Fodor's Expert Review Cesarina

A wall of mason jars with pickled vegetables and brined olives transports you to an Italian market in Rome where the owner’s mother perfected generations of recipes that have made their way into this Point Loma eatery. Since its 2019 opening, customers have lined up for homemade Italian staples including pasta, gnocchi, meatballs, sausage, bread, and decadent desserts. Portions are generous and flavors are as authentic as they get. The tagliere cutting board is piled high with prosciutto, burrata, green olives, artichoke hearts, and marinated vegetables beckoning a dunk of focaccia with every bite, while the risotto and tagliata are cooked to perfection and the spaghetti with mussels and clams will have you reenacting Lady and the Tramp. For the finale, bite into the chocolate cannoli and then be sure to check yourself in the mirror as the homemade cannoli shells are flaky.