Monello Reviews

I love Monello and dine there every time I am in San Diego. I have been there for wonderful dinners and, many many times for their incredible lunch specials. So fresh the foods, they make their own pastas, and the chef IS Italian! The restaurant interiors are gorgeous and the owners so very kind and friendly.

Great service, friendly staff and nice menu selection. My 17 year old twins shared the gnocchi and a Caesar salad which they loved! My husband and I shared the Caesar and prosciutto , arugula pizza which was excellent too. Portions were perfect for sharing, which they kindly split for us, after already having a late lunch.

Such a fun experience in Little Italy, and the food is delicious. Had dinner before a concert at Symphony Hall, and all was met to get us there on time.

Presentation is kind of lame, as is the interior. I bet lots of old people like this place, but I wasn't about it. The food was okay, but nothing to write home about. Average.

We were a group of 9 people who met for dinner before going on a cruise. We had to make two reservations, because on the on-line reservation system wouldn't allow us to make a reservation for a table larger than for 5. When we got to the restaurant, we were able to put the two tables together. We had excellent food and service and would recommend this restaurant.

Came here for a friends birthday, it was my second time. They have great service and the food is quite good! If you’re going you might as well order the cheese block pasta that they stir around at your desk! It’s so good!! Also got the gnocchi and they are just perfect little clouds with a great sauce. Overall great experience and definitely recommend to others!

Based on a friends recommendation, I tried Monello. I liked the fact that they make all of their pasta in house daily. What sets Monello apart is their cheesewheel pasta, which is a pasta served after the servers stir it around in a huge cheese round. The show is enjoyable and entertaining. The Negroni Cocktail was good, made with their own homemade sweet vermouth – a nice touch. The calamari was good, but a little chewy. The squid ink pasta with octopus was also very good and a large portion. Monello is very popular and consequently can get very busy. The waiters are constantly moving and the tables are close together. It is also very loud inside. If you like good homemade pasta, you should try Monello.

In San Diego for the half marathon, wanted pasta. Locals referred us here. Friend had a salad (aroma of dressing amazing) and gnocchi Di zucca (butternut squash gnocchi, Gorgonzola cream sauce). They were like little puff clouds of greatness! I had piccata di Salmone, salmon fillet in a white wine & lemon caper sauce, served with roasted tomatoes and mashed potatoes (I substituted pasta for potatoes). Perfectly cooked salmon, very flavorful, perfect crust! Excellent service, nice decor, calming atmosphere and outstanding food! Well stocked bar & wine list! We took rideshare to & from our hotel. Dont miss this gem in San Diego’s Little Italy!

This restaurant is slightly out of the center of busy Little Italy, but easily in walking distance and a great choice for dinner! I had the cheese wheel pasta special of the day, which was a homemade spaghetti pomodoro with bufala mozzarella. The sauce in particular was fantastic, as was the pasta. I couldn’t taste too much of the cheese wheel, but the food was still great. The service was just so-so; they were out of the appetizer we ordered at only 7:30 and didn’t care too much to help us choose another. I’d return again depending on the daily special, which you can find on their Instagram.

I heard that the lasagna was incredible here, so I tried it out. The lasagna is based on a bechamel, rather than a tomato sauce. So it was creamy, you could taste the nutmeg... but it wasn't my kind of lasagna. The noodles were obviously freshly made and velvety.

Modern interior with really good service and excellent Italian food. Freshly prepared with quality ingredients.

Sat a the bar and was served by a wonderful bartender/waiter. He made great suggestions and decided on their special cheese wheel pasta. Outstanding. What a wonderful time, great food, great experience. Try the Caesar salad with the great tasting “young” Parmesan cheese. Fluffy light and delicious.

Food is great. Owner and staff are first class. We had table side pasta prepared in a wheel of parmesan. An authentic preparation and pasta was cooked al dante. Sauce was wonderful. A unique experience!

I think homemade pasta in SD is hard to come by but this joint hits the spot! We came for the Valentine weekend dinner. One point off for service; the hostess gave our reservation away and did nothing to make this right. We waited 20 minutes to be seated so what good is a reservation? If you get past the hostess with success, the restaurant is decorated very nicely with widespread views of downtown through those floor to ceiling windows! The food is awesome. I had the cheese wheel special (they throw the pasta in a full sized cheese wheel tableside). That is only available with one dish nightly so check before you come. My husband had the gnocchi which was gummy but we both kept coming back to my cheese wheel pasta. It is unforgettable and I dream of going back for that. I saw their pizza and it looked wonderful. I understand it is from scratch! The young couple next to us ordered one and was disappointed to find out the restaurant didn't have ranch---r u kidding me? This isn't a ranch sauce kind of place...

Each round of drinks were accompanied by, at no extra cost, a variety of special and tasty small bites of Italian foods. Superbly delicious!

I enjoyed my meal, John had pizza it was big he ate it all but said he did not like it. It was very nice inside.

Excellent food! We had the burrata salad, calamari, and pasta. Everything was exceptional! The service was great also!

Located next to the main avenue of Little Italy, Monello is one of the upscale restaurants that can be found in this area. With a menu based on the classic food from Rome, they offer good quality products and creative presentations. We start with some fritti (typical Roman, do not miss the suppli and the misto that offers a rich variety of appetizers). I had the Caccio e Pepe (cheese and pepper) which for my taste lacked a little pepper and prepare it with the original pasta (bucatini and no spaghetti). They offer three types of pasta and around six different sauces, which is very practical. In the afternoon you have a very attractive happy hour with good cocktails and tasty appetizers. The wine list is not very wide, but it has a good selection. The service is very careful and attentive. It is worth the visit.

This is our "go to" place in Little Italy. We decided to have lunch there after shopping at the farmers market Sat morning. As usual, Monello did not disappoint. The spaghetti and clams is truly the best I've had. My hubby agreed! My son ordered the brunch pizza that was huge and delicious with lots of breakfasty toppings including two eggs baked on top. I was told by his fiancé the lasagna was amazing. We welcomed the cool interior on this very warm day. The interior is tasteful modern industrial. Previously we have eaten outdoors in the evening and the setting is romantic. This time the only strange thing was the type of music playing inside- like oldies that did not go with the ambiance or food. Service friendly and very attentive.

This is a must visit in San Diego.. especially if u love pasta The cheese wheel was really Good and the white sauce penne pasta Greate experience

We started with Tartufo pizzas thin light yet full of flavor and taste. We ordered all four different seafood spaghetti my favorite was al frutti di mare. Everyone in the family finished last pieces on a plate. We all though it was excellent. Ossobucco di Vitello looks like ones from magazine cover and it was moist and tender. Kids order bistecca monello I recommend asking mediums. They asked mediums well and it was little burned. We finished with torta di mele apple pie I am not a pie person but I love it an d will order this again. Tiramisu al nocino was everyone's favorite but I though it was little too strong flavor. I need tea to go with it. Over all food and service was EXCELLENT. Definitely will come back and recommend.

What a disappointment. Word was it was really good. Not true. Well intentioned but the food was uninspired and in fact shocking. A green garden side salad was bitter curlry leafs only with a dreadful dressing. This is CA! Tons of salad options!!! Why present the worst type and presentation? Ciao and pepe pasta? Good pasta but no pepe! They recooked it,,,,and it came back still misunderstood as to the ingredients. It needs pepe!!!! Our server had an attitude that we complained. Sorry. Not my fault it wasn't good.

Once upon a time there was a family of four wandering around Little Italy on a crowded holiday weekend night. We had a reservation at Buon Appetito, but left due to rudeness and poor service. Long wait lists were everywhere, but then we happened upon Bencotto's who told us of an open spot at their sister restaurant next door, Monello. We would have to sit at the counter by the window, but hunger trumped seating preference and we followed our hostess down the street. She actually took the time to walk us there! While I wouldn't recommend the counter for a party of four looking to have some good conversation, we couldn't have been treated better. We had a friendly, efficient server (Annie, I believe) who salvaged what had been a very disappointing evening. Beyond the great service was a truly delectable meal. The Butternut Squash Gnocchi was heavenly. One in our party had the pasta in the Cheese Wheel - apparently a signature dish here. He literally inhaled it, it was that good. There one minute, gone the next. My husband raved about his Ravioli Di Ossobuco. Prepare yourself for a special meal.

Excellent Osso Buco dish which was had by two in our party served on mashed potatoes. Squid ink linguini was good also. Nice atmosphere n staff very friendly.

I took my wife here for our anniversary and it was amazing! My wife absolutely loved the place! Great atmosphere and service. The food was delicious and the dessert was great! My wife said it was one of the best dinner and desserts she'd ever had, and I agree! Love this place and we can't wait to go back during the 4th of July week. We're looking forward to having one of those dishes made in the cheese wheel.

Wonderful Italian restaurant in Little Italy. There were 8 of us...we were able to be seated at the bar while we waited for the last two people to get there. Food was excellent! They got everyone's order correct, everyone had something different and ALL were very pleased...yummy!! Nice wine choices,food, & excellent service...what is not to like?!? Make a reservation though, as they are always busy.

The calamari were tender and succulent. The lasagna di pesce, spaghetti ai frutti di mare and spaghetti alla aragosta were all just sinfully delicious!

Tried the pasta in a wheel gimmick, and it was super cheesy and fun. However, no fire. Kind of disappointed there was no fire? Other food was great too :)

Tasty homemade pasta and a good wine selection. A bit too heavy on cream sauces to be authentic Italian. The ragu dishes are particularly good.

We were visiting San Diego from overseas and our Uber driver recommended we go to Monello. What a wonderful Italian dinner we shared!! It was a great night in vibrant Little Italy. I enjoyed an amazing seafood stew, the ossobuco di vitello was excellent and the pasta dish they made for my daughter was delicious . The wine list at Monello is also excellent.

This is about as good as it gets for superb Italian food in Little Italy. Sit outside if you can since it can be loud inside. Outside tables have heating lamps so you are cozy all the time. The Cocktails are outstanding and inventive, but always with an Italian flair using special liquors (e.g. Cinar, etc.). I have the cured meat appetizer (outstanding and generous in portion) and the Fuite de mar entre with fra diavlo sauce which was perferct: seafood cooked nicely with fiery accents in the gravy. The wine list by the glass and bottle is solid with USA and Italian choices.

I’ll make this easy... Food -5 stars Service -5 stars Pricing -4 stars (some dishes on the spendy side for what you get. Ambiance -5 stars I could go on but suffice it to say you cannot go wrong. Ask your server what they love best and they’ll describe their favorite dish and I’d say, “Order it!”

On Tuesday and Thursday they do a special pasta that is finished off in a giant wheel of delicious cheese. The week I went it was spaghetti with a cream sauce and pork cheeks and it was great. Their happy hour (4-7pm) is not a discount, but instead you get 3 small appetizers (like an amuse bouche) which were okay, but not as good as the entrees. The service was outstanding especially Juan!

They really offer the whole experience - great food, superb service, fair prices. I visited twice before writing a review, so it's time to get caught up. My first visit was on my birthday. My husband took care of making the reservations and choosing the location (after I provided him with a list of options, of course...) We were seated right away, even though we showed up a bit early for our reservations. Our table was against the window, offering us a view of the pedestrian traffic along Fir Street (which I loved!) Our waitress was attentive and friendly, and I believe it was the manager who came over a few times throughout the night to make sure we were enjoying ourselves and that we had everything we needed. We started the night with wine (I relied on our waitress to choose for me, and the wine was delicious), and Misto platter to share (fried zucchini, calamari, and shrimp). They brought out their on-the-house bites, which I can't for the life of me remember what they're called (and I've been told three times since then...) The Misto platter was good, but not outstanding. It's hard to mess up fried items, though, right? For our meals, I went with the Caramelle (porcini and black truffle-filled pasta in a truffle cream sauce), and my husband got the cheese wheel special that day, which was served with pork belly. I really wanted the cheese wheel pasta - it was what landed Monello on my short list, after all - but their selection that night had pork. The plates of pasta were divine, though way too rich for one sitting. I stopped eating my plate about halfway through, just because I was getting close to falling into a dairy-rich coma. My husband was suffering the same fate, as his pasta - already cheesy and saucy to begin with - was made even cheesier by the time it spent in the wheel. Still, he said he loved the flavors and would've had no problem finishing it had we not ordered the appetizers. And bread. Ahh, the rosemary bread - definitely worth the price! My husband insisted on ordering dessert, despite the fact that I was about to split a seam. We shared the chocolate pannacotta, which was rich and creamy without being overpoweringly sweet. I had a couple of spoonfuls before tapping out. And then, of course, the kitchen brought a scoop of gelato with a candle to our table. Of course! I was too full to eat a bite but felt obligated to at least try it. The gelato was cool and smooth, with a slight tart bite from the fruit. Would've been delightful on any other night. My second stop was with work colleagues, as a farewell to one of our staff. She, too, chose Monello for the cheese wheel (and ended up not getting the cheese wheel pasta, go figure.) We arrived early enough to take part in their happy hour, which sounds like a great deal - you get three bites of food for every drink you order - until you start to do the math on how much money those drinks are costing you. But still, everything they brought us - drink and bite - was delightful! For my meal on this night, I went with the Black Squid Ink pasta. We had also ordered the cauliflower florets, mini calzones and calamari to share (there were four of us, don't judge!) Before I get into my dish, let me just say that those mini calzones (or, "panzerotti") were the star of the evening. I'd definitely make a meal out of those! The squid ink pasta was very good - the sauce that they use is actually a lobster bisque, which gave the dish an interesting flavor. The octopus was perfectly cooked (so that it had a bit of bite without being overly chewy), and the pasta itself was al dente. The rest of my group loved their meals, as well. They ordered stuffed pastas and one of them got the cheese wheel special, so we had a mix of items on our table. Note - if you're dining on the patio, they can't bring the wheel out to you, so you have to walk to the entrance to see the "show". I do enjoy this spot, and am looking forward to coming back again. And I absolutely want to try their sister restaurant, Bencotto sometime soon, too!

After reading the ratings and reviews for Monello’s, I was really excited to try it. The Mozerella Caprese was fantastic. But after the appetizer, it was all downhill. I’ll start with my wife’s Gnocchi di Zucca. This was basically a lot of gnocchi in a minimal amount of a thin cream sauce with only the faintest hint of butternut squash flavor. No chunks of squash to give it any color or real taste. A very bland looking and bland tasting dish. My lasagna had a good amount of meat and the pasta itself was very good but there was no pasta sauce at all! How do you make lasagna and not use pasta sauce? Note to chef, the next time you are in the Bay area, get the lasagna at Pasta Moon in Half Moon Bay, CA. Now that’s lasagna the way it was meant to be.

So this was not our first pick in Little Italy. We originally wanted to go to Civico but they required a reservation so we ended up here- I’m glad! We ordered spaghetti con neri polipo and porchetta. The spaghetti was the best! Yummy and creamy. I tried to order the same at Bencotto (next door) and I gotta say Monello has better selections and tastier foods. I would def come back here again. My hubby enjoyed the fried pork (porchetta) which was cut in thin slices of pork with cheese and arugula wrapped in what it tastes like tortilla. Ordered a cappuccino to end our meal.

Recent early lunch business meeting at Monello. They featured a great $15 lunch special that included a sizable portions of burrata/prosciutto appetizer and homemade GNOCCHI MARINARA. None of the four of us could finish the pasta. All of the preparations were fresh and made to order. Strongly suggest this place for both authenticity and quality of the product served. Also great bang for the buck.

This place has a cool atmosphere, and their cheese wheel specialty pasta was a unique touch. We loved the homemade pasta - it was perfectly cooked, and the tiramisu was delicious, boozy, and more of a mousse than a traditional tiramisu. We had great service (shout-out to Justin) and great food!

If you like great food and great service, this is the place for you. I had black squid ink pasta with octopus - outstanding!!!!! The pizza is outstanding too - they ferment the crust for 4 days - so good.

Really appreciated that we could reserve a table for 12 out on their patio. Staff fantastic. Always nice when you can split up a bill. Tried the grilled octopus appetizer ($20, and ate it as an entree) hubby opted for the caesar salad ($14) and really enjoyed it. Highly recommend.

The service is terrific and the food was good. If I have any complaint, they bring the food very quickly. From one course to another, you must tell the server to slow it down. Nice looking restaurant with an adequate wine selection. Overall, I enjoyed the meal, the server, the atmosphere and the experience. It just left me wanting more, and I just can't be more specific. I would go back and I did recommend the restaurant to a friend of mine.

We are dinner here with our two young children. It is not a family friendly type place, but we enjoyed it. They were able to make pasta and pizza dishes to our children’s picky tastes and they enjoyed it. Our meals were excellent and the drinks were great too. This is more of a trendy date night or friends night out type place, but we enjoyed it. The gnocchi was excellent.

With the exception of the water server, the wait staff were inattentive. My ravioli was so overcooked it was rubbery. It should never had been presented to me and I should have never ate it. Mostly I just ate the filling which was very good. Others with me were also unimpressed. Give this place a skip.

I've had tails and lobster meat in different dishes before, but never had the opportunity to crack the claws and such on one. Well, I had my chance at Morello. I had the spaghetti alla aragosta and it was a sight to behold! The pasta was firm, the sauce was flavorful and light, but with so much flavor. The lobster was a little challenging to clean simply because of the sauce on the shell; it made it slippery and a little less crisp to crack open. It was a little overdone (tough), but still very delicious.

Great atmosphere, amazing food, stellar service. Highly recommend the caprese appetizer and anything made with a cheese wheel. Our water glasses were never empty. My only negative is the outdoor table was too small for all the food :).

Great service plus great food is a great experience! My friend had the pappardelle with ragu sauce. I had the lasagna which had spinach pasta as the base. We both really enjoyed our meals. they sat us quickly (no rez) and our waiter was nice and attentive.

Little Italy in San Diego is where you'll be in good hands. We've decided on the Monello. Very courteous, friendly service. Taste the wine first. We went two nights. And everyone recognized us. The food was an enjoyable pleasure.

Really good Italian food - had the butternut gnocchi and tortellini alfredo. Large portions. Service was good. Only negative was that we ordered food and it came out in about 4 minutes. No time to sit and relax and enjoy a glass a wine.

We loved the food here. Pasta was fantastic. My children even loved the octopus. I had the pork shank and it was fantastic. So was the bellini! A must eat in Little Italy!

This is a marvellous Italian restaurant which is both traditional and contemporary. The setting is pleasant and relaxed and the service thoughtful and informed. I had lasagna which I often do on the first visit to an Italian restaurant. If they canmot do this, right, what can they do? I grew up in Italy in the 1950s and the lasagna I had at Monello was the best I have had since a little place in Parma (then a kind of epicenter of lasagna country) about 1959: Flavorfull, creamy, and crispy in the right places. On subsequent visits, I will try to order something else, but don't know if I will be able to. We had a great meal and great time and the price was more than reasonable.

Decor was nice but the lighting is awful. I felt like I was in a Costco. Gave us a small dish of beans that were super bland but no bread? What Italian restaurant doesn't give you bread to start? Caesar salad looked good but the dressing is clearly a store bought Caesar vinaigrette. Way too much vinegar for me. No bacon or prosciutto. The parmesan frico was a nice touch. I had the penne ragu. It was actually quite good. Not memorable but decent. Overall it was decent but not good enough that I would come back. Service staff was super nice.

A great place for pizza and pasta. There is a lunch menu available but you also choose from the larger portion dinner. We opted for the higher priced dinner pizza, considerably larger than the it's afternoon conterpart. I ordered the 12 in crimini and cheese, my husband had the veggie pizza. Both were terrific, tons of veggies. Veryy good!!!

Food was excellent, restaurant was very loud, service lack luster, overall disappointing considering the choices in Little Italy , and prices.

My family and I came to Monello by "default" as we were looking for something in the area that would accommodate young children (3 and 11 months). They gladly welcomed us. We were pleasantly surprised to find out that this is the "sister" restaurant of another highly rated nearby restaurant. The food was absolutely delicious. They had a scrumptious calamari, the table bread was devine and the main courses were equally satisfying. To top it off, it was my birthday and they brought out a fantastic scoop of ice cream and basically the whole restaurant sang in my honor. The service was truly detailed and on point. There wasn't a single thing to complain about except for my own loud 11 month old. Would come here again and again if we lived in San Diego.

Happy Hour is an amazing grazing of Chef choice delights each time a drink is purchased. I love the cab wine, my husband loves the craft local beer. They make their own pasta. Drawback, parking is to be desired. not awesome but if you keep driving around you will find a place. Give it a try :)

The staff were friendly and welcoming and the service was good. The decor was industrial and the concrete slab walls made for very a very loud environment. With the exception of the salsa ai peperoni - 4 pepper sauce, the food was tasteless and bland. Overall, it was nothing special.

Having been to Italy recently, I was craving some great pasta and I found it here. Arriving on a weeknight at, it was busy! Servings are generous. Several times a week they will serve a dish from a large hollowed out cheese. It can be quite noisy and difficult to hear your dining companion. Service was good. Although we had reservations, I had to wait for them to clear the table.

We went to Monello as it was a sister restaurant to our first choice and just down the street. The most unique thing about it was that for ever alcoholic drink purchased, three small appetizers were also provided. They were definitely not standard fare - oyster, clam chowder, pizza piece, salmon sushi just to name a few that I recall. Definitely rather upscale in menu and price but not in decor. Lots of seafood options. One in our party selected Octopus - which was truly not chewy as usual, but it was such a dramatic presentation, she could hardly eat it. The more common selections were okay but not fabulous as the price would suggest. I think there are better options, particularly for the price. Wait staff was very nice.

We ate here on two different occasions while we were in San Diego. They have excellent authentic food, very invested wait staff. Price points were also excellent. Don’t miss the happy hour.

We had a meal here while visiting our son in San Diego. Service was quick & attentive! Good came out quickly & was delicious! I had the penne with monello sauce - very good!

This is a great spot! We ordered calamari, pizza and wine. All were excellent. They don't use heat lamps so the food was delivered as cooked! The calamari was fresh and delicious. The pizza dough is exceptional. They use a four day process which makes the pizza lite, not heavy. I can't say enough about Monello. The staff was friendly and helpful! I really like this place!

We reserve at 8 PM and we had to wait 1h to enter… the service was really not good… when we paid, the server didn’t let us write our review… how is that EVEN POSSIBLE ??? Is this a joke or what ?

Nice atmosphere. The prices are high and the portions are fine. They offer many GF options. The food was good but did not blow us away because nothing was very flavorful. The pasta in the cheese wheel barely had any cheese flavor, seems more like a gimmick. It was good, but not good enough to visit again since there are so many choices in the area.

First we started out with the most delicious, freshly baked bread with a flavored EVOO. I could have eaten the entire portion myself, but I had to share. My main course was the pasta with a bolognese sauce (w extra garlic), & wow, so delicious as well! Everyone liked their dishes (gnocchis) in a cream sauce, but they really loved mine! I actually ordered it because I don’t care for cheese, and this fit the bill perfectly. Their tiramisu was also very good.

Great spot in Little Italy. We were looking for a spot to have desert and a good glass of wine after some great sushi at Sushi Ota. Daniel the GM of The Hake(great restaurant by the way in La Jolla) told us that this was really one of the best spot to try in Little Italy. The restaurant was packed on Sunday night at 9:40pm so really a good sign. We went to the bar and Lalo took care of us like a maestro. He gave us the warm of an Italian server with great advises (a true consigliere) Everything went molto bravo! We had two great glasses of Chianti Il Grigio, Some portobello fungi and fresh shaved Parma. He also gave us some light and shaved mozzarella cheese everything was "Delish", fresh and soo Italian. We will be back for more but this is a great destination. Modern look, Great ambiance and fantastic service at the bar! Gracie mille! Patricio

A perfect spot in the heart of San Diego’s Little Italy off the main drag but fully emerged. Vibrant crowd. Full and active at 6pm. The food was great. Family restaurant. Spaghetti Carbonara with large pieces of bacon. Wednesday special was an amazing cheese wheel pasta. Great staff.

You should come here. Words just don’t do this pasta justice. Excellent service. Excellent food. Excellent drinks. Be like Nike and just do it.

Wife wanted some good Italian food so we came here. Me not so much a fan but the cocktails were good and she enjoyed the bowl of pasta

Nice restaurant and had 1/2 pasta portion starter and pizza main. Pasta very basic and pizza overly spicy. Service good

Food and service was great. I agree that it was quite rushed to get you in and out. It lacks old Italian atmosphere but the food was good.

The restaurant is extremely noisy with concrete reflecting noise in all directions. The food is good but nothing special. The lasagna with seafood had too much cheese. The ossobuco was a bit over cooked but the mashed potatoes was hand made and very good.

We were advised to try this place as it was one of our Air BNB host's favorite places in Little Italy. He was absolutely right. We each got a drink and that comes with three of the chef's creations to try. The manager came to our table for a chat and told us that these apps are where the chef is given free rein to create whatever he/she wants. All three were great and just a tease as to what was to come. I got great recommendations on the three entres I was considering before selecting the lasagna. I may have made the wrong choice, but I do not thinks so as it was amazing. I usually end up taking a bit of my dinners home, but this was so good that I ate it all at the restaurant. We were told the noodles were made fresh daily, but I knew at the first bite they were fresh! After eating I considered returning another night for one of the other two choices I had passed on because the lasagna was soo good. However, the manager, Paul, offered some other places we might enjoy in San Diego. We tried two of them and he was absolutley right on them as well. I would tell you the other places names, but I think you need to go to Monello first and get the recommendation for other places after you eat.

The food, atmosphere and service are very good. The pasta is made in house. For a unique experience try the pasta prrpared in the cheese bowl.

A server at our breakfast spot recommended Monello & my husband and I are so glad she did! I had the pasta in the Parmesan wheel & it was exceptional! The manager Vanessa was very pleasant and even went out of her way when my husband asked about cannolis for dessert. They do not serve there but their next door sister restaurant does so she offered to get for us. How over the top and they were great to! Kris was our server and he was very friendly and attentive. Great spot for homemade pasta and great service!

Words can’t describe how good the food is. Calamari was cooked perfectly, cheese wheel pasta is a 10/10 dish and the pizza was delicious!

We went to Monellos to try the table side cheese wheel risotto. The atmosphere of the restaurant is very charming and the service was excellent. The "cheese wheel risotto" was fun to watch being prepared table side. However the flavor, was very average. I also tried the Margherita pizza. The ingredients were very fresh. The crust was very thin and soggy. I had to use a fork and knife to eat it. I was expecting a thin and crisp crust. On my next visit to Little Italy, I will be trying one of the other many Italian restaurants.

Good brunch - interesting choices including local Italian dishes. Very good service, nice to be a bit off the main drag in Little Italy less crowded

My wife came across this place and saw the menu. We drove from LA to SD to have this meal. Service was excellent. Atmosphere excellent. Marinara and ragu sauce excellent. I had the osso buco. Three small bones with lots of flavor and a little too much fat. Still very good. My wife had the gnocchi. It was heavy and dense...you had to chew instead of it melting in your mouth. Still very good even though the gorgonzola wasnt very strong. The calamari was good but have had better at many places. Drinks were made perfectly. Definitely a 4.5 star but not good enough to give 5. Always dissappointed to pay for bread...$2 for a good fresh sesame, olive loaf. Highlight was the red sauces... marinara best I ever had.

My wife and I had dinner here, and it was quite delightful as we enjoyed the pasta in this lovely restaurant! The highlight of course was the cheese wheel pasta (this week's special was butternut squash and pancetta), but the service and vibe was lovely and made the real difference.

We went with two hungry teenage boys and tried four different pastas. 3/4 hit the ball out of the park! Service was friendly and attentive, some fun cocktails, prices reasonable. Would definitely go back!

Overall the meal and service were good for me. I had chicken covered with ham and cheese. I liked it but not sure that I would order it again. My partner had a seafood dish and it was overly fishy tasting. The broth was overwhelming and left a lingering taste that was hard to get rid of. I only had one bite too. I don’t think I could have eaten the entire meal. Prices were a little high but given the area not unexpected.

We arrived here on a busy Friday evening without a booking and the staff were very accommodating, found us a table and made us feel very welcome. The service was wonderful and the food and wine was delicious. I highly recommend Monello and thank them for a lovely and memorable first night in San Diego.

Stopped here after walking around Little Italy looking for a place to eat. The greeter at the door gave his pitch on why we should eat there - and are we glad we took his advice. The service and attention to detail was excellent. During their Happy Hour for every drink you purchase the chef sends out 3 samples of appetizers from the menu. They were fantastic - especially the fried cheese cone and the octopus. We took our waitresses recommendations on cocktails and the main entree (Lasagna). The food was superb and the serving plentiful - we split our meal and left the restaurant comfortably full. I definitely recommend this place and we will return there on our next trip to San Diego. Our waitress was so helpful and was “spot on” with her description and then recommendations for dinner.

Visited with a large group and had a set menu of various Italian dishes, all of which were very good! Service was very friendly, fast and efficient and it was a great dinner experience.

We usually start on the outdoor/patio for HH. HH means regular price drinks plus tastes of yummy bites. This time we went straight to dining room. We tried mini calzones to start. Perfect bites of crispy outside and cheese stuffed goodness inside. I’m a cheese wheel pasta loving woman and this version was excellent. This fresh cheese wheel pasta with smoked meatballs was balanced and yummy. The hub had traditional lasagna and loved it. The BIL tried gnocchi but sauce wasn’t doing it for him. Service super helpful too. This is a no-brainer when in Little Italy.

Server had little info and there was no possibility of requesting a pasta with a sauce featured in other dishes. Had much better meals, service and atmosphere elsewhere in Little Italy.

First, happy hour! For the price of a glass of wine, you also get a tasty appertivo (chef’s choice). Though I did wish they had more Italian wine options—not a single Italian white! Still, totally worth it. As for dinner, absolutely order the cheese wheel pasta. It’s the signature dish, fresh pasta with the sauce of the day, literally created tableside in a giant wheel of cheese. I thoroughly enjoyed the crisp Caesar salad as well—simple with a dressing that was perfectly accented with anchovy. An Italian restaurant but just a bit different, a bit modern, and simply fun.

Overall a disappointment. You can have much better Italian food one block up in Little Italy. The service was very good but the food just OK. They are known for the pasta cheese bowl which I ordered. My wife had the lasagna. Neither were particularly noteworthy. The decor is strangely industrial and modern.

I did not expect too much of little Italy when we found this place, which serves aperitivo from 4pm-7pm with the drink you order. The chef himself selects the three tasty mini plates that are served with an aperol spritz or whatever else you desire. The barkeeper was very attentive and we always had a full glass of water. I will definitely come back again.

We had a great meal at Monello in bustling Little Italy in San Diego. We had a late reservation which we actually arrived early for and they did their best to accommodate us as soon as possible without a fuss. Parking can be a pain as it is crowded but they do have a very efficient valet service out front. The server was excellent and unwavering. Food arrived in a timely manner and was delicious. There is a large variety to choose from all freshly prepared. Good wine list too. I am sure you'll enjoy your dining experience at this fine establishment.

We stopped in at Monello after arriving at San Diego airport. The pasta was the highlight. Our server, Meagan, recommended the chef's special pasta: homemade pasta with a light sauce, then swirled tableside by the chef in a giant wheel of Parmesan cheese. Oh my, what a combo! Rich, flavorful, with the cheese fully integrated into the pasta. We can't wait to go back! The service was absolutely terrific, with Meagan as our server and Federico, the manager, stopping by to check on us.

Came here on a recommendation and didn't disappoint. Compared to a lot of eateries here Monello is a much more modern place with industrial ceilings etc but the food stays true with some nice twists. The panzerotti starter was delicious .. the filling like a gooey margarita pizza but in a nice way obviously. So were the meatballs accompanied by there own pot of sauce. My wife went with the cheese wheel .. I with the osso bucco.. both excellent .. Portions are of good size too ! Wine was excellent and not too pricey .. Service spot on. In a very competitive market Monellos is a good choice .. its a bit different but ticks all the right boxes.. Recommended.. Enjoy !

Happy hour is the best! They bring out little tasters and we were given ravioli, aroncini, caesar salad, a few different pastas and I can't even remember what else. I had the Monello pasta which was very smoky (a little too much). The wine selection was decent and the space itself is open and inviting. Worth a few visits for sure...

My friend and I escaped our depressing conference hotel for lunch and it was so good we brought our boss back for dinner! The prix fixe lunch deal is the BEST deal- giant portions of delicious food for cheap. We literally rolled our way back to the conference after lunch (that gnocchi is so good and such a soporific!). The minestrone was delicious. The bread and olive oil that came with the meal were delicious. Even at dinner, the prices were low for the portion size and quality, and the food was again just delicious. Good vegetarian options, too, which is not always a given. Wine by the glass was varied and affordable. Would definitely go there again!

The food here is great (and better than their partner/neighbor Bencotto if you ask me)...interesting drinks at the bar and very good service. the suppli al telefono was excellent but we had to send the first serving back to the kitchen as it was cold, but the next round was outstanding and delicious. the chicken parmigiana was enjoyed by my husband and I loved the gnocchetti con midollo small handmade spinach gnocchi, beef bone marrow, brown butter & sage sauce, one of the BEST dishes I've had in some time - however, it's rich and there is a lot, so I recommend to share.

I have been going to Monello and Bencotto since they opened (same lovely owners). They have added a lot to San Diego with these two restaurants. At Monellos we had the Minestrone soup with vegtables. For both of us it was a bit too salty, and not enough vegetables. We had the porchetta pizza and that was a hit. It came to the table a bit cold so it had sat for awhile. I always seem to struggle with the wine by the glass at both places. For example this time they had no classic Italian varietals by the glass (seems odd or lazy?). I ended up with a very medicore Sangiovese for $11 and it should have been $8, and the pour seemed thin and the wine was too hot. Always go back and next time we will go to Bencotto for the great Pastas.

The part where critic takes a bite and is transported to his childhood and is so comforted? That’s what the cheese wheel pasta did to me. I took a bite and had some strong past life memory of my Italian grandmother, and how much she loved me. It was that good. Simple, straightforward, and perfect.

We visited Monello after seeing that they offer pasta mixed in a Cheese Wheel. Having enjoyed similar meals in Florence, we were anxious to find something comparable, close to home. Monello was wonderful. We *thoroughly* enjoyed the ORECCHIETTE AL RAGU DI AGNELLO CREMOSO (homemade orecchiette pasta in a creamy lamb ragu). The pasta was fresh, the lamb ragu sumptuous and the cheese wheel -- combined with a topping of young Parmesan -- was thoroughly delightful! Recommend enthusiastically.

I had the Parmesan Cheese wheel special, pesto with pork cheeks. My husband had the gnocci. Both were excellent. It was romantic without being too dark or quiet. Our server, Eric, recommended the grilled Pulopi (octopus) appetizer, and it was the best octopus we have had, beautifully prepared. The outdoor tables were well spaced, and they had adequate heaters for each table. The meal was so good, we ordered dessert, which we rarely do. The Merengue and berries were a perfect light, fresh finish to our meal.

We saw the cheese wheel pasta on TikTok and had to come try it! They change the cheese wheel pasta every week (I think every week? Maybe every day?) but when we came it was fettuccine with mushrooms and sausage in a white sauce. We were seated outside so they let us go inside to watch him mix it in the giant parmesan wheel. The chef scraped off plenty of the parmesan and the hot pasta melted it all together and then he plated it for us. Delicious! Service was very slow and not very friendly - very rushed. There is no salt or pepper at the table and he acted offended when I asked for it. The cheese wheel pasta however was enough to make up for service. If you are in San Diego you should definitely check it out!

The cheese wheel pasta is a 10/10 and the portion size is huge. I couldn't finish it in 2 sittings. The drinks are great too, especially the Aperol spritz!

Actually, ordered through grub hub. The Margherita pizza was the perfect size for two along with the insalata mista. Had them customize the salad without issue and the greens were very fresh and went excellently with the pizza. Great food and fast service!

Sat at the bar and had dinner on a Friday night. The food was delicious and the service was great. Recommend making a reservation.

Monello is in San Diego's Little Italy district. They're known for their variety of pasta dishes warmed in half of a cheese block. We had the scampi pasta from the cheese wheel.

We had a great experience here. We were in Little Italy and had not decided where to dine. We have heard many great thing about Monello. We had no reservations and had to wait an hour but it was well worth the wait. The restaurant itself is in Little Italy and parking may be a bit hard at times. This is one of the busier areas of San Diego especially during the weekends. However most of the time we just park at the parking garage or paid parking. Being a native San Diegan, I have eaten at most of the restaurants in Little Italy. The restaurant itself is nicely decorated and comfortable but a bit cozy when they are busy. They do have a small outdoor seating area as well. The food was wonderful and was very authentic. I opted to have the Oscoboco which was great . Probably one of the best that I have ever had. My partner tried the Squid ink pasta with lobster. I am not a big seafood person but the dish tastes delicious. The best part about this restaurant was the staff. They were very informative about the menu when we had questions. They were also attentive but not to overbearing. The staff seem to work as a team. Overall we had an awesome experience. The restaurant was beautifully decorated, the staff was wonderful, and best of all the food was delicious. The wait was worth the time we had at Monello. This restaurant is busy and popular so it would be best to make reservations if you intend to dine here.

Modern Italian fare in a cool upscale environment. They have many great dishes but for first timers, get their famous cheese wheel pasta. You will be impressed.

I went there to celebrate my 2 years wedding anniversary and the experience was incredible. On Tuesdays, they have an amazing pasta that is tossed in a pecorino cheese wheel with truffle oil and shiitake mushrooms. Service was really good and family friendly atmosphere. We took our 1-year-old baby and she enjoyed the food too

Great food and great ambiance. Very busy but a lot of room inside and outside. In a bustling area in Little Italy. Parking can be difficult especially on a Friday night.

I stopped by Monello on a Saturday evening around (5:45pm) to beat the crowd. And, I’m glad I arrived this early. If you plan to eat here, please make a reservation. I was immediately seated and welcomed by three different employees. My waitress was kind and offered great customer service. I ordered the calamari as an appetizer and the cheese bowl pasta for my entree. There is no house bread, but you are given lupini beans. Give them a try, just do not eat the skin. The calamari was ready in less than 5 minutes. It was delicious and the sauces were great. I was called inside to see the cook finish my pasta in the cheese bowl. This was a unique experience that I enjoyed. The pasta was great too. I only wish that there was more. Overall, this was a great dinner spot. I enjoyed the food, outdoor eating area, and customer service. I highly suggest this restaurant. And, if they’re too busy, go next door. Both restaurants have the same owner.

Fantastic service and a very good wine recommendation from our server. Our meals were pretty good, one of the four was delicious and the other two were a little mediocre....2 people in our party added shrimp to their entree and it was a bit overcooked, which was disappointing, but overall, a very nice experience.

Monello was recommended by a friend, so we decided to try it one Saturday morning in Little Italy. I am glad we did. Everyone was very happy with their meal. My friend and I had the ricotta pancakes, which were delicious, and very light. Served with blueberries and lemon sauce, I have tried to reproduce this recipe at home without as much success. Husbands had a sausage/potato/egg dish that made them very happy. I would like to go back for dinner, as you can customize your meal by choosing your own pasta and sauce. Monello serves Milanese food, in the best tradition of Italy.

Been here a few times and each time it's delicious. I seem to keep getting whatever their cheese wheel pasta is. Definitely worth it, but I see what other people order and it looks amazing too. Good atmosphere, sometimes the metal chairs on the concrete floors make a little too much noise but it's not a deal breaker. Little on the pricier side, so not an every week type thing but great for the occasional visit.

Monello serves up Northern Italian food in a modern space in Little Italy. They offer an extensive menu of appetizers, pastas, pizzas, meat, seafood, with vegan and gluten free items. We had the cheese wheel pasta, which is pasta of the day prepared in a cheese wheel, a pizza, and a few cheeses to start. All delicious, and worth the calories. If you drive here, parking on the street is often a challenge. Also,they have a great happy hour, 4-7pm everyday at the bar. Each drink comes with three small plates.

Good food, small portions (except the pizza) extremely weak coffee. I took my mother here and we enjoyed being able to sit outside, but the table was too small and wobbly, and the space on the patio was generally cramped. Another party commented on it as well. The staff seemed overwhelmed and unhappy. They were slow and uninterested. All the food was good but I don't think it was any better than the other places in the neighborhood. The service was below average compared to places in the neighborhood. The coffee was the most expensive and the worst I have had in Little Italy. Nothing was terrible, but when there are 25 other places within a 5 minute walk, I will probably take my chances and try somewhere else.

Lovely restaurant to enjoy good food and good service. This is not Italian American sloppy food. This is the type of good Italian food you would enjoy in San Francisco and we are lucky to have it in San Diego. Excellent and attentive service from a friendly waitstaff. Totally enjoyable evening in a quiet restaurant where you can hear each other talk!

Wonderful experience from the moment we walked in the door. Being first to arrive, we sat at the bar where our server was friendly, and I might add made me a perfect kahlua and cream over - not stirred...perfect. complimentary snacks were delicious as were our meals...service was attentive without being bothersome, and as I said, food was delicious. Definitely put Monello on your list.

Love the food, love the service, and love the outdoor seating. I came here a couple of months ago with coworkers while travelling to San Diego. We were just passing by and decided to eat there. I loved the food so much that this time travelling with family, we walked around in the streets of little Italy to find the place. It was as good as last time. Also, one of the few restaurants we have been in San Diego that accommodated for my son’s egg allergy.

Cute spot close to my hotel. Skip the $4 bread. Carly, my server was really great. The shrimp ravioli was really good. I look forward to going back to try the two other entrees that looked interesting.

This was our first time in San Diego. The whole time here has been great. The food here did not disappoint. Really appreciated all of the local tips from our server Jen. If your in town give this place a try and hope Jen is your server 😎

We came here after finding a long wait at Bencotto next door. Ambience was pleasant; a bit loud, though. Food was very good.

Return customer of Monello, just wanted to leave a review. Love this place, the cheese wheel is great.. always changing the options for it so you can check their Instagram to see what they are currently serving. The entire menu is very good & in the heart of little Italy. Highly recommend.

Been to Italy a number of times but these guys get it just as good! No need for going to Europe :-) Excellent pasta, perfectly cooked with a touch of love on top.

We booked early as we had been out touring all day. Our favourites were not on the menu but when I enquired if they could cook our favourite the answer was 'thisa isa ana Italian restaurant, we cana cooka anything' How nice it was. They presented us with a memorable Veal Bosciola that was delicious, cooked to perfection and really hit the spot. Great service, friendly staff and no further recommendation required.

Authentic italian food....be sure to sit outside if you want a bit of quiet ambiance. Italian waiters were very attentive.... and the food was amazing especially the Gnocchi di zuppa was to die for....covered in gorgonzola white sauce and melts in your mouth! We want to go back again or the risotto with the cheese wheel. The bread for $2 is freshly baked and awesome!

I dined at the bar at Monello last night and really enjoyed the polenta topped with eggplant and tomato stew that I had. I purchased a glass of wine and was given a bowl of seasoned lupini beans and three other bite sized appetizers that were ok. My biggest complaint is that the wine, while excellent, is way overpriced. Maybe it's because I'm not from California but $11 for a glass of wine is too much.

Our daughter selected this restaurant for her graduation dinner based on reviews. The food was perfectly yummy. For appetizers we had: meatballs (not amazing), panzerotti (gooey small cheese calzones), fritto misto (light and delicious). We had two pizzas: piccante (spicy salami the best thing we had, I’m craving it now, but it is spicy) and one with cheese, mushrooms, and truffle oil. We had two pastas: excellent carbonara and flavorful lasagne. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. It was a bit too noisy for easy conversation. We didn’t order dessert, so I can’t speak to that. We walked around Little Italy and had pastries and espresso. The neighborhood is adorable an upscale Little Italy, a must see in San Diego.

Came here during COVID and they had a great outdoor set up. Several tables extended out to the sidewalk and even the street. Each table separated by a cute faux grass barrier. Easy to access menu via QR code to ensure more contactless service. We started with the SALUMI E FORMAGGI MISTI, and wow it was very plentiful with lots of choices and presented beautifully. Ordered the ravioli di gamberi, spaghetti neri con polipo, Caramelle, and finally FAI DA TE PASTA YOUR WAY. The waiter suggested for a kids order to order the pasta your own way and doing a half order which was perfect. My favorite was definitely the spaghetti neri con polipo which is a squid ink pasta with was plentiful with octopus sautéed in a lobster bisque sauce. All dishes had pasta which was cooked perfectly al dente. Great service, food came out promptly, everything tasted fabulous. They also serve pasta in a cheese wheel which I’m definitely going back to try.

We've been looking for a place with cheese wheel pasta for a long time! We were so excited to hear about this place while on a visit to San Diego this past week. We love truffle so it was perfect that the cheese wheel dish was a truffle one when we visited. The staff was super friendly and accommodating with our 4 kids. Everything was delicious and the pasta was super fresh. My only one issue was that I could have used even more flavor! Usually pasta dishes are heavy and too strong but these dishes were lighter on flavor than usual which is just personal preference. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal.

We were excited to go to Monello tonight. It was our friend's first time there and we had really talked it up, particularly the pasta entree tossed in the cheese bowl. We were shown to our table and waited...and waited...and waited. After about 20 minutes I went back to the hostess and asked if we had a server as I saw others tables around us, who had arrived after us, being served. After a few more minutes our server came by and (did not apologize) said that since we had brought our own wine bottle he thought we were being helped already. Well, our bottle wasn't open and do you see any wine glasses? And even if we had, aren't you our server? Should you at least say "hi"? My wife then noticed that our "server" was the bartender and the bar was packed. No wonder the guy wasn;t paying us any attention. We were the only table in the dining room being served by him. The next disappointment was the pasta tossed in the cheese wheel. It makes a fun presentation and we had planned on ordering. That was until we were told that the $25 pasta dish was spaghetti with broccoli. A rather uninspired dish and, unless it's tossed with truffles, not even worth $20. The rest of the night did not go much better. Our bartender/server checked back very infrequently and we had to rely on other servers to refill water or bring things to our table in his absence. I was really embarrassed that I had talked up this restaurant to my friend. At the end of the meal, I left a detailed comment card with my information on it and never heard from the restaurant. Just disappointing.

Enjoyed a nice dinner outdoors, good service with James, very tasty pastas and sauces. The pork shank with polenta was delicious. Frito misto was very light and tasty. Nice selection of wine and cocktails

Delicious Italian food in Little Italy! Very friendly staff. We ordered the cheese wheel with pasta. Unfortunately, the person working the cheese wheel was new and our food didn't have enough cheese from the cheese wheel. I would definitely go back, but would instruct the server to make sure he scrapes off enough cheese from the cheese wheel. That’s the only reason I’m not giving this place a five-star review. Delicious drinks, great warm bread with super tasty olive oil. This place is a must if you're in Little Italy.

Wonderful dinner with family. Started with the Polpette, meatballs with spicy gravy. Our table enjoyed the ragu, lasagna di peace & my favorite-carbonara. The taste took me back to Rome where I had cabonara many years ago for the first time. Dessert was light & made our taste buds happy! Don't have the names but a lovely meringue with a cream sauce & a chocolate pudding & cream topping. Our server was great with suggestions & the serve team was attentive but allowed us to have a great visit.

The food and wine was delicious; however, the food came out lukewarm and after a long wait. The service was just so bad. I had to wait for 3 waiters to go by to finally get the attention of someone to get a refill of water. I had no fork to eat with. I had to ask a waiter twice to get a check. Beautiful location with an excellent patio. The experience was subpar and disappointing. This is my second time eating here and it will be my last.

Food was well presented and tasty, however, one person of our group of five, received his pizza well after the other four had received their dishes. Agree with the one review that the person filling up our water glasses was very attentive but our waiter was less so. He did not notice one person had not received his meal until it was brought to his attention. Same in regards to our beverages; we had to get his attention to order another round of beverages. Very loud in the restaurant, sad that is so typical nowadays.

Great service but the food was not good. Salad not dressed and pesto was over sauced. Also there was not enough seasoning in the added chicken. It was mealy and lacked any flavor.

First of all I would suggest you eat outside if you are able to, it was very noisy indoors. We (party of three) ordered the Burrata appetizer to share- yummy, the Lasagna Monello which was very small and it came with nothing- no salad, or pasta, we ended up ordering the Pani house bread for $2.00 to have along with our lasagna. We ordered the Tartufo pizza which tasted very good. Overall I wouldn't rush here, it was overpriced for what we got. The service was very good.

Although we had reservations we arrived early and were seated within 5 minutes. Our waitress was a delight and we ordered a variety of food, all of which was excellent and superb. Wine was so good we ordered a second bottle. This place is a must for any special event. All on one floor, not like it's counterpart, Bonecotti, next door. It tends to be noisy but we ate in a corner around from the entrance which mitigated the noise.

Three of us visiting San Diego had dinner at Monello on a Friday night during the holiday season. We had wanted to dine at Bencotto, Monello's sister restaurant next door, but were unable to get a reservation. When on the phone with Bencotto, I thought to ask for another restaurant recommendation, since we were new to the area. The staff person recommended Monello and immediately got us a reservation. We were given an excellent table in a corner, where we could easily talk and enjoy the evening. I ordered the polenta with vegetables. The polenta was finely textured and creamy, and the eggplant and other vegetables were the perfect complement. One friend had the seafood lasagne and just about ate the plate itself. The wine choices were equally excellent. I can't believe we ordered dessert. I had a delicious coffee gelato. My only criticism, a minor one, is that the mixed greens in the salad were a little tired, perhaps the result of having to order produce ahead of the holiday season. But the balsamic vinaigrette was perfect--I prefer greens that are lightly dressed rather than drenched. This salad had the right balance. We liked our server, Daria (the name on my receipt). She knew the menu and wine list well and was very helpful. If this restaurant were a local one, I'd put it on my go-to list.

Fantastic service, really nice food. I wish I felt a bit better that night to try more dishes. Highly recommended!

We started on the outdoor/patio for HH. HH means regular price drinks plus tastes of yummy dishes. Then we moved on to the main event. Fresh pasta with the perfect balance of pepper in the cheese wheel. Perfection. Spaghetti and lobster was a winner too. Service super helpful too. This is a no-brainer when in Little Italy.

One waitress for all tables during lunch. Food was ok, but they managed to bring the wrong plate two times. Many other options near by. Not worth.

We recently came here on mother's day. We did have a reservation but still had to wait. Ok no biggie. We were seated inside and the restaurant was spacious and nice decor. We ordered the fried calamari and should have been tipped off when it literally came out 30 seconds later. But I figured it's mothers day, they probably have a system. The calamari was cooked properly but lacked flavor. The sauces were needed to give it flavor. We ordered bread and prosciutto to start and just as we went to take a bite our meals came out. Again literally 3 minutes after placing our order. They split our order for us which was nice but my portion had 3 shrimp w the tails and my hubbies was chopped up shrimp. Our meal was the saffron pasta with proseco cream sauce and shrimp. It was bland, no salt or pepper or flavor of any kind. We asked for red pepper to try and give some flavor. The shrimp was pretty bland as well. The saffron pasta needed more saffron, I could not taste it. My daughter had the taglitelle with formagi sauce, she said it tasted like warm cream. Again no flavor. We need to ask for pepper to give it some taste. We didn't even take our leftovers with us. Our waiter was nice. Overall I would not come back. I had high hopes.

We had the days's special of cheese wheel risotto with lamb shank. The portions are huge and will definitely fill you up. We also had the pizza and it didn't disappoint.

As much as I wanted to like this place I have to say a few words about our dinner there the other day. After a very busy day of sightseeing the city I wanted to take the kids to Bencotto which is next door. Had seen good reviews on TripAdvisor. We didn’t have a reservation and they didn’t have a table until 4 hrs later I was told, so the waitress suggested that they had a table for us at this particular restaurant which has the same owners and was a few steps away. We went there very pleased about it, then ordered what we wanted. I had the lobster bisque as an appetizer and I have to say that it tasted more like a tomato soup with a slight hint of crustacean. I’m sorry but I make it a lot better myself. The kids had a tasting platter of fried shrimp, calamari and zucchini. I tasted all of it and the shrimps were unfortunately very dry, but the calamari and the zucchini were alright. We ordered pizza, steak and gnocchetti for mains. Kids liked their food. I had the gnocchetti with bone marrow and I’m pretty sure I read it was supposed to come with a burnt butter sage “sauce”. It was most definitely not a burnt butter. Just warm butter, nothing burnt to it at all. It was heavy and I couldn’t even finish all of it. Gnocchetti were not light and fluffy. Frankly I’m getting frustrated about not being able to go out to eat to get something I can easily make better myself. We’re on a holiday here and where we live (Iceland) we rarely go out to eat so I don’t really have a choice at the moment. Are people’s standards this low? I haven’t been to one place on our stay here that I’ve been wowed over the quality of the food. I’m really sorry to say this. Cause I’ve been waiting for over a decade to come here and finally taste all these different cuisines.

As a repeat customer, I always look forward to dining here. Tonight the fish stew was fantastic. Our group enjoyed the meat and cheese platter as well as various pasta dishes and a margarita pizza.

Noisy, crowd, even noisier when crowded! With great pizzas and a wide variety of pasta dishes. One fish dish, one chicken. Don't go here if you are looking to diet. Large portions too. The pizzas are incredible. Very reasonable prices. Limited wine list.

Amazing restaurant with authentic Italian dishes including cheese round pasta. Great drinks and apps - the modern aesthetic adds to the lively atmosphere.

We have been here twice and have had a positive experience both times. Food is fresh, cooked well and tastes wonderful. We have had several pasta dishes with both marinara and Monello sauces (red with cheese and bacon) and also Lasagna which was delicious. Hard to finish as portions are large. Prices are on par with other restaurants in the area and of the same class, but it’s really worth every cent- you won’t regret choosing this place. We ate outside on their charming porch area last year and this year on street tables and chairs set up on decking with heating towers making the whole experience comfortable and very pleasant. Staff is attentive and gracious.

Monello is located just down the hill from the main section of Little Italy. Located is a modern style building, the restaurant has a very open and inviting interior. We selected the polipo, deep fried succulent octopus accompanied by fried potatoes and a little arugula and shaved fennel. We also had the fried calamari which was served with a delicious black truffle aioli sauce. Yum. Very friendly wait staff. A real winner.

I really liked this place and everything about it. The food, the staff, the atmosphere! Everything! We received a table very quickly after we arrived. The food (which was delicious) came in quickly after we had placed our order. The staff was very observant and continously made sure we were satisfied with everything. It made our night very pleasant. If you're sensitive to noise, this is not a place for you. But if you like me care for, or even appreciate a little background noise then I highly recommend you to pay Monello a visit.

We fancied an Italian meal so when in San Diego go to Little Italy, there are so many restaurants to choose from. We opted for Monello which did not have the usual rustic charm of a typical Italian but the pizza was great, super thin base and really tasty. My husband had the ravioli which was lovely. There are very little soft furnishings in the restaurant so there is nothing to absorb the sound so it was quite noisy.

It was fine but nothing special. I was expecting more for being in Little Italy district. Wine was good but I really expected the spicy spaghetti sauce to have more flavor. During happy hour when you order a drink they give you a little sample plate N/C which is a nice feature.

The food here is authentic Northern Italian cuisine. It is fabulous. Our service was beyond excellent. The tall ceilings make for a very loud eating environment so there is no quiet dining here. It's a bit difficult to get in and out as people waiting mill around the entrance. A suggestion would be the hostess stand should be moved outside. This is a very pricey restaurant.

Just off the main drag in Little Italy, Monello was a treat. Big plate of spaghetti with a meaty sauce was just what I needed.

Very accommodating staff, wonderful Italian food, great service. Sit by the window and watch the people stroll by or sit below outside. They walk around with a giant cheese wheel, very enjoyable meal.

We had the aperitivos and lupini as well as the triple sec rock and twist. The service is fantastic - attentive and fun. The drinks are superb - imaginative and delicious. The food is hot, tasty and just delicious. We will return often.

This location is in Little Italy and near many shops and others restaurants. I visited in August of 2017 for breakfast. The item I selected was like a chopped up breakfast burrito. It was very delicious and I was surprised by the large portion. I topped it off with the champagne and varied juice option. You have a choice of orange, pineapple, mango and pomegranate. At the end of my meal, I was asked by the manager how my meal was and was thanked for coming in. Great customer service! I would definitely come back here again.

In Little Italy there are lots of Italian food options but NONE as good as Monello! Their pastas are all handmade fresh daily and 100% organic! If you dine on a Tuesday, you can try the cheese wheel pasta of the day! We went on a Tuesday and enjoyed some of the best pasta I have ever had from the wheel of cheese, and its fun because they bring it out on a cart and mix it tableside! Such a fun experience for any cheese or pasta lover!! We also love their polpette (meatballs in an arrabbiata spicy sauce!) Make a reservation as this place gets very busy!!

We had a late reservation so ended up eating at the bar earlier and so happy we did! Our meals were delicious. We had 4 different entrees and each were equally amazing! The bartenders, Christian and Justin were so fun and seriously made our night while enjoying original craft cocktails!

Went for dinner during our visit to San Diego. Menu is hard to understand, food was very plain and tasteless, pretty spendy for what it is. Service was good and when you are there during happy hour they continue to bring little sample dishes out.

Located in Little Italy, Monello is a fun place to dine. You can sit outside or inside and the ambience is airy and fun. The food is wonderful. Our server, Annie, was super cute, fun and knowledgeable of all the menu items. Service was perfect. There is a bar where you can sit and eat as well. There were families, singles and what looked to be business meetings, so it is good for just about any dining situation. I highly recommend this restaurant for excellent food and service.

Wife and I love this place. Fresh everything. Fun at the bar sampling the appetizers and eventually eating. Clean friendly fast little Italy’s best pasta

Very pleasantly surprised. Lots of great choices on the menu. When it takes more than 10 minutes to choose something, you know you are in the right place. Real Bolognese style lasagna with bechamel not red sauce & ricotta, mixed seafood over freshly made pasta, squid ink pasta with grilled octopus, fried cauliflower which I have never seen outside my own kitchen. "Italian street food". I would highly recommend this place.

Nice chill vibe Italian restaurant in the heart of little Italy. The food was very tasty and the service was good as well. They offer cheese wheel pasta which looked good. We didn’t order it this time around though. We went on a Wednesday and the place was packed so I advise you to make reservations.

This is a first class, top notch, impressive restaurant. All staff were fantastic as were each item our group of five enjoyed. If you are visiting the area you DO NOT want to miss this experience. Cheese wheel, meatballs, bread, pizza and save room for dessert. The walnut tiramisu is mouth watering.