If you want delicious Italian food, El Cajon has some of the best restaurants you can visit. The city has a variety of Italian restaurants, from family-owned trattorias to upscale bistros, and some of the best Italian cuisine in San Diego County, from modern to traditional Italian meals. Here are some of the best Italian eateries in El Cajon, California.
Marechiaro's Italian Restaurant
If you're craving authentic classic Italian pizza, Marechiaro's Italian Restaurant is the place to be. It was voted the best pizza in El Cajon for a reason. Their pizzas are handmade, with quality ingredients like the finest mozzarella cheese and homemade fresh, zesty tomato sauce. Popular dishes among locals include white pizza, chicken marsala with fresh mushrooms and marsala wine, shrimp scampi, and Caesar salad. They also have gluten-free and vegan options. The restaurant serves a variety of drinks, from soft drinks, teas, coffee, draft beer, premium beer, and sparkling wine.
An excellent service they provide in their menu is the customization of meals. You can add items to your pizzas, salads, sandwiches, and pasta. They have an outdoor seating arrangement if you want to come with friends or family. The restaurant doesn't offer any reservations or delivery. However, you can have takeout and place your order online or by phone.
- Location: 14120 Olde Highway 80 in El Cajon, at Lake Jennings Park Road.
- Hours:
- 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.
- 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Dolci Cafe Italiano
If you want organic foods and to promote ethical farming, Dolci Cafe Italiano is the restaurant for you. It's an authentic restaurant that offers customers free-range meats and organic foods from local farms. You'll also find wood-fired pizza, Italian-style omelets, specialty coffees, wines, and more. Delicious meals include the grande lasagna bolognese, Sicilian Arancini, penne Michelangelo, filet mignon, and cioppino.
If you're planning a brunch, it offers delicious options like smoked salmon with English muffins, short rib benedict with poached eggs, queso fresco, and more. Its menu also offers vegan and gluten-free options. You can make reservations and place your orders online. The restaurant also offers delivery and takeout.
- Location: 2650 Jamacha Road, Suite 121, in El Cajon.
- Hours:
- 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday.
- 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
- 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday brunch.
Mamma Rosa Italian Restaurant
Mamma Rosa is a family-owned business that offers customers authentic and traditional food that's made fresh daily. Mamma Rosa is the place to be if you want to taste original recipes. The delicious meals it offers include traditional pizzas like the Mamma Rosa special primavera and The Works. Other dishes include chicken cacciatore with tomato and mushroom sauce, shells Florentine with spinach, baked marinara, and Caprese di Pomodoro.
If you want to spend time with your date or spouse in an intimate setting, Mamma Rosa is the restaurant for you. There's no outdoor seating arrangement or deliveries; however, it offers takeout and reservations. You can also place your orders online.
- Location: 1773 E. Main St. in El Cajon.
- Hours:
- 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.
- 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday.
- Closed on Sunday and Monday.
Pernicano's Family Restaurant
Established in 1946, Pernicano's Family Restaurant was the first original pizza house to introduce San Diego to pizza. It offers different pizzas, from combination pizza to handlebar pizza, meatball pizza, and more. You'll have various dishes to choose from, from appetizers to seafood and sandwiches. Delicious meals include veal marsala with mozzarella cheese and mushrooms, sea bass marinara, and torpedo sandwiches.
If you want to enjoy the scenery, there's an outdoor seating arrangement. You can bring your family or friends, make reservations, place your orders online, have takeout, or have your food delivered.
- Location: 1588 E. Main St. in El Cajon.
- Hours:
- 3 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.
- 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
DiLeone's Italian Restaurant
If you want to enjoy an old-world dining experience, you should visit DiLeone's Italian Restaurant. The restaurant offers authentic Italian cuisine made with fresh ingredients and traditional recipes, including antipasto salad with ham and capicola, calamari fra Diavolo, chicken saltimbocca with provolone cheese and mushrooms, and penne al forno with ricotta cheese. It also offers a wide variety of white and red wines, Italian wines, and house wines.
The restaurant provides reservations, takeout, and delivery options and can accommodate groups if you want to come with family or friends.
- Location: 1480 Jamacha Road in El Cajon.
- Hours:
- 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
Antica Trattoria
If you're a wine lover and love Italian food, you can enjoy both at the Antica Trattoria. It's a beautiful Italian restaurant and wine bar in La Mesa, six minutes from El Cajon. It uses fresh ingredients to prepare its food. Popular dishes among locals include fettuccine with blue crab and lobster sauce, gnocchi, capellini with shrimp and wild mushrooms, and pappardelle. It also has vegan and gluten-free options. The restaurant also has an extensive wine collection, such as Bollini, Pinot Grigio, Trentino, Sangiovese Mezzadzo Toscana, Red Blend Serial Paso Robles, and more.
The restaurant offers reservations, delivery, and takeout. It also has an outdoor seating arrangement if you want to enjoy the view. Antica Trattoria also provides a private dining space if you want an intimate place to share with your date or to celebrate an anniversary with your spouse. An excellent service it offers is the option to purchase gift cards which you can use to gift a friend or a loved one on a special occasion or holiday.
- Location: 5654 Lake Murray Blvd. in La Mesa.
- Hours:
- 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.
- 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Whether you're looking for a restaurant to have a romantic dinner or want to explore Italian cuisine, you have this list to help you make a decision. Make sure you contact us to let us know which restaurant you visited and your favorite meal.
Image by Ginny is licensed with CC BY-SA 2.0