Diners' Choice: Italian restaurants in North San Diego

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Italian cuisine in North San Diego? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyses more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favourites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Rosina's Italian Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (1205)

$30 and under

Italian

Poway / Rancho Bernardo

About the restaurant

Rosina's Italian Restaurants is traditional, casual and family friendly. We prepare our pastas and sauces fresh daily. Rosina's is a great place for a business meeting in our larger additional dining room, special gathering date night, or family dinner.
Hand Made for 30 Years
We serve healthy, Mediterranean recipes the Italian way: homemade soups, fresh vegetables, classic Italian cuisine from the heart of Italy. Our family has prepared meals for San Diegans for almost 30 years.
Find out why your neighbors are calling both of Rosina's locations hidden gems, and make sure to try the nightly dinner specials!

Top review

EricVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Went there on a busy holiday evening -- placed was very packed. The biggest negative was that service was slow, but our waiter was so nice that it wasn't a big deal. And Rosina herself walks around, telling you about the dishes and specials -- very sweet. The food was so good! Had the meatball appetizers over polenta, and that was excellent. The salmon was great, but the Rosetta was just amazing (pasta with ham in cheese -- sort of a ham/pasta fondue). We had the Primo super Tuscan wine, which was also great. We had carolers there too. Spent 2.5 hours, but very pleasant atmosphere. BTW, they have heat lamps for outdoor dining.

Discover more

Popular dish

Fettuccine Mare e Monte

Firenze Trattoria

4.7

4.7 (1760)

$31 to $50

Italian

Encinitas

About the restaurant

OPEN FOR DINE IN~ We are accepting online and phone reservations. Please be patient with wait times **IF YOU HAVE A SEATING PREFERENCE FOR EITHER THE INSIDE DINING ROOM OR OUTSIDE HEATED PATIO, PLEASE SPECIFY WHEN MAKING YOUR RESERVATION. **SEATING PREFERENCES CANNOT BE GUARANTEED**

Sun-splashed by day and romantically lantern-lit at night, Firenze's flower-bedecked patio, with it's gentle fountain, is like a private courtyard in some romantic Italian villa. Come see what all the buzz is about we are certain that you will enjoy this one of a kind experience in this beautiful San Diego Italian restaurant.

Top review

HillaryVIP

Dined 3 days ago

We enjoyed a delicious dinner including a shared appetizer and 3 separate entrees. Service was excellent and we all look forward to our next visit.

Discover more

Popular dish

Lasagna Firenze

Ambrogio15 Del Mar

4.8

4.8 (212)

$30 and under

Italian

Carmel Valley

About the restaurant

Ambrogio15 Del Mar is a more upscale, but still casual version than our Pacific Beach Restaurant. We will have gourmet Pizzas developed by our partnership with Michelin-starred Milanese chef Silvio Salmoiraghi, his partner Choi Cheolhyeok, and gastronome Paolo Tucci. Additionally, we will also offer a five-course gourmet tasting menu for 15-20 diners at a time featuring Italian dishes and global meat and seafood entrees, with a vast menu of natural Italian wines and French Champagnes.

Top review

HernanVIP

Dined on Dec 7, 2024

Portions were noticeably smaller than on prior visits

Vigilucci's Trattoria Italiana

4.8

4.8 (1339)

$30 and under

Italian

Encinitas

About the restaurant

Vigilucci’s Trattoria Italiana features an exceptional menu of Italian favorites, certified prime steaks and the freshest seafood. Open for over two decades, 2019 marks the 25 year anniversary of Vigilucci’s Trattoria formerly located in Encinitas. Menu highlights include many of the company’s signature dishes, made from scratch pastas, salads, steaks, seafood, pizzas and calzones. Private dining space is available for large or small groups. Our casual yet sophisticated piano bar enhances the dining experience.

For off-site events and parties contact Cater@Vigiluccis.com
Catering to the most discerning palates for over 20 years,
Vigilucci’s catering team can custom create a unique and memorable menu for celebrating life’s special occasions.

Top review

DanielleVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Wonderful service and the food was amazing! The price is a bit high but it’s a coastal restaurant. It is a lively place with the bar and the piano was playing but the perfect level of volume even in the dining room.

Discover more

Popular dish

Fettuccine Alfredo

Vigilucci's Seafood & Steakhouse

4.8

4.8 (4593)

$31 to $50

Italian

Carlsbad

About the restaurant

Vigilucci's Seafood and Steakhouse offers authentic Northern Italian cuisine. The location sits across from the Pacific on the historic 101 and has one of the best views in San Diego.
Open seven days a week. Signature dishes include Caprese salad with bufallo mozzarella and Heirloom tomatoes, made from scratch stuffed pastas, Cioppino, prime steaks, fresh seafood including a warm or cold fresh seafood tower with oysters, clams, mussels, crab, lobster and jumbo prawn. (items may vary )
Private Wine Cellar room available for private parties.

For off-site events and parties contact Cater@Vigiluccis.com
Catering to the most discerning palates for over 25 years.
Vigilucci’s catering team can custom create a unique and memorable menu for celebrating life’s special occasions.

Top review

Kirk

Dined 4 days ago

My go to restaurant for a classy dinner. Service is top level, food amazing

Discover more

4.6

4.6 (930)

$31 to $50

Italian

Oceanside

About the restaurant

Blade 1936 is an upscale casual modern Italian restaurant which took over the historic Blade Tribune and News Building in Oceanside. Blade 1936 features authentic Italian cuisine and wood-fired pizza. Our menu features fresh pastas, local seafood, steaks and sinful desserts. We have Vegan and Gluten Free menus.

Featuring two private dining rooms, Blade 1936 is the perfect venue for your special occasions. Our private wine room seats up to 60 guests and the Chef table seats up to 10. Our outdoor patio is perfect for dining al fresco with your pet.

Order online and curbside pick up available.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 4 days ago

We went in on a Monday night to celebrate an anniversary. It was fairly busy we think because of the all night happy hour, but regardless it was a wonderful experience. Food came out quick and was very flavorful. It took a few minutes for our server to come over and acknowledge us and get our drink order, but he was very attentive from that moment on. We will recommend this spot to our friends for sure.

Vigilucci's Cucina Italiana

4.8

4.8 (2739)

$30 and under

Italian

Carlsbad

About the restaurant

Nestled in the heart of downtown Carlsbad, Vigilucci's Cucina Italiana offers fabulous Northern Italian cuisine and award-winning service. Enjoy lunch on the outdoor patio or start the evening off at their full-service bar before dinner. A great place for a romantic dinner, a family gathering, a company party or special event. Each of Vigilucci's three locations offer a notable wine menu, made from scratch pastas and sauces, fresh seafood specials, salads, prime steaks, chicken and veal dishes.
For off-site events and parties contact Cater. Vigiluccis.com
Catering to the most discerning palates for over 25 years,
Vigilucci’s catering team can custom create a unique and memorable menu for celebrating life’s special occasions.

Top review

timothyVIP

Dined 2 days ago

food here has always been good. Service was really good. And We so enjoy the outside deck

Discover more

Popular dish

Spaghetti alla Vongole

Popular dish

Lasagna

Popular dish

Fettuccine al Salmone

Buona Forchetta Encinitas

4.7

4.7 (587)

$30 and under

Italian

Encinitas

About the restaurant

Buona Forchetta Encinitas, our third location, blends award winning Neapolitan-style pizzas and Northern Italian upscale entrees in a family-friendly, approachable space. Located in Encinitas, this location boasts a indoor seating as well as an outside patio and a small room for private events. Inside, a gilded oven churns out classic creations, while the main kitchen serves up chef-driven pastas and entree dishes. Owner Matteo Cattaneo brought the Italian warehouse-style eatery to life.

Top review

KathleenVIP

Dined 6 days ago

Wonderful as always…….but, the restaurant needs new chairs and more comfortable seating period.

Discover more

Vittorio's Italian Restaurant- San Diego

4.9

4.9 (645)

$30 and under

Italian

Carmel Valley

About the restaurant

Italian trattoria and wine bar.
Favorite neighborhood Italian restaurant

Top review

SamVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Always the best experience. Vittorio’s is part of our annual holiday traditions but that doesn’t mean we don’t come year round. Always a welcoming and prompt service from everyone there that makes you feel like family. Some of the most authentic and homey Italian food you can find in town!

Discover more

Experience

Tuesday Date Night

Amalfi Cucina Italiana - San Marcos

4.6

4.6 (1115)

$30 and under

Italian

San Marcos

About the restaurant

A DESTINATION FOR A MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE
Enjoy a beautiful view of Lake San Marcos as you take in the intoxicating smell of artisan baked pizzas, fresh pastas, and a bottle of your favorite wine. You’ll think you’ve arrived at a far off coastal Italian restaurant.

Eating at Amalfi Cucina Italiana is not just eating, it’s life, art and history served on a dish. Ingredients are the tools used to create the artistry of our dishes which is why we have a commitment to using nothing but the best quality and freshest ingredients. Dishes will feature fresh-caught seafood, locally grown herbs, vegetables & nothing but the freshest homemade Italian staples, such as mozzarella and pasta.

Our chefs are native to Italy, familiar with the uncompromised flavors of their country, and how important food is as part of everyday life. Bringing heritage, professional culinary experience and passion so that any dish you order, provides a delicious authentic Italian experie

Top review

Claudia

Dined 4 days ago

Absolutely loved our experience here at Amalfi! Our waiter was the absolute BEST! This was our 2nd time here but our waiter made this time so much better than the first time! Thank you so much!

Discover more

Explore Diners' Choice best of North San Diego

Explore more Diners' Choice lists