Parma Cucina Italiana

This place is without a doubt, one of the best Italian dining experiences San Diego has to offer. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere is warm, inviting, and authentically Italian. It truly deserves every one of its five stars. I started with the Octopus Salad, and it was an absolute revelation. The octopus was perfectly tender—a feat that so many restaurants struggle with—and paired beautifully with fresh, bright flavors that made for a delicate and memorable start to the meal. For the main course, I chose the Lasagna, and it was the highlight of the evening. It was rich, layered with magnificent, tender pasta sheets, savory ragù, and just the right amount of creamy béchamel. This is true comfort food executed with precision and passion. It tasted like it was made in an Italian nonna's kitchen. To finish, the dessert was the perfect capstone. It was a delightful blend of textures and sweetness that concluded the meal on a high note without being heavy. The service was impeccable throughout—attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely friendly. If you are looking for authentic, high-quality Italian food in San Diego, look no further than Parma Cucina Italiana. Go immediately!

Title: A Taste of Italy! I recently dined at an amazing Italian restaurant, and I was blown away! The authentic dishes took me straight to Italy. Each bite was packed with flavor and passion. The staff? They were incredibly friendly, making the experience even more special. This year, we are hosting an Italian girl, and she loved the food as much as we did! The warmth of the staff made her feel right at home. If you’re looking for a delightful meal and great company, this place is a must-visit! It’s more than just food; it’s an experience that inspires joy and connection.

Food was mouthwateringly scrumdidliumptous! Lol The chicken Parm was tender, moist but fully cooked, and very flavorful. I highly recommend this place for the Italian cuisine connoisseur!

Parma is an absolute gem! The Paloma appetizer with sausage was out of this world – full of flavor and the perfect start to our meal. The pasta was so fresh and delicious, it left us wanting more with every bite. The staff was outstanding – attentive, friendly, and truly made us feel welcome. The owner went above and beyond, not only with great customer service but also with his wonderful personality and entertainment that made the night extra special. We will definitely be back for more – highly recommend Parma for an unforgettable Italian dining experience!

My husband and I had the most wonderful evening here. The food was absolutely delicious and very authentic Italian. We ordered the burrata and arugula salad that was perfectly seasoned with olive oil and balsamic drizzle. We followed that with tortellini in a prosciutto cream sauce that was to die for and ended with meatballs in a rose sauce that was also so delicious. The restaurant, knowing it was our anniversary surprised us with some vanilla gelato that was like something you’d only get in Italy. Great food and ambience is of course is what attracted us but it was the addition of the lovely Roberta who served us and the owner who is from Rome who really helped make the night so memorable. Thank you both. We’ll be back next time we’re in town!

Absolutely amazing experience! The food and service were both incredible from start to finish. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. I highly recommend this place especially the Profiteroles alla Nutella, which was the highlight of the meal. Can’t wait to come back!

Best 4 cheese gnocchi and tiramisu since Rome! Fantastic. Gelato is among the best we have had outside of Italy. Staff was great and spoke with the owner who spent years in Rome restaurants- it showed. Better than anything I have had in the little Italy area here in SD. You want the real thing- this is it!

1. Very authentic Italian food, with classic olive oil and vinegar for the bread. All the dishes we ordered were excellent. 2. The staff were very nice and showed genuine passion and care.

I've been coming here for years, and the service never misses. Warm, friendly vibes greet you as soon as you walk in, and the owners are hands-on by checking in on tables and making sure every guest feels like family. The food? Consistently top notch. Pesto pasta is fresh, flavorful, and surprisingly light compared to the heavy versions you find elsewhere. Pasta is always cooked perfectly al dente. My personal favorite is the Fagottini with delicate little cheese-filled purses in a creamy truffle sauce that's indulgent, creamy, and rich. Pricing is fair for the quality you get. Combine that with an intimate setting, attentive service, and the occasional shot of sambuca with the owner (wink) and you've got the recipe for an experience that's hard to beat. If you haven't been to Parma, you're missing out. This place is the real deal. Welp! Onto the next!

This place is seriously a gem of a spot! I can't rave about this place enough. The atmosphere, attention/service, and the food, everything was great. My partner and I arrived early for our reservation and they seated us early despite being super busy that night with a few large parties. I legit felt like family as we were seated. They were absolutely swamped like I said but we didn't mind. The food was also fantastic! My partner had very specific allergies which are quite troublesome for Italian food (garlic and onion) but they were super accommodating and were willing to make dishes that were able to be done without it. They obviously made everything from scratch and you could tell how much attention they pay to it! Can't wait to go back here again!

You know how some places claim they make you feel like family? They got nothin on Parma!!! Oh and you haven't lived until you try to Quattro Formaggi Gnocchi!!! I have ordered it at least 6 times since experiencing it live in their dining room. I don't have a single picture of it because I have scarfed it before being able to remember taking a photo. The service was incredible. I'm an extrovert and show all my emotions on my face (horrible at poker but the staff at Parma got a kick out of seeing me enjoy every dish!) I think I'm grandfathered into their family at this point. You have to go for yourself and be ready to be deliciously wined and dined.

Nice spot for Italian food the experience was amazing. I felt that everything was very authentic and not overdone. Amazing wines to choose from and a super welcoming atmosphere. Staff is very friendly and knowledgeable.

Love, love, love everything we ordered! The hubs loves Italian and can't get enough pasta! I on the other hand love Italian, but can only handle so much rich, creamy, heavy carbs! On the hunt for another Italian place, we both came across Parma years ago. We started coming here during the pandemic and keep coming back. The first time we called in for a togo order and Oh the Italian accent! Love it! The first time we ordered, I changed it up a bit and ordered the gnocchi with bolognese, this is not on the menu, but they were happy to modify it the way I wanted. Hubs got the Linguini pesto with gamberi and have absolutely loved it ever since! We also a side of polpette and tiramisu togo. It's a small place, but they are always busy during dinner. I thought that must be a great thing! Ordering togo we didn't have a long wait at all. We've always ordered togo, we finally decided to dine in! It was a beautiful evening, but I know it tends to get cold outside fast and decided to be seated indoors. Very intimate setting, everyone seemed to be celebrating a birthday. Several parties of 6-10 people were seated inside with room to still fit several couple diners like us. The gnocchi was delicious! Not heavy or gooey or anything. They were perfect fluffy little potato clouds. I can't handle all the cheese so I got it with bolognese! Sooooo good!!! Hubs got the Linguine pesto e gamberi. The shrimp and pasta were perfectly cooked. Both had the perfect amount of sauce, lots of it! The meatballs were yummy too! It does drive me nuts that they only give three, an odd number! The tiramisu is a generous portion and delicious! I love that it's light and fluffy and full of that rich creaminess of the mascarpone. Staff checked on us often and were friendly. You may be able to walk in and get a table, but just in case best to make a reservation on Open table to make sure you have spot, especially if you have a large party. 2025: 28

Made a reservation here through opentable for a party of 11 for a celebration which they were able to accommodate. The restaurant is small with one waitress at the time. It took awhile to order since the waitress was helping other tables, but the food came out quickly. While waiting, we had complimentary bread with oil and vinegar. The food came out all at the same time. I ordered the pesto pasta dish with shrimp which was solid. It was creamy and rich. Mainly street parking or paid lots.

Stopped by this small Italian joint in Hillcrest. Parking wasn't too bad on a Monday for dinner. It seems family run, and the menu is relatively small so just be aware if anybody has preferences/allergies. To be honest it's pretty expensive ~$25+ for pasta and sauce. I would say it was good but nothing crazy. Service took a bit of time since it was just two people working. And we were able to sit outside with our dog

Great delivery experience! My food came really quickly and was steaming hot. I got the arrabiata pasta with shrimp - it was great! Perfect amount of spiciness and well-cooked. I really enjoyed it! Will order again.

Look, I've taken every single significant person in my life here. I've cried here; I've laughed here. It's always good. I could not recommend this place more. The staff is the most charming group of people I know. The food, I mean everything on this menu, is so goddam good. I The small indoors really makes you feel cozy and I've never sat somewhere where I can see everyone enjoying what they eat. I recommend to everyone.

Our first time here, this is what we call hole in the wall, friendly service , authentic and great Italian pasta and desserts. Roberta is very friendly and treated us like family as well as the other staff. Highly recommended

Simply delicious! I found Parma Cucina Italiana on Yelp, and my friends and I were craving Italian within walking distance of our Airbnb in Hillcrest. No need to take a Lyft to Little Italy since this spot will exceed your expectations! I called and asked about their availability for a party of four, and the woman was very pleasant and accepted our reservation within the hour. When we arrived, we were greeted and the ambiance inside was very warm and welcoming. Our server gave us a run down of their specials, but sold half of our table on the lasagna, which they're known for. Half of our party ordered the Lentil soup special, which was superb, and for dinner, I ordered the Papperdelle Brasto. The noodles were thick and nicely coated in the braised short rib sauce. I still dream about this meal! I had a bite of my partner's lasagna and it was immaculate and covered in a unique pink sauce. Our server offered fresh ground pepper and Parmesan, which elevated everything. This dinner experience was the perfect way to close out our vacation.

Delicious food with good Italian wine selection. I had the Tortellini Panna e Prosciutto and it was so delicious. The pasta was perfectly cooked and some may say there's too much sauce, but I'm not complaining; I love sauce-soaked pasta. We also tried the barbera d'asti wine, which I've never had before and it was wonderful. It's dry and easy to drink; I thought it paired well with a heavy pasta. The service was also wonderful. Our waiter checked on us a couple of times to see if we needed more water or extra cheese/pepper etc. Greatly appreciated.

We weren't too fond of our dishes. My boyfriend ordered the arribiata penne pasta and I ordered the lasagna, which the servers praised as one of their best dishes. The look of the arribiata looked bad and when I asked him, he didn't like the flavor and got an upset stomach from it. I found my lasagna too salty, while big in portion. One of the knives were dirty and when we addressed it to the Italian server, she just got it then smoked on the side with someone, coming much later saying we didn't need it anyway. That was unpleasant experience, since that kind of detail is noticed from us. He definitely will not return and personally it's not a place I'd recommend to meet with my girlies to eat.

Incredible Italian food with no fluffs or frills. It isn't a fancy place and the location is amongst the bustling heart of Hillcrest but I am so glad I gave it a chance. Pesto pasta with shrimp (10/10): was. to. die for. The sauce coated the pasta perfectly and the shrimp wasn't overcooked. Caprese (9/10): Great appetizer. Light and refreshing. The complimentary bread served as a great vessel with the extra balsamic and oil at the bottom of the plate. I would absolutely come back for good quality and reasonably priced italian food. The service was also fast and friendly.

Outstanding! Walked in for dinner last night and had a lovely experience. We sat outside, the ambiance was cute and relaxed. Our waiter, Alfredo, was attentive and charming. The food was INCREDIBLE. I licked my plate clean. My personal favorite was the Tortellini Panna e Prosciutto. I will definitely be returning!

So this is a quaint little Italian place my friend and I found for dinner. It felt like a traditional intimate space with inside and outside dining on the sidewalk. They were pretty crowded towards close in the small inside space so we sat outside. You just have to deal with the foot traffic on the sidewalks and be mindful of any homeless as one was stirring up a little commotion by our table. It took a while for the waitress to come to our table as she was sitting down talking to a table over from us. However, once she came she was very attentive and had friendly carefree spirit. We knew what we wanted and decided on the lasagna which she confirmed was the best dish. The bread provided was horrible but found out they ran out of their normal bread so they grabbed some from around the way. However the bread is complimentary as the waitress reminded us. Lol Finally, the lasagna was really good! It did not have the traditional red sauce but more of cream based which I loved. It takes a little longer to come out but was worth the wait. The portions were more than filling. I didn't finish it and was able to save for the next day which was still good! Parking is street parking where you fit in which can be challenging. But overall we enjoyed our dinner there.

Roberta is the sweetest! We came here to try the lobster ravioli, which was absolutely exquisite! It's not often you get to know the people at a restaurant you are at for a brief moment, but Roberta is the absolute kindest, warmest person. She really made our meal so beyond special. I highly recommend! The food is beyond delicious as well. You can't go wrong dining here

Great old school Italian Great location Fun interior! Wonderful service from Alfredo B - he is so attentive! Love the food - tasty meatballs!

This place was a toss up for me. Got seated early around 5:45pm and was brought out water. There were about 3 tables seated at that time. Waitress took our order and then we waited....and waited. Our appetizer was finally brought out around 6:30pm. My husband asked about our entrees and they said we were next in line. Our entrees were brought out close to 7pm. The place started filling up around 6:15pm but we watched about 3-4 parties that were seated after us eating their entrees by 6:30pm. They apologized a few times saying they were short staffed and that the kitchen was behind. But when our entrees were brought out, the pasta sauce had already looked dry on the noodles. Typically from being microwaved to heat up or sat there for sometime. My sister's dish was very rich and for over $25, she did expect something more. It got difficult to eat. I also noticed that another person ordered the same dish I had and her portion was twice of what I got so that was disappointing. Overall, we felt overlooked in general. We had to ask twice for our water cups to be filled which took another 30 minutes of waiting. The staff were nice and apologetic but we were put off by the waiting time. It was for my birthday dinner so it wasn't the best first time experience eating here but I did enjoy the atmosphere in itself. It's not a bad place to check out if you're not in a rush.

Listen... I walked into Parma thinking I'd be nibbling on breadsticks and praying for a miracle. But baby, they delivered! Even without cheese (yes, I'm that girl), I had a full plate and a happy heart. The flavors were poppin', the pasta was giving, and not once did I feel like I was missing out. 10/10 recommend for my fellow cheese-free foodies who still wanna eat good and feel fancy.

I did not manage to capture a photo of the linguine pesto e gamberi but it is for sure like top 3 pasta dishes I have ever had, evidently lol! I have had pasta all over the world & even homemake my own but this was delectable to say the least. Lastly, the staff are so sweet & welcoming! Molto bene

Enjoyed eating outside on the parklet, started with the caprese salad, loved the bread, then had the seafood linguini and one of the pasta specials (Pappardelle with peas and pancetta). Then we finished off with tiramisu. Barbara was our server and she was great, described all the dishes and checked up on us a couple of times. The prices are a bit stiff, but that seems to be the trend everywhere.

Excellent food. Server owner was great. Like dining in italy. Every dish was perfect. Great tiramisu

Stopped by this place after our massage down the street for a quick bite before heading to the airport. Came at around 6 and was seated immediately. The waitress was really nice and suggest some of their popular dishes to us. After we ordered, we realized that our flight was in an little over a hour so we asked the host is they can rush or pack it to go for us but they were able to cook our pasta ASAP and we literally finished the pasta in less than 5 mins LOL. I got the pesto linguine with shrimp and I thought it was really good.

Best food and service ever. An amazing place. We've been going for years. Warm, friendly vibes greet you as soon as you walk in, and the owners are hands-on by checking in on tables and making sure every guest feels like family.

My family an I always come to this restaurant every year for the summer. They always have the best service and most delicious food! Roberta Is always the sweetest to greet us and always recommending us the best! Feels like home ! Always love coming here! Always amazing!

Just absolutely amazing! Skip Little Italy and come here! Our mouth is watering still. Lasagna is the best we ever had!

1. Very authentic Italian food, with classic olive oil and vinegar for the bread. All the dishes we ordered were excellent. 2. The staff were very nice and showed genuine passion and care.

The ambience, service and food were all fabulous! All three of us loved our dishes. The bonus was our server Roberta who was an absolute delight! We'll be back! highly recommend!

Everything I tasted was amazing. I knew we were in the right spot as soon as the bread came out with balsamic and oil. Especially when I asked for more and she said of course!! Everything was delicious. The waitress was amazing. She is always so sweet. I especially loved that she took the time to answer many of our questions. Very cute locale!

My friend and I were craving Italian food and actually tried to go to Esca blu, which is temporarily closed. We found this place on the same street and it was truly a blessing in disguise. This was some of the most delicious Italian food I've tried here in San Diego (no exaggeration)!! Making a reservation is super quick via yelp. We were seated right away. The restaurant itself is small making the overall ambiance intimate and cozy. There is also a small outdoor seating area. The servers were all so sweet and warm. We came on a Wednesday and it's 30% off a bottle of wine so we definitely had to indulge! I definitely recommend this place and I will be back in the future. Food review: The complimentary bread was so soft and delicious. We ordered 2 baskets. Haha Primitiva wine: (5/5) This was recommended by our server and we were not disappointed. This was so delicious. We finished the entire bottle so fast. Burrata fiore di Parma: (5/5) The perfect blend of flavors. The cheese melted in your mouth and the prosciutto was delicious. I topped the cheese, prosciutto, and arugula on a slice of the complimentary bread. Yum! Lasagna: (5/5) They make their own lasagna in house. The sauce is amazing. This is some damn good food. It's interesting there were little carrots inside (I believe) which I've never had before but I didn't mind it. My plate was clean at the end of dinner. Tiramisu (5/5): (no pic because we devoured it) This is a well balanced dessert. It didn't have a strong coffee flavor like some others I've tried. It was light and super flavorful. We asked for some chocolate drizzle on top and it was delightful!

The food was amazing. The lasagna and the lobster ravioli was great. Would def be back.

Probably the best italian food we have had in all of san diego and incredible hospitality on top of that. I had my doubts just based on the fact that I am aware of so many italian joints in SD and this one wasn't on my radar prior, but what a pleasant surprise. It's not often we say we have to go back to a restaurant but this made that list. Our perfect meal: -the first three white glasses on the menu -bottle of barolo with entrees -Octopus appetizer -Polpettes -Gnochhi 4 formaggi -Lasagna (I trusted reviews on this one - worth it!) -Braised Beef -Tiramisu -Profiteroles -Espresso I'd be happy with that exact order again and we ate on it for the following 2 days. All at a humble price even with the barolo bottle. Don't hesitate to eat here.

If you want the authentic Italian cuisine this is the place to go! Skip little Italy completely and come here. Ive been to Italy twice and this restaurant is one of the only places in Southern California that can match or exceed the authentic Italian cuisine! I highly recommend the lasagna, the veal tortellini, and the red wine braised beef!! Thank you to Barbara, Roberta and family for years of quality food and service! I will keep coming back for years to come!

This was my first time visiting and I was pleasantly surprised. There are so many restaurants to choose from in Hillcrest it's hard to make a decision, but I'm glad we decided to stop here. We had dinner on a Saturday night around 5 pm and we were sat right away. The staff are so kind and you can tell they are dedicated to great service and hospitality. They went over the specials and helped with wine recommendations. Food: I ordered the pesto linguini with shrimp. The pesto was made with walnuts and it was very rich and delicious. I liked that they didn't skimp on the sauce as I love a lot of sauce of my pasta. The pasta itself was perfectly cooked and tasted great. My brother ordered the seafood special with risotto. It had great flavor and texture was good. Bread is served to the table with olive oil and vinegar. Overall the meal was very good and I hope to be back to try something else!

Wow oh wow oh WOOOOOW!! The food here is Sensational!!! And do you know what makes the food EVEN better...AMAZING service! Giani was our server and he was EXCEPTIONAL. We tried several Italian restaurants before landing on this one and let me tell you, THIS is the perfect date night spot. I can't wait to go back:)

This place is SO GOOD. My boyfriend surprised me with a reservation here for a date night and it did not disappoint. The wine was high quality, the food was delicious and the service was excellent. Our waiter Alfredo was friendly, attentive and knowledgeable and even though they were busy the food came out at a very reasonable time. They bring little baskets of bread and we got the burrata caprese to start (really good). The highlight of my night was my truffle pasta: SO GOOD. Cheesy ravioli in a creamy truffle sauce, it was amazing. We had a great experience and I highly recommend coming here!

Great service! I had the lasagna, its a huge portion, but its very heavy on cheese and becamel, tasty, but I could only do a few bites. I also ordered a side of meatballs that came in a blush sauce, also too creamy for me and they were pretty dense. I ordered a side of marinera to break it all up, that sauce was delicious.

This might be the BEST authentic Italian food you can find in San Diego!! I have been to Italy and enjoyed their cuisine as well as regularly consuming Italian pasta, pizza and other dishes. At Parma, I tried the Lasagne which in my opinion is perfectly balanced, love the Mascarpone and not too cheesy or heavy on any single ingredient. Linguini Vongole, one of my personal favorites was juicy, creamy but not too heavy. Our waitress Roberta is from Italy and was spot on with recommendations for food and wine and made sure we were always taken care of with water or anything else weaunneed. It's a small charming place and I can't wait to try more dishes!

They use very fresh seafood, you can tell by the texture and the taste. They simply know how to bring out the natural flavor of its food and everything tasted amazing. I had a seafood risotto with saffron, very delicious. Didn't make a reservation and was seated right away but it might be best if you do. Service can be slow because they are super busy but they do acknowledge and do come by as much as they can. Definitely will be coming back to try different stuff in their menu.

On a recent trip through San Diego, some friends and I decided to stop by Parma Cucina Italiana, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions of our entire journey. We ordered several dishes and shared them family-style, and every single plate was absolutely incredible. From the perfectly balanced tortellini to the melt-in-your-mouth gnocchi, the rich and flavorful linguine pesto, the hearty pork penne, the tender pappardelle, and the refreshingly delicious squid salad--it was a feast for the senses. But what truly set Parma Cucina Italiana apart was the outstanding service. I've dined at countless restaurants across the country, and this was, without a doubt, the best service I've ever experienced. The staff was incredibly attentive, warm, and genuinely made us feel like part of the family. They went above and beyond to ensure we had everything we needed, and the atmosphere of the restaurant was cozy, inviting, and filled with a sense of authentic Italian hospitality. This wasn't just a meal; it was an experience. Parma Cucina Italiana is easily in my top 3 restaurant experiences of all time. If you're in San Diego and want an unforgettable dining experience, do yourself a favor and go to Parma. You'll thank me later!

Don't bother looking at the menu. Just order this amazing lasagna! I don't know how they make it so delicious but it's the best lasagna I've ever had.

The manager (Roberta?) imbued the space with such a genuine salt of Liguria kind of a charm it made me just want to hang. Her bubbly personality together with the delicious, generously portioned gnocchi and the unlimited Tuscan bread with dipping olive oil mixed w/ balsamic -- it might just be one of my favorite Italian eateries in San Diego. I'll be back!

For a casual ambiance that feels like you're having the Italian experience, then Parma Cucina was okay if that's all you're after The house bread was soft and still held up nice with the sauce, I got the Linguine Vongole which had clams and shrimp with either a white wine or marinara sauce and our waiter said to get it with the red sauce so I did, and then when I got it he seemed to have forgot about that conversation so he gave me the white wine with garlic sauce and I asked but since he said they were closing soon the kitchen wasn't going to make another one, so that seemed odd but at that point I was just hungry and confused. The white wine and garlic sauce didn't have much flavor, but adding black pepper helped a little You're probably better served not branching out of little Italy

Food's amazing -- delayed in getting this review and now don't recall specific items. We had apps, salad, entrees. All were excellent! Service and vibe are great -- love dining al fresco. Barbara is awesome!! She and the crew took excellent care of us. Looking forward to returning! Abondanza!!

This was not authentic Italian cuisine as we know it. The lasagna had some funky cheese inside that was way too over powering in quantity and taste. The employees were friendly and the atmosphere was nice but the food ruined the experience.

great Italian food the combo pizza is great. Great abd fast service. Highly recommended

Amazing service and very friendly staff. The ambiance felt like a small step into Italy and made me miss it so much. The pasta was amazing and the flavor is just drop dead amazing. Thank you for making us feel welcome, and feeding us with the best food.

What a cute little gem in the middle of Hilcrest. The waitress was precious, wish I got her name, but she was so fun and helpful with the menu. Both our pastas were delicious. The braised beef on mine was so tender. The only thing that lacked in flavor was the tiramisu - it was a tad watery. Other than that, I love this place. It's pretty small inside so maybe not great for a huge party but very cute and intimate for date night.