5 /5 Jennifer Wittick: Finally tried this new Italian restaurant (opened in June) and so glad we did. Atmosphere was very mellow, with candlelit tables and beautiful, eye catching Italian Frescos on the walls. Best part too…many comfortable booths for dining; I’m a fan of booths! While the wine list may be limiting for some, I appreciated that the few choices would pair well with the menu. I opted for a Bosso Sangiovese blend which really paired well with my meal, and it was only $30! On to the food, the 8 hour Ragu is fantastic; thick with mouth watering meats. If I had an Italian Grandma, she’d have been jealous! Our specific order: started with Caprese; Mozzarella was creamy with a nice hint of salt. Tomatoes surprised us, as Florida fruits aren’t remarkable; these tomatoes were ripe and flavorful. The appetizer was delicious and way too big for two people. Warm bread was also served and it was crusty on the outside, soft inside. It was so good that I had to pace myself. I had pasta & meatballs for my main (in the Ragu!). My partner had eggplant parmigiana. - We were in the middle of eating when I realized I forgot to take photos! You can see how large the portions are, given we were a 1/4 way into our meal when I took the pictures. Partner is a man of few words; He described his meal as, “really good”! Translation: “it was excellent.” The meatballs, four very good sized, were fork soft, no knife needed. These were absolutely the best meatballs I had ever had. I really appreciated the perfectly cooked al dente pasta too. For dessert, we shared a tiramisu which was presented on dish glazed with a Kalua and Baileys sauce - need I say more?! Our waitress Shelby was a sweetheart. She kept a very good serving pace, permitting us to savor the dishes. She was also very knowledgeable about the menu. Chef Massé also visited our table after our entrees. We found him charming and really experienced in the restaurant industry. As a bonus, we learned he too is a transplant with a fondness for San Diego like we are! I highly recommend.
