Cafe Milano Reviews

If you are in San Diego you have to go there. Outstanding real italian restaurant (we are Italians), extremely nice environment. Chef-owner Pasquale and his wife are so friendly and gentle. Service is fast and accurate. Food is simply perfect and it's really Italian. Also kids menu offers several alternatives. Try the home-made desserts: tiramisù and chocolate cake are fantastic. Price is absolutely in line with other restaurants, but the quality of food here is by far better. In one word: excellent

We visited Cafe Milano twice already. The first one was because of a recommendation of a really foodie friend. The second was recently as me and my husband both agree that this is, so far, the best Italian place we know in San Diego (not the fast food type). We love their fresh, hot bread dipped in the bread sauce (olive oil and vinaigrette, I believe) that is complimentary. I love their pastas, its cooked and seasoned well. We always have wine when we eat here and of course, there is always a place for ice cream, try the bomba. We just love the place too. It's small, hole-in-the-wall but its great! The owners are very friendly as well as the servers. It is also priced accordingly. Will always be coming back here :)

We found this cafe by accident but wewill find it again soon. There was good food, good service, and a friendly atmosphere. This is a good place for homemade pasta dishes. Try it.

It sometimes pays to just have a wander & follow the fairy lights! We did just that & found this lovely Italian restaurant, obviously family run & well established because everyone was really friendly & knew what they were doing. We were given beautiful homemade spaghetti & glorious wine & you could tell by the tastes, everything was lovingly made.

I really enjoyed my meal at this restaurant. The osso buco I ordered, which was one of their specials, was delicious and everyone else in my party enjoyed their entrees as well. We had a crab cake appetizer that was very good. They came with a honey mustard topping that I really liked. All the pasta is made fresh and all the ingredients are high quality and fresh. The service was very friendly and the owner was around and very friendly as well. He seems to take a lot of pride in his restaurant and wants to make sure everyone is having a good experience. I think I would visit this restaurant frequently if I lived in the San Diego area.

Thank you Pasquale and team for a great take away dinner tonight. Best we’ve had all week. Next time we’ll have to get your famous tiramisu.

We enjoyed our visit to Cafe Milano. The staff were very attentive, the food generous and of good quality. Wine list is approachable, very fairly priced. Only complaint is that the food could use a little less salt, otherwise very good all around.

Visited Cafe Milano and was welcomed by staff. The food was very flavorful with pleasing presentation. It was delightful to watch as families arrived and were greeted as regular patrons, always an excellent sign for a restaurant.

Our family group was in La Jolla for the week and went for dinner the first night to Cafe Milano on Pearl St. It was perfect right from the walk in the door. Friendly greeting and a feeling of special attention. We were a group of 5 adults and a 4 year old child. Our waiter made sure the little boy got his own menu and bread right away and a bottle of wine to his parents. The menu is filled with wonderful Italian dishes, plus many soups and salads. Veal, fish, chicken pasta dishes, plus cioppino and bolognese meals and more. I had the spaghetti with red sauce and meatballs .... it was the best I think I have ever eaten. The price are very fair with many meals at $15 and $18 up to a higher end of $26. Even the owner Chef Pasquale came to our table and spent time talking with us. Just an excellent first rate place!

A local favorite and soo delicious! Greeted with welcomes from several friendly attentive staff as we arrived. Bread is delicious and serviced with balsamic and oil. Staff were friendly and attentive and catered to special requests. The food is the best italian I've had in La Jolla! Homemade gnocchi is amazing, and they made it with the fra diovolo sauce on request. Meatballs the size of baseballs. Desserts were fantastic, especially the tiramisu and the sorbetti, which came in fresh orange and lemon shells. We will be back!

We enjoyed our dinner at Milano's - well prepared, nicely presented, and most importantly, delicious. I had chicken-stuffed cannolis with a delicious red sauce. My wife had a dish that featured chicken, artichokes, mushrooms, and sun-dried tomatoes - also excellent. For dessert we split the choco bocciono, which is an unbelievably fabulous and sinfully chocolatey cake. We ate outside on the small streetside veranda. Service was very good and the price was very reasonable.

Talk about a family run Restaurant that makes you believe you are in a small town establishment in southern Italy! Fresh pasta made daily; simple creative dishes a Mom would serve; an owner from Calabria who is always there with an eye on everything happening in the place; a staff of family members and friends who truly care about the customer. While the staff's communication to customers is mostly English, inter staff communication is exclusively Italian. Top this off with a talented young man playing his own 1916 baby grand piano in the background. We thought out wine list, daily specials, lunch and dinner every day. We received a complimentary small glass of port and a taste for two of home made Tiramisu to finish the night. My wife and I have spent months in Italy and this rivals many of our best meals there.

I stopped here for an early dinner,so it was not busy. It is a family run place where you hear the family speaking Italian. The restaurant is a bit dark, but the food and service are both very good. I had the lobster ravioli, very good and served nice and hot. I would say it is a good choice if you want a good meal, not too expensive, not elegant. But good food and good service.

We chose this restaurant for it's review, well we're we shocked. Not only was the food bland, the worst seasonings in all four entrees. I am second generation, my parents being from the old country so as you can imagine between my Italian grandmother's and both parents cooking...I know real italian food! The best part of dinner was the dipping sauce,for the bread. Then to top it off when we paid the big my husband looked at the check and every price was different from the menu prices. The explanation was that management had not changed the menu yet. Our friends are from out of the country and when she,went to pay the bill she mentioned she had not c alley the CC company to let them know she was out of the country, but at the sake of not using cash she tried the card. It was not 1 minute when the waiter very loudly stated she was declined in a small room with two other tables of people whom obviously heard. Totally inappropriate! Never in my life have I been so appalled by this type of establishment......

We went to this great restaurant based on the recommendation of a local. We had the cheese ravioli and the pollo parmigia. Both were delicious. The wine list was extensive and the bottle of Chianti that we selected was outstanding. During our meal the owner of the place came around to see how we were enjoying our meal. Nice touch! He even serenaded the place during the evening. Very good! We split a spumoni dessert that was excellent. We'll definitely go back the next time we are in the area.

We were looking for a decent priced Italian place in La Jolla. This fit the bill. Double check your ticket though, we were overcharged on a couple of items.

Outside, a little red Fiat with teddy bears. Inside, a variety of wonderful authentic Italian dishes; reasonable and delicious. Our waiter, Alfredo and other servers were very attentive and personable. The poached salmon and Pollo Sorrento were perfectly prepared. A large and enticing dessert menu. But, the best treat, Pasquale, Chef and owner, greeting all and frequently surprises with complimentary desserts and Port. Very hospitable and charming family atmosphere. We'll be back!

This was the best Italian food I've ever had for a very decent price. The owner was as nice and was excited to see you enjoy his creations. Highly recommend.

We stopped here to eat on our first night in La Jolla. It's unassuming from the storefront however when you walk through the doors you are greeted like you are family and treated that way for the duration of your visit. The food was delicious and the portions were large. The service was great, my daughter ordered her meal and thought it was an alfredo sauce but she read the menu wrong. Even though it was her fault the staff was quick to replace her meal with the sauce that she wanted. And at no extra charge. Everyone was very accommodating and the owner met with us at the end of our meal to talk with us a bit. They even brought us a complimentary tiramisu that rivaled the tiramisu we ate in Italy.

My daughter and I went for dinner while visiting La Jolla. The street is busy , but the outdoor tables are nonetheless protected from road noise and people by a privacy fence. The staff are extremely friendly - owners (family) I suspect, and give it an authentic Italian feel (having traveled to Italy several times). The Caesar salad was fine- nothing special but good. The vodka penne was outstanding- among the best pasta I’ve ever had, home or abroad. The fettuccini Alfredo was excellent. Prices were very reasonable, and staff super friendly.

Found Milano for an early dinner yesterday and all was really good,the food and the service, and at a reasonable price.Would recommend as a genuine Italian resturant.

Thought it would be a typical, old-style Italian place. Cant speak to the pasta...didnt have any, but the traditional entrees we ordered were disappointing...to say the least. Neither of our dishes were remotely like those Imhave eaten countless times. Perhaps Milano is ok for simple pasta dishes, but not for anything else. The $ are quite modest....as they should be. I would not return.

The food was excellent. It was the best I’ve ever had. The service was excellent. A family business. The owner even walked us out and showed us his car. We had veal parmigiana, capellini bosco and mare and salmone cartoccio. They were all delicious.

If you like fresh italian food, do not doubt about trying this place. All pasta is fresh made and is delicious. Service is amazing, always overseen by its italian owner. Deserts are great too, specially the tiramisu, the ricotta cheese cake and the lemon gelatto. 100% recomendable.

Back for more!! Trying something new and sharing our favorite Italian place in LJ. with our parents. We keep coming back again and again. Thanks Alberto!

We had a great dinner here last night. We had Capellini Malefemina (Angel hair with seafood) and Chicken Scapariello(with mushrooms, peppers and sausage ). Our cousins had Shrimp Scampi and Veal Parmagian. All dishes were pronounced excellent. The tiramisu was the best I've had. Service was very good.

We ate here twice during our recent vacation, and everything tastes wonderful. My favorite appetizer was the eggplant and ricotta. This is a small restaurant, but it felt cozy, not cramped.

We went here for dinner on our last night in La Jolla and left feeling very disappointed. The service was very rushed and the food wasn't great. I had the risotto Milano and was surprised to see it turn up in 5 minutes only then to realise that the risotto rice was plain white rice instead of the 'traditional' arborio rice typically found in risottos. My youngest daughter's Lasagne barely had any meat inside of it and was swimming in a bowl of tomato sauce. My wife's meal was reasonably good however, as was my other daughter's meal. My wife ordered a glass of red wine and I wasn't convinced it was what we ordered as it was at our table in a flash and we weren't shown the bottle so it was probably just a glass of cheap house plonk! After the mains we were shown a dessert menu with pictures which is always off putting as they're usually mass produced frozen desserts. My daughter opted to order a bowl of vanilla 'gelato' instead which was basically tasteless cheap vanilla ice cream from the local supermarket. Furthermore, when we got the bill we found out that it cost $8.50! All in all the 4 mains, glass of cheap wine and a bowl of cheap ice cream cost us $100 and was not worth the money. If you're thinking of visiting to enjoy a traditional Italian meal then beware.

We lived in LJ for four years and this was our favorite restaurant for Italian food. Service was great and the staff very friendly. I am a vegan and the Pompadoro w/ veggies was delicious. The chef was very accomadating by leaving out the cream. The wait staff knew our orders when we walked in, checked in with us momentarily to see if there were any changes. They have "water view" via a wonderful fish tank, and the restaurant is very clean. When we go back for visits we will definately go to Cafe Milano.

Outstanding family owned restaurant with terrific food! Excellent waiter. Live piano music. Great value prices. We will come back.

My wife and I had the dinner for two early bird special here. Both of our dishes were interesting and flavorful. It was nice to have desert included. We thought the food was very good and the price reasonable. We hope to return on our next visit.

This is a great little joint: good food, tons of personality and the owner is nice! I love finding a parking spot!

We had dinner here 10-26-2013 with a bio-tech venture capitalist friend and his girl friend and had a fun night . While John the excellent waiter was there we had Pasquale the owner who is always fun to be around. Splitting the stuffed eggplant and the carpaccio arugula appetizers were a great idea as the portions of all courses here are nicely sized and we all ended up taking a doggie bag home. I had the ricotta stuffed veal which was excellent. The others had various meatball dishes and report that the meatballs (which are one of their specialties) continue good; btw, their red sauce is the type we like, mellow. We had their reserva Chianti and Pasquale recommended a very similar Syrah as our second bottle; both were just what we were looking for. We finished up with two desserts: Pistachio ice cream sundae and their Dulce Leche (excellent, creamy that he imports from Milano.) It was a Saturday night and so the very quiet piano player was there. Excellent experience.

What a lovely surprise! We enjoyed everything : the service, the food, the wine, the little terrace with small tables. A must! Correct prices.

Excellent made from scratch pasta and deserts. We had seafood pasta and both dishes were superb.reasonably priced wines and excellent deserts.

The reviews I read must be talking about another restaurant. Lower prices and large portions do not make up for poor taste. The red sauce was little more than catsup. The pasta was stuck together in lumps. Although entrees were inexpensive, a six piece order of silver dollar size garlic bread was $6. That's a dollar a slice. There are many better choices for inexpensive dining.

Cafe Milano is the best food I have had in a long time. The staff was genuinely friendly and truly cared about the service they provided. There was a man playing piano that provided a romantic atmosphere. The pasta was home made and indescribable. We got an early bird special that included dessert. We got tiramisu that was homemade as well and a great way to end the meal. It's a place that couples, families, and friends should try!

We returned to Cafe Milano on August 28, 2015 and had great food, service and atmosphere. We came here 6 times in 2013 but then sold our house near here and bought a house in a a farther away part of the Village. A number of places are 2 to 3 blocks from our new house so we have neglected the Cafe Milano! So after 21 months we again had a great experience here. It is impossible to get insufficient service here as all the people up front including the owner Pasquale Cianni (born in Italy) and his wife constantly roam the place looking to see what needs to be done. The brown special sauce for the bread is still here; the wine list appears to be still good value including an excellent carafe (or half carafe) of house burgundy. I went back to one of my favorite dishes here, Fettuccine Milano, and was rewarded again with a great white sauce with shrimp, scallops and lots of plump mushrooms. Rhonda had Lasagna Bolognese, which continues to be excellent. Cannoli for desert was perfect.

Complete accident that we found this place and boy are we happy that we did! My three kids and I, after a long day at Belmont Park, were greeted warmly at the door and seated by a window. Our server was gracious and welcoming--felt like dining in a family member's home. Pasta clearly tasted homemade, and the minestrone was hearty. We were treated to a slice of delicious tiramisu at the end of our meal. We will DEFINITELY return on our next visit to La Jolla!

Cafe Milano is an old favorite in La Jolla. Family owned and things homemade. Good food in a pleasant atmosphere.

We had lunch here and totally enjoyed ourselves. Pasquale was a great host. The food was great. Service homey, filled with personality and great. We found that we are all from New Jersey and caught up on our home state. It's really a great place to get a wonderful meal and also have a great conversation with a wonderful host. We look forward to visiting again.

Quaint and casual. Food was very good. Order the garlic bread. Pasquale the owner greeted our party of four and made us feel right at home. Reasonable price. Would definitely return.

We stumbled upon this place on our stay in LaJolla and we were pleasantly surprised. The food was absolutely delicious and the waiter was friendly and attentive. The owner was originally from NY as are we, so he spent some time chatting with us. There was a piano/ guitar player which made the evening even more special. I had the sea bass with a garlic/lemon and caper sauce which was so good. The buffalo mozzarella appetizer is scrumptious a ns dessert was out of this world. I had an espresso ice cream with an espresso syrup center. My husband had the ricotta cheesecake which he said was the best he ever ate! We were also treated to their own tiramisu. Outrageously delicious. This place was so good we ate there the next night. It was a Friday and a lot more diners. We ate outside as it was a beautiful night. Food was just as good, but we didn’t overdo it this time. I had a shrimp dish with the same lemon/caper sauce. Desert was the chocolate covered profiteroles. Again so rich and delicious.

We try to make a point of eating at this restaurant whenever we are celebrating in La Jolla. If you like an old-fashioned, family owned, home-cooked restaurant, this is the place. The place reeks of authentic Italian food. The owner id an Italian gentleman who make sure his customers (mostly repeaters) are well taken care of. The pasta is outstanding and the house wine is great. I'll be back on our next visit. That's for sure.

When we arrived there was no outdoor seating but these guys ran inside got another table an 2 chairs to set us up out on the sidewalk. Loved this! The bread was pretty good and baked on the premise I think. What concerned me was our server kept showing up at our table with his mask below his nose and sometime below his mouth. We kept our masks on until the food arrived and he left our tableside. Our meals were piping hot and the ambiance was lovely. The quality of the ingredients was good but the sauces on both of our pasta dishes was lacking flavor depth. I ordered the Pollo Contandio - Chicken breast sautéed with garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts and mushrooms in a Marsala sauce. My husband ordered Capellini Bosco & Mare - Capellini with shrimp, arugula, wild mushrooms, fresh tomato, garlic & white wine. They were okay, not great and swimming in the sauces which wouldn't have been so bad if the sauces had more flavor. The marsala sauce was not discernable from a light tomato sauce. The wild mushrooms is misleading as it was just the Crimini or button mushrooms. Wild implies mushrooms like Morels, Hen of the Woods, Black Trumpets, or Chanterelles. Not the everyday mushrooms. So that was already disappointing. The artichokes were out of a can and had they been marinated artichokes, there would have been some flavor. A plate of pasta should never be swimming in sauce, ever. We were disappointed in our dining experience and La Jolla has another Italian restaurant Piazza 1909 were the food is amazing.

My wife and I stopped here for lunch while driving though La Jolla. This is a small locally owned and operated Italian restaurant. The owner was very friendly and came over and talked to us for quite awhile. They immediately brought to our table some bread with a brown dipping sauce. The dipping sauce was a balsamic dressing of some kind that we did not think was all that good. My wife ordered their Veal Marsala, which she said, was good but slightly overcooked. I had their Paella Special, which was good, but nothing exceptional. It was somewhat boring and needed more seasoning. Their Tiramisu was perfect.

A top-notch, unpretentious family restaurant. Service was prompt and friendly. The seafood was top quality and the vegetables/salads very fresh. We would definitely go there again when we're in the area.

Very gracious host Pasquale. Good Italian food at a fair price. Teramisu was excellent. Very pleasant piano music on a Sunday afternoon. Overall a satisfactory dining experience if you want Italian fare in La Jolla. Will definitely return.

Milano's offers fine, basic Italian cuisine in a small, intimate setting, The osso bucco was superb, and all dishes we had, excellent. Staff is very friendly and helpful in ordering. Family run eatery that puts the customer first. Overall, a delightful experience.

Four of us had dinner here last night and while the food was good, the service was very rushed. Before we had a chance to finish our salads, out came the entrees. Our server had to push the salad plates aside to get our dinner plates down - very poor timing. One of us had about half the salad eaten, but the waiter never bothered to ask if she was done. The waiter was friendly, but always in a hurry for a dining room with very few occupied tables.

Amazing! We were actually walking to a different restaurant and spotted Cafe Milano. Why not? So we went in. The service was great and the food cooked in a home style that says fresh and healthy. I had the special hand made meatball dish. I expected a giant meatball on pasta but instead got a thick vegetable rich sauce with a layer of pasta at the bottom. The sautéed mushrooms and fresh tomatoes were joined with squash and eggplant. Wonderful. My wife had the shrimp dish with a similar home style sauce. It was our anniversary and a great place to celebrate - we will be back.

Most visitors to La Jolla stay on Prospect where the hustle and bustle is. However, if you want to go a few blocks and experience one of the best kept secrets of La Jolla, eat at Café Milano. Small, romantic, quaint with a little Fiat parked outside. The food is fantastic, the service is great, and the price is right. Home Italian cooking the way your mama wasn't able to.

Cafe Milano keeps it real- real tasty, real fresh, really reasonable, really friendly service. Simple dishes like the Lasagna are delicate yet satisfying without sinking you into the depths of a carb Coma. Desserts made here include a semi sweet ricotta Cheesecake, my fave the fab Tiramisu or Cannoli... Friendly little Lunch or Dinner spot with nicely priced wines by the glass or bottle. Pasta dishes made with love from the excellent simple bright tomato basil sauce with fruity olive oil or tomato enhanced with a touch of cream. Milano has a nice variety of additional Dinner specials (lobster and seafood pasta, Ossobucco rotate amongst others). Kids Menu includes an astonishingly generous steak plus usual fare. It's fresh and either date night or kid friendly-reasonable enough for a last minute weeknight too. Great neighborhood spot!!

We decided to try Cafe Milano because it looked so cute from the outside and the parking was easy on Peal Street. We were greeted enthusiastically by the owner as he sat us at a nice table. We felt truly at home and ordered the special cannelloni that he recommended. Fantastic. He also recommended a very tasty wine, which we enjoyed. The bread is accompanied by a delicious Balsamic Dip...yum! Dessert was a Gelato Bomb that was fantastic. Great service, great food, and easy parking. Perfect combination in La Jolla. Highly recommend this place for a nice evening.

We went there after a long and exhausting day and chose a seat outside. The sidewalk dining doesn't really offer much in terms of a view or anything. But the service and food makes up for where the outdoor ambiance lacks. I'm allergic to tomatoes and that's tough, especially when you want to eat Italian food. But they had a dish that I will definitely go back for again…shrimp fettuccine with a creamy pesto sauce. We enjoyed a nice bottle of wine with our meal and were satisfied. We were convinced to try the tiramisu for dessert, and while I'm not a big fan of tiramisu, this one was definitely calorie worthy.

We were looking for a spot near Pacific Beach for a dinner with friends and family, and we saw the reviews online so we thought we'd try it out. It is a small place that you cant miss thanks to the really little red Fiat in from with teddy bears at the wheel. The food was excellent, with people ordering veal parm, veal saltimbocca, and chicken marsala to name of the few items. We were also serenaded by a gentleman on the guitar and piano, playing classic Italian songs and different versions of American longe classics. Overall everyone was very pleased, and full, AND it didn't break the bank like some restaurants would in the area. Go and have fun, you will not regret it!! PS They have a good wine selection.

Great food at a very reasonable price. Big portions. Owner greeted us before and after dinner. Great value, even better food.

Don't listen to the critics. Snobbery abounds! This place is charming and a home town favorite. Everyone is friendly. The piano music soothing. The food is homemade and delicious. We return again and again.

We decided we wanted to eat Italian. We started reading reviews. Some of the higher rated were full so we chose to eat at Café Milano. Great choice! The food and service were excellent. The owner was their working hands on and is from Italy. The food was very very good. We went for dinner.

I can't say enough about the food and service here. It's a small and plain storefront, but once inside you can feel the Italian authenticity. They make their own noodles and their tomato sauce is so fresh and delicious. We ordered chicken fettuccine alfredo and lasagna. Both were amazing! The owner/chef kept coming to our table to chat with us and even gave us complimentary turnovers that he had just made to try. We had live piano music. I highly recommend this restaurant and will definitely come back should I ever be blessed enough to travel this way again.

We absolutely love going to Cafe Milano. We are greeted warmly not only because we go so often but because Pasquale and family make you feel so welcome like you are indeed part of the family. We always get the same dishes and they are without a doubt exactly the same, every time. They remember what wine you want, how you like your dish served, and whether you like this dessert or that. Thumbs up all around for service, food and atmosphere!

We went to our neighborhood Italian place for Valentine’s day February 14, 2013 and found it literally packed and all the family members there working hard including Pasquale moving tables around to accommodate the crowd. Our server was Sabrina, who had an interesting Italian accent, and did a decent job even though it was very hectic that night. I had a calamari soup and it was good. We each had a veal dish and split a full carafe of their excellent, good value house burgundy. Veal dishes were acceptable. We split a Ricotta cheesecake and found it wanting as we have been spoiled and used to a Ricotta cheesecake that a place in San Francisco called Pasta Pomodoro had (though I think there is one in the area near Newport Beach) . That place had the best Ricotta cheesecake I have ever tasted. Maybe Pasquale can find out their supplier and bring in a few dozen cakes?

Great service, welcoming staff and service from when you entered to when you left - family atmosphere, everyone gets bottled water - spaghetti Bolognese was delicious, osso bucco a must have (very generous portions) and great bread

This was the best meal we have had in North America and some of the best Italian food anywhere. It is a family owned Italian restaurant where the owner ensures he is both in charge of the kitchen and front of house where he clearly is happiest when his dinners are enjoying the superb food. Our waiter was also a great character who made everything run smoothly. Every dish was superb from starters through to deserts. The wine list has something for everybody with nothing stupidly priced. The biggest shock was the bill, it was incredible value for money. I could eat here every night and never get bored. Highly recommended.

My wife and I decided we wanted Italian as a change from all the fish we had been eating on vacation - and Cafe Milano was a 5-minute walk from the bed and breakfast. This was the right choice! Seriously, this was the best dining experience we had on our vacation. We have been to Italy twice in the past 5 years. It was in Bologna that I felt in love with sauce Bolognese - and I've been looking for that taste - that authentic sauce - ever since. I've found it twice. Once in a small restaurant in Waterbury, CT owned by a gentleman from Calabria, Italy ... and here, at Cafe Milano, owned by Pasquale Cianni - who came to the US from Calabria in the late 1960's. (The 1969 Fiat parked in front is his.) Pasquale makes his own pasta, using flour from Italy, and he makes his own sauce. AND, it's magic. It's as if someone picked up a restaurant from Italy and plopped it down in La Jolla. The place doesn't look like much from the outside, but don't let that fool you. The food is Italy. You can't get better Italian food. This isn't Americanized.

Tried this place because we were tired of the restaurants near where we were staying--so good we went back twice! Waitress recognized us both times, and it has a dog friendly patio, so our dogs were able to come along. Food is amazing, especially the capellini frusta di mare, and the puttanesca. House wine was nice--everything we had was as good as we've had in Italy. Definitely a repeat visit when we are in the area!

Roaming around La Jolla mid afternoon w/ my wife, we saw this restaurant and decided to check out the menu... we were greeted by the owner/chef and had a great conversation w/ him. We told him we would be by for dinner... and we are so glad we kept our word.... the calamari was unbelievably tender and tasty, the eggplant amazing and the dessert menu was outrageous!!! From gelatos, to cannolis and killer tiramisui.... The owner, Pasquale is straight out of Calabrese Italy, via New Jersey... and this is the real deal fresh Italian.... miss out and clearly your loss....

Gnocchi was the star. I had the Canneloni special - it was good, but not as good as the Gnocchi. The meatballs were excellent. We were kind of full, so opted to skip dessert, but the owner came over with complimentary Tira Misu and Ricotta Cake. Oh My... the ricotta cake is to die for. The man playing piano was so good. Actually made the evening. When we walked in and he was playing - we thought it was a little cheesy. But as soon as we sat & relaxed, we realized that this place is a gem.

I don’t normally write bad reviews and I’m not one of those people with unreasonable expectations, but this restaurant was not good. Food was poor, and service even worse. And I’m British, so I’m used to poor service. Kids pizza was on what looked like a packet base, steak was more than well down after asking for rare. Seafood pasta was passable but nothing to write home about. The staff seemed over run and needed more hands and legs, but a smile and a warm welcome costs nothing. We got neither of these. After speaking to locals afterwards, the general sentiment was “ah, everyone eats there once”. Do yourself a favour and go to Piazza 1909 instead.

We really enjoyed our dinners. All the employees were friendly and attentive. Bonus of live music during our dinner.

We had expected authentic Italian cuisine with homemade pasta, unique sauces, etc. What we got instead was grocery store quality cooking--Chef Boyardee must have been smiling. The salad was pedestrain at best, and the pasta and main courses were sad indeed. This is a restaurant to skip. La Jolla has many many that are a lot better. Sammy's across the street is good, and Il Pescador down the street is excellent.

On vacation in La Jolla last week my wife & I originally set out to eat at a different restaurant where we’ve eaten before but noticed Cafe Milano across the street and decided to give it a try & boy are we glad we did. We were greeted & seated by the owner Pasquale Cianni an absolutely lovely man. He also waited on us as well. We started with the Caprese salad which was so delicious. My wife had the Rigatoni with eggplant which was cooked perfectly “al dente” and I had the Cannelloni which was a special for the night. Both in a delicious creamy tomato sauce. I told my wife it was as good as I had on our trip to Italy last year. Bottom line, the food was fantastic but what made our dining experience so special was Pasquale. As we talked with him through dinner and learned of his amazing life’s journey we learned that he was born in the same region of Italy (Calabria) as my wife’s parents. By the end of dinner, he was sharing pictures from his lovely daughter’s wedding with us. We were lovin’ it. BTW, dinner was topped off with the best piece of Tiramisu we’ve ever had. Also Pasquale had another gentleman on his wait staff that night who was a real hoot. Unfortunately I don’t remember his name. Do yourself a favor next time you’re in La Jolla and stop in Cafe Milano & have dinner with Pasquale. You’ll love it.

Really authentic Italian food! Small quaint cafe with romantic atmosphere. The tables are set with white table cloths and bottled water. Lasagna was excellent. The kids pizza and spaghetti and meatballs were good as well. Kids meal comes with ice cream. They brought us a complimentary tiramisu which was very creamy and authentic. Felt like I was in Italy. Staff was friendly and we had good service.

We bump into this little restaurant while looking for a place to eat in the area. There was no one there when we arrived. We were greeted by a gentleman who looks like the owner of the place. He seated my family of four and was very prompt and attentive. The food was very Authentic that took me back from when I visited Italy. Overall, great ambiance and good food. We will definitely come back when we're in La Jolla.

We ate in Little Italy in NYC over spring break, and until we went to Cafe Milano, that was the BEST italian food we'd ever had. But, Cafe Milano even blew the NYC restaurant out of the water!! EVERYTHING was melt in your mouth, homemade, from scratch, amazing!! EVERYTHING! Go!! Trust me, you WANT to experience Cafe Milano! My husband had the veal, the kids had the spaghetti and meatballs, I ate the lasagna, and we shared dessert, which was also outstanding!! The piano player made the evening all the more special. Just go!!

It was our last night in LaJolla and we had been using Yelp to find local restaurants. We were not impressed with any of the restaurants suggested by Yelp. We were walking around LaJolla deciding where to eat when we stumbled upon Cafe Milano. The owner came out and greeted us! His authentic Italian accent, warmth and charm drew us in. The food was excellent as was the service!

Delicious cioppino with lobster! And pasta. And spumoni for dessert. The server was very attentive, even cracked the lobster for me as I have lost the knack. Sat outside and watched the world go by, except for the English being spoken could almost have imagined myself back in Milan.

They advertise a special in the la jolla visitor guide before 6:30 pm but be careful. They also have their specials as well. The server does not explain the 6:30 pm specials just their specials for the night without prices.. ask for the price..which we considered expensive to other up scale restaurants in LA JOLLA. Also they rushed you as if in revolving door policy. I had the special seafood which included 1/2 lobster which was over cooked and mushy. Would rather have gone to an upscale restaurant for same price.

Went to Cafe Milano with great friends looking for a great Italian meal. We were not disappointed. The service was top notch. Started with salads which were perfectly fresh. Moved onto pasta and gnocchi . Cooked to perfection. Finally had amazing desserts. Thanks to the owners for a fantastic experience. Will definitely be back

Had dinner here with our family of four. Easy location to spot with the classic Fiat sitting outside. Fantastic service - greeted by the owner, then served by a friendly, attentive, professional waiter. Food was spot on for both the adults and our finicky kids. This isn't a pretentious place, but if you're looking for reasonably priced, authentic Italian at a locally owned joint - this is it!

I found this delightful restaurant as part of the San Diego Beer and Wine Tours. The flavors in each dish were delicious! This is the place I will go again next time I'm in La Jolla.

Food was perfect (specially risotto ai funghi), service was amazing and Pasquale was incredible (my kids just loved him).

I was pleasantly surprised by the food at Cafe Milano. There were parties going on at other restaurants, menu's with no prices and the stench by the ocean was not a pleasant one, so I did a Google search for Italian cuisine and this little gem popped up. I sat outside with two friends and I ordered off the menu. I recommend finishing your meal with their lemon sorbet. The owner was a very nice man and the service was good. I come from the NY/NJ area so I wasn't sure what I was going to get, but this did the job. So enjoy!

Near the Conedy store. Wonderful Italian food. Large portions in the appetizer and entre. Shared both. Wine was also very good.

I am pretty sure I already reviewed this restaurant and my review was very positive. We ate there several times in the past and were never disappointed. Our latest experience was not as good at all. We ordered Lasagna Bolognese that is supposed to have meat inside. There was no meat at all. We called the owner who is doing everything himself for lunch : taking the orders, sending the request to the kitchen, serving the plates and writing the check. His answer was : " this is Milanese Lasagna ". We reminded him that we ordered " Bolognese Lasagna " and asked him where the meat was. He to.d us he would inform the kitchen to put more meat in the future, and disappeared. No excuse. It was not a question of price because " Bolognese " and " Milanese " were the same price. It was mainly a question of getting what you order. We decided this was our last visit to this place. Restaurant owners need to realize that their business rests on consumers.

Wonderful! We are English friends visiting La Jolla and had dinner here. Amazing entrees and desserts. Good selection of wine. All available as "take-away". Great atmosphere with light piano music in the background. Not intrusive. We will definitely be back.

An incredible dining experience a friend and I had last night at Cafe Milano. The Veal Marsala was one of if not the best I have ever eaten. The owner Pasquale greeted us at the door at arrival and the night just got better and better. The ricotta cheesecake was one of the most sublime and delicious desserts I have ever had. Next time I am in La Jolla visiting there WILL be a visit here again!

We were looking for another place in the area, but it was crowded, so we tryed Cafe Milano, has a old 500 car in the front, very nice terrace on the sidewalk, like 5 or 6 tables, food is very good, and the service is good.

Cafe Milano is a hidden gem. After dining there for the first time and being incredibly impressed by the entire experience, I was amazed that my wife and I could get seated without a reservation. There should be a line of patrons waiting outside this establishment every evening they're open. Cafe Milano may be La Jolla’s best kept restaurant secret. First off, I love the ambience of its interior. The place is very attractively decorated in dark, earthy tones with tables covered in white cotton tablecloths with matching napkins. It is clean and very well maintained. The family members (owner, his wife, his sister, brother-in-law, and sister-in-law), do all the cooking, setting up of the tables, greeting and seating the clientele, and serving the food. Actually, there's also a family friend, Bri, who was our lovely and attentive server. It felt like I had stepped back in time to dine at an intimate ristorante tucked away in a small courtyard off a cobblestoned street in Firenze in the ‘70’s. Our dinner started with a glass of wine and a generous serving of bread. Our first course was a Caesar salad for two which was one of the tastiest Caesars I have ever had. For a main course, we both chose a grilled salmon over fettuccine with olives and capers. It was perfectly done to our liking and huge, the biggest serving of a filet I had ever had. In fact, our server offered to box up the remainder of our salmon when we were only half done, apparently because most diners can't finish it at one seating. We did. However, when we were finished, we were stuffed with no room for dessert - but Pasquale, the owner, tempted us with a piece of tiramisu that was out of this world in yumminess for which we somehow managed to find the space. I'll tell you this. When we return to place our order, which will be very soon, my dinner plan will leave room for one of their myriad dessert choices. Right now, I have my eyes on one of their three tartufo offerings.

After eating seafood every night for the past 2 weeks I needed a break so I decided a nice pasta dish would hit the spot. As it was late and I didn't want to walk far I took a chance on Cafe Milano nearby. It was a bit of a disappointment but as least it wasn't an expensive disappointment (like the Top of the Market was in San Diego). I ordered the spinach and arugula salad, which was tasty but some of the greens were discolored and past the pull date. My main course was cappilene with shrimp and mussels in a light red sauce. it was acceptable but not any better than what I prepare at home from boxed pasta so obviously the pasta was not prepared on site. The service was quite good even if the meal was forgettable. With a glass of Chianti the bill came to $38 before tip - inexpensive but not a "value" meal. The ambiance was not good. The restaurant is a bit dingy inside so the best you can do is eat outside by the sidewalk. I will not be returning.

My husband and I were dining out in San Diego and met a lovely couple from La Jolla. We mentioned we were visiting La Jolla next and asked for recommendations for restaurants, Cafe Milano was at the top of there list. We ate there our first night and loved it! We started with the delicious bread with dipping Balsamic, the Caprese Salad and then I went for the basic Spaghetti with Meatballs (they were SO GOOD!). My husband had the Chicken Parmsean with Ziti, he said it was the Best! We were too full for desert so we ordered two cannoli to go .....Yum! On our last night in La Jolla we decided to go back to Cafe Milano since it was our favorite meal on our two week vacation in Southern California. My husband had the veal, it was so tender and I had Spaghetti Bolognese (I love my pasta!) this bolognese was one of the best I've ever had and I've been to Italy twice. Pascquale was so welcoming and friendly, he made us feel we were part of the family. We ended our meal with a sampling of his home made Tiramisu and Italian Riccotta Cheesecake, I thought I died and went to heaven!

We have visited this restaurant twice in a week and intend to go again on our last night in San Diego. The food was excellent, service great and staff very friendly. The personal touch of the owner welcoming us back to his restaurant and shaking our hand on leaving was much appreciated. This place has a homely feel to it. Can't wait to go back.

From the amazing bread and balsamic dip to the caprese to the insane shrimp and scallops, it was like we saved a long flight! The guitar/piano player really made the evening.

In this day and age, a place like Cafe Milano is a rare find. A friendly owner who's also the head chef and makes everything from scratch. The decor is a bit old school, but just adds to the authentic feel once you dig in to some of the amazing dishes. I had the Bruschetta and the Totellini and it was delicious. It's like going to Italy for the day!

Came here on Valentines day with my man. We ended up here because we waited until the day before V-day (like idiots) to make a reservation somewhere and Cafe Milano was able to fit us in. When we arrived they were super busy, and the only available table was probably the worst seat in the house. We sat right against the wall wedged in between the piano player and back part of the restaurant where the waiters keep spare glasses, menus,etc and have the computer to ring up the bills. People were coming in and out all night and standing there to get carry out which was annoying. It's a small restaurant, I guess things like that can't be avoided. Anyway, the service was slow. It seemed like on the busiest night of the year there was only 1 waiter. The food was good, I got Gnocchi and my guy had chicken Parmesan. Out biggest complaint was the extra charges on our bill. When we sat down and someone came by to ask if we wanted water, they asked if we wanted flat or sparkling water. I asked for the sparkling. What I didn't expect was to be charged 6$ for the bottle of sparkling water. They also charged us 2$ for a side of caesar dressing because the salad we ordered to share came with balsamic and my man is allergic to it. We just wished they would have mentioned the additional charges. All in all the food was okay, but not good enough to redeem Cafe Milano's shortcomings. Would not come here again. Don't know what all the fuss is about...

first mistake we went on a Monday evening, the chief owner was off. the food was disappointing to say the least.we are nyc,n.j florida residents and if you call this good Italian food then you never ate great food . the veal saltimbocca was thin and tough poor tasting, I order a spaghetti & seafood dish I asked for a white wine sauce and the waiter brought red so it went back and it came out 5 minutes late as white butter sauce no taste at all. my daughter had a dish that did not appeal to her and she eats their often, my friend has meatballs and he did not complain. it was just a bad experience. the dessert I order tiramisu, if u like strong espresso coffee u may like it .it just to strong for my taste actually I never had one like this. my dau lives up the block so I am often in the area, and so far I have yet to find a italian rest that is compatible with the north east.usa

Came here for dinner on our first night in La Jolla. It has an intimate and 'family run' feel to it. Not too busy during our visit, on a weekday evening in early May. Whilst waiting for mains, we were provided with bread and what appeared to be homemade balsamic vinegar, to dip our bread in. It was very tasty. The main course tasted good, was filling and overall it was very reasonably priced. There is nothing particularly amazing about this place, although the homemade dishes were very good and it is worth visiting if you are looking for a nice independent Italian restaurant.

We went here as part of a wine tour. When we arrived, Pasquale (the restaurant owner), received us and had a speciall meal dedicated to us. We had an entree, pasta and beef (or chicken?). The food was delicious indeed. It reminded us of our trip to Italy, and Pasquale himself made the evening so much better. I can't tell you if it's expensive or not because it was already payed on the tour, but if you like italian food, this is the place to go!!

Our friend who is familiar with the area suggested Cafe Milano and we are glad she did. Oh, my the food was wonderful, as was the service. We were in Italy this summer and the food was just as tempting as it was in Italy. I had the shrimp and scallops with pasta that comes with a cream sauce. I am lactose intolerant and the owner suggested olive oil and garlic instead of the cream sauce. . Thank you for the suggestion as it was delicious. The food was served very hot and was freshly made When we are in La Jolla again we will definitely return.

The pasta is made on site and is very good. Among 4 couples, everyone enjoyed their dish. The only drawback is street parking.

We ordered a side of pasta and it arrived topped with a well seasoned tomato sauce made from fresh chunks of tomatoes; it must have been cooked to order. Wow !! It was the best pasta and sauce I've had in Southern California. What an unexpected surprise!! We were just driving by after our wedding photos were taken at sunset on La Jolla's famous "Wind 'n Sea" beach down the street. My new husband and I recommend this restaurant very highly. The food was terrific and the staff were very attentive and friendly. At the end of the evening, we were delighted with how fairly priced the entire meal was - especially given the exceptional homemade quality of everything we ate !!

This restaurant was nothing short of superb! Family owned, friendly atmosphere, and the food was outstanding. Alfredo was so attentive to our needs, yet not invasive. Did I say the food was outstanding? Save room for the limoncel truffle. You can't leave La Jolla without dining at this great restaurant.

What a special, intimate, delicious place this is! The food and drinks are wonderful. Our server was both friendly and efficient. We are so glad we chose to experience Cafe Milano and think you should too!

Café Milano has the best Italian food in La Jolla! We dine here every time we are in the area and have always enjoyed every meal. The service is great, it's family run and everyone is so friendly. You can tell they want to please the customers and they enjoy what they do. The food is very fresh. Definitely get the ricotta cheesecake - it's homemade by the owner and is amazing!

We love to vacation in the La Jolla/San Diego area. This time we were celebrating our 40th Wedding Anniversary, and Cafe Milano was the first restaurant on our list to return to. So good to see the owner is still there to welcome us back and offer us both excellent food and service! Wouldn't make a trip without eating at Cafe Milano several times!

Congratulations!! You've found a truly authentic Italian dining experience outside of Italy!!! You'll start your dining experience being greeted by Sabrina, a beautiful woman with a beautiful smile, as you walk through the front doors. Next you'll be seated a tables adorned with white tablecloths, with matching white linen napkins. The restaurant is decorated like an Italian restaurant in Italy...there os soft Italian instrumental music playing in the background as you listen to the staff conversing in Italian...next and MOST important you'll get handed the menu...which is huge! The selection of food is enormous. If you order a pasta dish know that they hand make their pasta fresh daily. I had the Osso Buco...an oven braised lamb shank, that is later roasted with tomatoes and carrots and served over a bed of hand made linguini. If you know Osso Buco I can tell you that this is THE BEST I've ever had either in Italy or anywhere else! My wife had the linguini con Pollo made with a white wine/olive oil sauce tossed with fresh broccoli and roasted Chicken Breast. Desert was amazing too with delicious Italian favorites like Tirimisu, lemon or orange gelato, cheese cake and others...I had a lemoncello gelato bomb that was absolutely unbelievably nummy! When you put the staff, setting, ambiance and food together you'll get an amazingly satisfying real Italian meal like no other...you'll leave The Cafe Milano with a full belly, a heart filled with love and laughter and some brand new friends! Quite possibly the best dining experience I've ever had! Thank you Sabrina and everyone else at the Cafe Milano who fed our hearts and tummies! Tante Grazie! E Ciao gente bellissimi

The food was very good and the family works very hard to please all the guests. I guess that would be one area where I could say it can improve though. There was one lead waiter managing every table. The mom and daughter were there in a backup role but this guy was moving...to the point I almost felt frantic or rushed as I watched him buzzing around. The atmosphere was authentic and not too loud even with a pianist playing in the main room. Maybe if they let the women handle some of the tables, it would help calm things down a bit and seem more relaxing.

Granted, we showed up for an early dinner, but we were the only patrons in the restaurant - the entire time we were there. A strange thing was that I felt like we were being "sold" on the place even after we sat down. "Best Italian food in town" we heard more than once during our dinner. As for the food - the menu had pretty standard italian choices. We both ordered pastas, which were tasty and quickly prepared. Our house wine was pretty mediocre, but house wine often is just that. Another odd thing was that forks were brought along with our bill as we were leaving. We didn't know why we were getting forks when we were ready to leave. Then a piece of tiramisu arrived - on the house - and was tasty. Anyway, just a somewhat awkward experience, but maybe it was an odd night for them. Everyone was friendly and the food was good.

Rhonda and I had dinner here on Saturday night March 30, 2013 with Alfredo again as our waiter, who did a good job. Don’t know if this happens every Saturday night but they had an electronic keyboard piano player, which was a pleasant surprise, on the right side large room. Rhonda had Spaghetti with meatballs (reported to be the type she likes) and I had Spaghetti with Black Pepper and garlic (well done, with nice chunks of garlic)(i added more black pepper but this a matter of personal taste). Enjoyed again bread with their brown “special sauce”. Again had a half carafe of their excellent house burgundy. Their dessert menu is a multi page picture menu, which is a nice touch. Pasqualle, the owner, was again roaming the place and being very cordial.

The Pasta - The Veal - The Sauces - The Bread - Everything was so fresh and delicious. We've eaten here twice already and are planning another trip soon. It looks like an old fashioned family restaurant and certainly makes you feel cozy and welcome. It's traditional Italian fare at it's best. Portions are large and prices very reasonable. I think the best compliment I can give this restaurant is that I wish we were staying long enough to sample everything on the menu..It's just that good......

We went to Cafe Milano for lunch during our trip to California at the beginning of August. It was an amazing experience. Chef Pasquale and his staff made us feel like old friends. The food was great, the prices are more than reasonable and everything is freshly made from bread to pasta's to deserts. Chef Pasquale even let our 13 year old son sit in and take pictures in his 1968 Fiat 500. Thank you for everything!!!

We had a great dinner at this understated restaurant.. Service was impeccable and the food was great. It is reminiscent of east coast Italian restaurants. Let's face it. Italian is best in Philadelphia, NYC and the east coast, in general. Except, maybe, Italy...

Wait staff was awesome! Owner came around at the end and gave us some free wine....to go with our bottle we already had! I ordered the caprese salad and ministrone soup....Hubby had lasagna...All were very very good. Would go again. Authentic Italian experience.

Everything was "good" and not "great" . Six of us went for dinner on a Monday evening . We were there only customers which was a bit weird .I had osso buco . We started with shared appys ; calamari and a caprese salad . Everything was good . The service seemed a bit intrusive at times but I guess they did not have anything else to do . Nobody ordered dessert but they brought us a big piece of tiaramasu to share . It was actually the best part of the meal . Price was quite reasonable . If I lived in the area I would probably come back but wouldn't make it our "special place " .

We had the Canneloni and Osso Bucco. Mmmm buono! The service was great. The Osso Bucco was served on a bed of home made fettucine. The canneloni were served with a red cream sauce.

This restaurant has been operating in La Jolla, for 15 years! They got their start in New Jersey, in 1980 then moved to the West Coast. Chef Pasquale has 25 years of experience in Northern Italian cooking. It is a cozy place to dine on Pearl Street. One feels comfortable and welcomed! Red and Gold dining room colors, aquarium , piano and occasionally a pianist and singer! Great service, great food! Try it!

This is one of our favorite places for an Italian meal. Great food - try their specialties. The oil and vinegar dip they serve with the bread is wonderful. The place is small and friendly and even offers entertainment on TH, FR and Saturday nights (piano/guitar). Quite an enjoyable evening topped off with tiramisu. Very reasonably priced and great quality!

Very fine meal in La Jolla. Small place with big flavors. As might be expected in La Jolla, if you're under 60, you'll be in the minority in the restaurant. Food is excellent.

I really want to rate this restaurant higher. It is a local family run place where everyone greets you and has something nice to say. The service is prompt and the rooms are full of (mostly) locals having fun. Portions are fine and the menu/wine selection are pretty large. The small sidewalk patio allows for some outside dining. And they park the coolest little Fiat out front, all lit up! Problem is the food is just average. We have eaten there twice and I just cannot get too excited about what we ate - cioppino, lasagna, pasta, and veal - all ok. So please go to support this neat place. It's not disappointing. But if you want better Italian eating, you can find it in La Jolla.

We recently organized a lunch party here to celebrate our daughter’s graduation from UCSD. Pasquale and his staff made it a wonderful celebration. The food was fabulous and service was fantastic. Everyone loved the bruschetta and calamari fritti appetizers. Penne alla vodka was enjoyed by all. Salads were very nice, too. The entrees were all delightful: Pollo Scarpariello, Veal Saltimbocca and Gamberi Fradiavolo. Desserts were yummy: Tiramisu and Bitter Chocolate Mousse. In all, a perfect afternoon.

Cafe Milano is a small authentic Italian restaurant with excellent Italian food. It is quite a charming place.... Their food is awesomely great, but their Tiramisu & Cheesecake... that will blow you away. Great service, absolutely recommend!!!

Went with a few friends on a Tuesday evening. This place can easily be missed as it is not on the ocean or in the busier section of downtown La Jolla. It is a very simple yet functional Italian restaurant. The owner seats you and he goes through the menu with you. Service is fantastic and the food is delicious. It is not fancy, it is not trendy but has some wonderful authentic dishes and relatively inexpensive.

We went here to dine as a family and really enjoyed it. Both chicken dishes were delicious. The kids enjoyed their fettuccini and mozzarella sticks. They loved the ice cream that came with their selections. Service was very attentive and nice. Every thing was being constantly cleaned by the owners. The minestrone soup was big and good. We will definitely be back.

We had dinner here on December 15, 2013 with our real estate broker to discuss real estate ideas. We had house salads and then two Spaghetti Carbonara and a Spaghetti and Meatballs. Alfredo and Pasquale served as well, accompanied by the piano player who is there two times a week. They have two rooms with one serving well for Holiday parties this time of year. Cheesecake and Tiramisu were very good. Different cheesecake than in a previous visit. This our 6th visit here in 2013; it is very convenient for us being only a block away; see my 5 other reviews of this great neighborhood place for more information.

We thoroughly enjoyed our evening. The lobster was delicious. Everyone was very happy with their dinner.

Dropped by this place one warm Sept eve. Enjoyed a glass of vino outside. Extensive menu but tried a few items. Truthfully, can't recall. Decent appetizer is try again and salad. All good enough. Nothing bad. Nothing stellar. It provides what is expected. Cozy Italian meal. Very nice waiter tho our order was a bit slowed up. Still, overall good place to drop by for weekday dinner. Will return.

The restaurant is smallish and intimate, but also has outdoor seating. Our server also appeared to be the owner, which was kind of fun. He was very friendly, and even though he was busy we never felt neglected. My husband judges Italian restaurants based on their chicken parmesan, which is what we ordered and split ( we weren't super hungry). It wasn't his favorite, but he liked it. I liked the sauce b/c it was a little spicy. The desserts were delicious. I'd love to go back if we are in town and try something else from the menu. There were a lot of other dishes that looked promising.

We had lunch here on January 21, 2013 and for the first time the owner Pasquale Cianni was not there (he was off to a wedding in LA). Our server was Alfredo and he was excellent. Rhonda had the Lasagna Bolognese which is always good. I had their Tortellini Milano and found it soggy (perhaps it had been sitting too long in the kitchen?). We usually get a half carafe of their red burgundy as it is an excellent value at only $9.00. This is now the closest Italian restaurant to us as it is only 1 block from our house. The owner’s wife and sister-in-law also work here so it is a real family run place. The special sauce they serve with their bread is always looked forward to.

The staff is very friendly. The salad was good. The main dishes were good. They have outside seating. The wine pour was generous. The prices are reasonable.

Happened upon this restaurant late afternoon. Owner Pasquale seated us even tho dinner hour had not begun and lunch hour was over. We ordered a bottle of wine, snapper Marischiara.food was very good, delicate sauce and clams and mussels were fresh. Try the home made Tiramasu. Yum. During conversation, Pasquale told us his story- came to US as a teenager, worked as busboy in New Jersey ,rose to waiter, maitr'd then owned 4 restaurants, raised a family, moved to San Diego 15 years ago. Now proud owner of Cafe Milano on Pearl Steet in La Jolla. A real American story! You won't be sorry.!

I've never been to Italy but imagine Cafe Milano is like enjoying dinner at a sidewalk cafe in Rome. This quaint Italian restaurant is always a favorite when visiting La Jolla and despite just reopening after COVID lockdowns, the fantastic food and service had not suffered. We were so excited to eat out again we ordered the Insalata di Mare, Mozzarella Caprese and the Crab Cakes, all delicious, and still couldn't wait for our entrees. You can't go wrong with the classic Spaghetti and Meatballs or Veal Parmigiana but the list of specials made it difficult to decide. We especially enjoyed visiting with the owner who shared a photo of his granddaughter and treated us to one of the best Tiramisu I have ever had.

My family and me found this restaurant on YELP and we were highly satisfied. The server Alfredo, made us feel very welcome and seemed excited about the dishes being offered. My shrimp over fresh made pasta with fresh tomatoes was on the spicy side but with 8 shrimps and heavy parmesan cheese, was delicious. The Cataloni and soup were excellent as was the gannocci. We will be returning soon. Alfredo, offering us a gratis dessert of wonderful tiramisu, sealed the deal that gave him a more generous tip and s good future customer.

Everything about this restaurant was wonderful. The food was the best Italian food I have had since I have been back from Italy. The owner, staff and everyone were so gracious. The atmosphere was lovely and I will go back every time I am in the area. They have a very good wine selection and the Tira Misu was out of this world. I said... "Oh, this is why people love Tira Misu"! I never had it in such a way and never knew why people went gaga over it. The best! Thank you, Thank you Thank you.

we stayed nearby and after a tired day wanted to have dinner. It was around 9:30 so we didnot had options. Also we are vegetarians. Food: We have tasted a lot of Italian. But I didnot find the food any great.I really like the Italian breads they offer but we didnot like the breads they offered us here. it was non flavorful. the sauces were ok.The food was average.but yes we did ate up all as we were really hungry. Service: the service is good. staff is cooperative. But really annoying thing was they were peeping outside to our balcony seats from inside to check if we finished the food etc etc and talking about us in Italian. It was really something I hated there.so I am really deleting some of the service stars for this as its not just service ettiquette but also basic manners. The drinks were ok as well. i dont think I'll go to that place again but for others if u want to try go ahead.But i might prefer for a place whose food is more Italian than the name.

We were celebrating a birthday and a former waitress suggested we go there for dinner. She said we should tell Pasquale, the owner, that she sent us. We were greeted by a waiter and Pasquale. The ambiance is welcoming. They brought warm bread with a dipping sauce made with balsamic vinegar that was delicious. We had an appetizer, wine, and an entree each. Everything was incredible. They also had an entertainer play the piano and guitar who also sang. He was quite good. The music was at a level that allowed us to comfortably carry on conversation. Pasquale was very gracious and the whole experience was terrific.

Cafe Milano delivers a personal and quality experience that is unmatched in La Jolla. Our food was excellent. If you happen to see the veal over pasta special order immediately. It is outstanding. Wine prices are very approachable particularly for the neighborhood.

OMG... had our sons senior pictures done in LA Jolla, we asked him for some recommendations of places to eat. If you want authentic Italian food this is the place to go. The food is REALLY GOOD and the service can't be beat. The prices are very reasonable. It's definitely true to ask the locals about places to eat. I definitely will go back when we come back to California.

This place serves good Italian style food at a good price. The service is unbeatable - in a retro 1970's kind of style. There seemed to be many regular and local customers. We walked-in with two kids and were seated immediately. Bread, water, and menus appeared as if by magic and we were soon served a solid and tasty meal. Nothing fancy, but good solid food. I ate a beef special that came in a juice so tasty I sopped it all up with my bread. The house wine was reasonably priced and tasty.

This was a surprise. Our original restaurant of choice was full so we followed the smell across the street to Milano. We were greeted warmly and promptly sat. You can tell this is a family run establishment. They really care. Seriously the best pasta I’ve had, and I’ve been to Italy. We had lobster ravioli, tortellini de Milano, and the special pork chop dinner. Even my picky five year old wolfed down his kid pizza. Everything was fresh and homemade. If you want true Italian flavor and atmosphere, come here. This was a great experience for our family vacation.

The food was spot on and the prices where not bad. Authentic as it gets in the States. Great people run it and the service is the best.

Very nice lunch at this Italian restaurant. Calamari arrabiatta was very tasty without being too spicy. Eggplant parmesan was very enjoyable. Lots of Italian coming from the kitchen which is a good sign. Place could use a little cleaning.

Quick service of authentic Italian food. Take out was quick and easy. Food okay. The interior seems to have a romantic flair to it. Parking is an issue though.

I was in San Diego a couple of weeks ago and I wanted to eat Italian food but didn't feel like going to Downtown Little Italy, you don't need to.... this place offers you a variety of dishes and affordable prices it's unbelievable. The owner and chef Pasquale was great! and he even gave us complimentary Porto at the end of the meal...I will go back there anytime the food was superb and I'm a picky eater....

There was a roving guitarist who performed very well, excellent entertainment! The food was a disappointment. It's hard to tell when reviews are good and there are a few poor reviews whether to take them seriously. We feel the highly positive reviews are wrong. A funny thing is that we were asked if we wanted regular or sparkling water. When our regular water came it was poured from a bottle with a label from Italy bottled in Italy. We asked about it and were told the bottle was filled from a big container of glacier water. My chicken parmigiana was weirdly prepared and tough. My husband thought his meatballs tasted strange (looked strange too). So, we wouldn't go back.

We adore Cafe Milano. The owner and staff are so sweet and the food is very good. My daughter and I love the fettuccini Alfredo. The noodles are homemade. We add shrimp to it. If you get there early enough in the afternoon it will literally be freshly made. We have also enjoyed a variety of other items on the menu. For dessert we recommend the limoncello frozen dish. So yummy. Plus they have live music (guitar player or pianist).

My daughter found this restaurant on Yelp and wanted to go there for her birthday dinner. We arrived late - around 9:00 on a Saturday night. It was a nice evening so we sat outside. I had the pasta fagioli, which was recommended by our server, and she had the capelinni primavera. We also split a Caesar salad. My pasta fagioli was good but not terrific and the salad was OK. Considering it's an Italian restaurant I would have expected the Caesar salad to be better. Same thing with the bread - just passable. The inside of the restaurant also looked worn, old and tired. Our server was also just OK too - maybe she was tired since it was late. Anyway, with so many options for better Italian all over San Diego I'd go elsewhere.

The Cafe Milano experience was an eye opener. From the moment we sat down (for our 7:30pm reservation) we felt like we were preventing the staff from getting home. Crash-Bang-Whallop, the waiter (who I guess was the owner) hanging over us until we ordered. When the food came it wasn't exactly what we'd ordered and in some instances not what we'd expected from the menu and descriptions provided. When the check arrived that was also wrong - too high ! The people on the table opposite were also presented with the wrong food and ended up eating 'in shifts'. In summary, the service, food and value were all sub-standard, I would eat elsewhere.

Went there a couple of times for dinner, a nice family run Italian restaurant, right on Pearl St. They have a little Fiat parked out front,all lit up, so you cant miss it. Traditional Italian fare served by people who care, and try hard to please. A decent wine selection and prices. The tiramisu was light and delicious, and was brought to us free, at the end of the meal.

This place takes you back! The sweet owners and the freshly made dishes are a delight. We were visiting from out of town and went here two nights in a row because our kids begged us! The food was amazing and we tried different things each night. The cute little car and bistro table out front adds to the charm.

We were trying to go to another restaurant in LaJolla, but it was too pqcked so we ended up at Cafe Milano. How lucky were we. A group of 10 was seated outside. The homemade bread and special sauce were amazing. I had a pesto shrimp and scallop dish that was fabulous. Unfortunately I had to wait for my dish as the waiter messed it up. Also, one in our party order a glass of wine which never came. But those were my only complaints.

We enjoyed an excellent eggplant parmesan, a very nice spaghetti putanesca, and a fine tiramisu dessert (light and tasty). We'd called in our take-out order and been told it'd be ready in 15 minutes--and it was! A great experience!

The fish place was too crowded, the pizza place burned down, so we tried Cafe Milano. I don't usually go for Italian food, but a golden throated man was inside playing the piano and the guitar alternately and singing his heart out. The waiter, who reminded me of Lou Costello, was sailing around at full speed, the only waiter in the place, but doing a great job. I had poached salmon which came with mashed potatoes and veggies and choice of dessert. My friend had a seafood dish. It was delicious and we finished with teramisu. Divine.

It's never on the menu, but ask if the owner has made cannelloni that day. The tomato sauce with a touch of cream is delicious. Oso Bucco is another winner. Balsamic vinegar and olive oil are shaken vigorously in a bottle before being poured on a saucer for dipping - a much better blend than pouring them separately. Hold back on the excellent bread and this dipping sauce, or you won't have room for dinner!

Found this place on trip advisor. My daughter is really picky. Was limited by area due to our schedule and time. We walked in close to closing time. They welcomed is with open arms. House made mozzarella and the caprese was awesome. The balsamic was so thick it was almost like a paste. IT TASTED INCREDIBLE! I swear I just ate it with my fingers-it was so good. I got gnocchi, the family got spaghetti. My gnocchi was really good. The spaghetti needed some draining. Was a little watery. I thought they would have put the sauce and noodles on a pan in order to incorporate the salted water. This was the only down side if the meal. We skipped dessert and our waiter brought us a piece of cake with berries. I thought we were full but this was the perfect ending to a great meal. If you are near la jolla, eat at cafe Milano!!!

We had dinner here with our friend Max Gurney (Monaco’s La Jolla’s representative) on May 18, 2013 with Alfredo as our server. We tried the crab cakes appetizer special, which had a very nice sauce. I had one of their house specialties: Fettuccine Milano, which was excellent with a green pesto sauce and large pieces of shrimp and scallop; this is one of my favorite dishes at this neighborhood Italian restaurant. This is the second time we have been here recently on a Saturday night and again there was an electronic piano player, which is nice. Rhonda had pasta with sausage and Max had a special: pasta with lobsters, mussels, shrimp, scallops in a red sauce. We had their Truffles Chocolate for dessert. Once again we had their house Burgundy in a carafe. Once again, a good experience only two blocks from us.

If you need to treat yourself this is the place. I bring my husband here once a month for a legit, Italian treat.

The Italian food is great. And so is the hospitality. This is a family run place and they are very welcoming. Everyone was very friendly, cheerful and sincerely wanted to help me enjoy a great meal. I highly recommend the tiramisu, the owner makes it himself fresh every day and it is fantastic. I had different dishes every night and loved them all.

Very good Iralian food at reasionable prices. Family run restaurant with friendly service. Large menu selection. They serve real veal meals. The veal Marsala was wonderful. I will return.

This is a nice family run restaurant with a very original flair. The service was very attentive. The waiter did get one of the orders wrong (a miscommunication due to his Italian accent, ha ha), he fixed it immediately and cheerfully. All of the pastas seemed quite good, as was the risotto. And with the affordable wine list, the restaurant provides a very good break from some of the other La Jolla restaurants that try too hard to be "chic" or "upscale." Bottom line is that if you want a casual, enjoyable home-style Italian meal in La Jolla without breaking the bank, this is a good choice.

Good Italian food. Great service. We ate outside since we had a dog with us. The Pollo Parmigiana was light on pasta which was good for my-low-carb diet. My husband and daughter enjoyed their Spaghetti Bolognese. Prices are modest, entries around $15 but it's a la carte.

Stopped in while visiting with family who live close by. They were right in their recommendation. Very welcoming owner. Food was excellent and fresh. Nice ambiance with a piano/guitar player. Will be back next time in town.

My family and I decided to go to this restaurant after getting it recommended to us while we were on vacation. We were able to eat outside, which was very nice. The service was incredibly friendly and quick, making sure that we weren't waiting too long or had whatever we needed. The portions for all the meals were really good, not too little food or too much. The food was also very good, the Fettuccine Alfredo was especially good.

Stopped by because we were hungry, and the Italian across the street was not open. Turned out to be a bit of good luck. The door was open, and after looking at the menu, we ordered meatballs ann penne plus a chicken dish on penne. The service was fast, the food very good, and the price was just right.We were very full, but the owner of this family run business insisted that we have a piece of tiramisu cake (on the house). It was made by his wife, and it was quite good.

Absolutely wonderful food, charming atmosphere and delightful owner - complete with little red car!!! This restaurant is truly a gem - it shouldn't be missed! If you want delicious Italian food...this is THE place!!!

My girlfriend and I eat here often and the food is always high quality with good prices especially compared to the overpriced trendy places so popular with the cool people who know nothing about Italian food.Wines are excellent and fairly priced as well. This restaurant is like the traditional (Northern) Italian restaurant one enjoyed from the 1960's to 90's with a real Italian owner-Pasquale- on site almost every day making sure things go right. Service is friendly and generally gracious but not fawning. If you need three people checking on you every minute this is not your place. Decor is pleasant but not why you go here. Love all items we have tried but especially veal parmigiana which comes with perfectly prepared vegetables. . This place is perfect for friends family and couples---any occasion. I have only eaten dinner here so have no idea about lunch.