

Yelp
Always one of my favorite Italian restaurants when visiting SD. Always liked the somewhat discreet location where you could literally walk right past the stairway entrance if you aren't looking for it. I know it's simple, but I also like the light bulbs while you're walking up the stairs at night. Had a gnocchi pesto dish this time around which paired well with the glass of wine I ordered. I kinda like the cozy layout of the restaurant. It's on the smaller side but it's great for intimate gatherings with friends. We had a table of 6 and felt like we had one entire side of the restaurant. Haha. I would recommend reservations and the servers are always so knowledgeable on the menu items and are always good at recommending menu items that you might like. Glad I got to dine here again. Aloha!

Marjorie B.

Yelp
Went here to celebrate my fiancé's birthday. Everything was 5/5! The ambiance was very romantic, we got a table outside. Although it was chilly night there made sure the heaters were on full blast and that we were comfy. The service was on point, I really appreciated our waitress (I'm sad I forgot her name), but she was very sweet and welcoming, I told her we were celebrating my fiancé's birthday and she recommended the lemon tart, since we told her that he is lactose intolerant. The food was amazing. I'm not really a pasta person, but the lobster and beef raviolis were amazing. The cooks really did their thing Thank you to the cooks and servers for making my fiancée's night!
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Al M.

Yelp
This place is fantastic!! do yourself a favor and be sure to secure a reservation before you go there as the place is small ,but cozy, intimate location for sure. Like I just mentioned, the staff were phenomenal, always refilling water, prompt with taking orders and helpful with questions on the menu. Now onto the food, everything we ordered was great there wasn't one dish that we got that we were disappointed in the bruschetta appetizer was not my favorite though and I feel like they could've done better compared to the other food that they served but not bad. Calamari 9/10 Short rib tortellini 7/10 was lacking some flavor. Lobster ravioli9/10 favorite dish for sure. Veggie pasta 7/10 good flavor and sauce . This is little Italy and Parking can be a pain in the ass so plan accordingly and give yourself a little time to find parking especially on the weekends. I almost forgot ,ordered the tiramisu and the cannoli for dessert and both of them were excellent also.
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James L.

Yelp
Above a Pizzaria in Little Italy, exists this charming little restaurant. There's not a lot of signage from the street so it's easy to miss, but you'll find the host and a set of stairs takes you to a sort of attic-like restaurant. It felt very casual, and the menu very much consistent Italian staples. I got the Spaghetti Arrabbiata (spicy) and to start the Fried Zucchini Blossoms and the Nduja Crostini, both of which were amazing. Overall I was very satisfied with the flavor and quality of the meal and will happily come back only next visit.

Hai B.

Yelp
Taste is okay. I find it normal but the price is too expensive compared to the real value. My favorite dish is tomato bread. Service attentive and friendly
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Kirby H.

Yelp
Really over the top Service and we even ate out on the patio. Like others, we arrived with a reservation of 6:30 PM but was told that there would be a wait of at least 10 minutes to get into the dining area that we had reserved, but I was OK with sitting out on the patio. The gentleman serving us had a cool Italian accent and helped us with all of our many choices. We ordered short rib, ravioli, lobster, ravioli, a handmade pasta dish with shrimp and prosciutto, and assorted desserts. Others have commented on the bread, although I thought mine was a little chard, so I wasn't particularly fond of it as others have been. The pasta on the other hand was next level. Food and desserts were excellent!
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Shane G.

Yelp
The atmosphere was very cool. It's in the upstairs of the building above the pizza shop. Cozy setting yet relaxed enough for a business discussion. The food was spectacular three of us had the Ossobuco Alla Milanese and one person had Pollo Alla Florentina. Everyone loved their food. The veal shank was very tender and delicious (forgot to get a picture) The wait staff was amazing. Very attentive and patient and gave us the time we needed to discuss business. If visiting the area I highly recommend a visit.
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Daniel C.

Yelp
We came here for Christmas Eve dinner 2024. Illando is one of many Italian places in San Diego's Little Italy neighborhood. Its a bit hard to find while driving, and the layout is strange with a narrow set of stairs leading up the upstairs dining room and the outdoor patio area in the ground level, behind a pizza restaurant. There is a free public parking lot next to the restaurant. We found the food decent for the most part but service was inattentive and the outdoor patio really isn't the best ambiance. Cold, metal chairs and the loud sound of planes coming in/out of SAN. Italian food ought to be indoors, on a warm, festive setting. Despite making reservations, the hostess did not even offer a table on the main room. As for the food/drinks: * Grapefruit Spritz was very refreshing, and nice balance of sweet and tart. * Arancini is a wonderful appetizer - crispy and cheesy and very tomatoey. Great way to use leftover rice. * My salmon was way overcooked. * Kid's butter parmesan penne was cooked perfectly but they forgot to add a side of chicken we requested. * Wife's shrimp pasta was rich and good. * I don't recall any waitstaff refilling the water o checking in on us. Would only recommend coming here if guaranteed a spot on the upstairs dining room.
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Jun-Jun L.

Yelp
Overall a good experience, but the waiting time for ordering food and drinks was long (as expected during peak hours) so be prepared! It's a nice place for a date night or catching up with friends. Be sure to reserve in advanced as they only accepted reservations this past Valentine's Day weekend. They may only be a reservations-only option but I could be mistaken. Either way, if you want to make sure you get a table here, go on the OpenTable app. We ordered their 2-person tower de antipasti and it didn't disappoint. My favorite part of the tower were the crustinis topped with well-seasoned diced tomatoes and olives. We got full by the time our pasta dishes came around, but we didn't stop as the pasta we ordered were just as good too. Be sure to pair the antipasti with some cabs. We got the spaghetti vongole and lobster ravioli. The spaghetti was really tasty, cooked al dente, and was the right amount of clams and sauce- it may be a simple recipe, but less is more! The lobster ravioli was really good too, had good amounts of lobster per ravioli and we didn't feel ripped off like other places that just put in a little bit and stuff the rest with cheese. We didn't have enough room for desert, however we will in the future next time!
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D-a-v-e's C-r-a-v-e's ..

Yelp
My wife and I had Illando recommended by a friend. We came by for dinner. Kind service, fast but not rushed. It was nice. Great ambiance. Intimate table for two, upstairs. Music was nice and the decor felt welcoming. The food was ok... my wife ordered the vegan Fusilli al Sugo di Pomodoro, and I ordered the Tortelloni al Brasato with red sauce. Both dishes were fine but very sweet and a little salty. The pasta itself was exceptional: it was fresh, cooked well, and tasted great! I'm guessing some of their more complicated dishes were amazing based off pictures and other reviews. But I just didn't enjoy my dish very much. It was fine, but not really worth the $27 in my narrow opinion. My wife's vegan dish was fairly priced at $21 where most other places would charge double just for the "vegan" title. The food is often times the most important part of the meal but it was just ok. The gentlemen who served my wife and I was fantastic and made the experience more memorable than the meal. A true professional.
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Natalie C.

Yelp
Made a reservation to meet up with some friends for dinner and we're so glad we chose Ristorante Illando! It's located on the strip of Little Italy. Sadly no restaurant parking so we just did valet a few doors down. The restaurant is located on top of a pizza shop so it feels like a secret little spot. The space itself is roomy and intimate with cute lights strung across the walls and flowers on each table. They give you bread for the table with olive oil and balsamic. For apps we started with the arancini and bruschetta, both were good. We loved the arancini paired with the vodka sauce, it was delicious and the arancini were decently sized! We also brought a bottle of wine, they have a $30 corkage fee. Our entrees we ordered were the pesto gnocchi, my husband gave it a 8.5/10, he said the pesto had a bit too strong of a taste. I got the bolognese pasta which was delicious 10/10. Great portions, we all had to-go boxes. Service was great all night! Very attentive with getting us water, taking our orders and coming by to check on us. We were going to pay our bill with cash but seemed they only took card. Overall we enjoyed our experience. Great authentic Italian food and a wonderful spot to eat with friends, family, or even date night.