Update- I found out that the owner remembers my brother in law as he is a genuinely nice guy who adds a certain flare and excitement whenever he goes there to eat. Stop in and give them a shot, maybe my brother in law will be there!
(5)
Lady G.
Nice salads and okay pastas.
(3)
Nick H.
We used the Restaurant.com coupon here...and I must say that I wouldnt have enjoyed it if it werent for the coupon. The food was average and so was the service. It was very cold inside which didnt help either. We ordered a pizza and a pasta dish - It was salmon/scallops with a vodka cream sauce. Both again were okay and nothing special. The prices were sort of steep for the quality, but I guess that is becuase of the location. The one positive thing was that the place was in an awesome lcoation across from the ocean, which made it nice. Other than that I am not sure I will go back unless I have the restaurant.com coupon.
(2)
Allan P.
Four of us recently went there on a Groupon deal. Overall, not good, but the only plus was the food was good. I often wonder why some restaurants insist that you let them know you have a Groupon when you make the reservation and at the time you're seated...not after your experience. Well, no bread was served at our table, while it was at all other tables. Waitress's remark..."That's the buss boy's responsibility." No apology. The dishes looked a little skimpy, but were good. For one of our members, her dish was 10 minutes late, which kind of spoiled the deal......"One of the other waiters has taken the dish!!!" Later, the waitress said "You must has been starving, I bet that tasted good." Not very appropriate. You'd think they'd have some control over that type of event! Finally, I realized after returning home, that I had not received credit for the Groupon payment. After calling, they corrected that issue. Finally, it was a quaint, but very noisy environment. Don't believe we'll be going back soon, if ever. I would have given them 1-1/2 stars, but didn't have that option.
(2)
Philip C.
This informal restaurant was just ok. Nothing special. The usual menu items...salads, pizzas, pastas, chicken,veal. I had the veal with artichokes and although it was good, it was nothing outstanding. Entrees are served with pasta aglio olio (garlic and oil) and a vegetable. When we asked for extra parmesan cheese, the waiter admitted he was having a difficult time locating the cheeese. What Italian restaurant doesn't serve parmesan cheese with all entrees? This one! The service otherwise was good. I'm sorry but being a New York Italian, I tend to be extra critical of Italian restaurants in San Diego. Most are terrible. No one seems to be able to get their act together to make authentic Italian food. This one was no better than the rest.
(3)
Shalina G.
Went here for my husband's sunset romantic birthday dinner, and we definitely would come back. I ordered the Lasagna di Mare - delicious seafood lasagna (two things I love combined!) with very delicious tomato cream sauce. My husband ordered the seafood & fish pasta (salmon, seabass, calamari, tiger shrimp, and crab), very, VERY, good! They cooked the calamari to tender perfection!
(5)
Riccardo S.
Best Italian food I have had in San Diego. If you like Olive Garden or California Pizza Kitchen, then perhaps you should stay away from Cicciotti's. But, If you want to know what it is like to eat in Italy, eat here.
(5)
Lori P.
I have lived in the area for years and have been here about 4 times over the years. In the past I was not impressed but last night a friend and I went there for the start of Restaurant Week and I have to say they were VERY prepared for the CROWDS!! The food was OUT OF THIS WORLD and service was very prompt. I will definately be going back to Cicciotti's and if you go before Sunset it's an INCREDIBLE VIEW!!
(4)
Laurie B.
My husband and I went to Cicciotti's last night for his birthday. It's a cute place in a nice location. We were seated in the front room with a nice view where we could people watch. The service was good all around and we were really looking forward to our meal. My husband ordered the lobster raviolli and I ordered canneloni. When we took our first bites, I'm pretty sure we had the same disappointed look on our faces. We both had the same thing on our mind, "wow, this sure is bland." My canneloni had a cream and meat sauce over it. While it is meat rolled in pasta, the meat tasted like unseasoned ground beef and the plain meat flavor totally overwhelmed the rest of the dish. The cream sauce had a barely detectable flavor, even when I tried it on bread, without the meat. I don't like seafood, so we don't eat it at home, and my husband always orders it out (lobster raviolli is his favorite) - I have never seen him so unenthused about his favorite dish. All he had to say was that it was very bland. We would not come back for dinner. If they had happy hour or something like that, I would give appetizers a try, just because the location is so great and we had really great service.
(2)
brendan s.
I'm from New York so I'm very hard to please when it comes to restaurants and specifically Italian food. I will cut to the chase on this one. It's a well run restaurant with charming staff, a relaxing atmosphere great food and the best priced wine selection I have seen in any San Diego restaurant. We had reservations, and the place was packed, arriving a few minutes late I was pleasantly surprised that despite a long line of walk-In's they still had a table set up for us without any wait. Cicciotti'scan accommodate large groups, but is intimate and warm for a couple as well. We started with two appetisers the Lobster Bisque and Gamberi e polenta al Grand Marnier which is tiger shrimp on top of polenta and covered in a creamy grand marnier sauce, its absolutely amazing as was the Bisque. We moved on to try a stndard Italian favorite Lasagna Napoletana, a traditional Neapolitan Lasagna stuffed with meatballs, ricotta cheese, fresh tomato sauce, extra virgin olive oil and Parmigiano-Reggiano, at first glace the portion looked small but at first bite it was evident that the flavor was big and very fulfilling. We also tried the Sea Bass "Branzino alla Livornese" this fresh local sea bass sauteed with black olive, garlic, fresh tomato and white wine, served with organic sauteed vegetables was one of the best resteraunt prepared fish plates I have had in years. It was colorful, with an abundance of flavor, I would go back in a heart beat for this plate alone. Of course that was before diving into the amazing deserts. The Tiramisu' with Imported lady fingers, mascarpone cheese and espresso coffee was a huge hit as was the culinary challenging and amazing Chocolate Souffle' with Belgium imported chocolate molten cake with a vanilla gelato and white chocolate sauce. I was a little hesitant to check out this restaurant after reading a few negative reviews, I'm certainly glad I took a chance. This is an authentic family run Italian restaurant, and they have a amazing ability to serve beautiful and complex dishes in a comfortable no BS setting. I found the atmosphere and staff to be pleasant, the food was full of flavor and more than satisfying, and the price tag was fair, and the menu has so much depth it will keep me interested for a long time. I would highly recommend checking this place out, its a great Italian restaurant in North County, San Diego.
(4)
Buddy G.
We had an awesome dinner at Cicciotti's last night! Used the $20 for $45 Groupon and went in with an open mind after reading all the reviews pro and con. Yes, the menu is daunting as it has SO many choices, so we simply asked our attentive waiter what he would recommend. My wife had the mushroom stuffed raviolis with shrimp and I was torn between the pappardelle with shrimp and the meatball lasagna. I went with the pappardelle and the sauce was spectacular! Even the fresh baked bread with a cup of Italian tomatoes in a red olive oil sauce to put on the bread was to die for tasty. We were there early in the evening so it wasn't busy yet, so our service and wait times were just fine. They were much busier by the time we left, and the owner was helping guests along with the waiters - he seemed VERY attentive and checked in with us as we were finished to make sure everything was O.K. Thank you for the Groupon as we didn't even know you were there! We'll definitely be back. The only reason my review is 4 stars instead of 5 is that the salads are a la carte, and too expensive. Otherwise, awesome!
(4)
Marlene M.
Out of the four dishes we ordered, one was terrific. It was the one dish suggested by our waiter, Stefano. It was Pappardelle Gamberi: wide noodle, mushroom and tiger prawns in a wonderful sauce with truffle oil. It was worth the visit as well as a return visit. Comfortable atmosphere, friendly attentive staff, white table cloths were a classy touch.
(4)
Brent H.
My family and I love Cicciotti's. We live in Chula Vista and make the drive up to Cardiff about once a month to have dinner there. We go on Friday nights when Daniel is playing and sit in the bar area of the restaurant. He is amazing. We could sit at the table for 3 1/2 hours. The food is delicious. My father in law gets the mushroom risotto and it has been perfect every time. The pizza and lasagna is delicious too! We look forward to our trips to Cicciotti's!
(5)
Repeat P.
We found Cicciotti's because of Groupon. We camp across the street and thought we would give this place a try and were very happy we did. Comfortable setting with a view of the ocean, personable service and great food. Thank you for making our night out a very special one. We will return.
(5)
Ron S.
Went again last night. Wonderful experience. Love the family feel and pride in ownership. Also the staff is all calm and relaxed and ready to help.
(4)
Emily B.
I give this restaurant a "B" overall... The bread that comes with your meal is delicious. The appetizers are great, the lobster bisque was phenomenol, especially with the bread. Desserts were awesome. However, the entree was just average - nothing special. I had the striped bass and the sauce was good. I tried the mushroom pasta as well, not great. I would come back either for a large bowl of lobster bisque with some bread, or to try a pizza - if their bread rolls are any indicator of their pizza crust they've got to be great.
(3)
Tina T.
DESPITE WHAT THEIR REVIEWS ARE (OTHER SOURCES BESIDES YELP)... PLEASE DON'T GO, YOU'LL BREAK MY HEART. THEY ARE PAID TO ADVERTISE, I'M NOT. I would have given them a zero star but that wasn't an option! *They sat us in the back corner by the bar while everyone else was on the patio. * Waiter made an "UGH" face when we decided to go with water. *Took forever to take our order. *Dropped off the food to the table and didn't bother to ask if we needed anything else. Our waiter never came back to us to check up on us... while other tables were being serviced every few minutes. *I had to get up to get my own condiments "salt and pepper". *Even after we were done with dinner, our waiter walked by more then a few times and still didn't ask if we needed anything. So we had to search for someone to help us. The bartender called from across the bar and ask if we needed anything (mind you this place was suppose to be an upscale place). *Food was bland! Crab meat came from a can and was really smelly (fishy) and shrimp was over cooked to where it was hard and chewy. *We couldn't even get a single refill for our water! *After we were done paying, all 3 waiters sat by the door watching TV and not one person said, "bye". *Small portions and food was overpriced. *Waiter then was quick enough to go to the table after we left to check the tab. Overall, bad experience. I was hoping for more at an upscale place. In & Out provides better service than they do. I don't recommend this place. I would never come here again, first and last time!
Great Place! Been going since 2003, right after it opened. My wife and I had our rehearsal dinner here in 2003 and have been going ever since! Food is great! Best Italian in San Diego. We now go here for all the holidays, and I have changed my in-laws Christmas Eve tradition by going here instead of the place they used to go to. Gaetano told us before our rehearsal dinner that this would be our special place, and he was right!!!!! I would recommend this place to anyone who wants a good Italian Dinner!
(5)
John Carlo A.
My friends and I drove up to Cardiff to find a quiet restaurant for dinner without any groupons, coupons or high expectaions.When we entereed there were 6 people in a restatuant that appered to seat well over 100. We thought we would try it inspite of the initial impression. With all due respect it may have been the worst meal we have had in 10 years. I would hope the owner reads these reviews because there is a common thread with all the yelps."You are dying on the vine". Servers try real hard and do a very nice job. However the big screens, the jazz, the groupons and coupons are all signs of desperation. Do the right thing, either quit or get food in there that is at the very least digestable. Again this is not meant to be an insult as much as a wake up call from the obvious state of denial .
(1)
Debbie D.
Very good classic Italian food. My husband got the pepporoni pizza which he loved. I got the eggplant parm which was good but not the best. My daughter ordered a shrimp dish which she really enjoyed and she is a very picky eater. The waiter was attentive and very nice. We would definitely go back.
(4)
Mary A.
We visit Cicciotti's on a regular basis and love it! We go in large groups and sit in the bar area and enjoy wonderful food, beautiful music and great service. The staff remembers your name and always has a smile for you. We have sat in the main restaurant but prefer the bar area. They also have wonderful outside seating. The tomato dip and bread they start you out with is wonderful, the pizza is the best around and the risotto is amazing! Again, we go on a regular basis and have a wonderful experience each and every time. One last word, people going to any restaurant during restaurant week should not expect the best situation. From what I understand they were crazy busy, which will take down the best restaurant. Give it another chance, you will see how good it really is!
(5)
Aimee T.
It took more than an hour for our food to come out and not only that our waiter didn't even realize we did not get our appetizer... Until 30minutes later...
(1)
Paula M.
After a few visits years ago, our family stopped dining here because the terrible service wasn't worth the good food. When a Groupon was offered, we decided to give it another chance. Not only has the food remained tasty (delicious Bolognese), but service was wonderful! We will return.
(4)
Sheri R.
Horrible service. This is from a few years ago, but my husband and I went on a Saturday night, around 5pm. We did not have a reservation and the restaurant was completely empty. NO one else was there. The host rudely told us that he could only seat us at the bar as we didn't have a reservation. Needless to say, we left and have never returned.
(1)
Rokstardum G.
I've been there two times. Both times the service was excellent and the food was decent. Prices are decent. I'll be eating there again.
(4)
michael m.
Love this place. Right off Birmingham on San Elijo. It's got great food and atmosphere. One of my favorites for sure.......... Great date place.. romantic. Check it out sometime.... Huge wine list, reasonably priced.....
(5)
Gisenyi W.
The stars are for atmosphere and service. NOT for food. The food is bland, uninventive, and definitely leaves a lot to be desired. Came here for anniversary and ordered the Insalata di Pere: "grilled" pear salad: the pear was hard, had the core, the fennel was raw and bitter, there was one scallop and two shrimp. I sent it back. My husband had boring artichoke hearts, and boring steak fillet. We'd never come back, but our waiter was nice and the building is pretty.
(2)
Dean L.
Wow, my wife decided we should come here given the weather and cancel our restaurant week reservation at Kensington Grill because it's far away from where we live. We waited for 30 minutes to be seated so we could get our $20 special menu dinner. The cat/dog food that followed shows that this kitchen is not prepared for a crowd. The baked artichoke heart app was hard and tasted like playdough. The sea bass I got was the worst I have ever had - undercooked and lacking in any flavor despite being drowned in sauce. Even tiramisu was bad. Never ever go here with anyone unless you hate them.
(1)
Jason O.
Truly a jewel in Cardiff By The Sea. The food was phenomional,truly some of the best italian food in SD. The service was prompt and proffessional. I would have preffered my drink to be refilled a couple more times,but passable because of the amount of food we ordered. Weekends can be a longer wait,so hitting it during the weekdays are the best times to get in right away. If you are not from California and Know what real food is,I suggest you stop in. The woodfired pizza in transcendant,pasta dishes with seafood are their specialty. The house bread is homemade and delicous.Will definitly be back. Recommend to anyone and everyone!
(4)
Walt W.
Last night I had thick noodles with vodka cream sauce and lobster tail for a very reasonable $30. Tonight am having the veal parmasian baked with eggplant an served with cheese ravioli. It's all great.
(4)
Rebecca L.
If you like overpriced, under portioned food definitely come here. I don't understand why some restaurants think giving you less and charging more somehow makes them automatically fancier. When the server brought my seven ravioli I was genuinely disappointed. I couldn't help but feel ripped off when I left the restaurant hungry.
(1)
Julie G.
Formerly the home of Vigilucci's Restaurant, now called Cicciotti's and run by one of Vigilucci's master chefs, the neighborhood restaurant definitely makes for a great night out. One room is a bit more romantic, very dark and solely candle-lite and the other centers around a fire pit with live music on the weekends. The food is traditional Italian and is good. The service is friendly as everyone seems to be happy here. The prices also won't break the bank.
(4)
San D.
I went here with some friends for restaurant week last Friday. It was great! Authentic Italian food, great service. They take reservations which was nice cause it was VERY busy. We knew the service might be slow because of this, but it wasn't. I think we had Scott as our server and told him right off the bat that he should just relax, take his time, and get to us when he can cause we understood they were packed. He was so grateful and still served us everything on time, he even sat down and had a short chat with us. He gave us free cocktails at the end of our meal and even comped us our corkage fee! Smart guy, cause small gestures like that really get us to tell our friends, Yelp, and actually come back. Lobster bisque- amazing Sea bass- Fresh and healthy Chocolate Souflee- SUPER DELICIOUS.
(4)
Tom R.
We've only been here once, so consider that when you consider this rating. The wait staff seemed friendly and professional. While some of the food was very good, about half of it was below par. The tomato basil soup was very ordinary. While it didn't taste like canned cream of tomato, it also didn't taste better than the canned kind. Another mediocrity was a daily special of papardelle with brandy cream sauce and wild boar. It was nearly tasteless. If not for the service, the salad and the other entree, the rating would have been lower.
(3)
Larue G.
We enjoyed our time at this restaurant. The pasta was very good and when I complained about a dish that I didn't like, they replaced it immediately without giving me a hard time. The replacement came super fast, and it was delicious. The service may have been a bit slow in the beginning, but once we ordered the food came out promptly. We had a large party with many kids, and they were very accomodating. I would definitely come back.
(4)
Lindsay F.
DO NOT EAT HERE!! I just want to let you know I almost never write on yelp but my experience was so bad that I came on here right when I got home!! My boyfriend and I took our parents out to dinner and decided to try Cicciotti's italian restaurant. It was restaurant week and the menu looked good. What a mistake!!! The following outlines our experinece: 1. After we were seated at our table it was 35 minutes before our waitress came to talk to us and that was only after we asked someone to get us a waitress. 2. For restaurant week you order an app, a main course and a dinner. After we ordered we waited another 40 minutes for our food. After all that waiting, the main course came out before the appetizers!!! 3. The portions were ridiculously small and food not terribly good 4. When the appetizers came AFTER the dinner, it was dissapointing to say the least. They advertised grilled artichoke. They failed to mention it was 2 small artichoke hearts in a disgusting sauce that was stuck to the plate because it had likely just been microwaved. 4. When we ordered coffee and tea with out dessert is took over 20 minutes and when the tea arrived they just brough hot water no tea!!! 5. Our waitress kept blaming the food runners and the food runners kept blaming the waitress. Finally, when I went to talk to the manager to let him know about our experience he was terribly rude. He just kept saying how busy and unprepared they were. He then went on to say that they had to pack in the restaurant to make money and then said "well you got your food didn't you". I have worked in restaurants as a waitress for 8 years and never have I even seen a restaurant manager treat a customer this way. After this I will never eat at this restaurant again!!!! Save yourself the experience and go to When in Rome in Encinitas!!!!
(1)
Celine D.
Fast service and very friendly! Perfect pizza and flavorful sausage! Wasn't crowded on sat night of the races.
(5)
Jennifer P.
I've been to Cicciotti's twice and won't go back. No wonder the place is always empty. Food is mediocre at best and the service is just rude!
(1)
Jobi H.
Cicciotti's and Gaetano Cicciotti catered my party last night for 250 people at my home. The food was perfect and delicious down to the deconstructed salad, perfect cannolis and cakes, wonderful freshly made pasta and homemade bread. Gaetano "held my hand" leading up to the event, staffed it perfectly, served from passed appetizer to the end to keep the the party flowing, and the food was bountiful! The best comment I heard was "Wow, did you taste that? - I bet this isn't caterer food, this must be from a real Italian restaurant." Professional, warm, what more could you ask for?
(5)
Kathy M.
I must say, that after reading several reviews (through Groupon), my husband and I went to this restaurant with not too high of hopes. We were pleasantly surprised. True, it is not your high class 5 star restaurant, but wonderful for a nice evening out. It was a balmy evening so view of the ocean was not as nice as it could have been. Our service was perfect, atmosphere great and the food was decent. We will be returning to this eatery with family in tow.
(4)
R D.
The menu was great and the food was good. The service was really bad. - Server made eye contact with only one of the diners when talking about the specials, etc. - Salads came before appetizers and wine. - Server said "oh they're coming" when I asked about the wine and appetizers - When the appetizers came, the food was precariously balanced on the table, as there was no room for the large salad plates and appetizers - I borrowed some chairs and put the salads on the chairs to make room. 3-4 service people plus manager walked by with the chairs in their way, but did nothing other than walk around. - I finally complained to the manager and he took the salads back in, noting the server made a mistake, but not apologizing. - When the wine finally came and the server was confused about who ordered it. - When entrees came and were place in front of the wrong diners (only three of us). Since this place is positioning itself as a nice restaurant, you'd think they would improve their service and train their servers.
(1)
Doug F.
I don't understand some of these negative reviews. I have been going to this place for years and have never had a bad meal. I love their thin crust pizzas made to order and their pasta dishes. The staff is super friendly and the owner, Gaetano, is the real deal from Naples. Hugh wine selection and very reasonable prices. You can sip some Chianti on the front patio, the main dining room or the bar and watch the sunset.
(4)
Joanna F.
The pasta is SUPER Delicious!!!! Location is great! I would recommend this place to anyone who wants a romantic dinner with beautiful beach view.
(5)
Jared S.
Nothing amazed me here. In encinitas you have many Italian eateries. I would probably choose a different one.
(3)
Kate P.
We were here recently to 'carb load' before a race the next day and because I was craving good Italian food. To begin with, we walked in and it was a bit unclear where the host stand was to get seated. A man who appeared to be in great haste rushed past us and was quite rude in saying it would be a minute. No one else bustling by stopped to ask if we had been helped so we stood awkwardly in the hallway area. Finally the hasty man returned and sat us in the front dining room. The first thing I noticed was that it was LOUD. I could barely hear my dining companion. Next we had to wait a LONG time before our server arrived to take our order. Our menus were folded and set down on the table so it was clear we were ready to go. The servers were bustling around and in such fury that it made me feel nervous. I'm not sure if there were under-staffed our just scared of their boss, but I didn't like the aura produced by the servers running around like headless chickens. Finally our food arrived. I ordered the eggplant parm, which was good - no complaints there. My date ordered a creamy seafood pasta and did not enjoy his as it was bland. When we were almost done, our server stopped by for the first time to see if everything was all right. Not a terrible experience, but definitely not a place I'd return to!
(2)
Amy V.
So we tried this place last night for the first time for restaurant week. The menu looked great and for $20 we thought what a deal! They sat us immediately which seemed like a good sign. The restaurant was fairly busy so we were patient when our waiter took a while to come over to us. Finally our server, a guy with dark hair and glasses, came over to take our order. We ordered a glass of wine and a beer, about 10 minutes later our server finally came back, we thought he had forgotten. I could see that he looked flustered and being in the service industry myself I know how busy restaurant week can be so I tried to empathize and be patient. Our appetizers finally came and they were great very good food, however that's all i can say about the food as my meal never came. We waited for 30 minutes after our appetizer came. All the tables around us who had sat either around the same time or after us were already eating or on dessert. Finnally I asked our waiter if he could check on our food because we had been waiting for so long. He barely acknowledged me and said ok then he came back a few minutes later just as we were getting ready to walk out and said "it'll just be a few more minutes". We said no thanks we just wanna go, and instead of trying to get us to stay or even apologize he says ok fine whatever then yells to the kitchen ok cancel that order. Cancel the order??? We ordered it 35 minutes ago!!!! I wish I could have wrote something great as the food looked and smelled good but seeing how I never got my meal I couldn't tell you and as for the service I think they need to either hire a few more people or hire servers who can handle a few tables at once and who have better customer service. If our server had just simply apologized and been honest and told us he forgot to put our food in we would have gladly stayed but instead he didn't even acknowledge us and then when I finally stopped him he was rude. Don't waste your time if your looking for a good place to go near that area for restaurant week with awesome service and great food try Wild note cafe in Solana beach!
(1)
Bets L.
Had dinner here last night for Restaurant Week. According to their website, "Reservations are not accepted during Restaurant Week" so I didn't bother making a reservation. However, when we arrived, we realized that almost every patron checking in had made reservations. What. I was a little bummed out but luckily, the bar wasn't as busy so we had our dinners and drinks there. Our waiter was attentive throughout the night and our plates were cleared almost immediately after each course. I ordered the lobster and shrimp bisque for an appetizer and my boyfriend ordered the ravioli. The bisque was superb--it was rich and full of flavors. You could definitely taste the lobster and shrimp but it wasn't as overpowering. The ravioli was alright, it just lacked a little flavor. We were given complementary bread and tomato sauce as well; the tomato sauce was quite good and the bread dipped in the bisque was delicious! For our second course, I ordered the flat noodles with shrimp and scallops and the BF ordered the lamb dish. The noodles were okay; the flavors didn't pull through as much as I would have liked (thus, I topped it off with some parmesan cheese) but it was creamy just enough that we were able to finish it. I tried a little bit of my boyfriend's lamb; it was mildly gamey and had an interesting taste to it but by the end of the meal he said he was tired of the taste. For desserts, we ordered the chocolate souffle and the cannoli. The souffle was quite delicious, it was very "chocolate-y" but the ice cream made it just perfect. The cannoli was good as well, not too sweet and its texture was great--the inside was full of cream and the outside was very crispy. We paired our meals with their wine deal (3 glasses of wine per meal for $12). Our total bill came out to around $70 so it wasn't too bad. I would recommend coming here for RW.
(4)
Kristina I.
Fabulous food! Fabulous service! Oh my gosh, the entertainment- Daniel Hendricks was AMAZINGGG!!! I loved that the vibe was laid back and fun. I also loved that he incorporated his students, who were also fabulous! I loved it! The night could not of been any better! We will definitely return!!!
(5)
Bob J.
The reviews on Yelp looked good, so we purchased some Living Social vouchers ($15 for $40) We finally got around to going and we had a very nice meal. The location is good, restaurant is nice/pleasant inside, and the waiter was great, Both of the meals we had were very good, chicken piccata with angel hair pasta and a cioppino with clams, mussels, calamari, and a lobster tail on fettuccine. Total meal was about $60. We will definitely go back again. I still have two more Living Social vouchers that expire 1/20/2015. After that I would like to try to lunch menu and they had a $20 dinner special that looks great. We sat inside on a cool night, but would love to sit outside on the front patio with a western ocean view or maybe on the cozy back patio.
Good atmosphere food is tasty service can be very good to pretty average depending on when you go. If busy I would pass but if not too full go for it!
(3)
Roland F.
Disappointed. Service was very nice but the food very disappointing. The lobster bisque was super watered down and tasted like milk. The salmon had no taste. Desert was great.
(2)
Deb N.
I have been here for lunch a few times and was always very pleased. I hope that after this evenings meal it goes back to what I have come accustomed to. I had an expired groupon that I wanted to use the value of. It was Mother's Day and on the front door was a printed note saying that no coupons or gift cards would be honored today- not what I hope but was willing to stay because the food is always solid. We chose to sit outside by the fire pit- it's coZy and was a great night out. And the fire kept us warm. We ordered the house chianti to start - this is where a star was deducted - not for my tastes at all- we asked the gentleman who refilled out water for the wine list again since our server was no were to be found. When our meals came he asked what else we needed and we swapped out out wine - it was nice they let us do that and I was pleased with the clos we ordered. The food as always was on pointe I will be back - and make sure to enjoy a different wine
We just continue to love this restaurant! A couple weeks ago, we brought some friends with us. They had a wonderful time and said they'd be back! Can't receive better praise that. Thank you for making our experience so tasty & lovely.
(5)
MJ Z.
Dining Date: 09/27/14 Meal Time: Dinner I came back to this restaurant, as my brother was in town and thought he might enjoy it. I called to see how late they were serving, as it was already 9:15pm and we probably wouldn't arrive until 9:30pm. The manager answered the phone and said they close the kitchen at 10pm, so they will take the last orders at 9:45pm. I told him I had a LivingSocial coupon and the coupon stated I needed to make a reservation - he told me to just come in, as they weren't that busy. When we arrived only 2 couples were in the dining area and they appeared to be finishing up so my brother asked if we could sit in the bar area since it appeared to be a little more happening. The manager asked if we had just called in and I said yes. He took us to the bar and seated us. I had never been to the restaurant on a night where they provided entertainment and it was quite enjoyable, which was a nice treat for my brother visiting. The piano player they have there is extraordinary and he allows the patrons to request songs and sing along with his playing (although he did not know the Nate King Cole song I wanted to sing - bummer!) Our meals were okay - I think I enjoyed my pasta more than my brother enjoyed his fish (he said it was quite bland). All-in-all it was an okay experience - except for one little thing that rubbed my brother and I the wrong way at the end (and hence my lower rating than the last time I wrote a review). The waitress, who I tipped 20% on the original total before the coupon, came back to the table after we had paid and made the comment that she wanted to make sure that we understood the next time we come in with a coupon we would have to sit in the dining room. I told her that the manager who sat us knew I had a coupon because I told him on the phone and then when he went to seat us, he asked if we were the ones who had just called in. It just seemed so unnecessary and it left a bad taste in our mouths. It was like paying for coach seats on an airplane and the captain allowed us to move up to first class, but the flight attendant finds it necessary to clarify that the next time we fly and pay coach, we need to stick to sitting in the coach section! Seriously - how rude! My brother owns his own restaurant and he was floored that the waitress said this and noted he would be upset at any of his servers if they said something like this that made customers feel uncomfortable. The restaurant was dead - they were lucky to have our business that late at night - with or without a coupon. And they shouldn't offer coupons if it means they are going to treat their customers differently than those who do not use coupons. And if the coupon carries such rules, it would have been better for the manager who sat us to say, "Normally our coupons restrict the bar area, but since tonight is slow - we'll make an exception and let you enjoy the entertainment we are providing". Both the manager and the server failed to do so, so it was a little sting she gave us after what we thought was going to be an otherwise pleasant evening. Had the entertainment not been as good as it was, I think my rating would be even lower. Just not sure how soon I'll be heading back....maybe once the sting wears off!
(3)
Jennifer S.
Great place!! I am from NY where Italian restaurants are on every corner. This is my favorite Italian place in San Diego. Great bread and tomatoes to start. The best chicken parm that I have had with a little splash of eggplant. Nice portion sizes. Delicious pizza. Beautiful ocean view.
(5)
Naz L.
I love it here! The food is delicious and reasonably priced, though carb heavy. The eggplant appetizer is to die for. The atmosphere is so nice any given evening!
(4)
DaGreat S.
I love this place! The bartender is pretty funny! I would recommend this place only if your going to dine! This is not a get in and get out place. This we need more of that take your time and enjoy your food!
(5)
Chrissie B.
Cicciotti's has become one of my go-to restaurants for a really pleasurable dining experience. I love dining on the "porch" with the windows open on a typical San Diego day. I usually try a different dish when I go and I've never been disappointed. Today I tried the eggplant parmigiana and it was excellent, served with a side of pasta (yum) and perfectly cooked veggies. The bread was warm and fresh served with a tomato dipping sauce which I always enjoy. The restaurant is casual with a European flair but the service and food has always been wonderful. The highest compliment is to say I'll be back for more.
(5)
Ariana T.
Me and my love went here for our anniversary. Not only was the food exceptional, the service was exceptional. I wish I remembered her name, she deserves credit. We had an ocean view at sunset. It's a nice decent price for a high quality atmosphere.
(5)
Mark K.
Just excellent. Oysters Rockefeller with a wonderful and savory sauce. Salmon arrived piping hot, and they were happy to substitute vegetables for pasta as the side. Attentive service, lovely atmosphere. Never been disappointed here.
(5)
Tom A.
We got here about 6:40pm on Friday and the place was pretty crowded but they made space for the two of us in the bar area. We were served quickly and the food was amazing! We started with a egg plant appetizer that was terrific. I ordered the osso bucco special and my date ordered veal piccata di vitello, both were excellent! The food, the atmosphere and the people were amazing! We will be back!!
(5)
Hal C.
Lights out !!!!! Great meal...Great Service...Great everything....Thanks Gaetano for an awesome evening. Love that you took time to visit table when you had a packed house.....It shows we were not the only ones who love uour food and service...Thanks again
(5)
John G.
I've driven pass this place for some time now. Never thought twice about going in. My girlfriend was really craving Italian food and she recommended this place. Being gluten-free it's very difficult to find great Italian food. This place does any dish with gluten-free noodles. They have a lengthy wine list. The menu was well diverse and the service was excellent. I definitely recommend this place to anyone and everyone.
(5)
Jonathan L.
This restaurant offers excellent food, and excellent service! I like the setting. It makes one feel comfortable. I will continue to come here. It is also located by the ocean; Come check it out!
(5)
dan h.
Do not take a restaurant.com or groupon certificate to this restaurant. It immediately makes you a second class citizen and even limits your choices. The minute we walked in, I realized that they forgot to put out the welcome mat. It was not a friendly atmosphere. That was before I presented the coupon. After choosing two expensive selections, we were informed that they could not honor their happy hour prices for wine and appetizers, because we had a special coupon. It went downhill from there. No restaurant's food is so good that they can treat customers like beggers. If a business is going to advertise in such a way as to lure in customers to sample their wares, they should "get a clue." Even with the coupon, we were paying a substantial price for the meals. Obviously, we departed before finalizing the order.
(1)
Alyssa R.
Not sure about the other reviewers' negative experiences - this place is wonderful! Are here last night with a Living Social voucher and was so pleasantly surprised! A beautiful sunset only added to the great atmosphere and patio. What a great location right on the beach! The best part? (Besides the great food, of course) - dog friendly!! They brought my pup a little bowl of water and did the same for the other dog on the patio. I will absolutely make this a regular spot from now on - good food plus dog friendly is a winner in my book!
(5)
jill N.
My husband and I were camping across the street at San Elijo State Beach and had bought a Living Social coupon to try it out. AMAZING!!!! First of all, we could walk there from our camp site. Second, the view of the ocean at sunset was divine! The waitress was kind, sweet, beautiful AND efficient!! The food was TERRIFIC!!! We had a salad and eggplant parmesan.. The bread was the best too! The servers were nice and all were attentive. They don't rush you and it's very relaxing. Quite romantic! We are definitely coming back!!
(5)
Natalia M.
This is the most amazing restaurant in San Diego county ! Truly a rare find, with great food, great ambiance (very NewYork), ocean views, and the the owner Gaetano is so friendly and inviting! Daniel is a fantastic opera-level singer who adds lots of flavor to this place ! You are really missing out if you haven't been here!
(5)
Riley R.
Probably like a 3.5 Loved the atmosphere. Great location with a great view of the ocean (and the prices weren't crazy high either! Win!). Good lighting, could see and yet was still romantic/fun (depending on who you are with haha). Wasn't too loud so you could have good conversation, but also wasn't so quiet you felt you couldn't speak up. Slow service, but it was still a nice evening (was busy so not too concerned). Drinks: I know nothing about wine. When I first started drinking I thought I did and then I quickly learned I knew nothing, so I was perfectly ok ordering the cheapest glass of Napa Merlot on the menu, and it was just great. Food: Bread. Not good. They need better bread. Its plain and not yummy. Tomato sauce or whatever that came with the bread was deliiicious. Was like free bruchetta. Was great! Olive oil was light and noooot good. Ordered the cheese ravioli based on a positive yelp review. Was good! Loved it simplicity, but still needed... something (needed some sort of "kick" at the end of it). Afterwards got the Tiramisu and it was delicious. Food was good but not fantastic. Still had a great time!
(3)
J M.
Bought a groupon as recommended in reviews and tried it out. Good food and service and was surprised to learn they also have a nice view! Need to come back and sit by the bar/piano area where I hear they have live music at 7pm.
(4)
Edward C.
The ambiance was pleasant and sauces were good. We ordered chicken marsala, a three meat entree, and shrimp with mushroom pappardelle pasta dish. Management was also very accommodating. Thanks for a great dinner!
(5)
LeeAnn B.
My best friend had a Groupon that was going to expire so she asked me on a date (woo hoo!). My first impression of Cicciotti's was awesome. I love non-chain places and this building is definitely a bit older, but they had it fixed up so nicely. The patio is gorgeous with limited seating so it's not too crowded and beautiful rock decorations. The view from the dining area is to die for as it overlooks the ocean and there is ample parking in the dirt lot across the street. Unfortunately, we had to wait a little longer than expected since we did have a reservation that was made a few days prior. In their defense it was extremely crowded, so maybe it was just unexpected for them or something. It was a Sunday night so even a few of the customers were surprised how crowded it was. Once seated we took a look at the menu and I decided on the cheese gnocchi and it was okay. It was a little too bland and didn't have much flavor, which was surprising because the ingredients called for a few different cheeses. My friend ordered the ravioli and she was a big fan of her meal. The bread they bring out prior to the meal is delicious, but make sure to ask for the vinegar and oil because they don't bring it out automatically. They do bring a tomato dipping sauce, but I much prefer the oil. We needed to order more to make it to our $40 mark for the Groupon so we both ordered Shirley Temple's...SO GOOD!....and also the chocolate souffle at the end and that, too, was delicious. Overall, beautiful restaurant and I'd be willing to give it another shot. It is a little pricey to only have a "decent" meal, so maybe I just need to order something different!
(3)
Briana S.
Charming Italian restaurant by the beach... I came here last Friday with some girlfriends to celebrate a birthday. We had a reservation and were seated quickly. We were even given a choice of being in the room with the pianist, or away from the music. We chose the music. The pianist was great, and he played a wide variety of music... Billy Joel, Italian classics, etc. The only thing is it is louder if you sit near him, so you won't be able to converse as much. Bread is provided with a bruschetta sauce--yum. This did not help with me trying to avoid bread! :) My friend and I decided to split a pasta dish and each get a salad to start. I got the caprese, which is basically one of my favorite salads of all time. There was a generous portion of mozzarella, and very fresh basil leaves, but the tomato was very pale and flavorless. Fortunately, the balsamic balanced it out. T and I shared the gnocchi with vodka sauce. Splitting a portion was just right. It was fine, but nothing spectacular. As another reviewer mentioned, they don't offer grated parmesan cheese, which was unusual. They don't do desserts for birthdays, but if you order one, they will add a candle and sing. So I slyly told the waiter to bring a cannoli and the pianist (and basically that half of the restaurant) sang to my friend. The cannoli was actually three small cannolis and were really good. In summary: Location: beautiful Parking: easy Restaurant: charming Music: fun, but a bit loud Food: decent
(3)
Michelle T.
We have become regulars here and absolutely give a 5 star rating! Everything on the menu is beyond delicious but I am addicted to the veal piccata with lemon and capers. It is to die for; have recommended Cicciotti's to many people and all have agreed that the food, service and atmosphere is excellent. My appetizer of melon and prosciutto the other night was gorgeously presented and tasted so fresh. Thinking about it makes me want to go back tonight! Michelle T-Carlsbad
(5)
Jerri H.
This place has a great view, great service, great food, and has been a favorite of mine for many years. Their thin crust, wood fired pizza is the best. Do yourself a favor a check it out. A hidden gem.
(4)
Nhan T.
Came here for the last day of Restaurant week and I gotta admit this place is pretty swell. The food was definitely worth the price and the service was amazing. I'd most likely check out this place again whenever I'm back in the area!
(4)
CINDY F.
The food is amazing, every visit I am impressed more and more.. Best Gnocchi ever! Great service, Delicious food, great atmosphere.. I bring many friends for Dinner and they are all amazed and are also repeated guest!!!! Friendly Staff ** great drink Menu** and again the Food is delicious !!!!
(5)
Carol H.
Just moved here and love this place! Food is amazing, atmosphere warm and inviting and the staff especially Gaetano is incredible! Can't wait to come back!!
(5)
Steven T.
Food was ok. Place really small could barely fit between tables. Did not live up to the reviews on here. Will not go back. Only reason it got 2 stars was for the wait staff.
(2)
Ivan C.
I went with my wife yesterday for lunch.The service was very good and the restaurant has a fantastic view.They offer tomato with bread and olive oil with balsamic vinegar which was so good .We order a Cesar salad which was a little bit average but the pasta was delicious .We will be back .
(3)
Christina M.
Wow!!!! My family was very impressed with this place tonight!! Excellent service, delicious food and great ambiance. We had the calamari for our appetizer, my husband had fettuccine Alfredo w/chicken, and my daughter and I shared Bandiera Italiana which is a sampler meal of gnocchi w/creamy Gorgonzola pesto sauce, cheese ravioli in Alfredo sauce and cannelloni. Sooooooo yummy!!!! We live right up the street so we will definitely be regulars here!!! :))
(5)
David G.
My wife and I dined here recently and enjoyed a wonderful meal. My wife had the Scaloppine Ai Funghi Porcini, which she loved. About 4 nice pieces of veal in a delicious brandy cream sauce. I had the Lasagna Di Mare, which was layered with seafood. Both dishes were served piping hot and both of us took some home for dinner the next evening. Service was good. I had a coupon, but on Sunday and Monday nights they have a 3 course meal special for $20 (no coupon accepted) that was a steal.
(5)
Woody M.
Good food at a reasonable price. Nice tables with a view for sunset.
(4)
Diane G.
We have eaten here many times--summer and winter. It is the epitome of a funky small town restaurant. There is an extensive menu to choose from, the food is always hot and delicious and the service is great. In the summer or fall, it is great to sit outside on their small patio and see the sunset (be aware of the trains that go through on the close by tracks). The mood is casual just like the town of Cardiff. There is a small parking lot in the back but plenty of parking across the street on the dirt next to the train tracks. We love this place and return again and again. It is especially a great bargain if you have a LivingSocial coupon or a Groupon.
(5)
Tammy M.
Back yet again and just as good. This time had the caprese and pizza. I am never let down
(5)
Chuck M.
We had dinner here last Saturday night. What a treat! The food was exceptional. I don't recall the name of the appetizer, but it was fresh melon topped with prosciutto accompanied with beratta cheese. Amazing! Our entrees were equally outstanding. The other treat was being serenaded by Daniel Hendrick, and his incredible voice. What a fun night!
(5)
Rick M.
Took my wife there for a date night. I made reservations prior to our date, I requested a table by the window as I had read reviews first and heard about the incredible view...I was seated immediately upon arrival but as far from the window as we could have possibly been seated. We both were hit by an odor that can only be described as very stinky feet (I read this in a review of the place but wrote it off as a grouchy guest) the smell was intense but we both agreed to stick it out and not be complainers. The service was not great...the servers seemed overwhelmed (it was busy) and just wanted to rush to get your order. It was very impersonal. When the food arrived it was a little cold and seemed like cheap Italian food....almost tv dinner quality. My wife pretended to enjoy it for my sake since it was my pick for our date. But later she admitted that it was pretty gross. Needless to say it will be our last visit to Cicciotti's. Only thing we enjoyed was the wine. Total bust. Do yourself a favor and steer clear of this smelly dump.
(1)
jessica c.
Excellent Meat and Lamb Gnocchis, plate is big and filling! Pretty interior and ocean views, service ok. Beer selection not best but fresh bread, home-made gnocchis, and good chicken piccata!
(4)
Eva T.
I love everything about Cicciotti's Trattoria. The moment you enter, you are greeted and seated in a beautiful front room, facing the ocean. The food is first rate, authentic recipes and the wait staff is attentive and friendly. I always opt for the fabulous cioppino which, luckily for me, is often a special. My companions have enjoyed the lobster/shrimp ravioli and the homemade lasagna. Each meal is an event and the owner is personable and sincerely wants every customer to be a satisfied, return diner! Thank you and see you again soon, Gaetano! Eva T
(5)
Man Is H A.
we love coming here for italain food. One of the only places where the kitchen is open a little later than the other restaurants. We were in on a Saturday night and they had live singing in the bar. The singing was awesome (opera, Billy joel, etc.). Just a chill place with really good food, friendly staff, entertainment and a view to the water. Doesn't get much better than that, right?
(4)
Steve H.
We love coming to Cicciotti's for excellent food, wonderful ambiance and a great experience! Gaetano Ciccotti, owner and executive chef serves up some of the best authentic Italian food in all of San Diego County! We love that they always have special deals on wine, as well as luncheon specials. We also love taking advantage of the live music they have on Friday and Saturday nights. Looking for a great "date night" experience, try Ciccotti's in Cardiff by the Sea! Wonderful ocean views compliment a great dining experience!
(5)
Nory B.
Came here for a child's 1 year old birthday party. The service was excellent and very friendly. The food was really good! We had vodka penne, meatball pasta, chicken piccata, grilled vegetables, and lasagne--all had really great flavor! Can't wait to come back to try their regular menu!
(5)
Mari A.
Beautiful place, loved the spanish tile flooring, the mini outdoor/indoor patio and bar, and love that beyond the terrian, you can catch a glimpse of the ocean behind it. Sadly however, it was average at best. Came here for restaurant week for lunch as Encinitas happens to be the half way point between a former co-worker (Carlsbad) and me (La Jolla). The items on the menu drew me and my coworkers in. So we sat in the outdoor patio, humid but with a beautiful view, there were three items for entrees and three items for dessert. Luckily, there were three of us and we each got a different item from the menu. The only one worth mentioning as part of the entree was the Lamb Ossobuco: incredibly tender and sauce was delish. Didn't care so much for the risotto which resembled more like traditional rice mixed in with the sauce. The other entrees: seafood fettuccini and minced crab stuffed salmon (both embedded in lobster sauce), we're not as tasty as we were hoping it would be. Between the desserts, my friends Tiramisu was probably the best one. My creme brulee and my friends chocolate lava cake was sadly disappointing. Great location and place to enjoy a nice day in San Diego, but on a gloomy day, with gloomy food, and service that was equally as gloomy (he didn't look so happy to be there and I think he may even have been the owner), I think I'd try and pep myself up at the Wine Steals that's down the block.
(3)
Chris B.
The filet mignon is kick ass. It's cooked to perfection and the sauce on it is remarkable! Plus the lava cake is perfect, it is light and fluffy and super delicious just like a lava cake should be! I would give this place 5 starts only if the waitress would bring drinks by more often plus she stood at my table telling her life story when all we asked was "how long have you lived here" she was friendly though so I commend her on that but the main reason I give this 3 stars instead of 4 or 5 is because of the bathrooms which are seriously in a parking lot and they only have a woman's bathroom and a unisex bathroom. No men's so the bathroom lines get super long and you don't want to wait in a parking lot when you want to eat. Otherwise the food is kick ass and I'm so coming back here!.
(3)
Sherry R.
Everything good. Delicious food. Impeccable service. Romantic atmosphere as we were sitting by the open window on a perfect evening with a full moon we could see. The middle of the room seemed a bit noisy for my taste, but it was Sat night and they were bustling! But by the window was quieter. Just outstanding. We found this place on Groupon.
(5)
owen l.
We came during lunch. We ordered the meat ball appetizer. The ricotta is an amazing ingredient to have with the meat balls. We ordered the eggplant Parmesan and pasta carbonara. Yummy.
(4)
Alisa M.
I would love to give this place a better review because the location/views and staff are lovely. The food is good but not awesome. I was pleased but not awed. It's actually the first time my husband didn't finish his ravioli or take it home. He said the same. It was good enough. With so many exceptional Italian places in Encinitas area to choose from Cicciottis is a place to come for pizza and a drink.
(3)
Simeon Z.
After a recent Sunday dinner, I left feeling "Ok" with the experience, as the service was very good and my food tasted ok. We started with friend calamari for an appetizer and it was "ok", but a bit bland. I wasn't sure if it was homemade or not. My bf had a linguine dish with seafood, including a decent sized lobster tail for ... I believe about $36. He had difficulty finishing it. I tasted it and it was quite good. He felt it was a fair value for what he received. I had a special as well which was Butternut squash ravioli with shrimp and bay scallops in a well seasoned creamy white sauce. Pluses to the dish... sauce was really good and ravioli tasted good as well. Downside is that I the ravioli appeared to not be homemade, only 3 not so large shrimp which were way overcooked and tough, and bay scallops, well they were as usual, tiny and without much flavor. I wouldn't have been put off had it been a little more reasonably priced, but I failed to ask the waitress about price when she was citing the specials. I paid $28 for the dish and just didn't see the value in that. I personally don't think there's any excuse for charging that much and not using large count shrimp and sea scallops. Just as importantly, homemade pasta is a must at an Italian restaurant. I don't wanna pay those prices for frozen ravioli which I can purchase at the grocery store or Costco. Worst of all, I finished the dish (flavors were very good), and was still hungry. That should not be the case for a $28 meal. So would I go running back? I definitely wouldn't run but I liked the service and I have a feeling that I would have been happier with a different dish. For that reason, I see no reason for others to avoid trying it and making their own decisions, though I will likely be making a different choice next time I am craving Italian food.
(3)
Diosabbath ..
Great service, Outstanding food. All in all a great experience. We were here for our 10 yr Anniversary. I can not express to you guys the service we received. They were constantly making sure we had water, wine and checked on us once the food came to make sure everything was okay. Will definitely come back.
(5)
Richard K.
Ate here last night 7/18/2014. We had a $25 coupon which helped and have eaten here a few times before. This time for some reason both our meals were ok but somewhat bland. We asked for pepper flakes just to add some additional flavor which help. The scenery was great and I must say very beautiful! Will be back and hopefully have a better meal next time..
(3)
David C.
OK meal, a little pricy and only way to eat here is with one of the coupons as it is regular Italian food. nothing special but decent food with a good view. took the family there the other night and glad we got there early as it gets noisy as the evening goes on, but great sun set. there are lots of regulars that come in, and we noticed the last three times we eat here, that it appears there is a "two tiered" service level. One level for the regulars and a different level for the new comers....not so unusual but took a while to get re-served. update on 7/12/2015 had to go to the bar to get a refill on my drink...two levels of service...
(3)
David T.
Have been here several times over the last year. Some visits are a 3 star, other 4 stars. So 3.5 stars is my rating, and I will round up. I will go back! If you are coming during the summer, or Fri / Sat you need to make a reservation. This place is busy. I like to sit inside, in the front glassed in porch area. Ask for a window table, or you will be stuck in the middle of the room. There is also an inside room (where the bar is) with some cool tables. Its noisier and much more active. This room has a few TV's on the wall which for me is a real buzz-kill. They have an outdoor front patio that is nice - fire pit and heat lamps. This is the call during the summer. There are also some tables out back (on the way to the restrooms) that I would call "overflow." You don't want these unless you are interested in watching the bathroom traffic. They have a private parking lot in back - the entrance is a small alley on the north side of the building. Easy to miss. It's your lucky day if there is actually a parking spot. If not, you are on your own. Drop off the ladies in front, as it may be a couple of blocks before you find a parking spot. First thing your order is wine (or maybe a cocktail.) There is a full bar. There are some nice bottles of wine, but I always find that a simple red like Nero d'Avola goes great with seafood. If you want to go the white route try the Vermentino. Label does not really matter with these style of wines - they are young and fresh by nature. The food has been consistent. For appetizers I like the Calamari + Zucchini Fritti and Eggplant Involtini. We have also ordered the Margherita pizza as an appetizer - it's a nice thin crust pizza. The house salad is a nice spring mix, and large enough to split. The Cesare salad is completely forgettable (ordered several times, never again.) All of the pasta selections I have tasted have been great - notable plates have been the Gnocchi and the seafood pasta entries. Things I would never order again are the Saltimbocca and the Veal Marsala. Dishes I would go back for are the Scampi and Cioppino over Linguine. Seafood is the way to go here. Cant forget desert - The Cannolis have always been fresh with a nice crisp shell. The Creme Brulee is also a great choice and goes well with a tawny port.
(4)
Jo L.
Absolutely fabulous dinner We were seated facing the sunset in an open air dining room. The wait staff was courteous & cheerful. She explained the menu & suggested the dinner specials. When the food arrived, we were surprised how good the lobster ravioli & seafood pasta were. The owner/chef, Mr. Cicciotti, a native of Naples, Italy came & greeted the dinner guests. He told us that there is NO FREEZER in the restaurant because he shops daily to ensure the freshness of the ingredients. Needless to say, we shall return!!
(5)
Larry P.
I guess #SaturdayNight is not a good night to review a restaurant here. It was our first time and our 10th Anniversary and wanted to listen to the live music. The service was #veryslow because the waiter was a amiture singer and was more interested in trying to sing than taking care of us.
(3)
Aline S.
What a traumatic experience! Got major food poisoning after eating at this restaurant on a Monday night dinner. My boyfriend and I order the filet special and the seafood lasanha. We both ate from both dishes and we both got really sick at 3am that same night. We were throwing up all day and both missed work as consequence. I called the restaurant on the following day to warn them not to serve the food to anybody else and the owner acted like we were making the whole thing up. Seriously Mr Gaetano!!! I've worked in the restaurant industry myself for many years and don't make things up like that. He basically told us to prove that we got sick on his restaurant and denied we got sick there. He was very rude and defensive to say the least. Anyone that has ever got food poisoning knows exactly what made them sick and where.
(1)
Christine N.
Great food! Excellent Service! Have gone back again & again! Always a enjoyable evening!
(5)
Mandy L.
Cicciotti's is in my neighborhood and was offering a Groupon, so of course I checked it out. The wine list is okay - I've definitely seen better ones at other local Italian places. Next, we weren't offered bread until our food was already out. Typically, I see this when you are first seated, so it was a little strange. We were seated in the corner of their enclosed patio area, and felt a bit squished in. In the other room they had a live opera singer which we could kind of hear, but only because we were seated on the very edge of the patio room (between us and the other room was the entrance hallway). Since we were kind of in an awkward spot, I wasn't really able to take notice of the decor. In our particular seating area there were just clippings of magazines and awards granted to the restaurant (again, maybe this was because we were kind of seating in the entrance area). The food itself was great! I would give 4 stars to the food itself. After we got our food, we didn't see our server at all. He never came and checked on us. In fact, we were done with our meals for about 20 minutes before he came over (at this point, I had flagged down a busser for a take-home box). I'd love to check it out again, but the prices were pretty high without the Groupon, and the service we received was definitely not worth the price they are asking.
(3)
Tony T.
Went here for the 5th time last week and had a horrible experience. We got severe food poisoning and had to go to the emergency room. I called the owner to explain what happened and he immediately got defensive and belligerent. He said if he acknowledges what happened it means he's guilty. I asked for a refund and he basically said prove it or go to hell. Also said he had my information and to do my best?!?! Mind-boggling how he thinks its ok to treat people like this I keep a very detailed account of what I eat and im 100% certain it was your food that made us sick. How can we both get sick otherwise? And yes you were extremely rude which is completely out of line for someone who runs a respectful dining establishment in our community. I don't care about your refund. we just felt awful after what was supposed to be an enjoyable evening and I felt that it was the least you could do for what you put us through. Please try to be more courteous to your patrons rather than the hostile manner by which you treated us.
(1)
Laura D.
Now that I have had many bad experiences with Italian food in North County, Cicciotti's gets the highest marks. I almost took off a star for the noise, but we were there at prime dinner time on a Saturday night and all places are noisy at that time. This place is just so charming. It's a little cottage with two sections of tables, one in the bar, one in the front room ringed by windows. Ok, the train tracks are right there and every once in awhile you get a blast of train noise, but it doesn't bother me at all. There's also a sweet little patio in front of the restaurant. Massimo greeted us at the door and gave us each a big hug. Love those Italians. We were seated promptly (luckily we had a reservation) and our waiter came over right away, and bread and bruschetta sauce arrived promptly on the table. We both started with salad: Peggy had the Primavera, with onions, olives, greens, tomatoes and a bunch of other stuff. I had the Insalata di Mele (Salad with apples) which is my favorite. It has a bed of greens ringed by sliced apples, with some goat cheese, onions and about 6 really nicely grilled shrimp. It's a lunch meal in itself.... But this was dinner so on to the pasta: Peggy ordered the Ziti alla Vodka, but she altered it slightly by adding shrimp and artichoke hearts. They were happy to comply. The sauce was creamy-tomatoey and absolutely delicious, especially with a bunch of parmigiano piled on the top. I had the Lasagna al Forno which was exactly as I expected: well-cooked (no underdone noodles to saw through), with a delicious bolognese sauce and topped with luscious melted cheese. Yum. BTW, they have really good thin pizza, but they only serve it after 5 pm because the pizza oven takes that long to heat up. We had a wonderful time and were really enjoying getting caught up on each other's lives, but around 8.30 the noise level was so high I was getting a headache and my throat was getting sore from having to yell. So not a place for a romantic dinner on a Saturday night! Cicciotti's I will be back again and again! Thanks for keeping the authentic Italian tradition alive.
(5)
Suzie A.
I love this place.... We were here for restaurant week, and even though the menu was only select items we were not disappointed! The filet was delicious and the desert was delish! I can't wait to come again!
(5)
Gina A.
Walked across the street from the San Elijo State Beach, dog in tow. Got a patio seat with heat lamps making the brisk winter weather toasty and comfortable, so no issue with the dog. Happy hour hors d'oeuvres were generous portions for the price and excellent! Meal included a $10 upgrade to add lobster tail. I expected something like langoustine, but got a nice sized, perfectly cooked tail on top of an amazing shrimp and crab linguini. We will definitely add this place to our "regulars". Oh, and a very broad and sophisticated wine list too! Amazing find!
(5)
Joe D.
As someone who was around when Gaetano opened this restaurant, I wish things would have been better this evening. Here are the highlights from this evening's dinner: 1. Called to make reservations. Person on the phone gave me an attitude like I was bothering them to actually do so. While it's race season, and even thought Del Mar is closed today, I thought it prudent to call ahead. Attitude was what I got in the phone. Are you kidding me? 2. Arrived on time, but waited at the front for five minutes before someone from the kitchen acknowledged our presence. Gave us a nice table, so thank you. 3. 25 minutes later, and I was checking since we were on time, we had bread and water. No acknowledgement. No drink orders. No "we will be right with you". Nothing. If it weren't for the bread, we were ready to walk out then and there. 4. Server arrived and we ordered appetizers. Caesar dressing was plainly from a bottle. Appetizer special was just fine. Getting better than the atrocious start. 5. Ordered main course: gnocchi was clearly not restaurant made. Most likely from a vendor like Trader Joes. Really. Tagliatelle and ravioli were fine. Not great, but passable. 6. House chianti was fine for the price. 7. Our server removed our silverware after appetizers, so at least someone trained him. Thank you! I can't tell you how horrible it is to have a rookie put the appetizer silverware back on the table. Other server (blonde female) passed our table a dozen times when we were obviously waiting for service, she should have said "I will have your server come by"- but she never did. Her myopia was shocking. Her tables were all that was relevant to her, not the restaurant as a whole. Open your eyes dear. It pains me to say this, but there is no reason to come here when there are so many excellent options nearby. Gaetano- professionalize your staff (phone to hosts to waitstaff) and stop relying on pre-made sources. We go to your restaurant for a reason. IMF all I need to do is open a package of Caesar dressing and boil pre-made gnocchi, why bother? Your location is awesome. Your menu is capable. The execution fell way short this evening. WAAAAY short.
(1)
Hungry L.
Amazing food, amazing service, I will definitely be back! The lobster stuffed ravioli was tremendous. Salvatore was a great waiter and ensured we were comfortable during our visit.
(5)
Jennifer H.
I've been here a couple times now and each time I have enjoyed my selection. They have a menu with plenty of variety for everyone to find something that suits their craving. I would definitely recommend Cicciotti's.
(4)
Arianna W.
Well, the food here is fine. It's a bit over priced for the food, but I assume they are also selling the view, which is beautiful. We had two expired living social deals and figured that we would use the paid value on father's day. My dad was delighted they had gluten free pasta, and loved the taste. I found some of the dishes to taste less than fresh. I had the seafood risotto (their only risotto on the menu!) and had sand in a few of my mussels and clams. The rice was slightly under done. When it came time to pay the bill, we were told that we had to use the coupons one at a time, even though we were not trying to use the promotions (which I know you cannot use together). I don't think we'll be returning to use the value on the other coupon, .
(2)
Timothy A.
Wow where can I start, the food is very good, authentic flavor, well priced and the pizza or calzones taste like while in Naples Italy. What a great place and the best part it's local. It's amazing when you walk into the restaurant; you are greeted by a couple of handsome Italian men, usually the owner or his manager. The main dining room has an Ocean view, beautiful sunsets and a charming vibe that reminds me of an Italian family home. I now understand why the weekends get busy; the quality of entertainment is superb yet friendly and enjoyable. Interesting wine and deserts too, I asked for a description of my dinner and the server described exactly as it tasted "Great". Now I'm ready to bring family and friends to share this wonderful little place in Cardiff. Tim A La Costa CA.
(5)
Candice F.
Lack Luster. Dined there Sunday evening and the first time I went, I was generally happy with the experience. (That's why I thought I'd take my family there to try it out this time) whomever the man that greeted us was, has a lot to learn about first impressions. Blew off me telling him we had a reservation (I know we didn't need one once we got there because it was half full), but he just gave off such a rude vibe and was so stoned faced. Ok....and while the server was sweet & friendly, she was less than professional. When I asked where the restroom was our server was chowing down on the bar right in front of us. Can't you take that to the back, please?? I don't want to see you eat and then serve my family. We decided to do their $20 Sunday/Monday special which is 3 courses. All the choices sounded really good. The "stuffed artichokes" are in no way stuffed. They are straight out of the can whole artichokes, covered in some melted cheeses that congealed into a sheet you could literally lift off the plate. Topped with 1 single very overcooked "tiger" shrimp. I've never seen such a thing! Honestly, I don't know why I didn't send it back. Husband got eggplant appetizer and all you could taste was a HUGE blob of melted cheese. Better than mine though. My portobello ravioli was good, however again topped with 1 single very overcooked shrimp. Tiramisu was so disappointing, I couldn't waste the calories on a second bite. Mini cannolis were yummy. $8 for a small kids spaghetti was highway robbery considering they also charged for my daughters milk!!?! We had a coupon that only said on it that it couldn't be used for Luncheon Specials, but they wouldn't take it for the 3 Course Meal. Which was kind of crap. But fine. We left disappointed. I am a chef and have over 16 years of restaurant experience in front of the house, so I notice more, but I want all restaurants to succeed. But this place I'm sorry to say doesn't seem to care much...at least on a Sunday?? :(
(2)
Ed G.
Good food good service. When the owner takes enough pride to actually be present on a Friday night and work with his staff, I'm impressed. There are several restaurant owners who do, and I tend to like them all. The food was great! In fact, I over ate. I should have taken half of it home. But, being the way I am, I could not help myself. My dish was THAT good. I didn't get a salad, I didn't want filler I could get at home. I had no room for dessert. It was an enjoyable dining experience. I tend to like the kind of dining this place has to offer, but if you like space, and a quite atmosphere, then this is not for you. Do take out. The restaurant is tight on space and BUSY. And, busy is a good sign. Enjoy
(5)
Judy F.
Wow! We got there late: 8 pm, but were seated by the window, with tablecloth. Then, the waiter brought us a candle. Aaahhhhh! The service was warm, friendly, patient. The food was excellent! Try the pizzas or the chicken in lemon sauce with capers. Their house Chianti is great, too!
(5)
Tara H.
My boyfriend and I received a synergy gift card (sold at costco) for the holidays. When we looked online for available restaurants to use it we found this place and we're excited since we have wanted to try. We called 6 times the number on their website to make reservation and Recieved no answer, we decided to give it a try anyways. We waited, as waiters passed by saying nothing to us, after about 5 mjns we were seated. Our waitress was very nice, and food was great we had ordered the 3 course deal for $20 each, and ill be honest I'm a picky Italian restaurant goer. I also ordered the wine pairing, not so good. Tomato soup was served with a pinot grigio, not a good one, and white fish I ordered paired with cabernet, usually rule of thumb no red wine with white fish. Anyways what really upset us about this restaurant was when we went to pay with gift card manager came out and told us we could not use it because it was a gift card from costco and since we ordered the special $20 deal they wouldn't get the money it all went to costco. When I said that should have been posted on the deal manager responded with "well it says can not be used with promotion or discount " those cards are not discounted , I also went to tell him that we tried to call 6 times to ask if it could be used he checked our phone to make sure it was right number then said "well sometimes the lines are down" all in all the manager should have said I apologize or yes we should print the cards can't be used, but just stuck to his answer, extremely of putting to new customers. We will not return. Word of advice:show gift card before ordering, to make sure they will honor it with whatever you order, and pick your own wine!
(2)
Lynn G.
My husband and I have eaten here multiple times and we're never disappointed!! Gaetano is so friendly and welcoming that is makes our dining experience that much better. I will say that my husband orders the same dish every time because he thinks Cicciotti's home made meatballs are outstanding!! So he orders the pasta with meat sauce and meatballs and is always happy. I love trying the specials of the day, especially when fresh fish is involved. Last time I had the white striped bass with fresh tomatoes, capers and black olives. The fish just melted in my mouth. We generally start with the Calamari but you can't go wrong with any of the antipasti's. We'll definitely be back!!!
(5)
Rhondi S.
We came here on a busy Friday night with a party of four. Great anti pasta combination to share, someone had the chicken marsala, the shrimp with mushrooms and truffles were awesome, ravioli fresh and flavorful, shared a bottle of chianti, what a great place. Great view and ambiance, cute warm patio with a huge fire pit, friendly wait staff.
(3)
Myra F.
Fantastic quality with reasonable prize. Food is fresh and delicious. Our favorite Italian restaurant.
(5)
Jerry R.
Really great Italian food. We got the caprese salad, veal parmesan and a pizza. The food was very good, our server gave great service and the atmosphere is fun. Save room for some cannolis too
(5)
Leona R.
Came here at 630PM and it was a beautiful night so me and my date sat outside, you can see the ocean from the seats and they have heaters and a firepit which was really nice and cozy. Our waiter was quick and this one man kept coming to check on us (im assuming he was the owner, he was very genuine and friendly) I ordered the Lasagne de mare and my date ordered the linguine de gulfi, she loved the linguine, my lasagne was interesting. Certain bites tasted delicious but then i would take another bite and it tasted weird haha. So many different sea animals made every bite taste different. Overall I would definitely come here again!
(4)
Dayna S.
We first tried Cicciotti's because there was a Living Social deal and we keep on coming back! It's been our go to date night spot for a while now. We have never been disappointed with a meal or the service. The waitresses are friendly and attentive and the bussers are always quick to refill your water and clear your plates. The food is delicious!! We love coming here and knowing that we're going to have an amazing meal. You can't beat the view either! We were here last Sunday and were lucky enough to walk right in and watch the beautiful sunset.
DeeeelishyOso... yum yum Carbonara perfectly cooked Penchetta ...chix parm tender and a wonderful sauce...Calamari nice large tender with a light crunch....Artichokes were waaaaay yum with bits of bits of yum things around it. and wow, great ocean view and wow great prices too
(5)
Devon B.
I took my husband here for dinner as part of a package deal. (See my review for "Bed & Breakfast Cardiff by the Sea Lodge.") The coupon entitled me to a voucher for $30 towards our meal. This wasn't really enough to cover 2 people, unless you just order pasta or something. He had the lasagna di mare with a variety of shellfish and seafood, and I had a pizza with proscuitto and basil. Both were very good and fairly authentic. The owners/servers also appeared to be Italian. I excused myself to the restroom and stopped our server before our food arrived to ask her if she could do something for my husband's birthday. She said she could bring a dessert to our table, but that it would be better if I took him to the bar after dinner and had the two singers serenade him. I agreed and thanked her. She was so awkward about the set-up though, asking me if we wanted the check and then if we were going to get drinks in the bar. We ended up waiting forever with no sign of the creme brulee I'd asked for. I almost suggested that we just leave, as my husband had already figured out something was going on and we had waited for some time. When I went to ask the server again she said that she was bringing it and that she hadn't charged me. Finally they brought the dessert and sang, which was great, but they also dropped off a separate check. What's up with that? I had thought it was complimentary, especially after the uncomfortable prolonged wait and semi-spoiled surprise. I paid it, but it did put a damper on the end of an otherwise pleasant meal.
(3)
Do L.
I bought a groupon for this restaurant and my friend and I used it today. My Caesar salad was bland,dry, and small. I couldn't taste the dressing at all. I asked for no scallops in my pasta with shrimp,scallops, and salmon dish. Not only did they eliminate the scallops but there were only small bits of salmon in the dish. My friend had a salad and artichoke appetizer. She enjoyed both but wasn't raving about them. Overall the food was ok but I wouldn't go back with out a coupon.
(3)
Kevin K.
Went here last night with friends. I think we had Tina T's waiter! The service was okay, the food was decent, and the atmosphere was pretty cool. There were 5 of us and 2 people didn't eat, and none of us ordered alcohol. They had a band playing which was a little on the loud side but not too annoying. The singer had a pretty great opera voice! So the zinger came when we went to pay the bill. I gave the guy the check with some cash and a credit card and said "put 9 on the card please". He looked at me like I was crazy, paused, and said "9 on the card?" I said, "Yes, 9 on the card". He gave me a very odd look. He then came back to give us our change which was about $3.50 and said "MAKE SURE YOU DON'T FORGET YOUR CHANGE." So we took all of our change and left. One of my friends spoke with the manager to tell him how rude the waiter was. I was pretty shocked about his bad attitude. I think I would have given this place 4 stars, but when the waiter uttered his bush league remark, all I heard was "Please give us a really crappy Yelp review and tell everyone you know not to come here!"
(1)
Wally A.
During restaurant week - Wow, I thought I ordered fish not a mushy fillet of sink water ... it really tasted like dish water... a kitchen contender for Hell's Kitchen no doubt
(1)
Molly S.
came here on date night this past friday around 6pm. I was greeted right away and escorted to a nice table for two by the window facing the ocean. Our waiter (Mauitzio) made a nice wine recommendation and was knowledgeable about the specials. The kitchen was quite slow and we noticed that the table next to us ordered after us and got their food first, and we ordered pasta not something that would take a long time. We were having wine and having a good time so this wasnt really a problem. The busser and waiter were attentive and refilled our bread which was quite tasty. The calamari dish we ordered wasnt very appetizing but I think we just ordered the wrong kind as ours was simmered in this marinara type sauce but was chewy and a weird texture, we should have ordered the calamaretti fritti. The pasta dishes were pretty good. Overall we had a great time and the food was decent, kitchen seemed a little slow our server was delightful, i really like that he spoke italian. I would come back again for wine and maybe appetizers and to try out the pizza, but there are better italian places in downtown encinitas in my opionion.
(3)
Christine C.
There are many italian restaurants on the 101 in the Encinitas/Cardiff area, and decided to try this one after a groupon deal. I was pleasantly surprised, and it's now our go to italian restaurant. I love the Pennette dello Chef, the gorgonzola cheese sauce is amazing! The environment is fun too, romantic and cozy, with live music. My boyfriend was disappointed on one visit because it took the server three times to get his order right (he requested shrimp with his pasta instead of chicken), but the server was new so we didn't it let it ruin our love for this place and we continue to go here.
(4)
Gus L.
This 2 star review really pains me. This is one of those local places that has sooo much going for it, they just seem to have either given up, or are not paying attention. The location is a great, almost beach front, as the beach is occupied by the state camp ground across the street...however this little sliver of Beach Town San Diego should see a great Italian eatery thriving. My family and I visited on a groupon here recently. The entire experience was not "bad" just seemed second string. The staff was friendly, but the waiter struck me as it may have been his second day serving tables, he was perhaps a cook or bus boy right before we came in. He did try, but it was apparent he couldn't answer many of our questions. The decor was nice, the outside had me a bit confused, as they have tables and chairs, but they were all placed too close together to be actually sat at...and they didn't appear to have been used in ages. The bar seemed updated,and if/when we go back, I would love to visit the bar as well. The food was also a solid "Meh". We sampled an array from the spaghetti and to OsoBucco to Ciopinno. All were not bad...but especially my OsoBucco, tasted like they were trying to save money where they could. The Risoto under my Buco screamed grocery store brand rice side dish, while the meat was tender, just lacked flavor...The ciopinno was tasty, and great for bread dipping, but the lobster was obviously not fresh. I a not a chef, nor a restaurant owner, but if I was...here at Cicciotti's I would make some changes fast. Cicciotti's could be phenomenal with just a little more effort and some TLC. I hope to visit again soon and happily end up clicking that 5star rating! I know you can do it Cicciotti's!
(2)
M M.
This past weekend my husband and I took another couple to Cicciotti's to celebrate their birthdays. We had a great time, we all ordered different things and none of us were disappointed with our choices. The whole experience was great, from the initial greeting of the manager, to the wonderful waitress, the young men taking care of our table to the "Happy Birthday Song"! thanks Cicciotti's .... we will be back.
(4)
Kimberly B.
We bought a living social deal and decided to go for lunch. The food was amazing! My husband had the filet mignon ravioli and I had the mushroom and tiger shrimp pasta and a glass of their house chardonnay. We tried a bite of each other's plate and wanted more. The only other time I've tasted something so good was in a little restaurant in Florence. We will definitely be back!
(5)
Dennis S.
We entered about 5:30 on a Sat and the main dining area was 2/3 full. By the time we left at 6:30 it was full. Had the Lasagna with meat balls and it was excellent. Staff was very friendly, service was excellent and the owner came by and asked how it was.
(5)
Laura J.
Hadn't been here in awhile but friends suggested it as I was looking for somewhere that could accommodate a group of about 20. Went in and spoke with owner Giacano and he totally set us up. Super nice guy. We had so much food for such a reasonable price. No one could believe it. We had 3 appettizers, salad, 3 entrees all served family style. We voted the while fish as the best dish of the night although everything was outstanding! We had the vodka penne, chicken marsala, bruchetta, caprese, pizza and more. They even let me bring in my own cake and served it. The staff was friendly and we were in a cute little nook in the back which totally worked for my group... We could get up, stand up, walk around and not be in anyones way in the middle of the restaurant. We were well taken care of and I will definitely go back. Thank you!!!
(5)
Thea P.
Love Ciciotti's. If they have the oysters Rockefeller on the menu, get them!!!!. Wine selection is great, view is great and everyone there is always very helpful and nice. The food is amazing from anything in a brandy cream sauce to the wood fired piazzas. The owner, when he is there, is part of the team and will serve you and talk to you like a friend when you are there. We come here for special occasions and date nights.
(5)
nancy m.
Very accommodating. Food was very good, portion sized just right. Loved the menu variety. The owner, Gaetano, is particularly gracious host, sincerely wanting guests to have a lovely dining experience. Will definitely return.
(4)
Kelly J.
This is one of my favorite Italian restaurants and I regularly drive up to Cardiff just to go there (and admire the view!). I've tried many of the menu items and they've all been delicious! I usually get an eggplant or other vegetarian dish, but the seafood choices are awesome too. The staff are very friendly and the service is quick! I especially like the small brunette waitress- she is very sweet, but I can't remember her name. The prices are a little high but they regularly offer groupons and such so they keep me going back. A great place for a date or for a nice dinner with a friend or out of town visitors.
(5)
Patti P.
I have dined at Cicciott's since soon after they opened. I have always felt that you get a great value for the money they charge. Far less expensive than the Vigilucci's restaurants, and food as good or better. The owner, Gaetano, is a delightful man, I love to see his business grow and succeed. He always contributes to local charity events whenever I have asked- and I appreciate that. When you support the community, I want to support you and your endeavors too! The atmosphere is very friendly and lovely, with a beautiful ocean view. Some days they have a gentleman playing piano and singing. I recently watched him entertain a family there having a large birthday party. He interacted with their children, delighting them with his songs, and including the whole group. It was a lot of fun watching the whole thing. Go to Cicciottis- you get a great value for your money, and a lovely atmosphere!
(5)
Pamela F.
I think the chef stole my grandmother's sauce recipe! Hahaha. WONDERFUL dinner, great service. Only was hoping to see an actual Italian person working there like back East. Not a big deal tho. I'll be back for more of that spaghetti & meatballs!
(5)
Dominic B.
Great food, great happy hour!! The view is nice. Our waitress Elena was wonderful. She was the icing on the cake!!!! This will be our new weekend spot.
(5)
Edward H.
Went there on a Friday night with a friend,we order pizza caprese salad,portobello mushroom salad and seafood pasta,after eating the salad I took a bite from the slice of pizza and I was in heaven,this is one the best pizza I've tasted since I was in Italy ,my taste buds were going at high speed straight to my brain,it was amazing ,the seafood pasta was excellent as well They use all fresh ingredients and it shows in their food. For desert we had scoop of gelato ice cream,homemade cannoli which is made in house and a cappachino,service was fast and our waiter was very courteous and professional, the owner was walking around and checking on the food,and came by our table to check if everything was good . I could'nt be happier. By the time we got ready to leave the place was jumping,they had a piano player setting up for a gig . I told my wife about it and can't wait to go back.
(5)
John N.
Lived in Cardiff since the late 80s. The restaurant replaced a good Mexican restaurant (anyone remember Taco Engineer?) and went through several owner/name changes. Cicciotti's has it dialed in, there are 6 or 7 Italian restaurants within 5 miles and the menu is priced fairly, the food is in deed authentic and the service is better here than the other's that we also patronize. It's a beach community and the ambience is relaxed but efficient. If you're looking for a decent meal for a good value, this is the neighborhood's best Italian offering. Jo Anne and John
(5)
S H.
My son and I ate here a couple of weeks ago for the first time. I loved the atmosphere which is small, cozy and home like. The food and service were excellent. Good portions and excellent flavor. I just purchased 2 more groupons and look forward to going back soon!
(4)
Bruce B.
This is one of the best restaurants in the North County area. They have a very extensive menu that makes selecting one item very difficult because you want to taste so many of them. I had the Lasagna de Mare (Seafood Lasagna) that was one of the best Italian meals I ever had. The owner/host is very gracious and friendly. The service could not have been better. I will definitely return!
(5)
David S.
Went in to celebrate my wife's Birthday with a Groupon discount. Loved the ambiance, service was good, and the food was awesome. We went in on a Wednesday night and the place was nice and quiet. Definitely coming back again.
(5)
Rebeka L.
I came here today with a groupon and I am super impressed! We didn't have reservations but got seated immediately despite the restaurant being packed, and our waitress was wonderfully attentive, frequently refilling drinks, taking/delivering orders, etc. Service was 5 stars all the way. Menu was very vegetarian friendly for being a seafood place, and they had no problems substituting a veggie option simply by getting asked "does this item have meat?" The food was also great - absolutely delicious garlic tomato sauce you get for dipping the bread in (so much, we asked to take the rest home with us!). We got two types of gnocchi, the mushroom one and the gorgonzola. In addition we got the antipasto appetizer which had brushetta, caprese, grilled veggies and cheeses (we're vegetarian so no meat). Loved the grilled veggies most, everything else was also good but only one caprese tomato and one brushetta. Thought there would be at least two of each. The gnocchi was delicious - the mushroom had more flavor but the gorgonzola was nice and creamy. No issues with the groupon and they packaged our leftovers super quick. Great find, right now theyve got a groupon of $20 for $45, so super great deal/place to check out!
(5)
Wallace M.
Solid three stars. Quality food and service. Wide menu. Decent prices. Great ingredients and execution. Recommended.
(3)
Bayy B.
I came here using a groupon, Last minute my honey and I decided to go out to eat searched groupon and found this place for $20 for $45 dollars worth of food and drinks. We called ahead to book a reservation, (Glad we did because the place was packed) the server immediately came over and read us what we assumed were the specials for the day and so on a so forth (We couldnt understand him with his thick accent) lol never the less he handed us our menus and we carried on. I ordered the crab, shrimp, lobster and mussel ravioli he ordered the eggplant and italian sausage pasta. my ravioli was AMAZING, paired with a glass of moscotto couldnt have asked for more! He on the other hand loved my food more the his so we shared mine and he ate half of his. I dont have much of a review for the service since we couldnt really understand our server, so didnt call on him much lol but the food was great! will definitely be visiting again!
(4)
Robin H.
Ciccotti's has everything you would want in a restaurant. Outstanding authentic delicious Italian food, amazing ambience, beautiful ocean views and incredible service! Gaetano Ciccotti treats you like family! Can't wait to go back! Everything was delicious!
(5)
Honey M.
Amazing views service and food! I loved the experience so much I'm thinking lunch tomorrow! The Mother's Day brunch sounds good. Happy Mother's Day to me.
(5)
Christina P.
I've been here twice and used a Groupon both times. The food is just average. In my humble opinion, Olive Garden is much better than Cicciotti's and I hate to say that, because it's a great location (right by Seaside Market) and it's this adorable little house with a beautiful outdoor patio to eat on. (That's why I went twice even after my first experience with the food being mediocre--I really wanted to love it) One thing that bothers me--I think it's really annoying when an Italian food restaurant doesn't have freshly shredded parmesan cheese. I literally don't even make spaghetti at home without fresh parmesan. I asked for it at Cicciotti's and she brought me parmesan cheese like I would buy at the store in a can. She said they didn't have any fresh parmesan. That's pretty ridiculous! Pair that with the food being average, and you get the three star review. If we paid full price for what we ordered either time, I would have been extremely disappointed, but since we got a great deal with the Groupon, it's fine. I honestly might get a third Groupon (they're on Groupon pretty regularly) and order something different to give them ONE more try. The servers were so nice both times, knew their wines, were very attentive. So maybe I'll give it another go.
(3)
A T.
My friends and I really enjoy this restaurant - the staff is wonderful, the food is delicious, and the atmosphere is very pleasant. I always enjoy having dinner at Cicciotti's. Look for its online deals - they are great!
(5)
Judy R.
Judy R. We go to Cicciotti's almost 2 times a month. The food is great, Daniel on the piano is fantastic. The owner is there all the time and that makes it so, so special. We love the Chicken Marsala and Lobster Ravioli. Hightly recommend this restaurant.
(4)
Ashley T.
We came here for restaurant week, and I really wanted to give this place a shot since I saw several 5 star reviews. When we first walked in, I noticed that one of the bread plates was dirty and had food on it. I then saw a server try to casually brush the food bits off of it and give it to us like there was nothing wrong. That should have been the first red flag. When I got my first course soup, my spoon was again dirty with a chunk of food on it. Our service was honestly horrible. Our waitress for some reason didn't really seem to wait on us, every course we got was served by a different random person rather than our waitress. We waited about 40 minutes between our first and second courses without being checked in on at all. You can probably imagine my frustration when I'm out of water and hungry, and I look over to see our waitress just sitting down and talking to another employee. The food was really subpar. I got fettuccine with pesto sauce, which was very bland and seemed watered down. I am so happy we came during restaurant week and did not pay regular price for this food. The only positive is that the manager or owner (I'm not sure which) came around and seemed to genuinely care about the restaurant. Other than that, save your money and go somewhere else
(1)
Daniel S.
The gorgonzola gnocchi is to die for. The gorgonzola sauce is very creamy, and the gnocchi is topped with walnuts.
(5)
John G.
My wife and I just returned from our first visit to Cicciotti's, and I'd say that this was one of the best Italian meals we've EVER had. First, we had a terrific window table inside with a great view of the ocean. The service was great all the way through, and we were immediately provided with warm bread with tomatoes. We shared a salad: the insalata ai due formaggi with lots of walnuts and some incredible fried goat cheese, which was extremely soft and tasty. We had two entrees: my wife had the Linguini alla Sorrentina (baby calamari sautèed with white wine and garlic in a spicy tomato sauce), which she really enjoyed, and I had the Pennette Napoletana with salmon, shrimp and scallops in a delicious sauce. I'd say that mine was one of the tastiest pasta dishes I've ever had -- very hot, delicious sauce, and the shrimp was incredibly tender and tasty. To top it off (we were too full for dessert), I had a double espresso that rivaled the taste that I recall from Paris and Venice -- just the best! Prices were reasonable, and the location in a beach-view home was unbeatable! We're going back again soon.
(5)
Anuja K.
I came here through a Groupon. and the service was pleasant and the place look warm. Although there was a strange smell in the dining room which was pretty unpleasant. However the soup was good, the bread was cold but the accompanying fresh marinara was good. The main course was ok. I ordered a portobello ravioli which was a bit thick but the filling was nice. My friend's pasta was insipid. The dessert was tiramisu and was good however felt like it had been made long back. My main point of disappointment was my check. I had asked the waitress to give me ravioli's in a vegetarian version (as i am a vegetarian). The dish was suppose to come with a crab tail and hence was priced 6$ more than the rest of the food. I was disappointed that they didnot adjust the price despite me asking no seafood. I have usually opted for no meat/seafood options at other places and prices have been adjust. three stars only for the service. May be 2 for food.
(3)
Paul F.
Last year it was pretty good. Tonight, not good, somewhat edible is the best I can offer. My guests were doing their best to not just come out and say it was lousy. "Not too bad" was about the best they could muster. ( I was embarrassed to have suggested coming here) Where to start? Service was decent. Ambience nice enough. Parking in back, tight turns but plentiful spaces. Food. Let's put it this way..Sbarro's just went out of business and their food is probably a little better. Of course, your mileage may vary. Maybe it was just what we ordered and ate. But between the four of us, we sampled several items and not one was anything to write home about. They are bringing lots of people in on coupons, but I doubt many will come back and pay full price ($28 for a very mediocre Caesar salad with salmon on it?). Even at half price the value proposition is not compelling.
(2)
Ashleigh E.
Great location, really cute atmosphere. Came here with the family and had the Linguine alla Pulcinella. So flavorful, I was almost licking my plate. Although the portion was a good size, I was still a little bit hungry. I think I may ask for extra chicken next time. My dad's favorite treat is Lamb Ossobuco, so he's always happy to come here.
(4)
Kelly M.
My boyfriend and I arrived at the restaurant around 5:30 on a Friday night. We didn't call ahead to make a reservation and only had to wait 2-3 minutes for a table. (Had we gone later in the evening, we would've definitely needed a reservation - The place started filling up by 6:30-7) First off, the restaurant is so quaint! The owners have taken an old home and turned it into this charming, quaint little restaurant, with different areas for dining, and the cutest little outdoor patio. We were seated in the bar area, at a corner table with the most beautiful ocean view. I wish I could remember the name of our server, because he was AWESOME!! Neither my boyfriend or myself had ever been there before, and the waiter offered some yummy recommendations. My bf ordered the proscuitto pizza and I went with my standard eggplant parm. Both were DELISH!! By far, the best eggplant parm I've had in San Diego! Mine came with perfectly sauteed veggies and garlic butter spaghetti. The pizza was made to order in their wood burning oven. Super thin crispy crust, which we love! Everything on the menu is reasonably priced and the portions were decent size. We are constantly on the search for delicious Italian food and a place that will be our go-to Italian restaurant. We have definitely found our place!!
(5)
Markelle G.
One word to describe my experience at Cicciotti's: UNDERWHELMING. The portions weren't great for the price, and the entrees we ordered were EXTREMELY bland. If you read through other reviews, you'll notice this is a very common complaint. My boyfriend got the Penne Maria, which is whole grain short tube pasta with fresh vegetables and chicken in a garlic white wine sauce. Sounds good on paper, but the veggies made the entire thing far too watery! I opted for the cannelloni, which I personally found considerably better than what my boyfriend ordered, but still far too bland for my tastebuds. The meat inside the cannelloni tasted like it had not been seasoned whatsoever, and even the bolognese sauce barely had any flavor. The restaurant is in a good location, has ample parking in back, and overlooks the water...but the food and service left a lot to be desired. If you want a nice view of the ocean while you dine and don't mind paying jacked up prices for mostly tasteless food, knock yourself out at Cicciotti's.
(2)
L. G.
I highly recommend Cicciotti's! Took my best friend there for her birthday & we both had lobster/shrimp ravioli for dinner & it was amazing!!! They made the evening very special for her birthday!!! We're both coming back!
(5)
Jeanne N.
Excellent food. Great service. Only thing I did not like was the cannelloni filling. Even the chunky tomato dish served with bread is so good it's hard to stop eating it.
(4)
Mary L.
excellent service and great wine selection!
(4)
Janet S.
Excellent food! We come here about once every couple of months. Great service with a nice casual atmosphere.
(4)
Jeff C.
I came here for restaurant week with a few of my friends. The menu items sounded very interesting and appetizing, but boy was I wrong. First of all, the place was packed wall to wall. Normally this would be a good sign of the quality of the food, but this could not be further from the truth. It took nearly 5 minutes just to get to a host/hostess to check in (wading through a sea of people crowded in the entrance), and another 15 minutes to be seated. (why bother with reservations?) We were finally seated in the furthest corner of the patio where I had the pleasure of two ferns constantly poking me in the back for the duration of the meal. The service was incredibly slow, and every single food item was cold. The bread they started us with was cold, hard, and tasteless even with butter. I ordered the lobster ravioli for appetizer, which arrived almost refrigerator cold (after about 20 minutes of waiting), and tasted as bland as could be. Then, for entree I had the lamb ossobuco which was described both in menu and by the waiter tremendously appetizing, but was exactly the opposite. While the texture of the lamb was exactly as it should be, soft and tender, the taste simply wasn't there at all. Bland would be a compliment to this dish. I found myself forcing everything down simply out of hunger and not feeling the slightest bit satisfied. Finally, I had the "molten" chocolate cake, which was not so molten as it was frozen. Honestly the whole thing tasted like it had come from one of my elementary school lunches, and it had waited all these years in my freezer until now for me to try it. Overall, I'd say this place is definitely a major disappointment, and for the price point of the restaurant week menu ($20), I'd much rather take my money to a fast food joint.
(1)
Matt H.
I bought a groupon for this place since it was close i thought I would give it a try. reviews were mixed so thought why not give it a shot. Oops. Should have known what i was walking into when we arrived and place was completely empty. Bottom line here folks: this is NOT an authentic Italian dining experience. We had a party of six and all the dishes (including appetizer) were sub par. Only decent thing was pizza (guess its tough to mess that up). We were so surprised at the lack of culinary skill, we tried each others dishes. Nobody finished their food. Chef must be amateur or just lower tier. Felt like i was eating a warmed up frozen dinner. Just bland and poorly executed. Normally in a busy restaurant, id cut some slack but like i said, it was just us. Hate to insult someone like that, but that's what yelp is for, right? Frankly, I was a bit embarrassed having brought a group there. The only reason for the second star is because the service wasn't bad. The waiter was friendly and prompt. Had a smile on his face the whole time.
(2)
Ray B.
Made a reservation for our anniversary and the place was so crowded (they could have told us that they booked 200 people for an X-Mas party the same night) and after getting the menu knocked out of my hand multiple times, people's ass on my table, and the fact that the food was mediocre at best (the appetizer was so bitter I couldn't even eat it) I won't be back. The server tried her best, but I could tell the quality of the food coming out of the kitchen was not even up to Olive Garden standards. Won't be back and I would advise anyone else to make sure they don't have a holiday party booked and that you have a table that's not near the bar and all the drunk holiday revelers.
(1)
Kelly S.
My boyfriend and I went here on Saturday night for dinner and absolutely loved it. We got there around 6 pm and were seating right away outside in the front. It was a beautiful view and pretty sunset so we got lucky. Our waitress was wonderful and attentive but most importantly our food was amazing! I got the linguine with shrimp and crab and my boyfriend got the chicken Parmesan. I've had a lot of chicken parm and his was amazing! I loved my dish just as much. Very happy and we will definitely be back again.
(5)
Sandy S.
Fun Atmosphere, wonderful food, live music, on the beach - who could ask for more! Friendly staff and relaxed environment.
(5)
Ryan L.
This was our second time coming here with a restaurant.com voucher. After we were seated in the bar by the musician we presented our voucher to the waitress and she informed us that we would only be allowed to sit in the main dining room or outside, in order for them to honor the coupon. Unfortunately, the dining room was full so we had to sit outside, which we actually enjoyed very much. The table was next to the fire pit and the outside heater. It was a perfect setting. Almost immediately after we were seated, the restaurant owner came out and apologized for the misunderstanding, turns out we able to sit inside after all. The food was excellent, the service was outstanding, and the owner even comp'd a beer. We really appreciated the owner taking the time To make sure our dining experience was excellent. At the end of the meal the owner even came back and asked how everything was. We will definitely go back and it is one of our new favorite places!
(5)
Janet D.
Went here using a Groupon and this place did not disappoint. The atmosphere is great...how can you go wrong with an ocean view. The lasagna was my boyfriend's "favorite lasagna ever". My alfredo was a bit runny and could have used a little more flavor (garlic and cheese) but overall it was good and I'd have it again. The service was pretty good, the bread and the dip they give you were amazing. The owner came by our table, and several others, to see how we were doing...great touch! They do have a decent sized parking lot in the back, which is always a good thing to know ahead of time. I hate having to find street parking. They also had parking along the street too, but luckily it wasn't needed. Overall, great experience and I plan to go back.
(4)
P C.
Best Italian restaurant in California!!! Excellent food and wonderful service! The owner is always there to greet you!!! Love this place!!!And yes, by the way this place has an amazing ocean view. I wish yelp has more than 5 star I can rate it as this restaurant deserve more!!!
(5)
erica z.
I'm wondering how many of the 5 star reviews for this place are shills. I went with a Groupon, hoping for wonderful food due to the positive reviews I read here. We arrived shortly after their opening for dinner service and were the only ones there. We were seated by a young man wearing a soiled uniform, so he was probably someone from the back who was just helping out at the time. We weren't offered any bread for at least 10 minutes, so we ordered the "Bruschetta al Filetto di Pomodoro" to start from who I thought would be our server for the evening. The Bruschetta was mostly flavorless tomatoes, and borderline offensive for $9. The complimentary bread and warm stewed tomatoes were presented to us just minutes before the Bruschetta order arrived, and if we knew we'd be served this we would have chosen something else as a starter. The bread basket and Bruschetta were brought to us by 2 different people. We ordered "Lasagna Napoletana alla Gaetano" ($19.50) and "Linguine alla Sorrentina" ($14.50) and wine. The lasagna was nothing special whatsoever, lacked freshness in it's flavors and tasted overdone. The Linguine was sad- I had a few decapitated baby calamari placed around the pasta, which were bland and chewy. The sauce- less tasty than what I can get in a jar. There was just no aroma for flavor. What the heck am I missing here? The entrees were brought to us by different people, as well as our drinks and finally the check. This just added to the already messy, amateur feeling I got from the food. The view was nice though, as we caught the sunset. Towards the end two more tables showed, and were nice, elderly people. I think they must have been coming here for some time, and seemed happy to be there. I feel bad that they are paying as much as they do for the food they serve at this place. I wonder if I just happened to be there when they were training the cooks, or there was no supervision as to what was coming out of the back- but this was a flop. Even though I came with a Groupon, I still feel like I was ripped off. I'm guessing that's why this place offers the deal every other week- to lure people into this otherwise desolate place. I hope they shape up for the sake of all the people giving them their hard earned money for good food and a good time.
(2)
jeanette keltz k.
We love this place! Food is good..love the atmosphere...staff is always helpful even if they aren't your server...love the singer on the weekends..you feel a slice of Italy when you are here..cheers!
(4)
Jenn C.
Lovely view, fantastic service. They weren't open until noon, but let us in, seated us, and started serving us at 11:15. Much appreciated. I love the big windows facing the ocean! Came here with work for lunch. Boss brought us here in Admin day. I had one of the lunch specials, the ravioli with spinach and ricotta cheese. The food was decent, but not the best Italian I've had. We had a bottle of pinot noir (with a picture of a duck on it???) that was lovely.
(3)
kurt h.
We were a party of four... it was ten minutes until our reservation when we entered the door. We came for restaurant week ($20 for a three course meal was a deal!). A couple annoying things first: It took over 10 minutes for the server to take our order, which seemed a bit long to me. We ordered a wine pairing for our three courses. The three wines all came out at the same time (I would have preferred they be served one at a time with each course). My medium-rare steak came well-done, I think they simply gave me someone else's, but they quickly got me a medium-rare. I'd like to go back sometime again. I like my stuffed artichoke heart, enjoyed the nice filet mignon and the chocholate soufle was tasty! The server was pretty good and friendly too. Other than those mnor annoying things previously mentioned, I enjoyed my experience.
(3)
Mike M.
Outstanding in every way. We are frequent visitors and always enjoy Mike
(5)
Nancy. S.
Still lovin' Cicciotti's! Our favorite Italian restaurant & Italian experience in San Diego area for the past few years. We been 3 times in 3 weeks even though it's 20 miles away. Last night I again brought our group of 15 Italian friends/speakers/diners. Gaetano Cicciotti prepared a special menu for us which made it easier to order. We had a wonderful evening, again, loved our meals, enjoyed our group, and the restaurant staff. Wednesday evenings they offer bottles of wine for 1/2 price -- a nice plus. Be sure to try the artichoke appetizer. Sunset over the Pacific was pretty sweet too!
(5)
Judy L.
Great celebratory dinner. Salmon piccata was excellent. Osso Buco - Delicious. Filet Mignon- outstanding. Entertainment was very enjoyable. Servers were very friendly. Disappointed the were out of Oysters. Have fun on your visit
(4)
Bill B.
My wife and I and another couple ate here Sunday afternoon. The food was outstanding. My wife and her friend had different types of ravioli s and were delicious. I had the lasagna and it just melts in your mouth. Savory flavors and just the right size portion. our other friend had a pasta dish that I can't spell, but he said the last time he ate this dish it was in Italy and Cicciotti's prepared it better. Specials are reasonably priced, great place to dine Update, because we have dined there again and thoroughly enjoyed the food, servers and the location we went there on our anniversary a couple weeks ago. I had a lamb shank that was out of this world. Lamb falling off the bone, great flavor. My wife had a salmon dish that she could stop talking about. You will really enjoy the experience of dining at Cicciotti's.
(5)
Kristin G.
Purchased a LivingSocial voucher for me and my family in from out of town. It was a great place to take my guests with a great sunset, very friendly staff, nice ambiance, and delicious food! I enjoyed a pasta with mushroom and sausage, but there are very nice seafood options as well. You can even add a lobster tail for a very minimal charge. I look forward to returning!
(4)
Susan Q.
I had a great dinner at Cicciotti's last night. I took my son out so we could catch up on life! We both had delicious dinners. They seated us immediately, giving us our choice of location, and they waited on us quickly. The food was superb and the prices were good as well. We had so much on our plate we actually have lunch today! Such a great place... I hadn't been here for awhile so it was nice to come back. Just walking in was like seeing an old friend...couldn't have been better! Give it a shot.
(5)
Pat J.
Excellent buffet catered to a local hotel for lunch. Prompt and courteous and there wasn't a crumb left! Thank you for great service!
(4)
Shelby E.
A friend and I came here for restaurant week lunch, which we felt was a very reasonably price $10pp. The restaurant wasn't very busy, maybe 6-7 tables full, so I feel this was an accurate account of what the restaurant should be like normally (in other words, although it was "restaurant week", it wasn't crazy busy). SERVICE: First, we went to get seated, I said I had a reservation and they just took us to a table anyway without any comments or checking in. Normally this would be fine, but since it was an OpenTable reservation, I wanted to make sure I got my points by checking in. I asked the waiter about it later, but he didn't even ask my name, so here's to hoping that he actually did check me in... That being said, the food came out at a good speed, and the waiters were generally friendly, but they were a bit slow replenishing the bread and weren't very cognizant about our water glasses. Other people had to ask for refills too, so it wasn't just us. Otherwise, service was fine. FOOD: This is where I was disappointed, even though it was pretty much the same as what I've read on here. We got the lobster bisque and pear & gorgonzola ravioli for appetizers, and both were lukewarm. I wasn't the biggest fan of my friend's lobster bisque, but it was okay (not really any/much lobster though) - the spoon served with it was dirty though, and needed to be exchanged. My ravioli were just okay as well, but even a little bland, which I didn't think would happen with gorgonzola. The entrees were definitely better than the appetizers: seafood lasagna for my friend (pretty tasty and actually the right temperature) and pappardelle for me (tasty but again, lukewarm and a bit bland - I had to add salt). Maybe if the food had been the right temperature it would have tasted better? Not sure. We also saw a lot of people who ordered the veal just eat the veal and not really touch the yellow rice, so not sure what that was about... So overall, the food was okay, I guess, but disappointing not only by taste but also by temperature, which I haven't had a problem with at other restaurants. That and the uncertain service earns this place a 2* rating. Was it worth $10? Sure. But would I go back? No, definitely not.
(2)
Steve R.
Great food...Sunday and Monday special....appetizer...entree and a desert. Great deal. Great food. I had the steak with some kind of cheese sauce. awesome shrimp with cheese stuffed Artichoke hearts...really good! I will be back!...great sunset views. Romantic....kinda weird that they have huge TV's in there playing sports..not too romantic when the Lakers are playing in the back ground.
(4)
Jeane S.
Food was really good. I had linguini with crab and shrimp. Daughter had veggie pizza and ate a slice, was really good. My kids love the chocolate suffle with vanilla ice cream, they refuse to share. Notice have great Sun. & Mon. Pre fix special for $20. Have to try it next time. Service was a little slow but still good.
(4)
J D.
We had Cicciotti's cater our office holiday party at a residence and they made the event a huge success. Everyone raved about the food, and they were true professionals with the serving and cleaning up. I'd like to use them myself to cater a dinner party. Delicious food and service.
(5)
Bob R.
I've been eating at this place for years now. My favorites are the Saltimbocca and the Spaghetti Alla Carbonara. My friends are big on the egg plant! I always also have the salad Primavera. The staff is always friendly and efficient. On Fridays and Saturdays your dining is enhanced with the music of Daniel Hendricks. It's an "in-place" in the North County area for the knowing diner.
(5)
Roxanne J.
We had our office Christmas party there this year. The food was great and they accommodated extra people that didn't RSVP. The piano player at the bar was a lotta fun ! ENJOY !
(4)
Shannon L.
We use Cicciotti's for our company's corporate lunch about every other month (for about 120 people), and I still continue to receive endless feedback on how delicious the food is. Gaetano has the BEST customer service. He's always on time, he sets everything up for us, and makes everything look so presentable. And who doesn't love that Italian accent?! The pesto pasta is amazing, the meatballs are gobbled up in a second, and the different dressings for the salads taste so fresh and home made. Everything is great! I would highly recommend Cicctiotti's for any small or large event (we also order from Cicciotti's for smaller conference meetings with 8-15 people, and the service is just as great).
(5)
Susan M.
Best restaurant meal I've had in years! The cioppino was excellent, the wine great, but the service was what was so outstanding. Nice view and atmosphere too. Will definitely be returning!!
(5)
Nora L.
My husband and I both love going to Cicciotti's. We go at least once or twice every month. The view is incredible. The service isn't rushed so you can truly enjoy the experience of delicious Italian dishes. We love both the pastas and the seafood. I always recommend it to friends.
(5)
Sherrie H.
Great food, great service. I saw this on Living Social & thought I wouad give it a try. So glad I did. We started our meal with Insalata di cesare con calamari, Caesar salad with fried calamari on top. Loved it! The salad was big enough to split. I then had a cioppino special. Clams, mussels, scallops, lobster, fish, shrimp, calamari on top of pasta. It was wonderful. My boyfriend tried the Risotto Cardiff 101. He loved it. We have since been back another time & again, great food & service. A must try!
(5)
Steve A.
Here for an office Christmas party. What a great time we had. The staff was beyond friendly, the food was great, and the live entertainment was awesome. There were more people at the event than expectrd, and the owner bent over backward to make the night special. We're already planning a group dinner here for live music, great food, and wine with friends.
(4)
Checkin I.
Very over priced apps expensive....sun and monday 20$ deal is good, but pasta way over priced
(2)
Sez N.
Gonna go with 5 stars just for the sheer size of their menu. Good flavor and a casual but still date night atmosphere make this restaurant a winner in our books. Pros Menu Size I realize it is very popular and well-thought-out to do short menus full of good food at many restaurants nowadays. But I really applaud this restaurant for bucking the trend and going out on a limb by offering almost every possible pasta out there. Flavors My dish was a creamy buttery beauty...so decadent but yummy. Perfect to pair with a glass of wine to cut the butter and make it sheer heaven. I had the Truffle Fungi Tiger Shrimp. My hubby went for the Salmon Shrimp Scallops with Vodka sauce. The pasta was cooked perfectly - it was very rich too (just noting for those maybe seeking a more healthy alternative). Location So close to the ocean - you can park up to watch the sunset after dinner. Romance. Cons #ofShrimp While I had an acceptable number of shrimp in my dish (4) - one more would have been nice.
(5)
Rachel M.
Went there last night (7/19) for my fathers birthday and it was one of the best meals we've ever had! We weren't disappointed by any of our meals or our service. We did have to make reservations and I can't imagine what it would be like without them considering how packed it was, but everyone is kind. The meals are a bit pricey but it's expected and was well worth it!
(5)
Laurie M.
Great place , we dined here last night and had wonderful food, a great bottle of wine and exceptional service !! The pastas are a good size portion, very fresh, and great tasting! I heard about this place on Groupon and bought one. Unfortunately, I brought in the wrong groupon paperwork. They were so nice about the situation and even discounted our bottle of wine......... This is now our favorite Italian restaurant !! Thanks Again !
(5)
Ray A.
This was our first trip because of a Groupon and honestly we like Olive Garden better. I know Cicciotti is supposed to be authentic but the food is just OK, nothing like Italy and pricey.
(3)
May C.
I was visiting friends in Encinitas and wanted Italian food. I came across Cicciotti's. This place is amazing. The restaurant is very cozy and clean. The appetizers were out of this world and the food was to die for. I will come back again. Thank you Gaetano for the wonderful Service!
(5)
Pouya B.
I went here yesterday as part of restaurant week. They had a $20 dinner special going. Let's see.... 1) Before we ordered, fresh warm bread with a tomato chunk dip. Awesome! The saw kind of tasted like a pizza. 2) Appetizer. I had the ravioli with squash. My friend had the lobster bisque. I tried a little bit of his bisque, it was incredible. And I like squash so you could imagine what I thought of my dish. 3) Meal. I had the 7 oz. filet mignon medium rare. They did it very well. It came with some mashed potatoes and broccoli. My friend had the seafood pasta and he paid $7 extra for the lobster tail. He said he enjoyed it. 4) Dessert: Chocolate lava cake. This is like a chocolate brownie with melted chocolate inside. We also paid $12 for the wine pairing. Not sure this is worth it because they kind of just give you whatever wine they think pairs up well with the food. You may or may not like that. My buddy said he'd of been better off just ordering a glass from the wine menu. Maybe he's right. I am no wine expert so just going by what he said. We both had a great meal and we'll definitely be coming back. I couldn't understand the bad reviews I saw. A few of the people had used groupon and thought the food wasn't worth it. Well if they make everything from scratch, you have to pay a premium for it. That is just how it goes. Others commented on the portion size. Yes, I'd say the portions weren't a lot. But we had a $20 special, I wouldn't expect to be bombarded with food. Besides, I felt like I ate enough without stuffing myself... So if you see negative reviews, don't let them persuade you. I am definitely going again..
(5)
terry g.
We've been eating here for several years. The food and service have been consistently great to outstanding. Tonight was totally off all of the CHARTS. I had the best pizza that I have ever tasted - the crust was light, tasty, the edges flaky, and delicious. The ingredients were fresh, plentiful, and perfectly balanced. The Better Half had her favorite Papadelle Bolognese. She normally eats a third and takes the rest home. Tonight, she ate everything - more than she has ever eaten of anything. She reported that it was ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!!! I tasted it and it was scrumptious. Gaetano, the owner, is available and affable. His entertainer on Friday and Saturday nights has a great voice and adds an extra delightful dimension. This restaurant is a place that you must try. tg &jb
(5)
Devin W.
I've been here at least 5 times because my parents really enjoy it, but for myself it's a whole nother' ball game. The first time I went here they had some guy singing Italian at the top of his lungs in a room about the size of a living room. Talk about a conversation killer, totally killed the mood. I understand they want to have some live music, but maybe some soft guitar player... not some italian opera wannabe hitting high notes that will shatter your wine glass! Everytime since we have requested a table either outside or on the veranda, just anywhere away from the noisy inside. Ok now on to the food quality... or lack there of. I've had pizza that was very mediocre, pasta that was bland, and some salad that was served warm. The service is relatively good though, I must admit. They do a good job, but the food is a major downfall. Wine list is a plus point, it is very good. The only plus on the food is that it isn't extremely over priced. But I'd pay more for something I'd enjoy. Overall, this is a nice place on the outside and is also on the inside (granted there's no annoying singer). The food needs major work.
(2)
Matt L.
I would have given this place 4 stars aside from one major faux pas by the waiter. The Good: I organized a large birthday group dinner at Cicciotti's. I verified the reservation a few times in advance and that part of the night went smoothly. The food came out timely, and everyone seemed to enjoy it. The price of the dishes was very reasonable. The view is spectacular, especially during sunset. There was a festive crowd. The Bad: Since it was a large group, and everyone enjoyed the evening, I informed that waiter that I knew about the 20% discount through Yelp but was not going to ask for it. He said thank you, and brought us the bill. After passing around the collection plate, he took up the bill and came back a few minutes later to loudly inform us that a 16% tip was unacceptable. To me, this was wrong on several levels: 1) In my world, tips can range from 15-20+% and are at the discretion of the diners. It wasn't like we stiffed him. 2) He was basing his 16% tip figure on a post tax bill, which would have put his tip very close to 18% had he subtracted the tax. 3) Had we asked for the 20% Yelp discount, the restaurant would have lost $50 off the check. 4) Have you every heard of being discrete? Slamming the check fold in front of me and demanding more more certainly left a sour taste in all 15 diners at the table. Overall, a good experience. The waiter bummed us out, but only at the end of the night.
(3)
Ryan C.
On the pricy side, however delicious pasta!
(4)
Matt G.
I was really surprised by the negative reviews on here and once I saw they were for restaurant week it made sense. This place is super small and not cut out for events like that. My wife and I went here on recommendation from my mother and we had a terrific time. I had a pasta sampler platter of ravioli, gnocchi, and manicotti and it was FANTASTIC. My wife had some kind of seafood medley pasta, and while I don't eat seafood, judging by the moaning sounds coming from her as she ate, it was really good as well. We have a lot of good Italian in SD and this place is one of my new favorites. The place is small and can be crowded, but the service was great, the wine was good and the prices were reasonable for Italian (my bill was about $90 for two including drinks and desserts). I'm going back next week for my mom's birthday and expect to enjoy myself just as much.
(5)
David K.
Poor service, long wait for bland food. Did I mention abysmal service? Any sort of competent management is clearly lacking.
(1)
Olivia J.
Are you serious?! Came here because we were invited by my husband's cousin, who had a groupon for a dinner and drinks for four up to $90! However, we owed $125 AFTER the $90!! For starters, they counted our KIDS (ages 3 and 1) as part of our party and charged us 15% gratuity for having a "large party"!! Who does that?! Second, after I asked for a kids menu, which I was told they don't have, I asked for them to split give me half a portion of a spaghetti plate for my kids and split that in two plates, he charged us $8 per kid on top of $3 for each of their drinks, which he never paid attention to and we had to get up and ASK for refills. The service was horrible, until it came to picking up our bill and the signed credit receipts! He sure did find the time to immediately pick THAT up as soon as we finished signing it, but couldn/t removed dirty plates, refill glasses, or much less make sure everything was okay! Third, we asked for a specific bottle of wine that was on their menu, he didn't tell us anything, but instead brought us a bottle that was twice as much of something else and only apologized that the one we asked for was out after he poured it! Finally, our food was NOT even CLOSE to being worth $20 a plate! I could have gone to Fazoli's (fast food Italian) and gotten the SAME quality for a cheaper price!! And the portions were SO SMALL!! I probably would have gotten MORE for cheaper at Fazoli's!! Just overall horrible experience, we won't be going back there, EVER!
(1)
Vicky K.
er.... Average... when I went there, the table we were seated at was kind of dirty which was gross, and the food was definitely mediocre. Nothing special I remember or that I'm dying to go back for.
(3)
Oweness T.
Based on our only experience here, there is no way I can give this restaurant less than five stars. Also, we are pretty fussy and selective, and find most restaurants over-hyped. It was a special day for us; the first time in over 15 years I was able to spend an entire day with my husband since we started our own business. We began the day with a trip to LA and breakfast at the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills, one of my favs. We figured that would be the high point of the food experience, but not so. We arrived back in San Diego and got here as they were opening, so it was early in the evening. We felt so welcome when greeted by our server Scott; a super-nice guy with a vast knowledge of the business and possessing a really great mix of professionalism and sincerity. We split a decent enough Caesar salad, plus an amazing appetizer of gently-stuffed artichokes in a very light olive oil. Highly, highly recommend the artichokes--wonderful! My eggplant truly was one of the best preparations I ever had (including my favorite at a New Jersey establishment), and my DH was pleased with the meat lasagne. I don't eat meat, so I had to take his word. We split the excellent chocolate lava cake a la mode and had a impressive cup of decaf coffee to finish things off. We're thrilled to have found the gem in our neighborhood and, for those of you who found fault with it, please consider giving it another chance.
(5)
N O.
WORST EXPERIENCE IN CARDIFF, RUDE STAFF. I bought 2 restaurant.com vouchers here thinking it would be a good way to try a new place as I have lived in Cardiff for years and never thought to go here and had never heard of anyone actually going there. It looks dead all the time, especially compared to their neighbor Wine Steals. Anyway we got there at 6PM on Friday and the place was pretty dead but we were told that without a reservation there was only seating at the bar, which is fine. We went to sit at the bar and they said not there, here... in front of a glass window. Again ok fine. About 10 min 3 ladies (late 30s early 40s) walk up and they sit where were we sitting previously. They looked at the reserved signs and said "oh this is reserved?" and the guy said "ya for you". They get all their drinks, meanwhile another 10 min goes by and no one has even spoke to us. One waiter eventually asks us if we were waiting for a table, we say we are just waiting for menus and he walks off and talks to the ladies next to us. We waited another 10 min and left. In 30 min NO ONE SPOKE TO US ONCE. Its not like we looked out of place or something. I appalled by how rude the staff of this establishment is and even though I paid for my vouchers I would rather tear them up then use them or give them to someone else to have the same horrific experience. Needless to say we left and went to Beach House where the service is always 5-star. My suggestion is avoid this place like the plague.
(1)
Yoon P.
We came here for restaurant week- but it was way too hectic... great location and atmosphere, however. If you can come during normal business hours and not during restaurant week, maybe you will have better experience... The service was not so good. We had made a reservation but no one greeted us and made us wait for a long time before we were seated. People who were behind us were seated first. Not a very nice experience considering we had made a reservation several days beforehand. They said they have vegetarian selections online. However, the waiters were very rude when I asked them what are vegetarian items here. They murmured "uhhh, we have eggplant! eggplant!" and walked away. Turns out, food was really just okay. I ordered artichoke hearts, mushroom ravioli, and chocolate cake, and they were alright. They somehow think shrimp is vegetarian. :( The mushroom ravioli was big but not tasty. The bread and tomato dipping sauce were delicious though. The warm chocolate cake with ice cream for dessert was okay but a bit too sweet for my taste. I should have had the tiramisu like Traci W. suggested. +overall atsmosphere +good quantity -not so good service -not veg friendly on busy nights
(3)
William R.
Nice location and not a bad interior. Our waiter was friendly and the service was good. That's where it ends in my opinion and the opinion of my group. The menu is way too big for the food to be fresh with such a light crowd on a week night. My wife had an Italian chicken dish and I had the veal. They were both pounded this and we could hardly taste the difference between the two tough meats. I have a feeling that they prepared the items days in advance and heated them up in a microwave. We have not been there for years and will go back.
One of the best dining experiences I've had in a while. Attentive and courteous service, outdoor seating with a beautiful ocean and sunset view, authentic Italian food, and some quirky live music. Can't wait to come back.
(5)
Yep Y.
I might be a little generous with mediocre for an overall rating. Sat down on a Wednesday night before my group got there and the first thing that the owner does is tell me that If i was planning to use the restaurant week, I cannot use the 50% off wine special, and also that the groupon would not work either. Listen owner, I was there to purchase a full price meal, but thanks for telling me upfront that you were cheap. Since I got labled as a groupon user already, I ended up ordering the restaurant week meal and a wine pairing (3 glasses - all of which were delivered at once). This was a decent deal ~$30 before tax/tip. Word of advice: being snooty to customers or offering too many deals all at once is not good for word-of-mouth advertising.
(3)
Josh B.
We waited about 30 minutes for our fist course to come out, a pizza. It was very good. Another 25-30 minutes for our entrees, and they were not worth waiting for. Very bland. I had a gnocchi with mushrooms and goat cheese with very few mushrooms, very little goat cheese, and very little flavor. We waited another 15 minutes for our check to be picked up, and then another 5-10 miniutes for our desert to go (we ordered it when we asked for the check). Given the slow service, and bland entrees, I don't see myself going back except for pizza and a few drinks.
(2)
Pete Y.
Used groupon deal with my family (5person)on Sunday night it took us 20minute for the meal and It was excellent And lava cake awesome will go again thanks chef
(5)
Edwin L.
I went here here yesterday with my family and have to say that I wish I would have done this sooner. While the interior of the restaurant could need a makeover, the ambiance, service and music makes up for this short coming. We sat across from the bar next to the Piano - do not do this if you dont like live music. The bartender (Fred) is an awesome character and if you decide to talk about Football, make sure it is the European football (soccer). He is a walking encyclopedia and he make some amazing cocktails as well. The food is simple, but really good Italian. We had oysters and fresh mozzarella, which were both to die for. We stuck to veal and pasta for the main course. During dinner, a piano player started to sing and play a variety of songs. As soon as this happened the whole plays changed into a wild sing along fest. My 2 1/2 year old sang along and had a great time. All in all a great experience and just shows that if you stick to your roots and good food, you dont have to have a fancy interior. Oh and one more thing. Wednesday and Thursday, they have 50% off the entire wine list. I will be back for sure.
(5)
Tom H.
Wednesday night, 7PM reservation. Great ocean view, prompt services, excellent food, reasonable prices. What else could you want? To be picky, my wife's lasagna al forno is better, but I'm a prejudice. My seafood lasagna was outstanding. Gorgonzola salad was fantastic, and the bread scrumptious. Wish the folks with the toddler wasn't there but can't blame the restaurant for that. All in all, a great anniversary dinner.
(5)
Zach B.
Sounds like restaurant week was not a big hit for this place....but I had a very pleasant experience here. The bread was good, the wine was good, and the pollo alla parmagiana was good as well. Sal our server was great everything came out in a timely fashion and service was excellent! I think it's funny that someone mentioned they wanted huge chunks of lobster in their lobster bisque....they set themselves up for disappointment...don't order lobster bisque then because that's not how it's made. I think all the people who went on restaurant week and had a bad time should give it another try.
(4)
Leslie R.
Just had the worst dining experience. Had to move tables since we were not informed that the piano player would be, literally, joining our table. To top it off, the food was generic. Nothing to make you want to return. Expensive for the quality. And to top it all off, the restaurant was very noisy.
(2)
Alan L.
Cicciotti's is the place for delightful, authentic Italian cuisine. As a bonus, there is live music Thursday through Saturday, with the audience often joining in. The atmosphere is a giant party in itself. If you love good Italian food spiced with familiar Italian music, Cicciotti's is not to be missed.
(4)
Dominique H.
Friendly service and yummy food. Fried calamari with lemon and gnocchi were great. They put out bread and tomato and basil to start which were a nice touch
(3)
Marilyn O.
Although the food was good the prices were too high for the ambience and crowded tables squeezed into two small dining rooms. We experienced the worst service ever with an unattentive waitress who spoke a mile a minute, never picked up my husband's empty plate until I handed it to her and while I was still eating my pasta and sipping my wine she brought over the check and started closing the bill. I told her I was a restaurant critic "as everyone is today" and I have a couple tips for her. 1) You didn't pick up his dirty plates the three times you came to our table. 2) Never start closing the bill when your customer is still eating and drinking wine. She responded and said she was trained not to pickup dirty plates when the other party is still eating. Haha!!! Have you ever heard such a thing?! That was the first time I've ever experienced such amateur service in a high priced restaurant! The kitchen area was extremely noisy with staff throwing things around and pounding pizza dough with noise levels that overtook the good tasting food. Too bad the owner doesn't invest in a manager who could turn this neat local beach town Italian Restaurant into one that everyone writes positive reviews about. I did read positive and negative comments on Yelp & Trip Advisor before going and still decided to give it a try with my Restaurant.com Certificate. I have to say that many of the Reviews offered were accurate descriptions of the dining experience we had. It's not just good food that makes a good restaurant. It's excellent customer service with a smile and personal touch, not feeling like the waitress can't wait to close your bill and be done with you. If you want to eat a good meal and don't mind waiting and feeling frustrated throughout your dinner, this restaurant won't bother you. If you want to eat in peace and be served like you're special, don't go to this restaurant. There are well known Italian Restaurants in the same area that pay attention to every detail to make your dining experience the best it can be!!
(1)
Sean O.
Nice place, good food and service. The bread they have comes from the wood fire oven and is served with great tomato olive oil dip that really starts things off well. We loved the creamy tomato sauce in the pasta dish - really hard to find it that good. Had the pizza with artichokes and mushroom that was really enjoyable. The wood fire oven is put to good use on the pizza's, but also in finishing some other dishes as well. Gives much more flavor than an overhead electric broiler would performing the same task. It's more work for them to do it that way but the results are there for the effort. Look forward to going back!
(4)
Melanie L.
First time dining today, we absolutely loved it! The food was amazing! Marinara sauce was so yummy!! Tiramisu was great! Cute set up too! We bought a groupon (which we rarely do) and gave it a whirl...and we were impressed! Plan on going back, it's not everyday you find a restaurant that is "the whole package." Thanks!!!
(5)
Emily W.
Yum! We've been here four times now thanks to Groupon and we're big fans. Everything we try is delicious. Wait staff is always knowledgeable and friendly and the food has never disappointed! Love it!!!
(4)
Vonnie S.
I am only rating this restaurant on their lack of communication and not their food. We had tried calling to make a reservation for an early Sunday lunch. They had been listed as a featured restaurant for San Diego's Restaurant Week. We couldn't get anyone to answer the phone the day before but figured that we'd be okay since they had their hours listed online and were clearly part of the event. WRONG!!!! I drove down from LA to meet a friend for lunch only to find that they were closed until 5pm for a private party (wedding I believe). We were SO annoyed as we had really been looking forward to trying them. The menu looked awesome on their website and the coziness of the place was very appealing. I'd love to try them when I am in town again but was extremely disappointed at their lack of communication around their hours of service. Word to the owner (who was actually very nice when I met him outside): Don't advertise as being part of restaurant week when you are closed down with restricted hours. We ended up having to try another participating restaurant down the street.
(2)
Joe J.
Went here with some friends who frequent the place and I can see why they go there! My wife and I don't go out for Italian food because no one does it quite like we make it at home, but now we stand corrected! We had the caprese with prosciutto to start and it was amazing! Then we moved on to a margherita pizza which was done just the way we like it. Of course we had wine with our meal and the waiter helped us choose a great bottle to share. We couldn't leave without trying the gelato and it was the perfect dessert to end our perfect meal. And I can't leave out the live music by Daniel the world class opera singer- the perfect setting for a great meal with friends. It wasn't just a meal, it was an experience! A must go-to place if you're in the area... even if you're not in the area, go there! You won't be disappointed!
(5)
Ali S.
The extra star was for the server and manager's attentiveness. The ambience is lacking despite the great location. However, the food was BAD. The chicken Marsala was the worst I have ever had- the sauce came out looking congealed and it tasted sour. The penne with vodka sauce was meh. Pretty disappointing, but I think the responsibility primarily lies with the kitchen.
(2)
Couple O'Critics A.
Everything was alright for the beautiful location. Crowded dining area, back to back with other patrons. Ordered the artichoke hearts with shrimp. Canned artichokes with cheese melted over them :( The rest of dinner was OK and not to name drop or anything...... but we would have rather gone to Vigaluccis in Carlsbad.
(3)
Josh W.
Good food and pretty cool location! We went here today a little after 1pm, and there were only 2 other parties there. The waitress was very friendly, helpful(made some good recommendations), knowledgeable, and patient(because who wouldn't become indecisive after browsing their LARGE menu). We had the groupon, and were treated no differently after presenting it. Wife had the special (linguine with, salmon, squid, lobster, and a bunch of other seafood in a spicy tomato sauce), the child had spaghetti and meatballs, and I had flat noodles with porcini shrooms, Italian sausage, and a brandy or cognac(I forget which) cream sauce. We also had the crab stuffed portabello mushroom appetizer. Everything was really good! It all started with their bread and tomato sauce they brought out, then the appetizer(there were 3 we were stuck on before going with what we got), and our entrees. The wait wasn't too long, and it was well worth it. There were so many other things on their menu that looked good too. Total bill pre groupon came to $85. And did I mention that this place is across the street from the ocean? Very nice lunch, nice atmosphere/view, good food, and great service made this a great dining experience I recommend here to anyone wanting a good and slightly different from the norm (Italian) meal.
(4)
Robert W.
Deeeelicious! If you like small, authentic and quiet spots right along the Californian coast, then this is the Italian place for you! Great staff, live Italian singer (select days) and wonderful handmade meals. Portions are perfect size to not overstuff you, but satisfy. Desert is also a must have. Try the Molten Lava cake with the ice cream. You wont be sorry you did!!
(4)
Vivian T.
I took my boyfriend here to celebrate his birthday. The ambiance is really nice. We sat by the window, so we had a great view of the ocean and the sunset. Although the place was nice, the food was terrible. Both of our pastas were bland and the sauce was super thick, so I felt so bloated and nauseous after taking a couple of bites. The waiters were super nice though. They were very welcoming and nice. However, I would pass on coming back here again.
(2)
Russ P.
Please do not attend this restaurant unless you intend to spend more than 2 hours to dine. The service is inadequate, especially during a week day. How can you go wrong with spaghetti and meatballs? The menu boasts homemade meatballs in a tasty marinara sauce. It tasted to me like Chef Boyardee but at a $15 price for the plate. I really cannot believe this is their best Italian restaurant in town. I have tasted much better and certainly at a better value. I think this restaurant needs a better chef, a better menu, and, most importantly, better service. I can think of much better restaurants where pasta does not taste like it was pre-heated and sauce not out of a can. These better restaurants are like Vigilucci's, Carmela's in San Marcos, or Trattoria Trulli in Encinitas.
(1)
Sari S.
My boyfriend and I decided to try somewhere new for date night, so we chose Cicciotti's because there was a Groupon deal and it gets good reviews. We were not disappointed. We just got home and I have already bought another Groupon to use when my parents come to visit. We didn't go crazy and order any drinks, but they have a extensive wine list and a full bar. The restaurant is quaint with two small dining rooms, a bar and live entertainment on the weekend. We sat in the room away from the bar, and while it was busy, it wasn't too loud for us and the atmosphere was nice. They have an ocean view from that room, but we had a later reservation, so we couldn't see the water. They brought out warm bread with a tomato dip. The bread was yummy! For an appetizer we decided to share the Calamari and Zucchini Fritti that came with a marinara sauce to dip it in. It was very good and the portion was plenty for two people to share. For dinner I ordered the Papardelle Funghi & Gamberi Tartufati (Papardelle pasta with mushrooms and tiger shrimp in a brandy cream sauce). It normally comes with truffle oil, but I chose to get it without. The sauce was similar to alfredo sauce, and it was just the right consistency. The shrimp were cooked perfectly. My boyfriend had the Picatta di Pollo (Chicken Picatta) which has capers and a lemon sauce, and it came with steamed veggies and a side of pasta with olive oil and garlic. We both finished our entire meal. I'm sure their desserts there are very good, but we were full, so we'll have to wait until next time to try dessert. Overall it was a great experience. The owner was walking around greeting guests and even seating them. The service was great as well. We arrived early for our reservation and were seated within 5 minutes. The staff was friendly, attentive and the food was brought out in a timely manner despite the restaurant being busy. We will be going back when my parents come in March! I definitely recommend this to anyone who likes Italian food. There is something for everyone on the menu!
(4)
Tina L.
I've had better. Way better. The service was mediocre; the sever took forever to take our order and never checked on us once. He just dropped off the food and went to his corner right after. And they charged us a 20% gratuity?! Please. Food was very bland. Yelp listed the ambiance as "romantic". However, my experience was anything but "romantic" due to the big tv screen hanging over our heads and the loud music. I am never coming back, and I won't recommend this place to anyone.
(2)
Cyndi J.
Stumbled upon this place by accident, and before hand we were looking for a little romantic place for dinner...we sooo found it! It's charming, by the ocean, and the nmenu does not dissapoint. We had the best fish, a bottle of wine and some entertainment all on a quaint lil patio overlooking the ocean. We'll be back!
(5)
Joe H.
This place is the most italian, friendly, entertaining place in town, particuarly on Friday and Saturday evenings. The food, ambiance, and service is 100% italian. Add the wonderful music and it gets even better. I don't get a couple of the negative reviews. I suspect those who describe the food as bland are people who indulge in the typical, poor, give me a heartattack, a stroke, high blood pressure American diet that is disgustingly saturated with salt and "seasonings" so you can no longer enjoy the natural, delicious taste of seafood. Anyone that has been to Italy knows that is not what Italian food is. The service is also very friendly. The owner and manager make you feel like you are part of their family. What an authentic Italian experience. :) Hope this helps! Arrivederci!
(5)
John P.
We ate here last night (9/18/2011) and were less than enthused with the fact that of the four meals, three were served cool to being cold. Once the dishes were finally served, the food was very good. Further, we had to ask for service in place our order while the manager paid a lot of attention to two women at the bar. We expressed our concerns to the manager as we departed. Unfortunately, he didn't seemed too concerned about our comments. It is doubtful if we'll ever return.
(1)
Joyce T.
Came here for Restaurant Week with my bf and we had a great dinner! I got the lobster bisque, salmon stuffed with crab meat and tiramisu. He ordered the ravioli with sausage, filet mignon and chocolate souffle. We both loved every part of our meal. The appetizers were a bit small in size but we agreed that overall, we enjoyed the portions of our dinner. At the end we were full but not "feeling gross" stuffed. Parking was a bit difficult since its along the dirt lot directly across the street of the restaurant, but we lucked out and caught someone just as they were leaving. We made reservations for 6:30 and by the time we get there it was already dark so we could not enjoy the view from our seats (we had a window table, YAY) but I imagine that it is very nice since its location is very close to the beach. We were seated in the main dining room and it was a full house so it was quite noisy but I did not mind it much. The desserts were delicious, I especially enjoyed my tiramisu! Will definitely be back for a nice casual date night.
(5)
Diana A.
A friend and I went this past Sunday to try their restaurant week. We had the seafood manicotti. It was delicious; different and the sauce was yummy. The creme brulee and tiramasu very delicious. I liked the lobster bisque as well. If you can sit in the front room; fantastic place to take in the sunset. The waiter was very friendly. The restaurant itself is charming and will return.
(4)
Marisa S.
I found out about this charming Italian eatery through Groupon and my husband and I were very happy with the outcome. First off, I'm Italian, I was raised there, helped run an Italian restaurant with my ex for ten years in Florida and cook the cuisine; just so you know my qualifications in rating this stuff. So, we get there and are greeted by Massimo, who is Italian and we were led to a sun-room deck that was breezy and allowed for views of the outdoors. The tables were all tastefully dressed up in white cloths with cute little glass vases holding fresh rosemary; simple, yet classy. After chatting with Massimo about Italy's loss to Spain in the Euro-cup; I asked him to recommend an appetizer for us and he said the "burrata" with "prosciutto e melone" that's fresh mozzarella di bufala with canteloupe slices and prosciuto, a very summer-friendly appetizer in Italy. So, I gave the go on that and then ordered the "farfalle alla vodka" farfalle pasta in a pink "vodka" sauce with scallops, shrimp and smoked salmon. For my husband, the "rigatoni" with the Italian sausage and "melanzane" (eggplant.) To drink, my husband ordered the Peroni on tap which he enjoyed and I ordered a Mimosa which Massimo served with a small bottle of Prosecco Superiore, a wonderfully crisp, dry, white bubbly that Italians like to sip before a meal. The bread that Massimo brought was a tasty, fresh sour doughy bread, that went well with everything we ordered and he also brought a lukewarm sauce made from San Marzano tomatoes, basil and garlic, that went exceptionally well with the bread. For dessert, I ordered Cicciotti's creme brule with a "frutti di bosco" fresh berry cream swirled inside the custard. It tasted fresh and the texture was creamy light with a rich egg-buttery taste. The best part of all this is that I bought a $20 Groupon for $45 value on food/drinks at Cicciotti's. So, although my bill was appox. $73 (tax included) I only ended up paying $28 plus tip at the restaurant; in addition to the $20 I had originally paid to Groupon. So, a total of $48 bought us a wonderful two course meal at a really nice Italian restaurant, which included alcoholic drinks! Where can you get that in a coastal town like Cardiff, so close to the water, in Southern California?
(4)
Jodi F.
I wanted to try someplace new so I purchased a Groupon.... it was a pretty good deal. My boyfriend and I made reservations, which was pretty easy to do on line. We thought the food was amazing, the service was amazing, and the prices seemed pretty reasonable. Most italian restaurants give you huge portions that you usually end up taking home. They gave a perfect portion and I was glad I didn't have to take anything home ( I'm not a fan of leftovers). I would definitely go again and recommend to others. Will try to go again during the day for the view!
(5)
Michele W.
Great sunset / ocean view, not overcrowded like Wine Steals! Great service, friendly, relaxed ambiance in a beautiful old (1944) building. Food was excellent... Loved their freshly baked bread, it melts in your mouth. They were very cool about honoring the Yelp discount too! The owner even came over and said hello.. We will be back..
(4)
Ashley W.
Yet another place that My husband and I use to go to so often. Yet again over the years the service and the food have both gone down hill. We recently went here for the latest restaurant week with our family. We got to our table very quickly, due to the fact we had a reservation. Unfortunately when we came to our table we did not have enough table settings or water glasses. It took quite some time and multiply waiters to finally get the last 4 settings that we needed. We ordered wine for a few of us and only 2 of the 3 people got their wine in a timely manner. Now I know it's restaurant week and it can get very busy, with that said everyone should be treated with care. It took again sometime before we even had someone to come around and take our order. Unfortunately some of our family did not like what was on the restaurant week menu and we asked for the normal menu, apparently they were not allowing anyone to order off the regular menu. Before we could even order our waiter walked away. Again after waiting some time we finally got our orders taken. We got our 1st course in an appropriate time, but our 2nd course took almost 45mins from the 1st and our 3rd course came very quick right after that. (very odd timing). When it came to our check it took almost another 30mins to get it and then 20mins for them just to pick it up. This is just one case of many experiences like this, that we have had at Cicciotti's. We would love to love this place again, but unfortunately until the service and food get better we will not be returning.
(1)
chris R.
Over priced and not all that great food but the atmosphere was nice. I had a groupon so it was worth a shot but I would never visit to pay full price! Simply much better options at a better price. I won't suggest them here but within 1 mile of the restaurant there are at least 4 other Italian restaurants with better food, price, and service. Thanks to Groupon I only paid 50% but still wasn't even worth that! food: 2 out of 10 service: 4 out of 10 price: 0 out of 10 Atmosphere: 5 out of 10 Overall: 2 out of 10 Advice: Go elsewghere
(1)
John D.
Very disappointed, do not judge your experience from their website as you'll be sorely disappointed. The food is blah and without the view, this place would have been a 1 star for me. Especially given the price! Go for the view and that's it. The food looked and tasted like it came from an amateur restaurant. The carpaccio appetizer was OK, but I've had far better. I ordered the chicken picatta which looked like it was a generic bland chunk of chicken that they applied the picatta sauce to as an after thought. Same for my partner's chicken with sausage; only "so so" in taste and presentation. I will not return.
(2)
Taylor S.
My wife and I bought the groupon for this place since we've driven by it a million times and always wanted to try it. I'm sure glad we did! We started out with a bottle of the J Lohr Syrah, and the Caprese, which were both delicious. I had the Caneloni which was so-so, but my wife's ravioli was delicious. I think the Caneloni just needed a little more sauce on it? Anyhow, the desert was also darn good, and the service was very nice/attentive. All in all a good experience, and we will definitely go back!
(4)
Lindsay W.
Don't go here. Just DON'T do it. You will definitely regret it. Short version: The food is terrible and grossly overpriced, the management is rude. Long version: This is not Italian food. It's also not good food. It's on par with the Olive Garden in terms of authenticity and quality.... maybe even below that level. The first red flag was the menu, which was something like 9 pages long. I'm always wary of a menu that long because how can a restaurant possibly guarantee that many items? Food availability changes and if you have a static menu you are either going to jip the customer one time or another by omitting an ingredient you can't get, or sacrifice quality at some point to provide the dishes you've listed. I was right to be wary; they didn't have two of the wines we ordered, and the "Fresca Verde" salad my sister ordered was missing radishes. The second red flag was the Caesar salad I ordered. I had a bad feeling about ordering it, but I was in the mood for a Caesar salad and I thought that since this places advertises itself as Italian, it might at least be decent. I was so wrong. I've had better Caesar salad at a corner coffee shop. The dressing was absolutely disgusting. It was basically some kind of bottled Italian vinaigrette. It tasted like high fructose corn syrup and chemicals. Not a hint of anchovies, lemon or Parmesan. The fact that it was bottled dressing was one thing, the fact that it was terrible bottled dressing... not even bottled Caesar dressing is just ridiculous. You can't just give a customer a plate of romaine lettuce with pre-shaved cheese from a 5 pound bag, drizzle it with crappy bottled dressing and call it "Caesar salad". After one bite I knew it wasn't worth it, and stopped eating it. A bus boy took it away after awhile, and must have told someone, because the owner came up to me and asked me if I liked my salad. I explained to him it didn't taste like a Caesar to me, and he brought me a small dish with the dressing. He asked me to taste it in case the kitchen staff had used the wrong dressing. I did, and explained to him that yes it was the same dressing, but in no way did it taste like what it should. He then when on to do this thing I can't stand, which is say a really rude thing in a nice way-- pretending to apologize but really just telling me I am wrong. He said they'd been using it for 10 years. I find it hard to believe that in 10 years no one else noticed it was awful. The real thing is SO EASY to make! Why use such a poor substitute? I ordered the special for my entree, a penne pasta dish with a cioppino style sauce. HORRIBLE. First of all... nothing about this dish, besides the fact that there was seafood in it, was reminiscent of cioppino. I basically got a bowl of pasta in a watery marinara sauce with some overcooked pre-frozen seafood. The sauce had no wine in it, wasn't slightly spicy or even remotely rich. I will give them this, the clams and muscles were fresh tasting and not overcooked. The first shrimp I had was so overcooked, though... and the calamari, good god was it awful. It was so, SO rubbery. If I hadn't been at the table with my grandparents, I would have spit it out in my napkin. Instead I had to chew it for roughly 7 minutes and then force myself to swallow it. That was the last bite I could handle. There are other things about this place I found sub-par (i.e. the Opera singer who plays a crappy keyboard and sings way too loud, the red wine stain on our table cloth that was there before they seated us, the wait staff that stood around and had conversations behind my table and didn't even notice when I got up to use the restroom or said excuse me), but I think I've said enough about what a complete waste of money this place is. Go somewhere else. ANYWHERE else.
(1)
Zoe B.
Many people seem to complain about the food being bland. I disagree completely. "Bland" is the complete absence of seasoning. They DO season the food here, and are very light-handed with the salt. If you love Pizza Hut and tend to throw salt on everything you eat, then you will not like the food here. We went for restaurant week and chose from the fixed-price menu. Everything, from the lobster bisque to the sea bass and all the way down to the tiramisu, everything was full of subtle yet delicious flavor. Actually there was nothing subtle about the tiramisu... if you love coffee, you will LOVE this tiramisu! Huge, bold coffee flavors there! Everything was also perfectly cooked. The sea bass was so tender, the veggies were not too crunchy or soggy, the filet mignon was just right, everything was really good! There are so many other seasonings other than salt, it's wonderful when I can finally find a place that knows this. I risk sounding like a snob, but it takes a refined palette to enjoy food low in salt. Swish it around in your mouth and let it fill your senses, like a good wine.
(5)
Jeff B.
Where to start? This was an evening of comedic follies. Service: The place was apparently not prepared for the "rush". Our waiter, Zach, was very nice and apologetic, but pretty slow. The bottle of wine didn't arrive until we were finished with the water and bread. Food: I had the chicken and Italian sausage in a garlic rosemary sauce with steamed vegetables. "She" had the penne with chicken and sun-dried tomatoes in a Gorgonzola sauce. I was apprehensive about the food given some of the reviews that I read previously, but both dishes where quite good with excellent subtle flavor. We accompanied the meal with a nice bottle of Las Almos Cabernet from Argentina. Because the aforementioned service was slow, we were offered a complimentary cheesecake (I don't like cheesecake, but "she" seemed to enjoy it). Atmosphere: It was much more cozy and quaint inside than I had anticipated. There's some history about the building that I wasn't listening to, but definitely a great place for sunset, drinks, special occasion, or whatever excuse you can think of. Overall, I give it 3 stars due to the wait and bit of misunderstanding sorting out the bill, but would definitely go back. The bar looks intriguing... Quick tip: Wednesday night is half off bottles of wine night.
(3)
Tessa M.
fabulous. legitimate italian food is hard to find, and cicciotti's delivered. i had filet-stuffed ravioli with some sort of alfredo sauce, and i should mention, for a lot cheaper than i expected. the restaurant is beautiful (although the restrooms are outside which, especially for someone from pennsylvania like myself, was a little strange). the service was good and the prices were reasonable. there really isn't much else i can even say about this place except everyone ever in the area should check it out at least once!
(5)
Digger M.
We had a groupon so tried it out. The staff was nice and atmosphere was good. Food was way over priced for the quality. Sauces lacked flavor and meat was a bit dry. The bread was the worst bread that I have ever been given at an Italian restaurant. Won't be back.
(2)
Muir W.
Went there with my friend after getting a Groupon and we were very pleased! We came in early around 5 and they sat us right near the window with the view which was nice. We were instantly greeted and our waiter was assertive and on top of taking care of us the entire time. I ordered a pasta with a creamy sauce thinking that would be the yummiest, and my friend ordered a seafood pasta with tomato sauce... I figured it would have been typical spaghetti sauce so I didn't order one with tomato sauce.. but I was wrong! My friend's meal was so good, I wanted to eat all of hers instead of mine! The tomato sauce was really, really tasty, and the seafood pasta was just perfect. Mine was still very good too, but there is nothing better than good and slightly spicy tomato sauce. I am looking forward to going back there again!
(5)
Julian V.
This was the worst food I've ever tasted. I've never had pasta or meatballs out of a can but am willing to bet they'd taste far superior to the dog food they called Italian here at Cicciotti's Trattoria Italiana. The location is awesome and that's why we chose to eat here but really that was the only thing this place had going for them aside from the appetizer bread. The food over all completely lacked any flavor and some of the pasta wasn't even fully cooked. I ordered a plate w/ pesto gnocchi, ravioli & stuffed shells. The pesto tasted like a handful of dry packaged parsley in a flavorless Bechamel, the Kirkland Ravioli sold at costco dwarfed theirs in every way imaginable way and the shells were like under cooked cat turd stuffed into an undercooked piece of store bought pasta. Actually a cat turd would have been better. I took one bite of everything and didn't touch the rest. I would comment on my Gf's meal but I'm sure she will be on here soon to put in her two cents. Bottom line, STAY AWAY unless you're going to have a drink and watch the sunset. Even still, stay away. People who serve junk that bad and call it food shouldn't be allowed to serve food to the public.
(1)
Jason W.
Let me start by saying I want to love this place so bad. It's cute. In a great location. Good menu, solid wine list. It has the potential to be 5-star, but alas it has it's issues... I've been here several times and keep expecting/hoping it would get better. It didn't. The food is okay, not bad but not great. The service is mediocre at best. The last time I was here was by far one of the worst service experiences of my life. It was during Restaurant Week so the place was mobbed and crazy busy but that shouldn't be an excuse for horrendous service. I'll be waiting for my friends to let me know if/when Cicciotti's improves.
(3)
Ryan D.
It seems like most people have had some tough reviews of Cicciotti, and providing we didn't actually have dinner here...who knows. BUT, for what we did have...I really liked the place. Started with a couple glasses of a great Argentina Cab, reasonably priced around $8...it was delish. Really enjoyed the bread with the stewed tomato spread as well. Ordered the artichoke heart and cheese + shrimp app...which was not very big for the price (about $12), but it was tasty! Not sure if we would be itching to come back for dinner, but the service was good, aps and drinks worked well for us...so they get 4 stars from me!
(4)
Traci W.
Pros- really great service, nice view, comfy and inviting sunroom/eating area. Cons - Some of the food was delicious - the rest was just OK. They brought out bread and a tomato dipping concoction. The tomatoes were perfectly seasoned with fresh garlic and fresh basil. Loved it. The bread was.....meh. My date and I each ordered salads. I got a simple green salad and it was very nice. Fresh ingredients, nice dressing. Husband got the caprese salad and was disappointed. The portion was relatively small and it didn't come with the balsamic reduction that we're used to getting. (I realize that it's not standard, but it would have definitely helped in this case.) It was just tomatoes and mozzarella with a bit of olive oil. Also, the tomatoes weren't very appealing. They were of the washed-out, bland-tasting, tomato-flavored-water variety. Overall, another "meh". We ordered a margerita pizza and found it to be lacking substance. The crust was very, very thin and didn't have much oomph to it. It was topped with a bit of sauce, a bit of fresh basil, and a small amount of cheese that melted right into the sauce - it made the cheese barely detectable. Overall, underwhelmed with the pizza. Felt like a gourmet cracker to me. I would almost be inclined to give this place a 4 because the overall experience was pretty good- however, the reason we stopped at this place was because their sign touted wood-fired pizza. If an establishment is going to make something their signature, it would behoove them to make sure that said speciality is out of this world. Not so much in this case. Finally, got the tiramisu for dessert. Although vegan 364 days per year, I allow myself to cheat and have a piece of tiramisu every year on my birthday. I'm glad I splurged here - the tiramisu was among some of the best I've ever had. Bottom line - Great service, split on the salads, underwhelming pizza, and heavenly dessert. I'll go back, but I'll skip the pizza and will try the pasta instead.
(3)
Blakely S.
Last night I took 3 out of town friends here for dinner. One from Canada, One from Mexico, One from OC. I was the only local. We ordered 4 different meals because we have 4 different tastes and 4 different cooking skills. The most experienced ordered the Lasagan with cheese. It was dripping in cheese. The least experienced ordered the Chicken Parmesian and enjoyed every bite. Another ordered the new Gnochi with Mushrooms and ordered the Chicken Piccata. We all left very full and happy. The waiters and the owner are a delight to make sure your evening is a wonderful for us.
(5)
Alexandra L.
The prices should be double considering the tastes, quality, and location. The food was wonderful! We had a restaurant.com gift card so we needed to spend $100- which we innocently thought would be easy. We got 2 appetizers, 2 entrees, a bottle of wine, a desert, and 2 coffees, and barely made it. There was a man singing Opera throughout our dinner, and the entire ambiance was very enjoyable. Food was excellent!
(5)
Jen K.
This is the second time we used a Groupon for this place and we LOVE it. We would eat here more often but rarely can spend that kind of money for a night out. Groupons make it more affordable when we want to splurge. Also, it is a bit far for us to drive for just a meal out. The ambiance is fantastic...we have eaten on the outdoor patio and inside. Great view, gorgeous sunset, and a quaint little building. Everything is clean and well maintained. They use nice linen table cloths and napkins, which is a nice change from our regular joints. For starters they bring out fresh baked bread and chunky tomatoes, but are willing to provide olive oil and vinegar, too. (We get both!) We could stuff ourselves on the bread alone. The menu is extensive - there are pages and pages of salads, pastas, pizzas, and other entrees. We had the same waitress both times and were amazed (both times) that she could remember the 8-10 specials they have every night. It is almost impossible to choose because everything sounds so good! We have eaten the seafood lasagna, a pasta dish with marinara and seafood (not sure the name), and a linguine with seafood/fish. We had the Caesar salad and a mixed green salad with Gorgonzola and both were the best salads we ever had. Their house balsamic vinaigrette is absolutely fantastic...I would say the best I've had and I'm not a vinaigrette fan in general. Service is fantastic, food is delicious, and it is a nice romantic place to catch up with your partner after a long week (or just hang with a friend). We will definitely go back. Prices are not outrageous given the quality and size of plates. Two people could easily split a salad and entree and be stuffed. Salads range from $8-20 and entrees average the $15-20 range, but as I said -- if you can agree on plates to split this is well worth the money. My husband and I split salad and entree and had to go shopping for a couple hours to walk off our full stomachs. Highly recommend this restaurant. We will definitely be back.
(5)
Leslie J.
Had such a nice evening the night we went for dinner here. The waiter was so nice and had such a great personality. (wish I was better with names) We sat outside and enjoyed the warm evening and the Italian bread served with the tomatoes was yummy. We are not ones to go to fancy restaurants, so the casual atmosphere was nice and relaxing. As for "romantic" I don't think I would say it's one of those types, specially with the football game blasting out the window above our heads. Our food was VERY good. I ordered shrimp and crab in a white wine sauce over fettuccine and my date had the meatball lasagna. Both dinners were around $20 each... (this is a lot of $$$$ for us--but we don't go out much and this is probably the norm) I was a bit dismayed that for this price that a salad wasn't included... Would I go back? Yeah... probably... it was a nice evening. OH... parking... we had to walk about 2 blocks because we didn't know that there was parking behind the building.. so here is a heads up on the parking situation!
(4)
Aparna P.
We came here on the last day of restaurant week. Even after making a reservation at 9pm for four people, we found ourselves waiting a good 10 minutes before we were seated. We weren't even greeted at the door by a maitre d'. We had to approach some waiters ourselves and tell them we had reservations. The restaurant was unbelievably noisy and crowded! I mean I understand that restaurant week is a busy time for them. But when I make a reservation I expect to be seated right away. I let it slide as the ambiance (besides the noise) was quite charming. There were torches blowing fire out of them on the outside of the restaurant. The decor was simple and elegant- white table clothes, little lights trimming the area where the ceiling and wall met, and a wooden interior. On to the food: I'm a vegetarian, and I checked the menu online, which said that a vegetarian option was available. Of course, they had the classic eggplant parm. So I ordered that, along with a baked artichoke appetizer, tiramisu for dessert, and three wine pairings. While the food came we were given two baskets of warm bread that came with some kind of tomato concoction. The best thing to have when you're starving in an Italian restaurant. We got our food pretty quick for the amount of people that were coming into the place! The artichokes were perfect. There was cheese melted and baked onto the plate and the artichoke hearts were tender and tangy. Our waiter forgot our first wine to go with the appetizer so we had to remind him. When he brought it, it was some sort of pinot (I'm no wine expert). Quite delicious with the artichokes! The main dish, eggplant parm. was perfect. There was a ton of cheese on top (easily scraped off for people watching fat intake), but the eggplant was cooked well and the breading was just right. It was a fairly large piece of eggplant that also came with a dollop of mashed potatoes, a huge piece of steamed and unseasoned broccoli and zucchini each. In my opinion, the mashed potatoes were enough! The wine that went with this was a merlot. So strong that it burned my throat as I tried it. Red wines are definitely not my calling. The tiramisu that came out was so beautiful. However, when I tried it, I could sense that it had not been thawed completely because I could still feel the small ice chips that form in food when you freeze it. So the tiramisu was not as smooth as it should have been. But the flavors were all there. The wine that went with dessert was also a red, but not a sweet enough dessert wine. I don't know how they thought it would pair well with dessert. I'm giving this place three stars because the service was on the poorer side, we had to wait even though we made reservations and some waiters were extremely touchy feely which made me and my friends feel awkward! The food and bread were both great, so come here if you want decent Italian food other than Olive Garden!
(3)
Billy L.
Pretty bad. Everything seemed either frozen or out of a can. This risotto was not creamy, it was like rice pilaf. Kind of amazing that this place is still in business. Their pizza is not even home made. It's pre cooked crusts. How hard is it to make your own dough? It's not hard is the answer. And I bet it's cheaper than buying that crap. If you are looking for Italian food you would be better off getting some spaghetti O's. Pass on this place, especially since its WAY over priced!
(2)
Christine D.
This place is just a couple of blocks away from my office and the lunch specials are good. Service is pretty friendly and they seem to greet their regulars and new customers with the same kind of "Hey, make yourself at home" kind of vibe. But I like that the service is attentive without being intrusive. Bread basket was warm and I love the tomato/basil mixture they give to dip. I tend to get the same lunch special. Either the cioppino or the spaghetti a la checca. The sauces are light and flavorful and the seafood in the cioppino is cooked to the perfect texture. Not tough and not mushy undercook either. But the best part of this restaurant is its location. It's right on San Elijo Avenue, where you can have an open view of the ocean. And it's also right next door to Wine Steals.
(3)
Cathy H.
Well, most of the negative reviews came with restaurant week, so I went with a pretty open mind. It certainly wasn't awful, but I would have rather saved the money and calories and eaten at home. 1. The waitress clearly didn't want to be there. Or at least with us. She never reviewed the specials (with us, she did with others), never checked on us, etc. Okay, not awful, but whatever. 2. They seated us in a big empty dining room. Okay, cool. But then they seated a party of 8- RIGHT next to us... which wasn't even near a window or anything. The whole place is empty, so wtf? They were awfully loud too, which was a bummer. 3. There wasn't enough food. And I'm a relatively thin female. My poor date looked miserable. Yet, the table next to us seemed to have twice the portion size? 4. This might be my own personal taste, but the pasta was way too "al dente" for me (I don't think it was supposed to be?) 5. I ordered the shrimp pasta. There were four shrimp. Sigh. So I would have thought they would at least make up for it with more pasta, but alas... I was out of luck. And I went home hungry. So all in all, it wasn't terrible or anything, but I wouldn't ever go back.
(2)
Ashley E.
. Worth a 2.5 but not any higher. Four of us went on a Saturday night - when there is live music. With a very cottage Italian feel the ingredients were there but fell flat. The music was SOOOO loud that a conversation could not occur. Therefore if you don't like your date...might actually be a good option to go when there is opera around. Anyway the bread and dip they start out with a fine but then came the meals. The looked a lot worse than tasted so I guess that's a plus however when you order a seafood lasagna you want a meal. For over 20 bucks I hardly had enough food and as a petite person that is hard to believe. The service was ok but not great. The worst was that after the music they started to clean up shop. It was like being in a noisy kitchen and feeling like you are being kicked out. It was 10:15 on a Sat...Kind of rude. Anyway not a bad local joint but absolutely that is what it is a local joint. Wouldn't make the trip from downtown or any where else to make it a destination stop
(2)
John Y.
Yum Yum Yum......... Fabulous Italian eatery with peek views of the Pacific in one of the most quaint areas of San Diego. Service I found to be friendly. Servers were helpful and knowledgeable about the menu. The servers were very busy though so it took a few minutes each time to get to us. They sure earn their keep. I would not want to do what they do. The food was awesome. The food here could rival many great Italian restaurants in NYC ! Saute calamari in tomato sauce appetizer is one of the best I had in years. Hands down. The sauce is sooo good. Would be awesome if they had stuffed calamari with a seafood or sausage stuffing......... just saying. Also the Asparagus wrapped with Mozzarella and Prosciutto was excellent too. The chicken with sausage and the veal saltimboca were all very tasty with good flavors without being over powering. Simple but delicious with layers of flavor. The chocolate drizzled on the tiramisu is a PERFECT pairing while sipping on a glass of pinot noir. This is a must .......... If you don't you are missing out on a great tasting combo. The menu is huge. I'm not fussy when it comes to food but I know decent food and the menu has something for everybody. I don't work for the owners nor do I know the staff ........... just a new fan........ we will be back Don't understand the bad Groupon reviews. Perhaps Groupon needs to re vamp things a bit. I see that alot with other restaurant reviews on Yelp with regard to Groupon. Too bad because this restaurant offered a great menu to choose from and the food was excellent on many different levels. They must be busy for a reason...... It's freakin awesome and worth any kind of wait. It reminds me of the Italian flavors of Arthur Avenue in the Bronx plus the Pacific Ocean at your doorstep. Sounds great to me............
(5)
D M.
Totally enjoyed the food, setting and service. Great traditional Italian food with a view of the beach. Good prices for the quality service and variety. I recommend it highly.
(4)
Vanessa L.
I came here with some friends and I had such an amazing experience the food was amazing I had the Linguine with creamy tomato sauce with chicken and artichoke it was so amazing the taste in my mouth made me want more. All my friends were very satisfied and all of our plates looked beautiful. All of your staff were extremely nice and very helpful. Thank you
(5)
Dee H.
3 of us decided to try Cicciotti's during restaurant week and we were really impressed with the food. One had lasagne, one had the filet, and I had the bass and it was the best fish I have ever eaten and my two friends were equally impressed and we all said we wished we could lick our plates. We were figuring out what day we can go again on our way home. It is a little noisy, but the food and service makes up for it....our new favorite!
(5)
Jackie s.
This is a gem. Wonderful food-fresh bass, great pasta dishes and nice salads. The setting is unbeatable-ocean views-and the service by the young staff is great and cheerful. Corkage fee is $16, but it does have reasonable and good wines on its wine list. No kids menu but it does offer small meals for kids-my grandkids love the pasta.
(5)
Lindsey D.
Ambience and staff are worth 4-5 stars combined, food more like 3. As others have said, the bar area is really very cute and there's no hustle at this place, which is nice and worth noting. The pricing is also quite reasonable. The food didn't bowl me over, but it wasn't bad, and I appreciated the offer of fresh water, ground pepper and fresh Parm with every new course. That's always nice. Obvious, but you'd be surprised how few restaurants do it. Standout: Creamy, cheesy Lasagna al Forno. Less impressive: Waitress talked me into a seafood & pesto pasta that wasn't on the menu, which was less good-- the pesto not being pesto, but a creamy pesto sauce, which I probably wouldn't have ordered if I'd known how heavy it would be. That said, the seafood in it (especially scallops and calamari) were fresh and delicious, and that Cardiff sunset really can't be beat.
(3)
Abhinandan S.
Nice Italian place, well the menu is humongous but you know what you need. I have veggie artichoke and pizza, they were great. Also used my Groupon :)
(4)
Ping G.
Mr Cicciotti saw my yelp review and mailed me a gift certificate for me to give his restaurant another try--so nice of him. It's wonderful when business owners care and try to improve. That's how they get better too. I went with two friends for dinner and tried the pizza this time. The place was packed. It seemed like other people enjoyed their food better than we did, probably because the pizza we had was a little too creamy and we are not big fans of creamy food. I have to take a star off because the food was just not my type.
(4)
Brent B.
Sorry but this place was negative in almost every way. We decided to eat here because it was within walking distance from our lodgings and it also had a restaurant.com coupon. Those were the only highlights. When we arrived a few minutes before our reservations, the Maître d' asked if we were willing to wait for a soon to be open window seat. We said yes. We waited for twenty minutes only to be seated at a table next to the entrance in the middle of the room. Once seated and a little perturbed, we saw a table by the window open up. I asked the Maître d' if we could move and he said yes and to wait a few minutes for them to prepare the table. Minutes later, another group was seated at the table. Next up came the silverware. I can let pass a dirty fork, but three out of four is a bit much. Then came the ordering. We asked for a few extra moments to look over the menu. Our waiter, who we think was working the other side of the restaurant, took a long time to return. Then we ordered our food and a bottle of wine. Over 15 minutes passed before he brought us our appetizer, then we still had to wait for the wine. He could of at least stopped by and told us that the bar was busy. Even the table next to us was perturbed during the long wait for their bottle. Once the food arrived, we ate the meal unimpressed. The lasagna has no flavor to it and the Pizza due Salimi was nothing special. The only good food was the free bread and dipping sauce. This place seems like a local favorite, but I would not recommend this place to anyone.
(1)
Tami J.
I seriously can't wait for this place to go out of business. The first time we went the food wasn't great but there was an opera singer and we'd had a bottle of wine which somehow deceived us into thinking this place was tolerable. We went back a second time and the waiter was rude, food took almost an hour to come out and again, the food wasn't great. I decided to go a third time for lunch (I tend to forgive very easily) and I have never had a worse Italian meal in my life. I ordered the shrimp linguine alla sorrentina which was described as "shrimp with linguine served with white wine and garlic in a spicy tomato sauce". When it came out it looked like it had been drowned in olive oil, garlic and red pepper flakes. And the shrimp were so small and tasteless that I took two bites, paid my bill and left. In fairness, and since this was my third bad experience, I didn't alert any of the staff that I wasn't satisfied with my meal. I realize that the only way restaurants can get better is through feedback but I figure after three similar experiences, this may just not be the place for me.
(1)
Bill H.
Where to begin? Lunch, bright sunny day, only two others in the restaurant. Took a seat on the patio. Nice waiter, with Italian accent, brings menus and asks if we would like drinks, two white wines and two waters, please. After about 10 minutes our drinks arrived. I noticed the cooks and waiter were watching a soccer game in the bar area TV. He returned and took our order, Ravioli and Paella and we waited and waited. When our food arrived, it was good, not great. My wife had something in her wine, cork...I hope. We couldn't tell but he took it back. Then we noticed both our forks had dried food on them, we waited and he bought us new silverware. I had to ask for bread, really....a Italian place where I had to ask for bread but the marinara dipping sauce was good. Over all, it's over priced, over accented and I'm over it. Go elsewhere.
(1)
Susanne S.
I came here earlier this year with a girlfriend for restaurant week. The food wasn't amazing but the atmosphere is lovely. The beach is literally a street away. And the service was perfect. Maybe it was because we were the only ones there (there was a big Chargers game on that day), but still our waiter was very sweet. They even let my friend, who is vegetarian to select off the regular menu. I got the sea bass and she got gnocchi. I don't really remember the taste of the fish, only the too-strong taste of the capers that it was cooked with. My friend seemed to like her plate but left over more more than half saying it was too rich to continue on. The best part of the meal was the dessert. We both got tiramisu and it was awesome. Overall, we were both satisfied.
(4)
Cindy H.
Ate dinner there for Restaurant Week on January 17. Great atmosphere and food, (I had the fettucini & lobster and the creme brulee, my husband enjoyed the portobello ravioli and tiramisu) very attentive and helpful waiters, and seated promptly (for 6:30 reservation)! We look forward to eating here again in the future.
(5)
Peter R.
There seems to be sort of a lot of variation when it comes to reviewer's ranking of this place, and although I am giving it 4 stars, I think there is room for improvement. Personally, I really like the food, or at least the things I have had there so far. I have been to Italy several times and I think the food is a reasonable approximation to some places I've eaten at in Rome. I am paritcularly partial to Canelloni (pictured here) and I think they do a pretty good job of it at Cicciotti's, such that it is what I order 90% of the time - much to my wife's disgust, of course. The wine list is, much the same as most restaurants, hideously over priced. You get a $5 bottle of wine for $35, but that's typical I guess. I think they are trying to be up-scale, but should throttle back their view of themselves to 'average, decent Italian food' and decrease pricing by about 20% and I'd be a little happier. Anyway, we like it and will go back periodically. Would go back a lot more often if dinner for two + bottle of wine ran closer to $60 - $70.
(4)
Joel B.
Just back from our first visit, using the super Restaurant Week deal to sample the fare. Unbelievable bargain. For starters they brought fresh-baked bread with kind of an Italian salsa, big hunks of soft, tasty tomato. That stuff was so good I bought some to go. For dinner, Nora and I both got Lobster Bisque soup, and rated it 'A'. Nora said it's the best she's ever had. She ordered the salmon, which came perfectly cooked, though the rich sauce could have used more seasoning. We give it a B+. I had the manicotti stuffed with fish, shellfish, and more. It came in the same sauce as the salmon. It didn't tickle my taste buds as I'd hoped, but others might like it better. The osso bucco and filet mignon, which we saw others enjoying, looked fantastic. I plan to return to try them sometime. Finally, we chose the chocolate souffle lava cake ala mode for dessert. Scrumptious, wonderful, delightful. And for a total bill of only $20 each (plus $5 for my Italian-salsa-to-go and a very generous tip for our friendly, overworked, and super-efficient waitress), tonight's dinner was an economical delight.
(4)
Craig N.
This is one of those quaint places you would not think to stop at if you were driving by. It has a fairly nice view of the Ocean and simple decor. Service was excellent. Menu is a bit overzealous but full of interesting dishes. I think simpler would be better / less is more. The meal was outstanding however. This is NOT mediocre food like some big name Italian restaurants - this is serious Italian food and worth checking out. You can almost hear Dean Martin singing "Volare'" live in the background... Take your 'significant' other. Their Sunday + Monday special is crazy good and priced to please - and it's a lot cheaper than flying to Genoa for similar quality! I will be back....
(4)
Del Mar Girl H.
Went here after the Charger game last Sunday. We were sat promptly and there were about 6 tables in the restaurant with one waiter. Service was still quick, but made us feel rushed. Food was mediocre, WAY OVER priced for what you get. Also the wine menu is lacking variety for good wines. My biggest complaint is that I was brought the wrong dish, but everyone else was done eating before the server came back to us. When I told him he brought the wrong dish he offered to get me a new plate. I was like, no thank you...we were tired and wanted to go home. I was still charged for the dish and a $2.00 service charger for splitting the dish. Seriously? I was so tired, I way over tipped too when I noticed the bill the next morning and reviewed the charges. For the record, the other 3 people at our table said their food was just "ok". One of them ordered the spaghetti and said it was very plain and lacked flavor. Won't ever dine here again. Too bad Vigilucci's is no longer in this location. Do yourself a favor and go to another Italian place, lots of cute ones in Encinitas.
(1)
Valerie D.
Got a groupon worth $45 for only $20! Score right?! My mother and I went here after she got out of work and the parking is weird. It's street / beach parking and then you have to jay-walk across :/ I don't understand why they squeeze guests in tiny places... but of course they did. There was a heavy set lady literally right next to me and a couple behind me chatting about investments.. luckily one party moved and the music finally came on ( it was dead silent before, which is why I had to choice but to listen to people's conversations ) So.. we order 2 sparkling wines 7.95 each (typical pricing) My mom get the Penne Maria 14.50 and I buy Vegetali alla Piastra 14.50. The display of the dishes looked like fast food. EWWWW :( and they BURNT some of the onions and eggplant beyond belief and still served it to me?? WHY?!?! besides the ugly burnt food.. it didn't taste bad. It was OK and it sucked because the owner was so nice!! He came from Naples and talks up a storm with guests (I like it when owners stick around their restaurants, feels like they give a crap you know?) My mother will return but I won't :/ not enough veggie options or substitutes.
(2)
Edward L.
Maria and I enjoyed the wine and appetizers .the seafood pasta as my wife said ( to die for ) everything great !! Except the bread very bland.
(4)
Sarah K.
love the vibe of this place..but you must go at one of there off hour times. The pizza is unbelievable and the wine is definitely affordable. the pastas with white sauce are also good. friendly waiters but better service at the bar. They also have live music on the weekends.
(4)
Jill S.
Cicciotti's serves classic Italian food dishes that will satisfy you. I think it will outlive many of the other Italian restaurants in the area because the atmosphere has a fresh and modern vibe without being trendy. I split the Insalata ai due formaggi with my husband. I chose it because it has little deep fried goat cheese medallions on the salad that melt in your mouth. They split the salad on separate plates which I thought was generous of them. Then I had the Penne Maria and it was powerfully delicious. It was penne tossed with fresh vegetables and chicken in a tasty wine sauce. Our server was attentive but not notable. I think he lacked sophistication and charm. I am not looking for an entertainer, but I do like someone that you feel you hope you have again upon leaving. He didn't leave a lasting impression. That is why I didn't give Cicciotti's 5 stars.
(4)
Mimi G.
After 12 years in San Diego County, I now realize why I've never taken the time to venture out during "Restaurant Week". After a long busy day, the hubby decided we'd try the EXPERIENCE and ventured to a local restaurant that we've been to before...but not recently...because the menu looked yummy. The first words out of the waiters mouth was "Have you decided yet?" No welcome...no do you want some water? wine? So I appraised him of the fact that we wanted a bottle of the house chianti. 10 -15 MINUTES LATER ...we were sitting there with our water and our bread...no waiter to be found, but scores of people being crammed into the outdoor patio room. I chose the bottle because the menu said that the wine pairing offered @ $10 was 3oz of wine each...so for $20 I figured we'd probably need another glass...therefore ordered the bottle. He FINALLY arrives with the wine. The house wasn't available, so lucky us we get their "Riserva". IT WAS THE MOST GOD AWFUL WINE THAT I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY ENTIRE LIFE!...RISERVA? RISERVA ME ROOM TO BARF! The meal...though yummy sounding was quite mediocre considering their kitchen reputation. Finally, when the table next to us had their "wine flights" delivered, it was jacuzzi sized glassful wine. What part of the waiter telling us "Yo... it may say 3oz but we are more generous" to clue us in? Of course, if it tasted like the Riserva, then we wouldn't have finished it anyway. Not often I leave behind wine in a wine bottle at a restaurant........................... Stay away.............Not enough help to do Restaurant week...mediocre food... Oh why didn't I stay home and have a PB&J sammy.
(1)
Lisa C.
Today was Mother's Day and the menu was preset as a multiple course meal which is truly Italian Style. I was told that the food was all homemade by Gaetano himself, who was in the kitchen almost the entire time we were there. The soup was a lobster bisque, delicious, followed by the next course of fresh fruit, assorted cheeses and smoked salmon. Then came the eggs florentine, sausage and quiche. We were then served pennette alla vodka and lobster ravioli. I skipped the chicken, meatballs and potatoes so I could save room for the homemade ricotta cheesecake and tiramisu which were fabulous! Gaetano truly outdid himself! Now I would be remiss not to mention the Opera. The beautiful sounds of tenor Daniel Hendrick serenaded us mothers throughout our meal. Our waiter Salvatore also serenaded us with a few songs from the Godfather and some old italian songs. This was one of the most memorable the Mother's Day's brunches I have ever been to. I will definitely come back next year for this event.
(5)
April W.
I didn't like the lobster stuffed raviolis, but the spicy prawn pasta was delish!! Service a little on the slower side, but ok.
(3)
Ethan S.
Went during restaurant week...food was decent. Lobster Bisque was pretty good but everything else (Pasta/Steak) was average at best. Service was ok but I really just didn't like many aspects of this place. Didn't mind the view but I am from the area so that didn't really come into play. Won't go back for the food, that's for sure.
(2)
Donna L.
Since my son lives within walking distance of the restaurant, we have had many opportunities to dine here over the past few years. We have always enjoyed our meals and have taken friends and family on various occasions and all have agreed it's good value with cozy atmosphere along with excellent food and service. They have quite a varied menu compared to other italian restaurants. It was for these reasons I decided to make a Baby Shower luncheon at Cicciotti's. Seemed like a no brainer. Nice atmosphere along with good food. The owner, Gaetano was a dream to work with and helped make the event a huge success. Everyone enjoyed their meal and the room was beautiful along with the ocean view. Could not have been more pleased with my choice. Thank you Gaetano, for making our event such a pleasant experience. Will be back for dinner soon!
(5)
Rachel A.
I got a groupon for here, it was perfect my friend lives in Carlsbad and i live in clairemont so we jumped at the chance to meet halfway to get dinner. LOVED this place, the atmosphere was adorable and the food great!! I got the chicken alfredo and a glass of their house pinot grigio and it was soooo good. My friend got a glass of chianti and pesto sundried tomatoes ravioli, her's was especially good. i highly recommend this place :)
(5)
Bo G.
Attended a birthday party for about 25 last night, while its not our first time there, last night reminded us of why we go there. Service was fantastic, I don't remember our servers names but it was the large party on the back patio 8/7/15. They were on it. Pizza: delicious Pasta primavera: cooked perfectly slightly al dente Lasagne: beautiful Side note: many of our party was switching seats and mingling when the main came out which can be very frustrating for a server. These dudes handled it like pros. Thank you guys. The owner sang happy birthday in an operatic voice to my friend. Over all a great night, great service, great food.
(5)
Leilani B.
A friend of mine told me this restaurant was one of the best Italian places so I decided to give it a try. When my boyfriend and I arrived we walked through the doors getting a blank look from both waiters just staring at us... Then he didn't ask where we would like to sit he just picked up the menus and said outside tables. Even though there was only two other tables sitting inside...Then after being seated it took over 5 minutes to get water, bread and our order taken. After the food came to our table I didn't even care about the terrible service since the lasagna was amazing and extremely authentic. Again..The waiters didn't come to offer a desert menu or check so I went inside to hunt him down and get my check. Food is amazing... Service needs improvement
(3)
Rene P.
We finally got around to trying Cicciottis this afternoon and are SOOO HAPPY We Did.....I've read loads of great Yelp reviews and bought a groupon for them a few months back....After eating here today we asked ourselves what da heck we had been waiting for There were 3 of us and the owner greeted us on the way in....We sat out in the open air room with a nice view....nice music playing and nice ocean breeze coming in We started with the Fresh warm bread they have with the tomato or olive oil dipping sauces and Wow that's some good bread Then on to Calamari Fritti which was cooked perfectly and Fresh n Light....Perfect starter Then I ordered the Meat Bolognese and the ladies ordered the Meat Lasagna and the Risotto with Mushrooms and Italian sausage.......We shared everything and all agreed that EVERYTHING was DELICIOUS and cooked perfectly.....the sauces were great and the pasta was homemade n soooo Good We still had enough food left for a small lunch tomorrow To cap it off I had to try the Cannolis I read so much about ......WOOOHOOOO R they good......we ordered 2 orders which is 6 of them and brought 2 home.....they are made expertly and have a nice chocolate syrup drizzled over them. YUMMM....Save room for dessert We All Agreed this is Our New Italian Food Home Away from Home Plus we found out they have Happy Hour as well 5 STARS ALL THE WAY FROM START TO FINISH. HIGHLY DESERVED We"ll be back to try diff items and for Happy Hour for sure Thx For a PERFECT PERFECT LUNCH
(5)
Areli R.
I went here with my honey to try it. And we liked the food a lot. Portions were just right. We went on restaurant week. So, we had three course dinner. I must say, it was very good. The ambients was very nice, relaxed all with a really great view. I highly recommend it to anyone. It is a little on the expensive side. So, to me counts for a great special place to take your love one. Go on a date to impress your date.
(4)
Paulette C.
After moving to San Diego from San Francisco 4 years ago, I can finally say I've had San Francisco quality cuisine! Wonderful presentation and outstanding flavors. Tried to get in twice before and now I know why a reservation is recommended on prime nights! Such an Italian atmosphere too...yes, you do need to wait for someone to come by but looking around, the patrons are "dining" and everyone enjoying themselves. Join in and relax. Would I wait 10 minutes past my reservation time for a table at Cicciotti? Absolutely, the food is worth it!
(5)
Thuong T.
Came here for my boyfriend's mother's birthday last night. Didn't know what to expect. My boyfriend had arrived there about 20minutes early to get a table first. He said it was going to be a bit of a wait. By the time we got there and went inside, I noticed that there were plentiful of tables open. Which was odd, that they didn't let him sit down first when he was only waiting for 3 other people including myself. SETTING: The place looks small on the outside but was semi-spacious on the inside. They have outdoor seating and indoor seating. They have two separate dining rooms inside. They have large windows so you can see outside onto the beach. It might get a little cold if you're sitting by the window. They do have parking in the back of the restaurant (but not that many) You can also parking across the street on the dirt along the beach. They also have a full bar with bar seating. They also have multiple large flat screen TVs. They were showing sport games on some and formula 1 racing on others which was cool. SERVICE: The server that seated us did not greet us. And he did not smile the whole time we were there. When he was explaining the current "special items", he spoke really fast. He was simply monotone and had no expression what so ever. At least they made sure we had waters filled, etc. I did also notice that our little appetizer plates that were already sitting on the table when we arrived, were horrifically dirty. There were tons of lint, specks of dust, and grimy looking water stains. It seems like they do not wash their plates properly or the plates have been sitting on the table for along period of time. I requested for our plates to be changed. FOOD: Linguine alla Genovese di Mare $24.75 (Linguine noodles with scallops and shrimp in a creamy brandy pesto sauce) Add lobster tail to any dish $10 This dish was amazing!! Even though the scallops were tiny, there was plentiful! The shrimp was large and juicy. The sauce was very creamy and delicious. Highly recommend this plate! The lobster tail was an average size and it was also nice and delicious. Special Ravioli with Shrimp $26 I don't remember what it was called exactly, but it was one of their specials not on the menu. It consisted of ravioli stuffed with veggies and cheese. With a creamy orange colored sauce and juicy shrimp. This was another delicious plate! Complimentary Bread The loafs of bread came pre-cut. They were very soft on the inside and warm. They were fresh and delicious with their tomato sauce on the side. Overall, the food here is delicious!!! But they can definitely do some work on their customer service. I kind of felt unwelcomed by the servers since no body smiled and seemed to dislike their job or serving customers in general.
(4)
Noelle S.
Authentic, quality food for a decent price. Pairs great with a good bottle of red wine too!! Don't forget to check out the groupon when you go, definitely worth the trip. I recommend the Lasagna, traditional but done to perfection! Been there twice in the last two weeks since I craved it so bad!
(5)
Ginni S.
For starters we had oven fresh warm bread with tomatoes and olive oil dip. The dip was so simple yet so flavorful. Chunky tomatoes with salt, pepper and olive oil.. i could eat a bowl of just that. Wonderful cold dip to go with the warm bread. Caprese salad.. sliced thick tomatoes with basil, mozzarella cheese and balsamic vinegar. Topped with thinly sliced prosciutto. Flavors were good. But quantity could be more.. Rigatoni pasta in a spicy tomato garlic sauce with eggplant and Italian sausage. The sauce was of perfect consistency - thick enough to stay in the pasta and I could easily dip my bread in it for extra oomph. The chunks of garlic in it were perfectly sweet and spicy at the same time. Loved the eggplant in the dish.. never thought I would prefer that over the spicy Italian sausage. .. would love to try this recipe at home. Traditional Lasagna with a meat sauce and bechamel sauce topped with cheese. One of the better Lasagna which we have eaten after a long time. Good quantity and nice flavors. Needed a little bit more bechamel to make it more creamier.
(4)
Abby W.
I returned to Cicciotti's again for date night and continued to be impressed. We arrived close to sunset and enjoyed the beautiful and romantic view of the ocean. The setting is definitely a great spot for a date. This time, I decided to try the chicken fettuccine alfredo at the recommendation of our waitress, who said that it often gets good reviews. I thought the dish was very delicious and the portion size was huge with plenty of leftovers for lunch the next day. My boyfriend ordered the Melanzane alla Parmigiana, which is basically eggplant parmesan and was very impressed. We'll likely be back again!
(4)
Jordan M.
I work close by and stop here for lunch once a week. The more I've gone the more this place has grown on me. I've had most of the items on the lunch special menu, but my absolute favorite is the seafood cioppino. They also serve bread with this really delicious chunky tomato topping. I've had other italian in the area and this is the place I keep coming back to.
(4)
Lianna S.
Cicciottis really should have more than a 3 star rating. We haven't been in a while and decided to have one last date night last night before our baby comes. The food was so good and we kept commenting on how awesome the atmosphere is. Our waitress was really attentive and friendly too. Where else can you get great Italian food with an ocean view? And prices are reasonable especially considering the prime location and quality of food. It was a good choice, happy we came back.
(5)
P B.
Sooooooooo good, fresh bread and food. Very flavorful. Seafood was cooked perfectly. They didn't have a kids menu but they made a kids size plate for my daughter and she loved it as well.
(5)
Danielle H.
Decided to give this place a try Saturday night when I was craving pasta and the bf wanted pizza. We were pleasantly surprised with happy hour when we arrived around 5pm. Happy hour on a Saturday makes me smile, especially when the selections are items I would usually order off the main menu. Overall we loved the ambiance, service and happy hour items. Not our top favorite pizza spot, but will be back again! What we ordered: - 1/2 dozen oysters - $1 hh (fresh/delicious, highly recommend) -Beef carpaccio - $6 hh (not huge but good size portion for hh, capers were a nice add) -Pizza buffala - not hh (pizza was OK, fresh ingredients and good crust. I didn't like the small cherry tomatoes that were used and the sauce was a tad bland, which was weird b/c the tomato sauce they serve with bread was extremely full of flavor and we loved it.... Just wished we loved the pizza sauce as much. -Lobsta ravs - Homemade ravs were perfect and overall really good. The sauce was a bit rich for me but bf enjoyed them. Seems like a local fav as most of the diners that came in knew the servers and owner. The staff was speaking to each other in Italian, which reminded me of home :) I loved the ambiance in the bar area so we sat at the bar right across from the brick oven. It was empty when we got there but as we enjoyed our meal, more and more people joined us at the bar. The dining area was still open when we left but people were waiting for our bar seats.
(4)
Sharon R.
I have been to Cicciotti's three times and each time the food has been amazig. Wonderful atmosphere and a beautiful view of the ocean
(5)
Jonalie I.
Oh yeah, Italian food craving satisfied. Came here for lunch today and ordered off the Restaurant Week menu. I chose the Salmone ai Carciofi for my entree. This was a salmon fillet topped with artichoke and capers served with some plain spaghetti. The salmon was cooked nicely, very moist and tender. I'm not sure if the artichoke and capers really worked in this dish, but I still found it to be pretty good. I really enjoyed the spaghetti, which seemed to be flavored with butter. My lunch mates chose the Pappardelle dish which came with shrimp, bay scallops, and mushrooms. They said it was really good. For dessert I chose the Cannoli Siciliani. This came with two small cannolis stuffed with sweetened ricotta cheese, drizzled with chocolate sauce, and sprinkled with powdered sugar. While savoring each magnificent bite, I noticed they contained mini chocolate morsels. These were possibly the best cannolis I've ever had. They were so decadent and creamy. I suspect their regular menu is just as delicious as the meal I had today for lunch. Can't wait to come back to try something else and get those cannolis again! Update 2/26/15 Came here for lunch, and it wasn't as good as my first visit (maybe partially due to the fact that I didn't get the cannolis this time). Also, when we were done with our meal, the waiter was nowhere in sight. I finally had to go fetch him and saw that he was eating his lunch too. I understand that a person has to eat, but when your restaurant opens at noon, you probably should eat before opening or AFTER the customers are gone.
(3)
Desmond F.
Came here for restaurant week and I realized that it was a restaurant I had passed dozens of times without realizing it. It's actually a converted house and that makes it super cozy. A cute little date place I'd say. Originally we were seated outside on the patio which was great but be warned the table right next to the fire is way too toasty. I asked to be moved and it was no problem. Ordered the filet mignon and it was perfect. Tender and moist. Not too strong of a beef flavor like filet should be, instead concentrating on texture and with the right amount of char. All those times I walked by without trying it. Thank god for restaurant week!
(4)
Rick L.
Food great, entertainment great, Massimo and Gaetano great! Fun night!
(5)
Vicki C.
I hit Cicciotti's up after a grueling day at work. Italian food with an ocean view seemed to be the perfect way to finish on a high note. Our server suggested a red wine and my husband ordered a beer. We wanted to relax and started with an eggplant appetizer. Our waitress warned us about a 25 minute cooking time which I appreciated. The drinks arrived and my wine was way too sweet for me. I watched my waitress come into the dining room four times over the next 15 minutes and tried to get her attention. I needed a different kind of wine pronto, I was drying up when the eggplant arrived. It had great flavor and a nice sized portion, it was something that I would order as a meal. The flavor was really nice even though they served it slightly undercooked, there were no browned bits of bubbly cheese on top. The food selection is broad there are all kinds of things on the menu, and if you don't see what you want then the chefs are happy to make substitutions. My dinner consisted of pasta with a creamy tomato vodka sauce that had three shrimp and a couple of miniature scallops in it. I swapped out the salmon for mushorooms. The dish could have used some pizzaz, a vegetable and better tasting scallops. It did not taste bad but could have made it a lot better at home. So I am rounding them up to 4 stars, propped up by the ocean view!
(4)
Ariel C.
Came here for the first day of Restaurant week 2015. My friend and I loved the food and the service! Not to mention the price point is awesome ($20 for 3 course dinner! ) the ambience is romantic and cozy, sweet server and the owner, Gaetano, is such a wonderful human being/business owner. I ordered the steak and it didn't come as medium rare as i had asked, they kindly replaced it and it came back the most perfect filet mignon ever! Owner was very courteous and came to ask me if everything is ok. He even ordered wine for us!! This is my first time and and will not be the last! 5star service!! 5star food!
(5)
Jodie G.
So pleased with Gaetano and his professional staff that catered a Mission Bay Gala for my organization. The food and service was impeccably divine. I highly recommend his restaurant dining or catering for any event. Flawless service and the tastiest of menus.
(5)
Connie G.
Okay everyone deserves a second chance and I am glad I gave this one a 2nd round! The owner from the beginning of my observation was very hands on. As soon as we entered the restaurant we were greeted right away. We were then directed to seats that had a semi descent view. Everything was clean and a server came to our table immediately. The menu is full of choices and price can range anywhere from 11-25 for most items. I decided to start with an apetizer to get a good feel for the menu Cuori Di Carciofi Al Forno Baked artichoke hearts with provolone cheese 11.00 They were awesome! 4 pieces so 2 for me and 2 for you haha! I moved on to my main dish which consisted of: Farfalle alla Ponzese Bowtie pasta sauteed with smoked salmon shrimp and scallops in a creamy vodka sauce $17 1/2 Yummy Yummy in my tummy! The seafood was seasoned well as there was no fishiness to it just pure Italian goodness. Last but not least Dessert! Why not you can burn the calories later! Canolli's please!! Not sure how much they cost just knew the way the meal was going it was bound to be good! Out came 4 mini canolli's and I must admit they were the best ones I have had in a long time. All the food was so fresh and served with perfection! Portion size was about average. The servers consistently were professional and accommodating to all guests. The owner even came out to make sure our meal was up to par! He got bonus kudos points for being charming and considerate of our opinion of his food. I think with time this place has really invested on how the customers feel about the experience. The owner you can tell has placed his heart and soul into this place and pays attention to detail. Thank you for a great experience I am delighted to see improvement and will recommend this place to all and be back soon!
(4)
Yeti N.
Awesome clams and linguini, best I have had. Others had the lasagna and the linguine with minced crab and tiger shrimp...awesome too. We started with the scallops wrapped in prosciutto and loved it. Overall, fantastic food and nice atmosphere with reasonable prices.
(4)
R F.
The food was extremely bland and over-priced. It's pretty sad when the best part of the meal was the free bread... the bruschetta-type topping that accompanied it was the most flavorful thing we ate. Our sever, Luca, seemed disinterested and almost annoyed that we were there. At one point, he arrived at the table with a plate of food in one hand and dialing a portable phone with the other. Then returned and put a bowl of grated cheese on the table with the phone up to his ear... never once looking at any of us at the table or asking if we needed anything else. Between the service and the boring food, we won't be going back.
(2)
Tracy V.
We were really impressed. Our waitress was very nice and attentive. We got there a little after five on a Friday night we were one of the first and where able to get a window seat. By the time we were done it was full. I had the seafood Lasagna di Mare. WOW!!! it was great. Alina had the Salmon. It was cooked to perfection. We had the Tiramisu for desert. Alina said it was the best one she ever had. I will be recommending Cicciotti's to my friend's. We will be back
(4)
Rory B.
This has by far become my wives and my favorite new restaurant! By far the best italian in North County. We have had the blessing of coming here 3 times now and it just keeps getting better. I will break it down for you in catagories. FOOD: authentic, flavorful, large selection, hearty servings, fresh, obviously high end ingredients. SERVICE: nothing quite like the owner Gaetano coming to your table, greeting you at the door, checking on you meal, and having a nice chat if you are up for it. This man is an asset to his field. Gaetano cicciotti makes you feel like family right off the spot. It is like going to eat at my italian grandmothers. He and his staff are so caring. We went for dinner and wanted to sit out front and Gaetano came out and lit two heaters and ignited the fire pit. It was so warm and wonderful, we could even take off our sweaters on a cold January night. PRICES : upscale dining at very reasonable prices. We are far from rich but we can come here and have a amazing meal including an appetizer for under $50. Where else on the coast can you do this? NO WHERE. FAVORITES : calamari fritti- lightly breaded, not greasy, fresh, no fish flavor, and they even put in a few pieces of fried zucchini. Also the old lemon in a cloth trick! I haven't seen that in years. Great touch. Gnocchi - pesto or gorgonzola are both to die for. They will even mix the two sauces which is just beyond amazing. And if you can believe it the dinner portion is under $14. Almond tiramisu- so moist and creamy, the alcohol free desert is to die for. All the dishes are elegantly presented , you start off with a delicious basket of fresh bread and a bowl of the freshest, sweetest tomatoes with basil and slight garlic flavor. Basically an on the house bruschetta style starter. While we don't drink alcohol, there are plenty of well priced wines and a full bar. One tip, make a reservation as this wonderful restaurant is always busy, yet we have never had to wait more than 5 mins. Thank you again to Gaetano and his staff for multiple nights of pleasure close to home. Why go to the gaslamp when this place is right here. Will be back again and again. P.s. they cater and I asked Gaetano about making an almond tiramisu for my wife's up coming girls night craft party and not only was he excited to but he kindly offered to let us borrow one of his personal beautiful platters to serve on. What a guy! Rory
(5)
Edilie D.
The best place in Cardiff for Italian Seafood dishes! We usually go to Cicciotti's for big parties to get catering and it tastes as delicious as if you ordered a special dish at the location. Ask for window seating our sit outside if it's not busy and you can get a pretty decent view of the ocean. I have met the owner Gaetano a couple times and he's a very genuine person that really cares about the customers and making sure that everyone is more than satisfied. The location is a little weird, and it's pretty easy to miss. It's right next to a Jack in the Box at the corner and very small. Other than that, I give this restaurant 5 stars for having an amazing staff, owner, and delicious food.
(5)
Robert W.
We got a groupon for this place random ally. Excellent food, service and feel. Tiger prawn skewers are superb and the Alfredo is heaven. Coming back for sure next time. Good wine list too. Close to the beach.
(4)
Laura C.
We started with nice, warm bread with tomato sauce that made me hopeful. It was delightful. We followed up with a red blend, Conundrum, which was marked up 100% over market price. Following was salmon bruchetta which I could have made from home with smoked salmon and crostini from Costco. The crostini had no flavoring and was uneventful. Next up was filet mignon ravioli with a gorgonzola sauce. The filet was ground and was indistinguishable from ground chuck. Following the filet ravioli was the ground chuck itself labeled as the highly recommended filet mignon. The waitress was strongly comparing the filet to the Outback.... I am 99% sure I would have gotten a better filet at the Outback. The filet was grisly and was not nearly as tender as filets typically go. Lastly, we ended with the meatball appetizer. The meatballs themselves were suspicious as having been frozen. The sauce was decent with globs of ricotta in it. Your time and money would be better spent at Olive Garden.
(2)
chi v.
I got the deal from Groupon. Great place to hang out for weekend with nice atmosphere and great service. Make sure you call to book appointment before coming. I love they have a live music on weekend with the guy doing and play piano.. Very romantic and fun..
(4)
Todd P.
I love this place. Italian restaurants rule. They only have to be decent to be good, however, Cicciotti's is very good. Very Great, I should say. I'll tell you something about myself, I loooooooove cheese ravioli. If it's good ravioli, I love it. If it is great ravioli I am crazy for it. By far and above, cheese ravioli is one of 2 foods that I go nuts over. Ciccioti's makes that "go nuts over it" cheese ravioli that I love. A really cool restaurant located in Cardiff with a great view of the ocean areas Ciccioti's is fantastic. If you are single looking for a great date place, this is it. If you are married looking for a date night place, this is it. If you are hungry for great Italian food in any circumstance, this is definitely the place. I am loving the life in Southern California's better local restaurants. Ciccioti's is one of those these. What a great place.
(5)
Anand And Lux K.
Slightly below average food. Much better Italian in the area. Marinara sauce tasted like it was right out of the can?
I would give this place zero stars if I could. I was so infuriated with my experience here, that I actually took the time to write a note telling them how unhappy I was with their service. First off, I'm from LA and I'm only in San Diego for one night. My friend from Europe is visiting and from early morning we have been out and about doing touristy stuff, we chose this place because we were hungry and we may not have been dressed to impress but we were certainly dressed perfectly casual, however that is no reason to stick us in the back corner by the bathroom and not wait on us all night when there were plenty of available tables inside AND outside! The manager clearly put us there on purpose, nobody came to our table all night - I was unhappy with my food but nobody came to check on us so I didn't even bother to look for anybody to complain to. In the end we waited and waited and waited for somebody to finally come around so we could ask for the bill. Another 15 minutes later they brought it. We payed with card - another 15 minutes passed before we got the card back. This is absolutely outrageous and I can assure you I will NOT be returning here on my next trip. We were 3 extremely unhappy customers.
(1)
Glen F.
Plain horrible. Lowest quality Italian food I have ever experienced. Too bad... Nice location and patio.
(1)
Ramona C.
Love this restaurant. Friends came in from Arizona who love Italian food and because on two previous occasions I had great food and service I decided to take them here. Again the food was magnificent as well as the great service by our smiling waitress Elena. Nightly specials and a great menu. We had a mix of foods from Lasagne to pasta gnocchi and salmon with capers. The Italian sausage is to die for. Delicious desserts from flan to cannoli and chocolate bomb.
(5)
Ellie L.
Great food , very good atmosphere We used a groupon that was just expired . They honored our groupon . Gaetano is very sweet Guy. Please try this Resturent . You will be very happy ;)
(5)
Happy L.
Delicious food every time! I've been here many time with friends, family and on dates. A great team that provides good service. One night my family and I stayed way beyond closing time and they never rushed us while we stayed talking and laughing over our long lasting drinks.
(4)
Stephen R.
This place has an ocean view with campers between. The bread was smashed in the basket. I wanted a meat sauce with my spaghetti and meat balls and the sauce was ok, but the meatballs tasted frozen with little flavor. To boot they charged $7 to modify the menu item, without any notice. Disapointed.
Not super excited about this place. Came here with my boyfriend for dinner and were virtually ignored while we waited uncomfortably in the hallway that has no 'wait for host' sign. Finally a frantic server came up to us and shrugged that we could sit at some table on the patio. We grabbed some drinks and ordered a delicious meat, veggie and cheese plate. A while later the server came back and asked for our entree order. We split the Gorgonzola Gnocchi and found it was just OK. Nothing special about the dish, just tasted like potatoes with fettuccine sauce. The whole time nobody came by to ask how we were doing or how our food tasted. It was like a quick business transaction. This kept us from ordering more drinks and dessert. The highlight of the meal was the bread and tomato side they gave us before our dinner.
(3)
Steve G.
a 5 star rating for what it is. It doesn't mean it is a top of the line, fancy, expensive, eclectic restaurant. It means they have outstanding food, reasonable prices, a very accommodating, friendly staff, and a pleasant setting with great views. We often stop here for lunch and the food is always good. Your dog is welcome on the patio seating. Great place.
(5)
Andrea J.
Excellent food and service. A little on the pricier side. More like $$$. Gorgeous view and nice ambiance.
(4)
Dawn S.
Wow. We looked at multiple places before settling on this place. Very glad we did. Compared to the other places the first impression here was better in that they smiled and greeted us when we entered, the place has a nice patio with torches and it had the family italian style I was looking for (I'm tired of expensive, marginal italian food with no feel of family). Sooo, the food... Very good. The Caesar was tasty, not overdressed with shaved parm but marginal croutons. We had the linguini with clam sauce and the eggplant Parmesan (I was looking for lasagna but none of theirs are meat free). We were very happy with both meals. I also get to eat the other half of the large eggplant for lunch today. At first bite I was not sure about the tiramisu but then loved it. I realized that it has more custard than most but that was what kept it from being soggy which is many can be. I assume they make this in house but did not ask. It was delicious and the coffee was also. Oh and our waitress was helpful, attentive (holy cow, my autocorrect almost changed that to ATTRACTIVE) and everything she should be. Will go back when in the area.
(4)
Jessica C.
My friends and I came here for San Diego's restaurant week. We all got different items so I was able to try a little bit of everything (lamb shank, lasagna, filet mignon, ravioli, shrimp/lobster bisque, tiramisu, and the lava cake). The lamb shank and filet mignon were cooked well (tender), but the flavor is "eh". It's actually kind of bland in my opinion, so if you prefer food on the lighter side, then maybe it will suit you better. I think dessert was the best part of the meal. I was willing to give this place a try, but I wouldn't come back again.
(3)
Yuchi W.
Fantastic service and great food - what more can you ask for? This is a small cozy restaurant out in Encinitas with a casual and charming atmosphere. The staff is fantastic with service, and the owner even stopped by twice to make sure everything was good with our food. Oh, the food. I opted for the nightly special -- a linguine with prawns, mussels, and clams. It was made in a fantastic marinara sauce. My date had the pesto dumplings, which had the best pesto sauce ever. The portions might look small on Yelp's photos, but they're filling and just the right amount. It's a great place for a date or to celebrate something small in an intimate environment. The ambiance was catered towards an older crowd; the live entertainment was singing Hey Jude and Besame Mucho, just to give you an example of what to expect. Very friendly and warm atmosphere, with lots of conversation and wine. Dress code is casual, and they allow dogs on their outside seating area. I recommend sitting outside if you don't mind the pets; it looked a bit cramped inside and more boisterous. I would definitely visit again; the food was fantastic and I had a great experience!
(5)
Morgan N.
Ok this place has a very nice view of the ocean if you are not facing the ocean before sunset, in which case you be looking directly into the sun and they have no way of blocking it. There were 8 of us at the table, when ordering food the waitress had her back to two of the people at our table and forgot to take their orders, we had to call her back. She also forgot to bring the milk we ordered for my son the entire two hours we were sitting there. They charge extra $3 for gluten free orders which is understandable since gluten free pastas generally cost a little more and might need extra preparation. So I was under impression that I would get my fish with a side of gluten free pasta, but no they charge $3 just to remove the pasta from your dish ... There was no gluten free pasta replacements. They could not mange to being all the dishes out together so we had to wait for 10 minutes or so so they could bring my husbands order. My bass dish had a long strand of black hair on it when it was placed in front of me. I know I should never return a dish so I removed the hair and ate it. Food tasted disgusting. The squashes were bitter, I even offered it to others at table and they all agreed they were inedible. The bass had the flavor of pond algee or some sort of nasty grass, topped with a very salty marinara. Sauce was quite gross, it had a medley of stuff like olives and capers and was very salty, it just didn't go together. It tasted very much like watered down tomato paste and chunks. Prego out of a jar would have been better than their sauce. When leaving the waitress could not understand that my husband and I were paying together and could not handle the billing. She kept giving credit cards back and forth and ended up giving cards to wrong people. I will scratch this place off my list in the future.
(1)
Dov S.
This is a hidden gem that pays respect to the taste and essence of regional Italian cuisine. At Cicciotti's I have never been disappointed and have always gotten a chance to sample something I have never had before - new flavors and new combinations all of which are very inspired. This is a rare place where I look at the menu and instead of not knowing what I want, I want one of EVERYTHING. Service is good, but for this level of restaurant it could be better. There is no reason that during a slow time, service can't be more attentive. This is the only reason I didn't give full five stars ... something I hope to fix after our next few visits.
(4)
Dayae K.
I'm sorry... I wanted to give this place more stars but my heart won't let me. I wanted to like this place because it was part of San Diego's restaurant week, but what I ordered was just so hard to eat. TT__TT So my apartmentmates and I went to this restaurant for restaurant week. The restaurant week menu sounded very promising and the restaurant itself seemed like a cute little italian place. BOY WERE WE WRONG. We all ordered the lobster bisque for our appetizer hoping that there would be huge chunks of lobster with great lobster flavor. But to our disappointment, the soup tasted kind of like a tomato cream soup and there were no pieces of lobster. Fine, we were disappointed with the appetizer so we were all hoping for an amazing main course. We ordered a filet plate with vegetables and mashed potatoes and I ordered the Pappardelle Funghi & Gamberi Tartufati which is basically flat noodles with mushroom, shrimp and thick creamy brandy sauce and truffle oil. The filet was bearable to eat... nothing amazing. My pasta on the other hand was inedible. I took my first bite and tasted mush and something that of metal in my mouth. Thinking that maybe my taste buds were acting weird, I told my apartmentmates to try it and they all agreed that the taste was "off". Since I didn't want to waste money and food, I just asked my waitress to give me Tabasco sauce and I drenched that pasta with it... then it became okay to eat. After forcing myself to eat the worst pasta I have ever tasted, I was reluctant to try their dessert. True to my assumption, their chocolate souffle was nothing like a souffle and was just too thick and way too chocolate-y for my taste. I'm sad that my restaurant week experience was this bad. The only thing I enjoyed was their free bread... :'""""(
(1)
Jazmin T.
Had a wonderful time here. Food was amazing! Staff and owner were very friendly and accommodating to our large crowd. I would definitely recommend and visit this restaurant again!
(5)
Judi P.
Horrible! Horrible! Horrible! We tried a Groupon for CicciottisTrattoria italiana with another couple and it was a total waste except for the company. The one star is for the service. The service was good but the food wasn't. Won't go back again.
(1)
Sharon V.
Darn it! I just went to write a review for this place and just realized I could've saved 20% just by mentioning yelp. WTH! With a $84 dinner check (not including tip), that could've come in handy. I guess I should looked at the yelp page more carefully! Anyway, I came here with the hubby for date night and we really had a lovely evening. We didn't realize that they had live music on Fridays so that was a nice surprise. More on the entertainment later. We've been here countless other times for lunch and love getting their pizza. Very delicious. You won't be disappointed. My favorite is the margherita pizza. Simple but flavorful. This time for dinner, we departed from our usual order. My husband went with spaghetti and I chose one of the specials for the evening, the Cioppino. My husband loved his spaghetti and licked his plate clean. I sampled and thought the sauce was nice and had a hint of garlic which I love in my sauce. My husband loves simple spices so this was perfect for him. My special, the cioppino was scrumptious and I was happy I ordered. It was generously packed with seafood such as muscles, squid, 3 oz of fish etc;, and was served over a bed of linguini. I would've loved for it to have more spice but I'm sure the mild flavors catered to the masses and a simple addition of crushed pepper flakes did the trick for me. I would've loved for a grilled, crispy slice of bread with EVOO and rubbed with garlic to eat the cioppino with. I also would've loved a little fork to remove the muscles from their shells. It was a little challenging (and messy) to remove with my dinner fork (they were large). Also the fish they used (I believe it was seabass), was a little overcooked. I barely ate much because of it. I was a little shocked to find out that this dish was $26 when we got the check though. A little more than I would've thought. The mixed green side salad that my husband ordered had fresh ingredients and was not overdressed. We also ordered a side of steamed veggies and they were also fine. We just needed a little extra greens and this did the trick. It's not on the menu but they charged us $4 and we thought that was fair. Complimentary bread and tomato basil sauce is delicious. It was hard to resist having one slice of bread. I might've had two. ; ) For dessert we had the tiramisu and it was delicious. Light and very reminiscent how we had it back in Italy. Needless to say, we devoured. Aside from the company I kept, the best thing of the night was by far the entertainment. There were two different musicians that played throughout the night and both were amazing vocalist and pianist. We were blown away and felt as if we were in this intimate italian Opera venue. The first gentleman playing when we got there brought tears to my eyes with the amazing range he had. It was so beautiful. I usually hate to wait for a seat but the 15 minutes we waited went by quickly as I was just mesmerized. The second musicians were two gentleman. One played the piano and the other blew us away with his amazing, I mean amazing voice. Boy, what a pair! Their style was more contemporary but it was just as breathtaking as the first guy. Throughout the night, people would stand and applaud him after he finished a song. After his last song of the night (at 10pm), the entire room stood up and shouted "encore! encore! encore!" So cool! It was not what was expected for dinner but it was such a pleasant surprise. This might be our new favorite place for date night if this is a regular occurrence. I am tempted to give this place 5 stars but I had to ding them for a few things: 1). Overcooked fish in my cioppino. 2). I like to have the table cleared once we're finished with dinner and definitely when we are having dessert. When our dessert was served, we had remaining plates on our table and that just bugged me. There were several opportunities for a bus boy or even our waiter to have cleared the table but they didn't . 3). Price of the cioppino. I think this would've been better priced at around $20, not $26. All in all though, this is a great restaurant and I would recommend it. The staff speaks italian and the food seems very authentic.
(4)
Alex T.
I came here with some friends just an hour ago and this place has to be the best value restaurant in all of Cardiff. This restaurant has the distinction of being so good that I made a Yelp account to ensure it gets the credit it deserves. The chef, Gaetano (sic?), was outstanding and very friendly. I'm new to the area of encinitas from San Diego so I'll be hitting this place a ton. I had I believe the Pappardelle Funghi & Salsiccia, which was great, and the group shared some pizza which was Amazing. Pros - - Great Service - Food was great and much more affordable than most of Cardiff - Calm ambiance and casual yet high class dining - Beautiful scenery by the window. - Not too much traffic getting there as it is east of the 101 Hwy Only Con- - Parking is a bit odd, but it is free and that is better than most every restaurant in Cardiff.
(5)
Andrea B.
To start we order a bottle of house Chard which was 28 bucks a bottle Blue Fin, then we ordered the appetizers: Antipasto Italiano $13 1/2- Fresh buffalo mozzarella and tomatoes, grilled vegetables, bruschetta, prosciutto di Parma and assorted cheeses. Should have stopped there, the tomatoes on the 1 slice of bruschette (same as the free bread they bring our except toated) were bland, oh but it gets worse, the black olives were straight from a can, sliced not even italian, the atitichokes were from a jar could have been any brand and the garlic, the big jug from costco of already peeled garlic. I pointed out each of these things to the aiter and you know what his answer was? He said "What do you want me to say" OMG..... Next the food came, I had the: Bandiera Italiana $15 1/2- Sampler of gnocchi in a creamy gorgonzola pesto sauce, cheese ravioli in Alfredo sauce and meat cannelloni in a marinara sauce. The sauces were mediocure, there were three over cooked ravilois and the meat cannelloni tasted rancid, oh yeah and the gnocchi, you can buy it in the pre made package again at COSTCO. I highly do not recommend going here, you will be wasting your money! Groupon users beware.
(1)
Tom N.
Service was friendly and fairly quick although the waiter had to be told several times to clear our very small table when we were finished with a course. Restaurant was crowded and very noisy and we were given a makeshift table next to another couple who could hear our every word, I HATE that! However, the food was soooo good that it was worth some of the unpleasantness...besides, the couple next to us were real good sports and very friendly. You can't blame the restaurant when the child behind you screams incessantly at ear piercing decibels...but you can blame the parents for not being considerate enough to remove the child. Anyway, I had the Buffalo mozzarella and Prosciutto appetizer and the Naepalitano Lasagne with meatballs. I have to say, it was the best I've ever had. They have a crazy bar with a great operasinger/piano player who competes nicely with the noisy din from the other room. All in all, Id say we enjoyed ourselves. We'll be going back!
(4)
Liz L.
I really want to give this place more stars because the owner was so nice when I asked him to adjust our bill for the bad experience we had. But since I even had to talk to the owner...this is the best I can do. I went out with 3 other lovely ladies for Friday night, restaurant week, trying hard to block out the mediocre (but not awful) experience I had with my hubby at this place during the last restaurant week. I was optimistic. Here is what was GOOD about the experience: 1. Dessert: Panna Cotta. 2. The bread 3. My steak was pretty good 4. The busboy was INCREDIBLY nice and took better care of us than our waiter 5. The owner adjusted our bill, very nicely 6. Live musical entertainment in the bar Here is what SUCKED: 1. Being sat at 910 for an 815 reservation (**tip to the management: don't accept reservations for parties larger than 6 for restaurant week. They take FOREVER and result in you having a hot mess of angry people standing around immediately in front of those who are dining, and in the way of your servers) 2. Lobster bisque was lukewarm 3. Friends pasta dish was cold 4. My mom's fish dish was undercooked 5. 3rd friends fish dish was barely warm 6. They ran out of the dessert we ordered, even though they made us order it at the same time as our appetizer. 7. They ran out of tomato dipping sauce for their bread The first time I went to this place, with my hubby, they were also late in seating us. The waitress rushed us, was very rude, and the food was just OK. Maybe it is just a Restaurant Week problem for this restaurant, but they'd be very wise to pull out of it next time around or re-think their approach. RW is supposed to be the time to try the best of what San Diego has to offer and they clearly offer anything close to the best when there is a crowd.
(1)
Noel Y.
Standard Italian with fantastic ocean views from the front enclosed patios. Food is well prepared, servers are friendly and knowledgable.
(3)
Edwin M.
Hot food! Seems like you can only get it in Europe anymore. Food was excellent as was the service. Portions were almost too big. Planning to go back soon.
(5)
Hal B.
Do not go on a busy Saturday night. They were simply overwhelmed. 3 of our 4 meals arrived, the fourth was about 10 minutes later. All were almost an hour after we ordered. The waitress was rushed and perfunctory. The food was just adequate. The noise was overwhelming ... one of our party got a headache from the noise. I will not go here again.
(2)
Sarah C.
The service is impeccable. I ate here with my boyfriend on a Tuesday evening and it took us just a little over an hour to finish eating our meal and dessert. I ordered the pasta plate with mushrooms, shrimp, and truffle oil. I enjoyed it, but I imagined it to be more flavorful. The tiramisu was a lovely finish. Watch out for the cocoa powder sprinkled on top, though. If you breathe in the right way, it will make you cough. I suggest placing the cocao powder side down on your tongue to avoid that. Haha. It was a good place to try with a Groupon deal. The tab can add up quite quickly is my only issue.
(3)
Audrey B.
Two stars because the food was delicious, everything from the appetizers to the dessert, other than that the service was no better than a take out place. At the beginning of our meal the service was slow but nothing stood out as unprofessional or unsanitary but about 45 minutes into our meal my friend I was dining with pointed out that I hadn't gotten a refill on my soda since we got there and I noticed the server did not put lemon in her water as she had politely requested when we first got there, the couple sitting next to us had arrived after us was served before us, received many more visits(refilling waters, asking if things were okay) than we received the whole night and were promptly brought their bill. After we finished our entrees we waited a very long time before we even saw a server (who wasn't ours) to ask for the dessert menu which we were never given. When our server finally arrived for one of her final visits I inquired about the bowl of cheese we were given with our entrees and if they emptied out the shredded cheese after each table or if it was a community bowl they topped off and gave to the next table..... It was a bowl of shredded cheese that who knows how many people ate out of.... The same bowl the same spoon the same cheese... My stomach turned instantly as she said this. After my question our slow service became even slower, our waitress would swiftly walk by to avoid eye contact and iv never seen someone walk to and from a table so quickly to pick up our check(again we had to ask another server) and to top it off the last time our waters got topped off before we got our bill I took a sip and saw large back things floating in the bottom of my cup..... Asked my friend if I could see her glass.. Same black things as well as some other grunge in the bottom of her cup. Food was good besides the community cheese and dirty water but before we went I looked up the menu on line and the prices of EVERYTHING are higher than advertised on line and their menu is very small compared to what they show on line as well
(2)
Judy S.
Wow, the worst experience ever!! Bought a groupon for $90 for 4. Made reservations online for the 3 of us & mentioned groupon. Sat down, ordered, showed my voucher on my phone, then was told we couldn't use it because we were short 1 person. they couldn't make a exception because it was groupon rules......, dude, you're the owner. So he said he could give us $50 vs $90, I told him no that I wouldn't accept that. He was rude and aggressive & all in our faces. I asked "so if we didn't order anything else but had someone sitting with us then we could use the groupon?" The answer was yes, so what does it matter!? I'll have to contact groupon to get my $ back....too bad, we were so excited to try their food. I told him we'd pay for what had already arrived at the take and that we'd never be back to which he said he didn't care. That's customer service alright!!! His attitude stunk & his staff didn't seem very excited to be there either. I guess I'd hate life if I had to work for someone like that too. Funny, he was angry at us for not being fair and wasting the food we had ordered. If he was smart, he would have made an exception, we would have had our meal, no food would have been wasted by him and instead of making $12 off of us, he would have made more since we did order more than the $90 value of our groupon even before dessert, and he may have gained new customers.... he screwed himself on that one that's for sure :(
(1)
Yashar A.
Best Italian in the neighborhood and certainly at the top in San Diego County. This place is a favorite of my wife and I, our families and as of tonight our friends. I read some bad reviews to see what they were upset with. Seems they were stingy Groupon buyers etc. Another complaint I read was wait time. Folks this is not McDonalds! Learn to enjoy time with family and friends, drink wine, listen to the magnificent music they play live and sing magnificently! Especially if you are so every graced by God to hear Daniel Hendrick, a world renowned Tenor singer who has performed all over the world, written composed tons of work! He also allowsguests join in too. Sometimes professionals like tonight with girl from Manhattan NY. Just epic! I love you all! This place is the absolute best!!! One more thing, the food is bland!!!??? Are you NUTS!!! The food is DELICIOUS!!! Those who think it is bland must never have had real Italian food where subtlety is what is called for, not where there is so much sodium like the fast food joints that basically is the cause of the high blood pressure America is suffering from! I've been to Italy three time, lived in Europe half my life, so from my perspective, the food is superb! Grazie po tutti Ciocciotti's!
(5)
Kathy A.
Great neighborhood place with beautiful ocean sunsets! The owner and staff make you feel so welcome and I loved hanging out in the bar drinking Italian wine and listening to the amazing singer, Daniel. I would definitely return to enjoy the ambiance, the pasta and enjoy a wonderful night with friends!
(5)
Danny L.
excellent service. great food. good prices. authentic Italian cuisine. try it!
(5)
Steven S.
So we are regulars here (take a look at my check-ins although I do not always remember to check in so have been here even much more often than I have check- ins) and I must say the food seems to get better each time we go. The service is always attentive, especially Luca, and we just always have a great time. We are almost always able to get a table and this has become our go to place to relax and have a great meal, well done to Gaetano! Just go and have a great fun meal!!
(5)
Megan H.
I loved everything I've eaten here! Been there twice and left stuffed and happy :) The bread dipping sauce is a great app on its own, but I also recommended the prosciutto wrapped scallops in creme sauce. I've tried both mushroom paparadelle dishes, the truffled dish is pretty delicious but it was very rich and I couldn't eat it all...the sausage dish is a little lighter and just as naughty and creamy ;) I will be back, Groupon in hand!
(4)
Brittany R.
I was a little disapointed when my mother and I dined here. We were given a groupon to try this place from a friend.. I really wanted to like this place considering it is so cute from the outside and I was hoping to find a new favorite italian resturant but I was definally let down.. We first arrived and was seated promptly and started out with a delicous glass of wine 1 star we were also given fresh warm bread with a tomato herb sauce which was I think the best food we ate all night.. 1 star.. Let me say the server didnt know the specials what so ever and not once checked on us to see how our food tasted through our whole meal other then when our raviolis were almost done.. We then ordered the capresse to split and the cheese was dry it wasnt creamy like most capresses.. the basil however was huge and fresh.. 1 star... After that we ordered the lobster ravioli to split.. Although my mom loved them I thought they were just ok. I am a huge fan of viggiluccis lobster ravioli and unfortuantly this resturant just couldnt even stand at the same level..:( total=3 stars I dont think ill be back there are too many other italian resturants in encinitas that out rank this place by far in the taste department
(3)
Kevin D.
This was our first time here, and we loved it! The service was excellent and the food fabulous. Everything was fresh and homemade including the the pasta. The portions were perfect....not too much so we left feeling satisfied but not stuffed. My wife and I split a salad and they put it in 2 bowls for us at no extra charge....definitely a nice, service-oriented touch. We had the canolis for desert which were also excellent. They were very crispy and flavorful. Wine selection was impressive on the bottles, by-the-glass was decent with reasonably priced choices. Easy access and parking. We will return and would recommend to anyone. Thanks for reading.
(5)
Heather G.
Hands down one of my favorite restaurants in the greater San Diego area. My family and I love italian food, have lived in San Diego for 12 years, and have traveled the world eating great food. While we're at home, this place is a regular. The caprese and penne alla vodka are my favorites because the tomatoes and mozzarella are always fresh, and the vodka sauce is extremely flavorful. The chicken marsala is juicy and every pasta is cooked to a true al dente. Aside from that, the whole menu is delicious. This is quality italian food. After our third visit, we purchased Chef Gaetano's recipe book, and attempt to recreate his masterpieces at home.
(5)
Mia B.
Came here for a Groupon deal and overall it was pretty good. I got the Linguine creamy tomato sauce with chicken and artichoke, delicious! My mom loved her portabello, cranberries spring mix salad. They really know how to fill up your red wine glasses, wow! awesome :) We got a dessert for my brother's bday (chocolate lava) ummm $9.50! And it wasn't that good, bummer. But everything else was very good and the staff was friendly and hard working. Nice small view of the ocean. In a great location of downtown cardiff. I would come back.
(3)
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Address :1933 San Elijo Ave
Cardiff By The Sea, CA, 92007
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Bryan A.
Update- I found out that the owner remembers my brother in law as he is a genuinely nice guy who adds a certain flare and excitement whenever he goes there to eat. Stop in and give them a shot, maybe my brother in law will be there!
(5)Lady G.
Nice salads and okay pastas.
(3)Nick H.
We used the Restaurant.com coupon here...and I must say that I wouldnt have enjoyed it if it werent for the coupon. The food was average and so was the service. It was very cold inside which didnt help either. We ordered a pizza and a pasta dish - It was salmon/scallops with a vodka cream sauce. Both again were okay and nothing special. The prices were sort of steep for the quality, but I guess that is becuase of the location. The one positive thing was that the place was in an awesome lcoation across from the ocean, which made it nice. Other than that I am not sure I will go back unless I have the restaurant.com coupon.
(2)Allan P.
Four of us recently went there on a Groupon deal. Overall, not good, but the only plus was the food was good. I often wonder why some restaurants insist that you let them know you have a Groupon when you make the reservation and at the time you're seated...not after your experience. Well, no bread was served at our table, while it was at all other tables. Waitress's remark..."That's the buss boy's responsibility." No apology. The dishes looked a little skimpy, but were good. For one of our members, her dish was 10 minutes late, which kind of spoiled the deal......"One of the other waiters has taken the dish!!!" Later, the waitress said "You must has been starving, I bet that tasted good." Not very appropriate. You'd think they'd have some control over that type of event! Finally, I realized after returning home, that I had not received credit for the Groupon payment. After calling, they corrected that issue. Finally, it was a quaint, but very noisy environment. Don't believe we'll be going back soon, if ever. I would have given them 1-1/2 stars, but didn't have that option.
(2)Philip C.
This informal restaurant was just ok. Nothing special. The usual menu items...salads, pizzas, pastas, chicken,veal. I had the veal with artichokes and although it was good, it was nothing outstanding. Entrees are served with pasta aglio olio (garlic and oil) and a vegetable. When we asked for extra parmesan cheese, the waiter admitted he was having a difficult time locating the cheeese. What Italian restaurant doesn't serve parmesan cheese with all entrees? This one! The service otherwise was good. I'm sorry but being a New York Italian, I tend to be extra critical of Italian restaurants in San Diego. Most are terrible. No one seems to be able to get their act together to make authentic Italian food. This one was no better than the rest.
(3)Shalina G.
Went here for my husband's sunset romantic birthday dinner, and we definitely would come back. I ordered the Lasagna di Mare - delicious seafood lasagna (two things I love combined!) with very delicious tomato cream sauce. My husband ordered the seafood & fish pasta (salmon, seabass, calamari, tiger shrimp, and crab), very, VERY, good! They cooked the calamari to tender perfection!
(5)Riccardo S.
Best Italian food I have had in San Diego. If you like Olive Garden or California Pizza Kitchen, then perhaps you should stay away from Cicciotti's. But, If you want to know what it is like to eat in Italy, eat here.
(5)Lori P.
I have lived in the area for years and have been here about 4 times over the years. In the past I was not impressed but last night a friend and I went there for the start of Restaurant Week and I have to say they were VERY prepared for the CROWDS!! The food was OUT OF THIS WORLD and service was very prompt. I will definately be going back to Cicciotti's and if you go before Sunset it's an INCREDIBLE VIEW!!
(4)Laurie B.
My husband and I went to Cicciotti's last night for his birthday. It's a cute place in a nice location. We were seated in the front room with a nice view where we could people watch. The service was good all around and we were really looking forward to our meal. My husband ordered the lobster raviolli and I ordered canneloni. When we took our first bites, I'm pretty sure we had the same disappointed look on our faces. We both had the same thing on our mind, "wow, this sure is bland." My canneloni had a cream and meat sauce over it. While it is meat rolled in pasta, the meat tasted like unseasoned ground beef and the plain meat flavor totally overwhelmed the rest of the dish. The cream sauce had a barely detectable flavor, even when I tried it on bread, without the meat. I don't like seafood, so we don't eat it at home, and my husband always orders it out (lobster raviolli is his favorite) - I have never seen him so unenthused about his favorite dish. All he had to say was that it was very bland. We would not come back for dinner. If they had happy hour or something like that, I would give appetizers a try, just because the location is so great and we had really great service.
(2)brendan s.
I'm from New York so I'm very hard to please when it comes to restaurants and specifically Italian food. I will cut to the chase on this one. It's a well run restaurant with charming staff, a relaxing atmosphere great food and the best priced wine selection I have seen in any San Diego restaurant. We had reservations, and the place was packed, arriving a few minutes late I was pleasantly surprised that despite a long line of walk-In's they still had a table set up for us without any wait. Cicciotti'scan accommodate large groups, but is intimate and warm for a couple as well. We started with two appetisers the Lobster Bisque and Gamberi e polenta al Grand Marnier which is tiger shrimp on top of polenta and covered in a creamy grand marnier sauce, its absolutely amazing as was the Bisque. We moved on to try a stndard Italian favorite Lasagna Napoletana, a traditional Neapolitan Lasagna stuffed with meatballs, ricotta cheese, fresh tomato sauce, extra virgin olive oil and Parmigiano-Reggiano, at first glace the portion looked small but at first bite it was evident that the flavor was big and very fulfilling. We also tried the Sea Bass "Branzino alla Livornese" this fresh local sea bass sauteed with black olive, garlic, fresh tomato and white wine, served with organic sauteed vegetables was one of the best resteraunt prepared fish plates I have had in years. It was colorful, with an abundance of flavor, I would go back in a heart beat for this plate alone. Of course that was before diving into the amazing deserts. The Tiramisu' with Imported lady fingers, mascarpone cheese and espresso coffee was a huge hit as was the culinary challenging and amazing Chocolate Souffle' with Belgium imported chocolate molten cake with a vanilla gelato and white chocolate sauce. I was a little hesitant to check out this restaurant after reading a few negative reviews, I'm certainly glad I took a chance. This is an authentic family run Italian restaurant, and they have a amazing ability to serve beautiful and complex dishes in a comfortable no BS setting. I found the atmosphere and staff to be pleasant, the food was full of flavor and more than satisfying, and the price tag was fair, and the menu has so much depth it will keep me interested for a long time. I would highly recommend checking this place out, its a great Italian restaurant in North County, San Diego.
(4)Buddy G.
We had an awesome dinner at Cicciotti's last night! Used the $20 for $45 Groupon and went in with an open mind after reading all the reviews pro and con. Yes, the menu is daunting as it has SO many choices, so we simply asked our attentive waiter what he would recommend. My wife had the mushroom stuffed raviolis with shrimp and I was torn between the pappardelle with shrimp and the meatball lasagna. I went with the pappardelle and the sauce was spectacular! Even the fresh baked bread with a cup of Italian tomatoes in a red olive oil sauce to put on the bread was to die for tasty. We were there early in the evening so it wasn't busy yet, so our service and wait times were just fine. They were much busier by the time we left, and the owner was helping guests along with the waiters - he seemed VERY attentive and checked in with us as we were finished to make sure everything was O.K. Thank you for the Groupon as we didn't even know you were there! We'll definitely be back. The only reason my review is 4 stars instead of 5 is that the salads are a la carte, and too expensive. Otherwise, awesome!
(4)Marlene M.
Out of the four dishes we ordered, one was terrific. It was the one dish suggested by our waiter, Stefano. It was Pappardelle Gamberi: wide noodle, mushroom and tiger prawns in a wonderful sauce with truffle oil. It was worth the visit as well as a return visit. Comfortable atmosphere, friendly attentive staff, white table cloths were a classy touch.
(4)Brent H.
My family and I love Cicciotti's. We live in Chula Vista and make the drive up to Cardiff about once a month to have dinner there. We go on Friday nights when Daniel is playing and sit in the bar area of the restaurant. He is amazing. We could sit at the table for 3 1/2 hours. The food is delicious. My father in law gets the mushroom risotto and it has been perfect every time. The pizza and lasagna is delicious too! We look forward to our trips to Cicciotti's!
(5)Repeat P.
We found Cicciotti's because of Groupon. We camp across the street and thought we would give this place a try and were very happy we did. Comfortable setting with a view of the ocean, personable service and great food. Thank you for making our night out a very special one. We will return.
(5)Ron S.
Went again last night. Wonderful experience. Love the family feel and pride in ownership. Also the staff is all calm and relaxed and ready to help.
(4)Emily B.
I give this restaurant a "B" overall... The bread that comes with your meal is delicious. The appetizers are great, the lobster bisque was phenomenol, especially with the bread. Desserts were awesome. However, the entree was just average - nothing special. I had the striped bass and the sauce was good. I tried the mushroom pasta as well, not great. I would come back either for a large bowl of lobster bisque with some bread, or to try a pizza - if their bread rolls are any indicator of their pizza crust they've got to be great.
(3)Tina T.
DESPITE WHAT THEIR REVIEWS ARE (OTHER SOURCES BESIDES YELP)... PLEASE DON'T GO, YOU'LL BREAK MY HEART. THEY ARE PAID TO ADVERTISE, I'M NOT. I would have given them a zero star but that wasn't an option! *They sat us in the back corner by the bar while everyone else was on the patio. * Waiter made an "UGH" face when we decided to go with water. *Took forever to take our order. *Dropped off the food to the table and didn't bother to ask if we needed anything else. Our waiter never came back to us to check up on us... while other tables were being serviced every few minutes. *I had to get up to get my own condiments "salt and pepper". *Even after we were done with dinner, our waiter walked by more then a few times and still didn't ask if we needed anything. So we had to search for someone to help us. The bartender called from across the bar and ask if we needed anything (mind you this place was suppose to be an upscale place). *Food was bland! Crab meat came from a can and was really smelly (fishy) and shrimp was over cooked to where it was hard and chewy. *We couldn't even get a single refill for our water! *After we were done paying, all 3 waiters sat by the door watching TV and not one person said, "bye". *Small portions and food was overpriced. *Waiter then was quick enough to go to the table after we left to check the tab. Overall, bad experience. I was hoping for more at an upscale place. In & Out provides better service than they do. I don't recommend this place. I would never come here again, first and last time!
(1)Emil A.
I came here for Restaurant Week with some friends, and I don't know if they were overwhelmed because of Restaurant Week (which they should have anticipated), but it was a horrible, horrible experience. I got the lobster bisque to start, which tasted good, but the portion was ridiculous. The tiny cup it came it wouldn't have been bad if it was full, but it was half empty. Also, they advertised pieces of lobster in the bisque, and mine had none. My friend's had one tiny piece. Then after the first course, it took an entire hour to get out entrées. I ordered the filet and it was brought out very cold. I told the waiter and he offered to put it in the oven, but I told him that would ruin the steak, so he went to get me a new one. Ten minutes later he brought out a new plate. It was hotter this time, but the steak was only seared and the inside was still raw (I order my steak medium-rare, but this was worse than rare, it was RAW). At this point I was so fed up from waiting so long, that I didn't even want them to fix it. The dessert was a tiny redeeming point. The chocolate souffle was pretty good but by then I was very irritated with the entire experience that it didn't even matter.
(1)Ryan B.
Great Place! Been going since 2003, right after it opened. My wife and I had our rehearsal dinner here in 2003 and have been going ever since! Food is great! Best Italian in San Diego. We now go here for all the holidays, and I have changed my in-laws Christmas Eve tradition by going here instead of the place they used to go to. Gaetano told us before our rehearsal dinner that this would be our special place, and he was right!!!!! I would recommend this place to anyone who wants a good Italian Dinner!
(5)John Carlo A.
My friends and I drove up to Cardiff to find a quiet restaurant for dinner without any groupons, coupons or high expectaions.When we entereed there were 6 people in a restatuant that appered to seat well over 100. We thought we would try it inspite of the initial impression. With all due respect it may have been the worst meal we have had in 10 years. I would hope the owner reads these reviews because there is a common thread with all the yelps."You are dying on the vine". Servers try real hard and do a very nice job. However the big screens, the jazz, the groupons and coupons are all signs of desperation. Do the right thing, either quit or get food in there that is at the very least digestable. Again this is not meant to be an insult as much as a wake up call from the obvious state of denial .
(1)Debbie D.
Very good classic Italian food. My husband got the pepporoni pizza which he loved. I got the eggplant parm which was good but not the best. My daughter ordered a shrimp dish which she really enjoyed and she is a very picky eater. The waiter was attentive and very nice. We would definitely go back.
(4)Mary A.
We visit Cicciotti's on a regular basis and love it! We go in large groups and sit in the bar area and enjoy wonderful food, beautiful music and great service. The staff remembers your name and always has a smile for you. We have sat in the main restaurant but prefer the bar area. They also have wonderful outside seating. The tomato dip and bread they start you out with is wonderful, the pizza is the best around and the risotto is amazing! Again, we go on a regular basis and have a wonderful experience each and every time. One last word, people going to any restaurant during restaurant week should not expect the best situation. From what I understand they were crazy busy, which will take down the best restaurant. Give it another chance, you will see how good it really is!
(5)Aimee T.
It took more than an hour for our food to come out and not only that our waiter didn't even realize we did not get our appetizer... Until 30minutes later...
(1)Paula M.
After a few visits years ago, our family stopped dining here because the terrible service wasn't worth the good food. When a Groupon was offered, we decided to give it another chance. Not only has the food remained tasty (delicious Bolognese), but service was wonderful! We will return.
(4)Sheri R.
Horrible service. This is from a few years ago, but my husband and I went on a Saturday night, around 5pm. We did not have a reservation and the restaurant was completely empty. NO one else was there. The host rudely told us that he could only seat us at the bar as we didn't have a reservation. Needless to say, we left and have never returned.
(1)Rokstardum G.
I've been there two times. Both times the service was excellent and the food was decent. Prices are decent. I'll be eating there again.
(4)michael m.
Love this place. Right off Birmingham on San Elijo. It's got great food and atmosphere. One of my favorites for sure.......... Great date place.. romantic. Check it out sometime.... Huge wine list, reasonably priced.....
(5)Gisenyi W.
The stars are for atmosphere and service. NOT for food. The food is bland, uninventive, and definitely leaves a lot to be desired. Came here for anniversary and ordered the Insalata di Pere: "grilled" pear salad: the pear was hard, had the core, the fennel was raw and bitter, there was one scallop and two shrimp. I sent it back. My husband had boring artichoke hearts, and boring steak fillet. We'd never come back, but our waiter was nice and the building is pretty.
(2)Dean L.
Wow, my wife decided we should come here given the weather and cancel our restaurant week reservation at Kensington Grill because it's far away from where we live. We waited for 30 minutes to be seated so we could get our $20 special menu dinner. The cat/dog food that followed shows that this kitchen is not prepared for a crowd. The baked artichoke heart app was hard and tasted like playdough. The sea bass I got was the worst I have ever had - undercooked and lacking in any flavor despite being drowned in sauce. Even tiramisu was bad. Never ever go here with anyone unless you hate them.
(1)Jason O.
Truly a jewel in Cardiff By The Sea. The food was phenomional,truly some of the best italian food in SD. The service was prompt and proffessional. I would have preffered my drink to be refilled a couple more times,but passable because of the amount of food we ordered. Weekends can be a longer wait,so hitting it during the weekdays are the best times to get in right away. If you are not from California and Know what real food is,I suggest you stop in. The woodfired pizza in transcendant,pasta dishes with seafood are their specialty. The house bread is homemade and delicous.Will definitly be back. Recommend to anyone and everyone!
(4)Walt W.
Last night I had thick noodles with vodka cream sauce and lobster tail for a very reasonable $30. Tonight am having the veal parmasian baked with eggplant an served with cheese ravioli. It's all great.
(4)Rebecca L.
If you like overpriced, under portioned food definitely come here. I don't understand why some restaurants think giving you less and charging more somehow makes them automatically fancier. When the server brought my seven ravioli I was genuinely disappointed. I couldn't help but feel ripped off when I left the restaurant hungry.
(1)Julie G.
Formerly the home of Vigilucci's Restaurant, now called Cicciotti's and run by one of Vigilucci's master chefs, the neighborhood restaurant definitely makes for a great night out. One room is a bit more romantic, very dark and solely candle-lite and the other centers around a fire pit with live music on the weekends. The food is traditional Italian and is good. The service is friendly as everyone seems to be happy here. The prices also won't break the bank.
(4)San D.
I went here with some friends for restaurant week last Friday. It was great! Authentic Italian food, great service. They take reservations which was nice cause it was VERY busy. We knew the service might be slow because of this, but it wasn't. I think we had Scott as our server and told him right off the bat that he should just relax, take his time, and get to us when he can cause we understood they were packed. He was so grateful and still served us everything on time, he even sat down and had a short chat with us. He gave us free cocktails at the end of our meal and even comped us our corkage fee! Smart guy, cause small gestures like that really get us to tell our friends, Yelp, and actually come back. Lobster bisque- amazing Sea bass- Fresh and healthy Chocolate Souflee- SUPER DELICIOUS.
(4)Tom R.
We've only been here once, so consider that when you consider this rating. The wait staff seemed friendly and professional. While some of the food was very good, about half of it was below par. The tomato basil soup was very ordinary. While it didn't taste like canned cream of tomato, it also didn't taste better than the canned kind. Another mediocrity was a daily special of papardelle with brandy cream sauce and wild boar. It was nearly tasteless. If not for the service, the salad and the other entree, the rating would have been lower.
(3)Larue G.
We enjoyed our time at this restaurant. The pasta was very good and when I complained about a dish that I didn't like, they replaced it immediately without giving me a hard time. The replacement came super fast, and it was delicious. The service may have been a bit slow in the beginning, but once we ordered the food came out promptly. We had a large party with many kids, and they were very accomodating. I would definitely come back.
(4)Lindsay F.
DO NOT EAT HERE!! I just want to let you know I almost never write on yelp but my experience was so bad that I came on here right when I got home!! My boyfriend and I took our parents out to dinner and decided to try Cicciotti's italian restaurant. It was restaurant week and the menu looked good. What a mistake!!! The following outlines our experinece: 1. After we were seated at our table it was 35 minutes before our waitress came to talk to us and that was only after we asked someone to get us a waitress. 2. For restaurant week you order an app, a main course and a dinner. After we ordered we waited another 40 minutes for our food. After all that waiting, the main course came out before the appetizers!!! 3. The portions were ridiculously small and food not terribly good 4. When the appetizers came AFTER the dinner, it was dissapointing to say the least. They advertised grilled artichoke. They failed to mention it was 2 small artichoke hearts in a disgusting sauce that was stuck to the plate because it had likely just been microwaved. 4. When we ordered coffee and tea with out dessert is took over 20 minutes and when the tea arrived they just brough hot water no tea!!! 5. Our waitress kept blaming the food runners and the food runners kept blaming the waitress. Finally, when I went to talk to the manager to let him know about our experience he was terribly rude. He just kept saying how busy and unprepared they were. He then went on to say that they had to pack in the restaurant to make money and then said "well you got your food didn't you". I have worked in restaurants as a waitress for 8 years and never have I even seen a restaurant manager treat a customer this way. After this I will never eat at this restaurant again!!!! Save yourself the experience and go to When in Rome in Encinitas!!!!
(1)Celine D.
Fast service and very friendly! Perfect pizza and flavorful sausage! Wasn't crowded on sat night of the races.
(5)Jennifer P.
I've been to Cicciotti's twice and won't go back. No wonder the place is always empty. Food is mediocre at best and the service is just rude!
(1)Jobi H.
Cicciotti's and Gaetano Cicciotti catered my party last night for 250 people at my home. The food was perfect and delicious down to the deconstructed salad, perfect cannolis and cakes, wonderful freshly made pasta and homemade bread. Gaetano "held my hand" leading up to the event, staffed it perfectly, served from passed appetizer to the end to keep the the party flowing, and the food was bountiful! The best comment I heard was "Wow, did you taste that? - I bet this isn't caterer food, this must be from a real Italian restaurant." Professional, warm, what more could you ask for?
(5)Kathy M.
I must say, that after reading several reviews (through Groupon), my husband and I went to this restaurant with not too high of hopes. We were pleasantly surprised. True, it is not your high class 5 star restaurant, but wonderful for a nice evening out. It was a balmy evening so view of the ocean was not as nice as it could have been. Our service was perfect, atmosphere great and the food was decent. We will be returning to this eatery with family in tow.
(4)R D.
The menu was great and the food was good. The service was really bad. - Server made eye contact with only one of the diners when talking about the specials, etc. - Salads came before appetizers and wine. - Server said "oh they're coming" when I asked about the wine and appetizers - When the appetizers came, the food was precariously balanced on the table, as there was no room for the large salad plates and appetizers - I borrowed some chairs and put the salads on the chairs to make room. 3-4 service people plus manager walked by with the chairs in their way, but did nothing other than walk around. - I finally complained to the manager and he took the salads back in, noting the server made a mistake, but not apologizing. - When the wine finally came and the server was confused about who ordered it. - When entrees came and were place in front of the wrong diners (only three of us). Since this place is positioning itself as a nice restaurant, you'd think they would improve their service and train their servers.
(1)Doug F.
I don't understand some of these negative reviews. I have been going to this place for years and have never had a bad meal. I love their thin crust pizzas made to order and their pasta dishes. The staff is super friendly and the owner, Gaetano, is the real deal from Naples. Hugh wine selection and very reasonable prices. You can sip some Chianti on the front patio, the main dining room or the bar and watch the sunset.
(4)Joanna F.
The pasta is SUPER Delicious!!!! Location is great! I would recommend this place to anyone who wants a romantic dinner with beautiful beach view.
(5)Jared S.
Nothing amazed me here. In encinitas you have many Italian eateries. I would probably choose a different one.
(3)Kate P.
We were here recently to 'carb load' before a race the next day and because I was craving good Italian food. To begin with, we walked in and it was a bit unclear where the host stand was to get seated. A man who appeared to be in great haste rushed past us and was quite rude in saying it would be a minute. No one else bustling by stopped to ask if we had been helped so we stood awkwardly in the hallway area. Finally the hasty man returned and sat us in the front dining room. The first thing I noticed was that it was LOUD. I could barely hear my dining companion. Next we had to wait a LONG time before our server arrived to take our order. Our menus were folded and set down on the table so it was clear we were ready to go. The servers were bustling around and in such fury that it made me feel nervous. I'm not sure if there were under-staffed our just scared of their boss, but I didn't like the aura produced by the servers running around like headless chickens. Finally our food arrived. I ordered the eggplant parm, which was good - no complaints there. My date ordered a creamy seafood pasta and did not enjoy his as it was bland. When we were almost done, our server stopped by for the first time to see if everything was all right. Not a terrible experience, but definitely not a place I'd return to!
(2)Amy V.
So we tried this place last night for the first time for restaurant week. The menu looked great and for $20 we thought what a deal! They sat us immediately which seemed like a good sign. The restaurant was fairly busy so we were patient when our waiter took a while to come over to us. Finally our server, a guy with dark hair and glasses, came over to take our order. We ordered a glass of wine and a beer, about 10 minutes later our server finally came back, we thought he had forgotten. I could see that he looked flustered and being in the service industry myself I know how busy restaurant week can be so I tried to empathize and be patient. Our appetizers finally came and they were great very good food, however that's all i can say about the food as my meal never came. We waited for 30 minutes after our appetizer came. All the tables around us who had sat either around the same time or after us were already eating or on dessert. Finnally I asked our waiter if he could check on our food because we had been waiting for so long. He barely acknowledged me and said ok then he came back a few minutes later just as we were getting ready to walk out and said "it'll just be a few more minutes". We said no thanks we just wanna go, and instead of trying to get us to stay or even apologize he says ok fine whatever then yells to the kitchen ok cancel that order. Cancel the order??? We ordered it 35 minutes ago!!!! I wish I could have wrote something great as the food looked and smelled good but seeing how I never got my meal I couldn't tell you and as for the service I think they need to either hire a few more people or hire servers who can handle a few tables at once and who have better customer service. If our server had just simply apologized and been honest and told us he forgot to put our food in we would have gladly stayed but instead he didn't even acknowledge us and then when I finally stopped him he was rude. Don't waste your time if your looking for a good place to go near that area for restaurant week with awesome service and great food try Wild note cafe in Solana beach!
(1)Bets L.
Had dinner here last night for Restaurant Week. According to their website, "Reservations are not accepted during Restaurant Week" so I didn't bother making a reservation. However, when we arrived, we realized that almost every patron checking in had made reservations. What. I was a little bummed out but luckily, the bar wasn't as busy so we had our dinners and drinks there. Our waiter was attentive throughout the night and our plates were cleared almost immediately after each course. I ordered the lobster and shrimp bisque for an appetizer and my boyfriend ordered the ravioli. The bisque was superb--it was rich and full of flavors. You could definitely taste the lobster and shrimp but it wasn't as overpowering. The ravioli was alright, it just lacked a little flavor. We were given complementary bread and tomato sauce as well; the tomato sauce was quite good and the bread dipped in the bisque was delicious! For our second course, I ordered the flat noodles with shrimp and scallops and the BF ordered the lamb dish. The noodles were okay; the flavors didn't pull through as much as I would have liked (thus, I topped it off with some parmesan cheese) but it was creamy just enough that we were able to finish it. I tried a little bit of my boyfriend's lamb; it was mildly gamey and had an interesting taste to it but by the end of the meal he said he was tired of the taste. For desserts, we ordered the chocolate souffle and the cannoli. The souffle was quite delicious, it was very "chocolate-y" but the ice cream made it just perfect. The cannoli was good as well, not too sweet and its texture was great--the inside was full of cream and the outside was very crispy. We paired our meals with their wine deal (3 glasses of wine per meal for $12). Our total bill came out to around $70 so it wasn't too bad. I would recommend coming here for RW.
(4)Kristina I.
Fabulous food! Fabulous service! Oh my gosh, the entertainment- Daniel Hendricks was AMAZINGGG!!! I loved that the vibe was laid back and fun. I also loved that he incorporated his students, who were also fabulous! I loved it! The night could not of been any better! We will definitely return!!!
(5)Bob J.
The reviews on Yelp looked good, so we purchased some Living Social vouchers ($15 for $40) We finally got around to going and we had a very nice meal. The location is good, restaurant is nice/pleasant inside, and the waiter was great, Both of the meals we had were very good, chicken piccata with angel hair pasta and a cioppino with clams, mussels, calamari, and a lobster tail on fettuccine. Total meal was about $60. We will definitely go back again. I still have two more Living Social vouchers that expire 1/20/2015. After that I would like to try to lunch menu and they had a $20 dinner special that looks great. We sat inside on a cool night, but would love to sit outside on the front patio with a western ocean view or maybe on the cozy back patio.
(4)Alyse P.
I highly recommend this place. Went here for dinner tonight for my moms birthday with her fiancé and our family; there were a total of 7 of us and it was nothing short of exceptional service and great food. Everything we had to eat was extremely fresh & of great quality. We all started off with a pizza as a little appetizer while we chatted. We went through who knows how many baskets of fresh bread (THANK YOU FOR BEING SO ACCOMODATING!) with an amazing "salsa" tomato dipping sauce that is brought to the table. We all got different entrees and shared: *The pesto gnocchi- incredible. *The pizza- superb, great dough, tasty sauce *Spaghetti and meatballs- a classic *Papperdelle alla vodka with mushrooms and Italian sausage- we made this entree on our own but I highly recommend it *Veal Parmesan *the salad with goat cheese & walnuts (I forget the name but TRY IT!) The prices are reasonable and the portions are large! The owner, Gaetano, is friendly and gives back to the community which is really awesome. The service is friendly and efficient. Consider me a regular, I'm definitely going back.
(5)Laurel R.
Good atmosphere food is tasty service can be very good to pretty average depending on when you go. If busy I would pass but if not too full go for it!
(3)Roland F.
Disappointed. Service was very nice but the food very disappointing. The lobster bisque was super watered down and tasted like milk. The salmon had no taste. Desert was great.
(2)Deb N.
I have been here for lunch a few times and was always very pleased. I hope that after this evenings meal it goes back to what I have come accustomed to. I had an expired groupon that I wanted to use the value of. It was Mother's Day and on the front door was a printed note saying that no coupons or gift cards would be honored today- not what I hope but was willing to stay because the food is always solid. We chose to sit outside by the fire pit- it's coZy and was a great night out. And the fire kept us warm. We ordered the house chianti to start - this is where a star was deducted - not for my tastes at all- we asked the gentleman who refilled out water for the wine list again since our server was no were to be found. When our meals came he asked what else we needed and we swapped out out wine - it was nice they let us do that and I was pleased with the clos we ordered. The food as always was on pointe I will be back - and make sure to enjoy a different wine
(3)Dan L.
First impression was trying to be seated in the cramped corner. We requested another table and was seated near the fireplace. The service was amazing (Elaina) and the food was amazing. I had the seafood pasta $35 and was well worth it. My fiancé had the spaghetti and very was pleased. Our server recommended a Malbec (Gascon) that was awesome.
(4)Sara W.
We just continue to love this restaurant! A couple weeks ago, we brought some friends with us. They had a wonderful time and said they'd be back! Can't receive better praise that. Thank you for making our experience so tasty & lovely.
(5)MJ Z.
Dining Date: 09/27/14 Meal Time: Dinner I came back to this restaurant, as my brother was in town and thought he might enjoy it. I called to see how late they were serving, as it was already 9:15pm and we probably wouldn't arrive until 9:30pm. The manager answered the phone and said they close the kitchen at 10pm, so they will take the last orders at 9:45pm. I told him I had a LivingSocial coupon and the coupon stated I needed to make a reservation - he told me to just come in, as they weren't that busy. When we arrived only 2 couples were in the dining area and they appeared to be finishing up so my brother asked if we could sit in the bar area since it appeared to be a little more happening. The manager asked if we had just called in and I said yes. He took us to the bar and seated us. I had never been to the restaurant on a night where they provided entertainment and it was quite enjoyable, which was a nice treat for my brother visiting. The piano player they have there is extraordinary and he allows the patrons to request songs and sing along with his playing (although he did not know the Nate King Cole song I wanted to sing - bummer!) Our meals were okay - I think I enjoyed my pasta more than my brother enjoyed his fish (he said it was quite bland). All-in-all it was an okay experience - except for one little thing that rubbed my brother and I the wrong way at the end (and hence my lower rating than the last time I wrote a review). The waitress, who I tipped 20% on the original total before the coupon, came back to the table after we had paid and made the comment that she wanted to make sure that we understood the next time we come in with a coupon we would have to sit in the dining room. I told her that the manager who sat us knew I had a coupon because I told him on the phone and then when he went to seat us, he asked if we were the ones who had just called in. It just seemed so unnecessary and it left a bad taste in our mouths. It was like paying for coach seats on an airplane and the captain allowed us to move up to first class, but the flight attendant finds it necessary to clarify that the next time we fly and pay coach, we need to stick to sitting in the coach section! Seriously - how rude! My brother owns his own restaurant and he was floored that the waitress said this and noted he would be upset at any of his servers if they said something like this that made customers feel uncomfortable. The restaurant was dead - they were lucky to have our business that late at night - with or without a coupon. And they shouldn't offer coupons if it means they are going to treat their customers differently than those who do not use coupons. And if the coupon carries such rules, it would have been better for the manager who sat us to say, "Normally our coupons restrict the bar area, but since tonight is slow - we'll make an exception and let you enjoy the entertainment we are providing". Both the manager and the server failed to do so, so it was a little sting she gave us after what we thought was going to be an otherwise pleasant evening. Had the entertainment not been as good as it was, I think my rating would be even lower. Just not sure how soon I'll be heading back....maybe once the sting wears off!
(3)Jennifer S.
Great place!! I am from NY where Italian restaurants are on every corner. This is my favorite Italian place in San Diego. Great bread and tomatoes to start. The best chicken parm that I have had with a little splash of eggplant. Nice portion sizes. Delicious pizza. Beautiful ocean view.
(5)Naz L.
I love it here! The food is delicious and reasonably priced, though carb heavy. The eggplant appetizer is to die for. The atmosphere is so nice any given evening!
(4)DaGreat S.
I love this place! The bartender is pretty funny! I would recommend this place only if your going to dine! This is not a get in and get out place. This we need more of that take your time and enjoy your food!
(5)Chrissie B.
Cicciotti's has become one of my go-to restaurants for a really pleasurable dining experience. I love dining on the "porch" with the windows open on a typical San Diego day. I usually try a different dish when I go and I've never been disappointed. Today I tried the eggplant parmigiana and it was excellent, served with a side of pasta (yum) and perfectly cooked veggies. The bread was warm and fresh served with a tomato dipping sauce which I always enjoy. The restaurant is casual with a European flair but the service and food has always been wonderful. The highest compliment is to say I'll be back for more.
(5)Ariana T.
Me and my love went here for our anniversary. Not only was the food exceptional, the service was exceptional. I wish I remembered her name, she deserves credit. We had an ocean view at sunset. It's a nice decent price for a high quality atmosphere.
(5)Mark K.
Just excellent. Oysters Rockefeller with a wonderful and savory sauce. Salmon arrived piping hot, and they were happy to substitute vegetables for pasta as the side. Attentive service, lovely atmosphere. Never been disappointed here.
(5)Tom A.
We got here about 6:40pm on Friday and the place was pretty crowded but they made space for the two of us in the bar area. We were served quickly and the food was amazing! We started with a egg plant appetizer that was terrific. I ordered the osso bucco special and my date ordered veal piccata di vitello, both were excellent! The food, the atmosphere and the people were amazing! We will be back!!
(5)Hal C.
Lights out !!!!! Great meal...Great Service...Great everything....Thanks Gaetano for an awesome evening. Love that you took time to visit table when you had a packed house.....It shows we were not the only ones who love uour food and service...Thanks again
(5)John G.
I've driven pass this place for some time now. Never thought twice about going in. My girlfriend was really craving Italian food and she recommended this place. Being gluten-free it's very difficult to find great Italian food. This place does any dish with gluten-free noodles. They have a lengthy wine list. The menu was well diverse and the service was excellent. I definitely recommend this place to anyone and everyone.
(5)Jonathan L.
This restaurant offers excellent food, and excellent service! I like the setting. It makes one feel comfortable. I will continue to come here. It is also located by the ocean; Come check it out!
(5)dan h.
Do not take a restaurant.com or groupon certificate to this restaurant. It immediately makes you a second class citizen and even limits your choices. The minute we walked in, I realized that they forgot to put out the welcome mat. It was not a friendly atmosphere. That was before I presented the coupon. After choosing two expensive selections, we were informed that they could not honor their happy hour prices for wine and appetizers, because we had a special coupon. It went downhill from there. No restaurant's food is so good that they can treat customers like beggers. If a business is going to advertise in such a way as to lure in customers to sample their wares, they should "get a clue." Even with the coupon, we were paying a substantial price for the meals. Obviously, we departed before finalizing the order.
(1)Alyssa R.
Not sure about the other reviewers' negative experiences - this place is wonderful! Are here last night with a Living Social voucher and was so pleasantly surprised! A beautiful sunset only added to the great atmosphere and patio. What a great location right on the beach! The best part? (Besides the great food, of course) - dog friendly!! They brought my pup a little bowl of water and did the same for the other dog on the patio. I will absolutely make this a regular spot from now on - good food plus dog friendly is a winner in my book!
(5)jill N.
My husband and I were camping across the street at San Elijo State Beach and had bought a Living Social coupon to try it out. AMAZING!!!! First of all, we could walk there from our camp site. Second, the view of the ocean at sunset was divine! The waitress was kind, sweet, beautiful AND efficient!! The food was TERRIFIC!!! We had a salad and eggplant parmesan.. The bread was the best too! The servers were nice and all were attentive. They don't rush you and it's very relaxing. Quite romantic! We are definitely coming back!!
(5)Natalia M.
This is the most amazing restaurant in San Diego county ! Truly a rare find, with great food, great ambiance (very NewYork), ocean views, and the the owner Gaetano is so friendly and inviting! Daniel is a fantastic opera-level singer who adds lots of flavor to this place ! You are really missing out if you haven't been here!
(5)Riley R.
Probably like a 3.5 Loved the atmosphere. Great location with a great view of the ocean (and the prices weren't crazy high either! Win!). Good lighting, could see and yet was still romantic/fun (depending on who you are with haha). Wasn't too loud so you could have good conversation, but also wasn't so quiet you felt you couldn't speak up. Slow service, but it was still a nice evening (was busy so not too concerned). Drinks: I know nothing about wine. When I first started drinking I thought I did and then I quickly learned I knew nothing, so I was perfectly ok ordering the cheapest glass of Napa Merlot on the menu, and it was just great. Food: Bread. Not good. They need better bread. Its plain and not yummy. Tomato sauce or whatever that came with the bread was deliiicious. Was like free bruchetta. Was great! Olive oil was light and noooot good. Ordered the cheese ravioli based on a positive yelp review. Was good! Loved it simplicity, but still needed... something (needed some sort of "kick" at the end of it). Afterwards got the Tiramisu and it was delicious. Food was good but not fantastic. Still had a great time!
(3)J M.
Bought a groupon as recommended in reviews and tried it out. Good food and service and was surprised to learn they also have a nice view! Need to come back and sit by the bar/piano area where I hear they have live music at 7pm.
(4)Edward C.
The ambiance was pleasant and sauces were good. We ordered chicken marsala, a three meat entree, and shrimp with mushroom pappardelle pasta dish. Management was also very accommodating. Thanks for a great dinner!
(5)LeeAnn B.
My best friend had a Groupon that was going to expire so she asked me on a date (woo hoo!). My first impression of Cicciotti's was awesome. I love non-chain places and this building is definitely a bit older, but they had it fixed up so nicely. The patio is gorgeous with limited seating so it's not too crowded and beautiful rock decorations. The view from the dining area is to die for as it overlooks the ocean and there is ample parking in the dirt lot across the street. Unfortunately, we had to wait a little longer than expected since we did have a reservation that was made a few days prior. In their defense it was extremely crowded, so maybe it was just unexpected for them or something. It was a Sunday night so even a few of the customers were surprised how crowded it was. Once seated we took a look at the menu and I decided on the cheese gnocchi and it was okay. It was a little too bland and didn't have much flavor, which was surprising because the ingredients called for a few different cheeses. My friend ordered the ravioli and she was a big fan of her meal. The bread they bring out prior to the meal is delicious, but make sure to ask for the vinegar and oil because they don't bring it out automatically. They do bring a tomato dipping sauce, but I much prefer the oil. We needed to order more to make it to our $40 mark for the Groupon so we both ordered Shirley Temple's...SO GOOD!....and also the chocolate souffle at the end and that, too, was delicious. Overall, beautiful restaurant and I'd be willing to give it another shot. It is a little pricey to only have a "decent" meal, so maybe I just need to order something different!
(3)Briana S.
Charming Italian restaurant by the beach... I came here last Friday with some girlfriends to celebrate a birthday. We had a reservation and were seated quickly. We were even given a choice of being in the room with the pianist, or away from the music. We chose the music. The pianist was great, and he played a wide variety of music... Billy Joel, Italian classics, etc. The only thing is it is louder if you sit near him, so you won't be able to converse as much. Bread is provided with a bruschetta sauce--yum. This did not help with me trying to avoid bread! :) My friend and I decided to split a pasta dish and each get a salad to start. I got the caprese, which is basically one of my favorite salads of all time. There was a generous portion of mozzarella, and very fresh basil leaves, but the tomato was very pale and flavorless. Fortunately, the balsamic balanced it out. T and I shared the gnocchi with vodka sauce. Splitting a portion was just right. It was fine, but nothing spectacular. As another reviewer mentioned, they don't offer grated parmesan cheese, which was unusual. They don't do desserts for birthdays, but if you order one, they will add a candle and sing. So I slyly told the waiter to bring a cannoli and the pianist (and basically that half of the restaurant) sang to my friend. The cannoli was actually three small cannolis and were really good. In summary: Location: beautiful Parking: easy Restaurant: charming Music: fun, but a bit loud Food: decent
(3)Michelle T.
We have become regulars here and absolutely give a 5 star rating! Everything on the menu is beyond delicious but I am addicted to the veal piccata with lemon and capers. It is to die for; have recommended Cicciotti's to many people and all have agreed that the food, service and atmosphere is excellent. My appetizer of melon and prosciutto the other night was gorgeously presented and tasted so fresh. Thinking about it makes me want to go back tonight! Michelle T-Carlsbad
(5)Jerri H.
This place has a great view, great service, great food, and has been a favorite of mine for many years. Their thin crust, wood fired pizza is the best. Do yourself a favor a check it out. A hidden gem.
(4)Nhan T.
Came here for the last day of Restaurant week and I gotta admit this place is pretty swell. The food was definitely worth the price and the service was amazing. I'd most likely check out this place again whenever I'm back in the area!
(4)CINDY F.
The food is amazing, every visit I am impressed more and more.. Best Gnocchi ever! Great service, Delicious food, great atmosphere.. I bring many friends for Dinner and they are all amazed and are also repeated guest!!!! Friendly Staff ** great drink Menu** and again the Food is delicious !!!!
(5)Carol H.
Just moved here and love this place! Food is amazing, atmosphere warm and inviting and the staff especially Gaetano is incredible! Can't wait to come back!!
(5)Steven T.
Food was ok. Place really small could barely fit between tables. Did not live up to the reviews on here. Will not go back. Only reason it got 2 stars was for the wait staff.
(2)Ivan C.
I went with my wife yesterday for lunch.The service was very good and the restaurant has a fantastic view.They offer tomato with bread and olive oil with balsamic vinegar which was so good .We order a Cesar salad which was a little bit average but the pasta was delicious .We will be back .
(3)Christina M.
Wow!!!! My family was very impressed with this place tonight!! Excellent service, delicious food and great ambiance. We had the calamari for our appetizer, my husband had fettuccine Alfredo w/chicken, and my daughter and I shared Bandiera Italiana which is a sampler meal of gnocchi w/creamy Gorgonzola pesto sauce, cheese ravioli in Alfredo sauce and cannelloni. Sooooooo yummy!!!! We live right up the street so we will definitely be regulars here!!! :))
(5)David G.
My wife and I dined here recently and enjoyed a wonderful meal. My wife had the Scaloppine Ai Funghi Porcini, which she loved. About 4 nice pieces of veal in a delicious brandy cream sauce. I had the Lasagna Di Mare, which was layered with seafood. Both dishes were served piping hot and both of us took some home for dinner the next evening. Service was good. I had a coupon, but on Sunday and Monday nights they have a 3 course meal special for $20 (no coupon accepted) that was a steal.
(5)Woody M.
Good food at a reasonable price. Nice tables with a view for sunset.
(4)Diane G.
We have eaten here many times--summer and winter. It is the epitome of a funky small town restaurant. There is an extensive menu to choose from, the food is always hot and delicious and the service is great. In the summer or fall, it is great to sit outside on their small patio and see the sunset (be aware of the trains that go through on the close by tracks). The mood is casual just like the town of Cardiff. There is a small parking lot in the back but plenty of parking across the street on the dirt next to the train tracks. We love this place and return again and again. It is especially a great bargain if you have a LivingSocial coupon or a Groupon.
(5)Tammy M.
Back yet again and just as good. This time had the caprese and pizza. I am never let down
(5)Chuck M.
We had dinner here last Saturday night. What a treat! The food was exceptional. I don't recall the name of the appetizer, but it was fresh melon topped with prosciutto accompanied with beratta cheese. Amazing! Our entrees were equally outstanding. The other treat was being serenaded by Daniel Hendrick, and his incredible voice. What a fun night!
(5)Rick M.
Took my wife there for a date night. I made reservations prior to our date, I requested a table by the window as I had read reviews first and heard about the incredible view...I was seated immediately upon arrival but as far from the window as we could have possibly been seated. We both were hit by an odor that can only be described as very stinky feet (I read this in a review of the place but wrote it off as a grouchy guest) the smell was intense but we both agreed to stick it out and not be complainers. The service was not great...the servers seemed overwhelmed (it was busy) and just wanted to rush to get your order. It was very impersonal. When the food arrived it was a little cold and seemed like cheap Italian food....almost tv dinner quality. My wife pretended to enjoy it for my sake since it was my pick for our date. But later she admitted that it was pretty gross. Needless to say it will be our last visit to Cicciotti's. Only thing we enjoyed was the wine. Total bust. Do yourself a favor and steer clear of this smelly dump.
(1)jessica c.
Excellent Meat and Lamb Gnocchis, plate is big and filling! Pretty interior and ocean views, service ok. Beer selection not best but fresh bread, home-made gnocchis, and good chicken piccata!
(4)Eva T.
I love everything about Cicciotti's Trattoria. The moment you enter, you are greeted and seated in a beautiful front room, facing the ocean. The food is first rate, authentic recipes and the wait staff is attentive and friendly. I always opt for the fabulous cioppino which, luckily for me, is often a special. My companions have enjoyed the lobster/shrimp ravioli and the homemade lasagna. Each meal is an event and the owner is personable and sincerely wants every customer to be a satisfied, return diner! Thank you and see you again soon, Gaetano! Eva T
(5)Man Is H A.
we love coming here for italain food. One of the only places where the kitchen is open a little later than the other restaurants. We were in on a Saturday night and they had live singing in the bar. The singing was awesome (opera, Billy joel, etc.). Just a chill place with really good food, friendly staff, entertainment and a view to the water. Doesn't get much better than that, right?
(4)Steve H.
We love coming to Cicciotti's for excellent food, wonderful ambiance and a great experience! Gaetano Ciccotti, owner and executive chef serves up some of the best authentic Italian food in all of San Diego County! We love that they always have special deals on wine, as well as luncheon specials. We also love taking advantage of the live music they have on Friday and Saturday nights. Looking for a great "date night" experience, try Ciccotti's in Cardiff by the Sea! Wonderful ocean views compliment a great dining experience!
(5)Nory B.
Came here for a child's 1 year old birthday party. The service was excellent and very friendly. The food was really good! We had vodka penne, meatball pasta, chicken piccata, grilled vegetables, and lasagne--all had really great flavor! Can't wait to come back to try their regular menu!
(5)Mari A.
Beautiful place, loved the spanish tile flooring, the mini outdoor/indoor patio and bar, and love that beyond the terrian, you can catch a glimpse of the ocean behind it. Sadly however, it was average at best. Came here for restaurant week for lunch as Encinitas happens to be the half way point between a former co-worker (Carlsbad) and me (La Jolla). The items on the menu drew me and my coworkers in. So we sat in the outdoor patio, humid but with a beautiful view, there were three items for entrees and three items for dessert. Luckily, there were three of us and we each got a different item from the menu. The only one worth mentioning as part of the entree was the Lamb Ossobuco: incredibly tender and sauce was delish. Didn't care so much for the risotto which resembled more like traditional rice mixed in with the sauce. The other entrees: seafood fettuccini and minced crab stuffed salmon (both embedded in lobster sauce), we're not as tasty as we were hoping it would be. Between the desserts, my friends Tiramisu was probably the best one. My creme brulee and my friends chocolate lava cake was sadly disappointing. Great location and place to enjoy a nice day in San Diego, but on a gloomy day, with gloomy food, and service that was equally as gloomy (he didn't look so happy to be there and I think he may even have been the owner), I think I'd try and pep myself up at the Wine Steals that's down the block.
(3)Chris B.
The filet mignon is kick ass. It's cooked to perfection and the sauce on it is remarkable! Plus the lava cake is perfect, it is light and fluffy and super delicious just like a lava cake should be! I would give this place 5 starts only if the waitress would bring drinks by more often plus she stood at my table telling her life story when all we asked was "how long have you lived here" she was friendly though so I commend her on that but the main reason I give this 3 stars instead of 4 or 5 is because of the bathrooms which are seriously in a parking lot and they only have a woman's bathroom and a unisex bathroom. No men's so the bathroom lines get super long and you don't want to wait in a parking lot when you want to eat. Otherwise the food is kick ass and I'm so coming back here!.
(3)Sherry R.
Everything good. Delicious food. Impeccable service. Romantic atmosphere as we were sitting by the open window on a perfect evening with a full moon we could see. The middle of the room seemed a bit noisy for my taste, but it was Sat night and they were bustling! But by the window was quieter. Just outstanding. We found this place on Groupon.
(5)owen l.
We came during lunch. We ordered the meat ball appetizer. The ricotta is an amazing ingredient to have with the meat balls. We ordered the eggplant Parmesan and pasta carbonara. Yummy.
(4)Alisa M.
I would love to give this place a better review because the location/views and staff are lovely. The food is good but not awesome. I was pleased but not awed. It's actually the first time my husband didn't finish his ravioli or take it home. He said the same. It was good enough. With so many exceptional Italian places in Encinitas area to choose from Cicciottis is a place to come for pizza and a drink.
(3)Simeon Z.
After a recent Sunday dinner, I left feeling "Ok" with the experience, as the service was very good and my food tasted ok. We started with friend calamari for an appetizer and it was "ok", but a bit bland. I wasn't sure if it was homemade or not. My bf had a linguine dish with seafood, including a decent sized lobster tail for ... I believe about $36. He had difficulty finishing it. I tasted it and it was quite good. He felt it was a fair value for what he received. I had a special as well which was Butternut squash ravioli with shrimp and bay scallops in a well seasoned creamy white sauce. Pluses to the dish... sauce was really good and ravioli tasted good as well. Downside is that I the ravioli appeared to not be homemade, only 3 not so large shrimp which were way overcooked and tough, and bay scallops, well they were as usual, tiny and without much flavor. I wouldn't have been put off had it been a little more reasonably priced, but I failed to ask the waitress about price when she was citing the specials. I paid $28 for the dish and just didn't see the value in that. I personally don't think there's any excuse for charging that much and not using large count shrimp and sea scallops. Just as importantly, homemade pasta is a must at an Italian restaurant. I don't wanna pay those prices for frozen ravioli which I can purchase at the grocery store or Costco. Worst of all, I finished the dish (flavors were very good), and was still hungry. That should not be the case for a $28 meal. So would I go running back? I definitely wouldn't run but I liked the service and I have a feeling that I would have been happier with a different dish. For that reason, I see no reason for others to avoid trying it and making their own decisions, though I will likely be making a different choice next time I am craving Italian food.
(3)Diosabbath ..
Great service, Outstanding food. All in all a great experience. We were here for our 10 yr Anniversary. I can not express to you guys the service we received. They were constantly making sure we had water, wine and checked on us once the food came to make sure everything was okay. Will definitely come back.
(5)Richard K.
Ate here last night 7/18/2014. We had a $25 coupon which helped and have eaten here a few times before. This time for some reason both our meals were ok but somewhat bland. We asked for pepper flakes just to add some additional flavor which help. The scenery was great and I must say very beautiful! Will be back and hopefully have a better meal next time..
(3)David C.
OK meal, a little pricy and only way to eat here is with one of the coupons as it is regular Italian food. nothing special but decent food with a good view. took the family there the other night and glad we got there early as it gets noisy as the evening goes on, but great sun set. there are lots of regulars that come in, and we noticed the last three times we eat here, that it appears there is a "two tiered" service level. One level for the regulars and a different level for the new comers....not so unusual but took a while to get re-served. update on 7/12/2015 had to go to the bar to get a refill on my drink...two levels of service...
(3)David T.
Have been here several times over the last year. Some visits are a 3 star, other 4 stars. So 3.5 stars is my rating, and I will round up. I will go back! If you are coming during the summer, or Fri / Sat you need to make a reservation. This place is busy. I like to sit inside, in the front glassed in porch area. Ask for a window table, or you will be stuck in the middle of the room. There is also an inside room (where the bar is) with some cool tables. Its noisier and much more active. This room has a few TV's on the wall which for me is a real buzz-kill. They have an outdoor front patio that is nice - fire pit and heat lamps. This is the call during the summer. There are also some tables out back (on the way to the restrooms) that I would call "overflow." You don't want these unless you are interested in watching the bathroom traffic. They have a private parking lot in back - the entrance is a small alley on the north side of the building. Easy to miss. It's your lucky day if there is actually a parking spot. If not, you are on your own. Drop off the ladies in front, as it may be a couple of blocks before you find a parking spot. First thing your order is wine (or maybe a cocktail.) There is a full bar. There are some nice bottles of wine, but I always find that a simple red like Nero d'Avola goes great with seafood. If you want to go the white route try the Vermentino. Label does not really matter with these style of wines - they are young and fresh by nature. The food has been consistent. For appetizers I like the Calamari + Zucchini Fritti and Eggplant Involtini. We have also ordered the Margherita pizza as an appetizer - it's a nice thin crust pizza. The house salad is a nice spring mix, and large enough to split. The Cesare salad is completely forgettable (ordered several times, never again.) All of the pasta selections I have tasted have been great - notable plates have been the Gnocchi and the seafood pasta entries. Things I would never order again are the Saltimbocca and the Veal Marsala. Dishes I would go back for are the Scampi and Cioppino over Linguine. Seafood is the way to go here. Cant forget desert - The Cannolis have always been fresh with a nice crisp shell. The Creme Brulee is also a great choice and goes well with a tawny port.
(4)Jo L.
Absolutely fabulous dinner We were seated facing the sunset in an open air dining room. The wait staff was courteous & cheerful. She explained the menu & suggested the dinner specials. When the food arrived, we were surprised how good the lobster ravioli & seafood pasta were. The owner/chef, Mr. Cicciotti, a native of Naples, Italy came & greeted the dinner guests. He told us that there is NO FREEZER in the restaurant because he shops daily to ensure the freshness of the ingredients. Needless to say, we shall return!!
(5)Larry P.
I guess #SaturdayNight is not a good night to review a restaurant here. It was our first time and our 10th Anniversary and wanted to listen to the live music. The service was #veryslow because the waiter was a amiture singer and was more interested in trying to sing than taking care of us.
(3)Aline S.
What a traumatic experience! Got major food poisoning after eating at this restaurant on a Monday night dinner. My boyfriend and I order the filet special and the seafood lasanha. We both ate from both dishes and we both got really sick at 3am that same night. We were throwing up all day and both missed work as consequence. I called the restaurant on the following day to warn them not to serve the food to anybody else and the owner acted like we were making the whole thing up. Seriously Mr Gaetano!!! I've worked in the restaurant industry myself for many years and don't make things up like that. He basically told us to prove that we got sick on his restaurant and denied we got sick there. He was very rude and defensive to say the least. Anyone that has ever got food poisoning knows exactly what made them sick and where.
(1)Christine N.
Great food! Excellent Service! Have gone back again & again! Always a enjoyable evening!
(5)Mandy L.
Cicciotti's is in my neighborhood and was offering a Groupon, so of course I checked it out. The wine list is okay - I've definitely seen better ones at other local Italian places. Next, we weren't offered bread until our food was already out. Typically, I see this when you are first seated, so it was a little strange. We were seated in the corner of their enclosed patio area, and felt a bit squished in. In the other room they had a live opera singer which we could kind of hear, but only because we were seated on the very edge of the patio room (between us and the other room was the entrance hallway). Since we were kind of in an awkward spot, I wasn't really able to take notice of the decor. In our particular seating area there were just clippings of magazines and awards granted to the restaurant (again, maybe this was because we were kind of seating in the entrance area). The food itself was great! I would give 4 stars to the food itself. After we got our food, we didn't see our server at all. He never came and checked on us. In fact, we were done with our meals for about 20 minutes before he came over (at this point, I had flagged down a busser for a take-home box). I'd love to check it out again, but the prices were pretty high without the Groupon, and the service we received was definitely not worth the price they are asking.
(3)Tony T.
Went here for the 5th time last week and had a horrible experience. We got severe food poisoning and had to go to the emergency room. I called the owner to explain what happened and he immediately got defensive and belligerent. He said if he acknowledges what happened it means he's guilty. I asked for a refund and he basically said prove it or go to hell. Also said he had my information and to do my best?!?! Mind-boggling how he thinks its ok to treat people like this I keep a very detailed account of what I eat and im 100% certain it was your food that made us sick. How can we both get sick otherwise? And yes you were extremely rude which is completely out of line for someone who runs a respectful dining establishment in our community. I don't care about your refund. we just felt awful after what was supposed to be an enjoyable evening and I felt that it was the least you could do for what you put us through. Please try to be more courteous to your patrons rather than the hostile manner by which you treated us.
(1)Laura D.
Now that I have had many bad experiences with Italian food in North County, Cicciotti's gets the highest marks. I almost took off a star for the noise, but we were there at prime dinner time on a Saturday night and all places are noisy at that time. This place is just so charming. It's a little cottage with two sections of tables, one in the bar, one in the front room ringed by windows. Ok, the train tracks are right there and every once in awhile you get a blast of train noise, but it doesn't bother me at all. There's also a sweet little patio in front of the restaurant. Massimo greeted us at the door and gave us each a big hug. Love those Italians. We were seated promptly (luckily we had a reservation) and our waiter came over right away, and bread and bruschetta sauce arrived promptly on the table. We both started with salad: Peggy had the Primavera, with onions, olives, greens, tomatoes and a bunch of other stuff. I had the Insalata di Mele (Salad with apples) which is my favorite. It has a bed of greens ringed by sliced apples, with some goat cheese, onions and about 6 really nicely grilled shrimp. It's a lunch meal in itself.... But this was dinner so on to the pasta: Peggy ordered the Ziti alla Vodka, but she altered it slightly by adding shrimp and artichoke hearts. They were happy to comply. The sauce was creamy-tomatoey and absolutely delicious, especially with a bunch of parmigiano piled on the top. I had the Lasagna al Forno which was exactly as I expected: well-cooked (no underdone noodles to saw through), with a delicious bolognese sauce and topped with luscious melted cheese. Yum. BTW, they have really good thin pizza, but they only serve it after 5 pm because the pizza oven takes that long to heat up. We had a wonderful time and were really enjoying getting caught up on each other's lives, but around 8.30 the noise level was so high I was getting a headache and my throat was getting sore from having to yell. So not a place for a romantic dinner on a Saturday night! Cicciotti's I will be back again and again! Thanks for keeping the authentic Italian tradition alive.
(5)Suzie A.
I love this place.... We were here for restaurant week, and even though the menu was only select items we were not disappointed! The filet was delicious and the desert was delish! I can't wait to come again!
(5)Gina A.
Walked across the street from the San Elijo State Beach, dog in tow. Got a patio seat with heat lamps making the brisk winter weather toasty and comfortable, so no issue with the dog. Happy hour hors d'oeuvres were generous portions for the price and excellent! Meal included a $10 upgrade to add lobster tail. I expected something like langoustine, but got a nice sized, perfectly cooked tail on top of an amazing shrimp and crab linguini. We will definitely add this place to our "regulars". Oh, and a very broad and sophisticated wine list too! Amazing find!
(5)Joe D.
As someone who was around when Gaetano opened this restaurant, I wish things would have been better this evening. Here are the highlights from this evening's dinner: 1. Called to make reservations. Person on the phone gave me an attitude like I was bothering them to actually do so. While it's race season, and even thought Del Mar is closed today, I thought it prudent to call ahead. Attitude was what I got in the phone. Are you kidding me? 2. Arrived on time, but waited at the front for five minutes before someone from the kitchen acknowledged our presence. Gave us a nice table, so thank you. 3. 25 minutes later, and I was checking since we were on time, we had bread and water. No acknowledgement. No drink orders. No "we will be right with you". Nothing. If it weren't for the bread, we were ready to walk out then and there. 4. Server arrived and we ordered appetizers. Caesar dressing was plainly from a bottle. Appetizer special was just fine. Getting better than the atrocious start. 5. Ordered main course: gnocchi was clearly not restaurant made. Most likely from a vendor like Trader Joes. Really. Tagliatelle and ravioli were fine. Not great, but passable. 6. House chianti was fine for the price. 7. Our server removed our silverware after appetizers, so at least someone trained him. Thank you! I can't tell you how horrible it is to have a rookie put the appetizer silverware back on the table. Other server (blonde female) passed our table a dozen times when we were obviously waiting for service, she should have said "I will have your server come by"- but she never did. Her myopia was shocking. Her tables were all that was relevant to her, not the restaurant as a whole. Open your eyes dear. It pains me to say this, but there is no reason to come here when there are so many excellent options nearby. Gaetano- professionalize your staff (phone to hosts to waitstaff) and stop relying on pre-made sources. We go to your restaurant for a reason. IMF all I need to do is open a package of Caesar dressing and boil pre-made gnocchi, why bother? Your location is awesome. Your menu is capable. The execution fell way short this evening. WAAAAY short.
(1)Hungry L.
Amazing food, amazing service, I will definitely be back! The lobster stuffed ravioli was tremendous. Salvatore was a great waiter and ensured we were comfortable during our visit.
(5)Jennifer H.
I've been here a couple times now and each time I have enjoyed my selection. They have a menu with plenty of variety for everyone to find something that suits their craving. I would definitely recommend Cicciotti's.
(4)Arianna W.
Well, the food here is fine. It's a bit over priced for the food, but I assume they are also selling the view, which is beautiful. We had two expired living social deals and figured that we would use the paid value on father's day. My dad was delighted they had gluten free pasta, and loved the taste. I found some of the dishes to taste less than fresh. I had the seafood risotto (their only risotto on the menu!) and had sand in a few of my mussels and clams. The rice was slightly under done. When it came time to pay the bill, we were told that we had to use the coupons one at a time, even though we were not trying to use the promotions (which I know you cannot use together). I don't think we'll be returning to use the value on the other coupon, .
(2)Timothy A.
Wow where can I start, the food is very good, authentic flavor, well priced and the pizza or calzones taste like while in Naples Italy. What a great place and the best part it's local. It's amazing when you walk into the restaurant; you are greeted by a couple of handsome Italian men, usually the owner or his manager. The main dining room has an Ocean view, beautiful sunsets and a charming vibe that reminds me of an Italian family home. I now understand why the weekends get busy; the quality of entertainment is superb yet friendly and enjoyable. Interesting wine and deserts too, I asked for a description of my dinner and the server described exactly as it tasted "Great". Now I'm ready to bring family and friends to share this wonderful little place in Cardiff. Tim A La Costa CA.
(5)Candice F.
Lack Luster. Dined there Sunday evening and the first time I went, I was generally happy with the experience. (That's why I thought I'd take my family there to try it out this time) whomever the man that greeted us was, has a lot to learn about first impressions. Blew off me telling him we had a reservation (I know we didn't need one once we got there because it was half full), but he just gave off such a rude vibe and was so stoned faced. Ok....and while the server was sweet & friendly, she was less than professional. When I asked where the restroom was our server was chowing down on the bar right in front of us. Can't you take that to the back, please?? I don't want to see you eat and then serve my family. We decided to do their $20 Sunday/Monday special which is 3 courses. All the choices sounded really good. The "stuffed artichokes" are in no way stuffed. They are straight out of the can whole artichokes, covered in some melted cheeses that congealed into a sheet you could literally lift off the plate. Topped with 1 single very overcooked "tiger" shrimp. I've never seen such a thing! Honestly, I don't know why I didn't send it back. Husband got eggplant appetizer and all you could taste was a HUGE blob of melted cheese. Better than mine though. My portobello ravioli was good, however again topped with 1 single very overcooked shrimp. Tiramisu was so disappointing, I couldn't waste the calories on a second bite. Mini cannolis were yummy. $8 for a small kids spaghetti was highway robbery considering they also charged for my daughters milk!!?! We had a coupon that only said on it that it couldn't be used for Luncheon Specials, but they wouldn't take it for the 3 Course Meal. Which was kind of crap. But fine. We left disappointed. I am a chef and have over 16 years of restaurant experience in front of the house, so I notice more, but I want all restaurants to succeed. But this place I'm sorry to say doesn't seem to care much...at least on a Sunday?? :(
(2)Ed G.
Good food good service. When the owner takes enough pride to actually be present on a Friday night and work with his staff, I'm impressed. There are several restaurant owners who do, and I tend to like them all. The food was great! In fact, I over ate. I should have taken half of it home. But, being the way I am, I could not help myself. My dish was THAT good. I didn't get a salad, I didn't want filler I could get at home. I had no room for dessert. It was an enjoyable dining experience. I tend to like the kind of dining this place has to offer, but if you like space, and a quite atmosphere, then this is not for you. Do take out. The restaurant is tight on space and BUSY. And, busy is a good sign. Enjoy
(5)Judy F.
Wow! We got there late: 8 pm, but were seated by the window, with tablecloth. Then, the waiter brought us a candle. Aaahhhhh! The service was warm, friendly, patient. The food was excellent! Try the pizzas or the chicken in lemon sauce with capers. Their house Chianti is great, too!
(5)Tara H.
My boyfriend and I received a synergy gift card (sold at costco) for the holidays. When we looked online for available restaurants to use it we found this place and we're excited since we have wanted to try. We called 6 times the number on their website to make reservation and Recieved no answer, we decided to give it a try anyways. We waited, as waiters passed by saying nothing to us, after about 5 mjns we were seated. Our waitress was very nice, and food was great we had ordered the 3 course deal for $20 each, and ill be honest I'm a picky Italian restaurant goer. I also ordered the wine pairing, not so good. Tomato soup was served with a pinot grigio, not a good one, and white fish I ordered paired with cabernet, usually rule of thumb no red wine with white fish. Anyways what really upset us about this restaurant was when we went to pay with gift card manager came out and told us we could not use it because it was a gift card from costco and since we ordered the special $20 deal they wouldn't get the money it all went to costco. When I said that should have been posted on the deal manager responded with "well it says can not be used with promotion or discount " those cards are not discounted , I also went to tell him that we tried to call 6 times to ask if it could be used he checked our phone to make sure it was right number then said "well sometimes the lines are down" all in all the manager should have said I apologize or yes we should print the cards can't be used, but just stuck to his answer, extremely of putting to new customers. We will not return. Word of advice:show gift card before ordering, to make sure they will honor it with whatever you order, and pick your own wine!
(2)Lynn G.
My husband and I have eaten here multiple times and we're never disappointed!! Gaetano is so friendly and welcoming that is makes our dining experience that much better. I will say that my husband orders the same dish every time because he thinks Cicciotti's home made meatballs are outstanding!! So he orders the pasta with meat sauce and meatballs and is always happy. I love trying the specials of the day, especially when fresh fish is involved. Last time I had the white striped bass with fresh tomatoes, capers and black olives. The fish just melted in my mouth. We generally start with the Calamari but you can't go wrong with any of the antipasti's. We'll definitely be back!!!
(5)Rhondi S.
We came here on a busy Friday night with a party of four. Great anti pasta combination to share, someone had the chicken marsala, the shrimp with mushrooms and truffles were awesome, ravioli fresh and flavorful, shared a bottle of chianti, what a great place. Great view and ambiance, cute warm patio with a huge fire pit, friendly wait staff.
(3)Myra F.
Fantastic quality with reasonable prize. Food is fresh and delicious. Our favorite Italian restaurant.
(5)Jerry R.
Really great Italian food. We got the caprese salad, veal parmesan and a pizza. The food was very good, our server gave great service and the atmosphere is fun. Save room for some cannolis too
(5)Leona R.
Came here at 630PM and it was a beautiful night so me and my date sat outside, you can see the ocean from the seats and they have heaters and a firepit which was really nice and cozy. Our waiter was quick and this one man kept coming to check on us (im assuming he was the owner, he was very genuine and friendly) I ordered the Lasagne de mare and my date ordered the linguine de gulfi, she loved the linguine, my lasagne was interesting. Certain bites tasted delicious but then i would take another bite and it tasted weird haha. So many different sea animals made every bite taste different. Overall I would definitely come here again!
(4)Dayna S.
We first tried Cicciotti's because there was a Living Social deal and we keep on coming back! It's been our go to date night spot for a while now. We have never been disappointed with a meal or the service. The waitresses are friendly and attentive and the bussers are always quick to refill your water and clear your plates. The food is delicious!! We love coming here and knowing that we're going to have an amazing meal. You can't beat the view either! We were here last Sunday and were lucky enough to walk right in and watch the beautiful sunset.
(5)Jaime L.
My wife and I went tonight to celebrate our 24th anniversary. Elaina was our waitress. She was awesome. The place filled up pretty quick however she kept up with the pace. I ordered the Lasagna Napoletana Alla Gaetano and my wife had the Bandiera Italiana. While we waited we had our drinks and delicious bread. Our food arrived promptly and we both loved our dinners. Highly recommend both. As far as desert goes I had the creme brûlée and my wife the cannolis. AMAZING! Also our wonderful waitress serenaded us for our anniversary when she brought our desserts. Beautiful voice. Must go back!!!
(5)Jeffj22 J.
DeeeelishyOso... yum yum Carbonara perfectly cooked Penchetta ...chix parm tender and a wonderful sauce...Calamari nice large tender with a light crunch....Artichokes were waaaaay yum with bits of bits of yum things around it. and wow, great ocean view and wow great prices too
(5)Devon B.
I took my husband here for dinner as part of a package deal. (See my review for "Bed & Breakfast Cardiff by the Sea Lodge.") The coupon entitled me to a voucher for $30 towards our meal. This wasn't really enough to cover 2 people, unless you just order pasta or something. He had the lasagna di mare with a variety of shellfish and seafood, and I had a pizza with proscuitto and basil. Both were very good and fairly authentic. The owners/servers also appeared to be Italian. I excused myself to the restroom and stopped our server before our food arrived to ask her if she could do something for my husband's birthday. She said she could bring a dessert to our table, but that it would be better if I took him to the bar after dinner and had the two singers serenade him. I agreed and thanked her. She was so awkward about the set-up though, asking me if we wanted the check and then if we were going to get drinks in the bar. We ended up waiting forever with no sign of the creme brulee I'd asked for. I almost suggested that we just leave, as my husband had already figured out something was going on and we had waited for some time. When I went to ask the server again she said that she was bringing it and that she hadn't charged me. Finally they brought the dessert and sang, which was great, but they also dropped off a separate check. What's up with that? I had thought it was complimentary, especially after the uncomfortable prolonged wait and semi-spoiled surprise. I paid it, but it did put a damper on the end of an otherwise pleasant meal.
(3)Do L.
I bought a groupon for this restaurant and my friend and I used it today. My Caesar salad was bland,dry, and small. I couldn't taste the dressing at all. I asked for no scallops in my pasta with shrimp,scallops, and salmon dish. Not only did they eliminate the scallops but there were only small bits of salmon in the dish. My friend had a salad and artichoke appetizer. She enjoyed both but wasn't raving about them. Overall the food was ok but I wouldn't go back with out a coupon.
(3)Kevin K.
Went here last night with friends. I think we had Tina T's waiter! The service was okay, the food was decent, and the atmosphere was pretty cool. There were 5 of us and 2 people didn't eat, and none of us ordered alcohol. They had a band playing which was a little on the loud side but not too annoying. The singer had a pretty great opera voice! So the zinger came when we went to pay the bill. I gave the guy the check with some cash and a credit card and said "put 9 on the card please". He looked at me like I was crazy, paused, and said "9 on the card?" I said, "Yes, 9 on the card". He gave me a very odd look. He then came back to give us our change which was about $3.50 and said "MAKE SURE YOU DON'T FORGET YOUR CHANGE." So we took all of our change and left. One of my friends spoke with the manager to tell him how rude the waiter was. I was pretty shocked about his bad attitude. I think I would have given this place 4 stars, but when the waiter uttered his bush league remark, all I heard was "Please give us a really crappy Yelp review and tell everyone you know not to come here!"
(1)Wally A.
During restaurant week - Wow, I thought I ordered fish not a mushy fillet of sink water ... it really tasted like dish water... a kitchen contender for Hell's Kitchen no doubt
(1)Molly S.
came here on date night this past friday around 6pm. I was greeted right away and escorted to a nice table for two by the window facing the ocean. Our waiter (Mauitzio) made a nice wine recommendation and was knowledgeable about the specials. The kitchen was quite slow and we noticed that the table next to us ordered after us and got their food first, and we ordered pasta not something that would take a long time. We were having wine and having a good time so this wasnt really a problem. The busser and waiter were attentive and refilled our bread which was quite tasty. The calamari dish we ordered wasnt very appetizing but I think we just ordered the wrong kind as ours was simmered in this marinara type sauce but was chewy and a weird texture, we should have ordered the calamaretti fritti. The pasta dishes were pretty good. Overall we had a great time and the food was decent, kitchen seemed a little slow our server was delightful, i really like that he spoke italian. I would come back again for wine and maybe appetizers and to try out the pizza, but there are better italian places in downtown encinitas in my opionion.
(3)Christine C.
There are many italian restaurants on the 101 in the Encinitas/Cardiff area, and decided to try this one after a groupon deal. I was pleasantly surprised, and it's now our go to italian restaurant. I love the Pennette dello Chef, the gorgonzola cheese sauce is amazing! The environment is fun too, romantic and cozy, with live music. My boyfriend was disappointed on one visit because it took the server three times to get his order right (he requested shrimp with his pasta instead of chicken), but the server was new so we didn't it let it ruin our love for this place and we continue to go here.
(4)Gus L.
This 2 star review really pains me. This is one of those local places that has sooo much going for it, they just seem to have either given up, or are not paying attention. The location is a great, almost beach front, as the beach is occupied by the state camp ground across the street...however this little sliver of Beach Town San Diego should see a great Italian eatery thriving. My family and I visited on a groupon here recently. The entire experience was not "bad" just seemed second string. The staff was friendly, but the waiter struck me as it may have been his second day serving tables, he was perhaps a cook or bus boy right before we came in. He did try, but it was apparent he couldn't answer many of our questions. The decor was nice, the outside had me a bit confused, as they have tables and chairs, but they were all placed too close together to be actually sat at...and they didn't appear to have been used in ages. The bar seemed updated,and if/when we go back, I would love to visit the bar as well. The food was also a solid "Meh". We sampled an array from the spaghetti and to OsoBucco to Ciopinno. All were not bad...but especially my OsoBucco, tasted like they were trying to save money where they could. The Risoto under my Buco screamed grocery store brand rice side dish, while the meat was tender, just lacked flavor...The ciopinno was tasty, and great for bread dipping, but the lobster was obviously not fresh. I a not a chef, nor a restaurant owner, but if I was...here at Cicciotti's I would make some changes fast. Cicciotti's could be phenomenal with just a little more effort and some TLC. I hope to visit again soon and happily end up clicking that 5star rating! I know you can do it Cicciotti's!
(2)M M.
This past weekend my husband and I took another couple to Cicciotti's to celebrate their birthdays. We had a great time, we all ordered different things and none of us were disappointed with our choices. The whole experience was great, from the initial greeting of the manager, to the wonderful waitress, the young men taking care of our table to the "Happy Birthday Song"! thanks Cicciotti's .... we will be back.
(4)Kimberly B.
We bought a living social deal and decided to go for lunch. The food was amazing! My husband had the filet mignon ravioli and I had the mushroom and tiger shrimp pasta and a glass of their house chardonnay. We tried a bite of each other's plate and wanted more. The only other time I've tasted something so good was in a little restaurant in Florence. We will definitely be back!
(5)Dennis S.
We entered about 5:30 on a Sat and the main dining area was 2/3 full. By the time we left at 6:30 it was full. Had the Lasagna with meat balls and it was excellent. Staff was very friendly, service was excellent and the owner came by and asked how it was.
(5)Laura J.
Hadn't been here in awhile but friends suggested it as I was looking for somewhere that could accommodate a group of about 20. Went in and spoke with owner Giacano and he totally set us up. Super nice guy. We had so much food for such a reasonable price. No one could believe it. We had 3 appettizers, salad, 3 entrees all served family style. We voted the while fish as the best dish of the night although everything was outstanding! We had the vodka penne, chicken marsala, bruchetta, caprese, pizza and more. They even let me bring in my own cake and served it. The staff was friendly and we were in a cute little nook in the back which totally worked for my group... We could get up, stand up, walk around and not be in anyones way in the middle of the restaurant. We were well taken care of and I will definitely go back. Thank you!!!
(5)Thea P.
Love Ciciotti's. If they have the oysters Rockefeller on the menu, get them!!!!. Wine selection is great, view is great and everyone there is always very helpful and nice. The food is amazing from anything in a brandy cream sauce to the wood fired piazzas. The owner, when he is there, is part of the team and will serve you and talk to you like a friend when you are there. We come here for special occasions and date nights.
(5)nancy m.
Very accommodating. Food was very good, portion sized just right. Loved the menu variety. The owner, Gaetano, is particularly gracious host, sincerely wanting guests to have a lovely dining experience. Will definitely return.
(4)Kelly J.
This is one of my favorite Italian restaurants and I regularly drive up to Cardiff just to go there (and admire the view!). I've tried many of the menu items and they've all been delicious! I usually get an eggplant or other vegetarian dish, but the seafood choices are awesome too. The staff are very friendly and the service is quick! I especially like the small brunette waitress- she is very sweet, but I can't remember her name. The prices are a little high but they regularly offer groupons and such so they keep me going back. A great place for a date or for a nice dinner with a friend or out of town visitors.
(5)Patti P.
I have dined at Cicciott's since soon after they opened. I have always felt that you get a great value for the money they charge. Far less expensive than the Vigilucci's restaurants, and food as good or better. The owner, Gaetano, is a delightful man, I love to see his business grow and succeed. He always contributes to local charity events whenever I have asked- and I appreciate that. When you support the community, I want to support you and your endeavors too! The atmosphere is very friendly and lovely, with a beautiful ocean view. Some days they have a gentleman playing piano and singing. I recently watched him entertain a family there having a large birthday party. He interacted with their children, delighting them with his songs, and including the whole group. It was a lot of fun watching the whole thing. Go to Cicciottis- you get a great value for your money, and a lovely atmosphere!
(5)Pamela F.
I think the chef stole my grandmother's sauce recipe! Hahaha. WONDERFUL dinner, great service. Only was hoping to see an actual Italian person working there like back East. Not a big deal tho. I'll be back for more of that spaghetti & meatballs!
(5)Dominic B.
Great food, great happy hour!! The view is nice. Our waitress Elena was wonderful. She was the icing on the cake!!!! This will be our new weekend spot.
(5)Edward H.
Went there on a Friday night with a friend,we order pizza caprese salad,portobello mushroom salad and seafood pasta,after eating the salad I took a bite from the slice of pizza and I was in heaven,this is one the best pizza I've tasted since I was in Italy ,my taste buds were going at high speed straight to my brain,it was amazing ,the seafood pasta was excellent as well They use all fresh ingredients and it shows in their food. For desert we had scoop of gelato ice cream,homemade cannoli which is made in house and a cappachino,service was fast and our waiter was very courteous and professional, the owner was walking around and checking on the food,and came by our table to check if everything was good . I could'nt be happier. By the time we got ready to leave the place was jumping,they had a piano player setting up for a gig . I told my wife about it and can't wait to go back.
(5)John N.
Lived in Cardiff since the late 80s. The restaurant replaced a good Mexican restaurant (anyone remember Taco Engineer?) and went through several owner/name changes. Cicciotti's has it dialed in, there are 6 or 7 Italian restaurants within 5 miles and the menu is priced fairly, the food is in deed authentic and the service is better here than the other's that we also patronize. It's a beach community and the ambience is relaxed but efficient. If you're looking for a decent meal for a good value, this is the neighborhood's best Italian offering. Jo Anne and John
(5)S H.
My son and I ate here a couple of weeks ago for the first time. I loved the atmosphere which is small, cozy and home like. The food and service were excellent. Good portions and excellent flavor. I just purchased 2 more groupons and look forward to going back soon!
(4)Bruce B.
This is one of the best restaurants in the North County area. They have a very extensive menu that makes selecting one item very difficult because you want to taste so many of them. I had the Lasagna de Mare (Seafood Lasagna) that was one of the best Italian meals I ever had. The owner/host is very gracious and friendly. The service could not have been better. I will definitely return!
(5)David S.
Went in to celebrate my wife's Birthday with a Groupon discount. Loved the ambiance, service was good, and the food was awesome. We went in on a Wednesday night and the place was nice and quiet. Definitely coming back again.
(5)Rebeka L.
I came here today with a groupon and I am super impressed! We didn't have reservations but got seated immediately despite the restaurant being packed, and our waitress was wonderfully attentive, frequently refilling drinks, taking/delivering orders, etc. Service was 5 stars all the way. Menu was very vegetarian friendly for being a seafood place, and they had no problems substituting a veggie option simply by getting asked "does this item have meat?" The food was also great - absolutely delicious garlic tomato sauce you get for dipping the bread in (so much, we asked to take the rest home with us!). We got two types of gnocchi, the mushroom one and the gorgonzola. In addition we got the antipasto appetizer which had brushetta, caprese, grilled veggies and cheeses (we're vegetarian so no meat). Loved the grilled veggies most, everything else was also good but only one caprese tomato and one brushetta. Thought there would be at least two of each. The gnocchi was delicious - the mushroom had more flavor but the gorgonzola was nice and creamy. No issues with the groupon and they packaged our leftovers super quick. Great find, right now theyve got a groupon of $20 for $45, so super great deal/place to check out!
(5)Wallace M.
Solid three stars. Quality food and service. Wide menu. Decent prices. Great ingredients and execution. Recommended.
(3)Bayy B.
I came here using a groupon, Last minute my honey and I decided to go out to eat searched groupon and found this place for $20 for $45 dollars worth of food and drinks. We called ahead to book a reservation, (Glad we did because the place was packed) the server immediately came over and read us what we assumed were the specials for the day and so on a so forth (We couldnt understand him with his thick accent) lol never the less he handed us our menus and we carried on. I ordered the crab, shrimp, lobster and mussel ravioli he ordered the eggplant and italian sausage pasta. my ravioli was AMAZING, paired with a glass of moscotto couldnt have asked for more! He on the other hand loved my food more the his so we shared mine and he ate half of his. I dont have much of a review for the service since we couldnt really understand our server, so didnt call on him much lol but the food was great! will definitely be visiting again!
(4)Robin H.
Ciccotti's has everything you would want in a restaurant. Outstanding authentic delicious Italian food, amazing ambience, beautiful ocean views and incredible service! Gaetano Ciccotti treats you like family! Can't wait to go back! Everything was delicious!
(5)Honey M.
Amazing views service and food! I loved the experience so much I'm thinking lunch tomorrow! The Mother's Day brunch sounds good. Happy Mother's Day to me.
(5)Christina P.
I've been here twice and used a Groupon both times. The food is just average. In my humble opinion, Olive Garden is much better than Cicciotti's and I hate to say that, because it's a great location (right by Seaside Market) and it's this adorable little house with a beautiful outdoor patio to eat on. (That's why I went twice even after my first experience with the food being mediocre--I really wanted to love it) One thing that bothers me--I think it's really annoying when an Italian food restaurant doesn't have freshly shredded parmesan cheese. I literally don't even make spaghetti at home without fresh parmesan. I asked for it at Cicciotti's and she brought me parmesan cheese like I would buy at the store in a can. She said they didn't have any fresh parmesan. That's pretty ridiculous! Pair that with the food being average, and you get the three star review. If we paid full price for what we ordered either time, I would have been extremely disappointed, but since we got a great deal with the Groupon, it's fine. I honestly might get a third Groupon (they're on Groupon pretty regularly) and order something different to give them ONE more try. The servers were so nice both times, knew their wines, were very attentive. So maybe I'll give it another go.
(3)A T.
My friends and I really enjoy this restaurant - the staff is wonderful, the food is delicious, and the atmosphere is very pleasant. I always enjoy having dinner at Cicciotti's. Look for its online deals - they are great!
(5)Judy R.
Judy R. We go to Cicciotti's almost 2 times a month. The food is great, Daniel on the piano is fantastic. The owner is there all the time and that makes it so, so special. We love the Chicken Marsala and Lobster Ravioli. Hightly recommend this restaurant.
(4)Ashley T.
We came here for restaurant week, and I really wanted to give this place a shot since I saw several 5 star reviews. When we first walked in, I noticed that one of the bread plates was dirty and had food on it. I then saw a server try to casually brush the food bits off of it and give it to us like there was nothing wrong. That should have been the first red flag. When I got my first course soup, my spoon was again dirty with a chunk of food on it. Our service was honestly horrible. Our waitress for some reason didn't really seem to wait on us, every course we got was served by a different random person rather than our waitress. We waited about 40 minutes between our first and second courses without being checked in on at all. You can probably imagine my frustration when I'm out of water and hungry, and I look over to see our waitress just sitting down and talking to another employee. The food was really subpar. I got fettuccine with pesto sauce, which was very bland and seemed watered down. I am so happy we came during restaurant week and did not pay regular price for this food. The only positive is that the manager or owner (I'm not sure which) came around and seemed to genuinely care about the restaurant. Other than that, save your money and go somewhere else
(1)Daniel S.
The gorgonzola gnocchi is to die for. The gorgonzola sauce is very creamy, and the gnocchi is topped with walnuts.
(5)John G.
My wife and I just returned from our first visit to Cicciotti's, and I'd say that this was one of the best Italian meals we've EVER had. First, we had a terrific window table inside with a great view of the ocean. The service was great all the way through, and we were immediately provided with warm bread with tomatoes. We shared a salad: the insalata ai due formaggi with lots of walnuts and some incredible fried goat cheese, which was extremely soft and tasty. We had two entrees: my wife had the Linguini alla Sorrentina (baby calamari sautèed with white wine and garlic in a spicy tomato sauce), which she really enjoyed, and I had the Pennette Napoletana with salmon, shrimp and scallops in a delicious sauce. I'd say that mine was one of the tastiest pasta dishes I've ever had -- very hot, delicious sauce, and the shrimp was incredibly tender and tasty. To top it off (we were too full for dessert), I had a double espresso that rivaled the taste that I recall from Paris and Venice -- just the best! Prices were reasonable, and the location in a beach-view home was unbeatable! We're going back again soon.
(5)Anuja K.
I came here through a Groupon. and the service was pleasant and the place look warm. Although there was a strange smell in the dining room which was pretty unpleasant. However the soup was good, the bread was cold but the accompanying fresh marinara was good. The main course was ok. I ordered a portobello ravioli which was a bit thick but the filling was nice. My friend's pasta was insipid. The dessert was tiramisu and was good however felt like it had been made long back. My main point of disappointment was my check. I had asked the waitress to give me ravioli's in a vegetarian version (as i am a vegetarian). The dish was suppose to come with a crab tail and hence was priced 6$ more than the rest of the food. I was disappointed that they didnot adjust the price despite me asking no seafood. I have usually opted for no meat/seafood options at other places and prices have been adjust. three stars only for the service. May be 2 for food.
(3)Paul F.
Last year it was pretty good. Tonight, not good, somewhat edible is the best I can offer. My guests were doing their best to not just come out and say it was lousy. "Not too bad" was about the best they could muster. ( I was embarrassed to have suggested coming here) Where to start? Service was decent. Ambience nice enough. Parking in back, tight turns but plentiful spaces. Food. Let's put it this way..Sbarro's just went out of business and their food is probably a little better. Of course, your mileage may vary. Maybe it was just what we ordered and ate. But between the four of us, we sampled several items and not one was anything to write home about. They are bringing lots of people in on coupons, but I doubt many will come back and pay full price ($28 for a very mediocre Caesar salad with salmon on it?). Even at half price the value proposition is not compelling.
(2)Ashleigh E.
Great location, really cute atmosphere. Came here with the family and had the Linguine alla Pulcinella. So flavorful, I was almost licking my plate. Although the portion was a good size, I was still a little bit hungry. I think I may ask for extra chicken next time. My dad's favorite treat is Lamb Ossobuco, so he's always happy to come here.
(4)Kelly M.
My boyfriend and I arrived at the restaurant around 5:30 on a Friday night. We didn't call ahead to make a reservation and only had to wait 2-3 minutes for a table. (Had we gone later in the evening, we would've definitely needed a reservation - The place started filling up by 6:30-7) First off, the restaurant is so quaint! The owners have taken an old home and turned it into this charming, quaint little restaurant, with different areas for dining, and the cutest little outdoor patio. We were seated in the bar area, at a corner table with the most beautiful ocean view. I wish I could remember the name of our server, because he was AWESOME!! Neither my boyfriend or myself had ever been there before, and the waiter offered some yummy recommendations. My bf ordered the proscuitto pizza and I went with my standard eggplant parm. Both were DELISH!! By far, the best eggplant parm I've had in San Diego! Mine came with perfectly sauteed veggies and garlic butter spaghetti. The pizza was made to order in their wood burning oven. Super thin crispy crust, which we love! Everything on the menu is reasonably priced and the portions were decent size. We are constantly on the search for delicious Italian food and a place that will be our go-to Italian restaurant. We have definitely found our place!!
(5)Markelle G.
One word to describe my experience at Cicciotti's: UNDERWHELMING. The portions weren't great for the price, and the entrees we ordered were EXTREMELY bland. If you read through other reviews, you'll notice this is a very common complaint. My boyfriend got the Penne Maria, which is whole grain short tube pasta with fresh vegetables and chicken in a garlic white wine sauce. Sounds good on paper, but the veggies made the entire thing far too watery! I opted for the cannelloni, which I personally found considerably better than what my boyfriend ordered, but still far too bland for my tastebuds. The meat inside the cannelloni tasted like it had not been seasoned whatsoever, and even the bolognese sauce barely had any flavor. The restaurant is in a good location, has ample parking in back, and overlooks the water...but the food and service left a lot to be desired. If you want a nice view of the ocean while you dine and don't mind paying jacked up prices for mostly tasteless food, knock yourself out at Cicciotti's.
(2)L. G.
I highly recommend Cicciotti's! Took my best friend there for her birthday & we both had lobster/shrimp ravioli for dinner & it was amazing!!! They made the evening very special for her birthday!!! We're both coming back!
(5)Jeanne N.
Excellent food. Great service. Only thing I did not like was the cannelloni filling. Even the chunky tomato dish served with bread is so good it's hard to stop eating it.
(4)Mary L.
excellent service and great wine selection!
(4)Janet S.
Excellent food! We come here about once every couple of months. Great service with a nice casual atmosphere.
(4)Jeff C.
I came here for restaurant week with a few of my friends. The menu items sounded very interesting and appetizing, but boy was I wrong. First of all, the place was packed wall to wall. Normally this would be a good sign of the quality of the food, but this could not be further from the truth. It took nearly 5 minutes just to get to a host/hostess to check in (wading through a sea of people crowded in the entrance), and another 15 minutes to be seated. (why bother with reservations?) We were finally seated in the furthest corner of the patio where I had the pleasure of two ferns constantly poking me in the back for the duration of the meal. The service was incredibly slow, and every single food item was cold. The bread they started us with was cold, hard, and tasteless even with butter. I ordered the lobster ravioli for appetizer, which arrived almost refrigerator cold (after about 20 minutes of waiting), and tasted as bland as could be. Then, for entree I had the lamb ossobuco which was described both in menu and by the waiter tremendously appetizing, but was exactly the opposite. While the texture of the lamb was exactly as it should be, soft and tender, the taste simply wasn't there at all. Bland would be a compliment to this dish. I found myself forcing everything down simply out of hunger and not feeling the slightest bit satisfied. Finally, I had the "molten" chocolate cake, which was not so molten as it was frozen. Honestly the whole thing tasted like it had come from one of my elementary school lunches, and it had waited all these years in my freezer until now for me to try it. Overall, I'd say this place is definitely a major disappointment, and for the price point of the restaurant week menu ($20), I'd much rather take my money to a fast food joint.
(1)Matt H.
I bought a groupon for this place since it was close i thought I would give it a try. reviews were mixed so thought why not give it a shot. Oops. Should have known what i was walking into when we arrived and place was completely empty. Bottom line here folks: this is NOT an authentic Italian dining experience. We had a party of six and all the dishes (including appetizer) were sub par. Only decent thing was pizza (guess its tough to mess that up). We were so surprised at the lack of culinary skill, we tried each others dishes. Nobody finished their food. Chef must be amateur or just lower tier. Felt like i was eating a warmed up frozen dinner. Just bland and poorly executed. Normally in a busy restaurant, id cut some slack but like i said, it was just us. Hate to insult someone like that, but that's what yelp is for, right? Frankly, I was a bit embarrassed having brought a group there. The only reason for the second star is because the service wasn't bad. The waiter was friendly and prompt. Had a smile on his face the whole time.
(2)Ray B.
Made a reservation for our anniversary and the place was so crowded (they could have told us that they booked 200 people for an X-Mas party the same night) and after getting the menu knocked out of my hand multiple times, people's ass on my table, and the fact that the food was mediocre at best (the appetizer was so bitter I couldn't even eat it) I won't be back. The server tried her best, but I could tell the quality of the food coming out of the kitchen was not even up to Olive Garden standards. Won't be back and I would advise anyone else to make sure they don't have a holiday party booked and that you have a table that's not near the bar and all the drunk holiday revelers.
(1)Kelly S.
My boyfriend and I went here on Saturday night for dinner and absolutely loved it. We got there around 6 pm and were seating right away outside in the front. It was a beautiful view and pretty sunset so we got lucky. Our waitress was wonderful and attentive but most importantly our food was amazing! I got the linguine with shrimp and crab and my boyfriend got the chicken Parmesan. I've had a lot of chicken parm and his was amazing! I loved my dish just as much. Very happy and we will definitely be back again.
(5)Sandy S.
Fun Atmosphere, wonderful food, live music, on the beach - who could ask for more! Friendly staff and relaxed environment.
(5)Ryan L.
This was our second time coming here with a restaurant.com voucher. After we were seated in the bar by the musician we presented our voucher to the waitress and she informed us that we would only be allowed to sit in the main dining room or outside, in order for them to honor the coupon. Unfortunately, the dining room was full so we had to sit outside, which we actually enjoyed very much. The table was next to the fire pit and the outside heater. It was a perfect setting. Almost immediately after we were seated, the restaurant owner came out and apologized for the misunderstanding, turns out we able to sit inside after all. The food was excellent, the service was outstanding, and the owner even comp'd a beer. We really appreciated the owner taking the time To make sure our dining experience was excellent. At the end of the meal the owner even came back and asked how everything was. We will definitely go back and it is one of our new favorite places!
(5)Janet D.
Went here using a Groupon and this place did not disappoint. The atmosphere is great...how can you go wrong with an ocean view. The lasagna was my boyfriend's "favorite lasagna ever". My alfredo was a bit runny and could have used a little more flavor (garlic and cheese) but overall it was good and I'd have it again. The service was pretty good, the bread and the dip they give you were amazing. The owner came by our table, and several others, to see how we were doing...great touch! They do have a decent sized parking lot in the back, which is always a good thing to know ahead of time. I hate having to find street parking. They also had parking along the street too, but luckily it wasn't needed. Overall, great experience and I plan to go back.
(4)P C.
Best Italian restaurant in California!!! Excellent food and wonderful service! The owner is always there to greet you!!! Love this place!!!And yes, by the way this place has an amazing ocean view. I wish yelp has more than 5 star I can rate it as this restaurant deserve more!!!
(5)erica z.
I'm wondering how many of the 5 star reviews for this place are shills. I went with a Groupon, hoping for wonderful food due to the positive reviews I read here. We arrived shortly after their opening for dinner service and were the only ones there. We were seated by a young man wearing a soiled uniform, so he was probably someone from the back who was just helping out at the time. We weren't offered any bread for at least 10 minutes, so we ordered the "Bruschetta al Filetto di Pomodoro" to start from who I thought would be our server for the evening. The Bruschetta was mostly flavorless tomatoes, and borderline offensive for $9. The complimentary bread and warm stewed tomatoes were presented to us just minutes before the Bruschetta order arrived, and if we knew we'd be served this we would have chosen something else as a starter. The bread basket and Bruschetta were brought to us by 2 different people. We ordered "Lasagna Napoletana alla Gaetano" ($19.50) and "Linguine alla Sorrentina" ($14.50) and wine. The lasagna was nothing special whatsoever, lacked freshness in it's flavors and tasted overdone. The Linguine was sad- I had a few decapitated baby calamari placed around the pasta, which were bland and chewy. The sauce- less tasty than what I can get in a jar. There was just no aroma for flavor. What the heck am I missing here? The entrees were brought to us by different people, as well as our drinks and finally the check. This just added to the already messy, amateur feeling I got from the food. The view was nice though, as we caught the sunset. Towards the end two more tables showed, and were nice, elderly people. I think they must have been coming here for some time, and seemed happy to be there. I feel bad that they are paying as much as they do for the food they serve at this place. I wonder if I just happened to be there when they were training the cooks, or there was no supervision as to what was coming out of the back- but this was a flop. Even though I came with a Groupon, I still feel like I was ripped off. I'm guessing that's why this place offers the deal every other week- to lure people into this otherwise desolate place. I hope they shape up for the sake of all the people giving them their hard earned money for good food and a good time.
(2)jeanette keltz k.
We love this place! Food is good..love the atmosphere...staff is always helpful even if they aren't your server...love the singer on the weekends..you feel a slice of Italy when you are here..cheers!
(4)Jenn C.
Lovely view, fantastic service. They weren't open until noon, but let us in, seated us, and started serving us at 11:15. Much appreciated. I love the big windows facing the ocean! Came here with work for lunch. Boss brought us here in Admin day. I had one of the lunch specials, the ravioli with spinach and ricotta cheese. The food was decent, but not the best Italian I've had. We had a bottle of pinot noir (with a picture of a duck on it???) that was lovely.
(3)kurt h.
We were a party of four... it was ten minutes until our reservation when we entered the door. We came for restaurant week ($20 for a three course meal was a deal!). A couple annoying things first: It took over 10 minutes for the server to take our order, which seemed a bit long to me. We ordered a wine pairing for our three courses. The three wines all came out at the same time (I would have preferred they be served one at a time with each course). My medium-rare steak came well-done, I think they simply gave me someone else's, but they quickly got me a medium-rare. I'd like to go back sometime again. I like my stuffed artichoke heart, enjoyed the nice filet mignon and the chocholate soufle was tasty! The server was pretty good and friendly too. Other than those mnor annoying things previously mentioned, I enjoyed my experience.
(3)Mike M.
Outstanding in every way. We are frequent visitors and always enjoy Mike
(5)Nancy. S.
Still lovin' Cicciotti's! Our favorite Italian restaurant & Italian experience in San Diego area for the past few years. We been 3 times in 3 weeks even though it's 20 miles away. Last night I again brought our group of 15 Italian friends/speakers/diners. Gaetano Cicciotti prepared a special menu for us which made it easier to order. We had a wonderful evening, again, loved our meals, enjoyed our group, and the restaurant staff. Wednesday evenings they offer bottles of wine for 1/2 price -- a nice plus. Be sure to try the artichoke appetizer. Sunset over the Pacific was pretty sweet too!
(5)Judy L.
Great celebratory dinner. Salmon piccata was excellent. Osso Buco - Delicious. Filet Mignon- outstanding. Entertainment was very enjoyable. Servers were very friendly. Disappointed the were out of Oysters. Have fun on your visit
(4)Bill B.
My wife and I and another couple ate here Sunday afternoon. The food was outstanding. My wife and her friend had different types of ravioli s and were delicious. I had the lasagna and it just melts in your mouth. Savory flavors and just the right size portion. our other friend had a pasta dish that I can't spell, but he said the last time he ate this dish it was in Italy and Cicciotti's prepared it better. Specials are reasonably priced, great place to dine Update, because we have dined there again and thoroughly enjoyed the food, servers and the location we went there on our anniversary a couple weeks ago. I had a lamb shank that was out of this world. Lamb falling off the bone, great flavor. My wife had a salmon dish that she could stop talking about. You will really enjoy the experience of dining at Cicciotti's.
(5)Kristin G.
Purchased a LivingSocial voucher for me and my family in from out of town. It was a great place to take my guests with a great sunset, very friendly staff, nice ambiance, and delicious food! I enjoyed a pasta with mushroom and sausage, but there are very nice seafood options as well. You can even add a lobster tail for a very minimal charge. I look forward to returning!
(4)Susan Q.
I had a great dinner at Cicciotti's last night. I took my son out so we could catch up on life! We both had delicious dinners. They seated us immediately, giving us our choice of location, and they waited on us quickly. The food was superb and the prices were good as well. We had so much on our plate we actually have lunch today! Such a great place... I hadn't been here for awhile so it was nice to come back. Just walking in was like seeing an old friend...couldn't have been better! Give it a shot.
(5)Pat J.
Excellent buffet catered to a local hotel for lunch. Prompt and courteous and there wasn't a crumb left! Thank you for great service!
(4)Shelby E.
A friend and I came here for restaurant week lunch, which we felt was a very reasonably price $10pp. The restaurant wasn't very busy, maybe 6-7 tables full, so I feel this was an accurate account of what the restaurant should be like normally (in other words, although it was "restaurant week", it wasn't crazy busy). SERVICE: First, we went to get seated, I said I had a reservation and they just took us to a table anyway without any comments or checking in. Normally this would be fine, but since it was an OpenTable reservation, I wanted to make sure I got my points by checking in. I asked the waiter about it later, but he didn't even ask my name, so here's to hoping that he actually did check me in... That being said, the food came out at a good speed, and the waiters were generally friendly, but they were a bit slow replenishing the bread and weren't very cognizant about our water glasses. Other people had to ask for refills too, so it wasn't just us. Otherwise, service was fine. FOOD: This is where I was disappointed, even though it was pretty much the same as what I've read on here. We got the lobster bisque and pear & gorgonzola ravioli for appetizers, and both were lukewarm. I wasn't the biggest fan of my friend's lobster bisque, but it was okay (not really any/much lobster though) - the spoon served with it was dirty though, and needed to be exchanged. My ravioli were just okay as well, but even a little bland, which I didn't think would happen with gorgonzola. The entrees were definitely better than the appetizers: seafood lasagna for my friend (pretty tasty and actually the right temperature) and pappardelle for me (tasty but again, lukewarm and a bit bland - I had to add salt). Maybe if the food had been the right temperature it would have tasted better? Not sure. We also saw a lot of people who ordered the veal just eat the veal and not really touch the yellow rice, so not sure what that was about... So overall, the food was okay, I guess, but disappointing not only by taste but also by temperature, which I haven't had a problem with at other restaurants. That and the uncertain service earns this place a 2* rating. Was it worth $10? Sure. But would I go back? No, definitely not.
(2)Steve R.
Great food...Sunday and Monday special....appetizer...entree and a desert. Great deal. Great food. I had the steak with some kind of cheese sauce. awesome shrimp with cheese stuffed Artichoke hearts...really good! I will be back!...great sunset views. Romantic....kinda weird that they have huge TV's in there playing sports..not too romantic when the Lakers are playing in the back ground.
(4)Jeane S.
Food was really good. I had linguini with crab and shrimp. Daughter had veggie pizza and ate a slice, was really good. My kids love the chocolate suffle with vanilla ice cream, they refuse to share. Notice have great Sun. & Mon. Pre fix special for $20. Have to try it next time. Service was a little slow but still good.
(4)J D.
We had Cicciotti's cater our office holiday party at a residence and they made the event a huge success. Everyone raved about the food, and they were true professionals with the serving and cleaning up. I'd like to use them myself to cater a dinner party. Delicious food and service.
(5)Bob R.
I've been eating at this place for years now. My favorites are the Saltimbocca and the Spaghetti Alla Carbonara. My friends are big on the egg plant! I always also have the salad Primavera. The staff is always friendly and efficient. On Fridays and Saturdays your dining is enhanced with the music of Daniel Hendricks. It's an "in-place" in the North County area for the knowing diner.
(5)Roxanne J.
We had our office Christmas party there this year. The food was great and they accommodated extra people that didn't RSVP. The piano player at the bar was a lotta fun ! ENJOY !
(4)Shannon L.
We use Cicciotti's for our company's corporate lunch about every other month (for about 120 people), and I still continue to receive endless feedback on how delicious the food is. Gaetano has the BEST customer service. He's always on time, he sets everything up for us, and makes everything look so presentable. And who doesn't love that Italian accent?! The pesto pasta is amazing, the meatballs are gobbled up in a second, and the different dressings for the salads taste so fresh and home made. Everything is great! I would highly recommend Cicctiotti's for any small or large event (we also order from Cicciotti's for smaller conference meetings with 8-15 people, and the service is just as great).
(5)Susan M.
Best restaurant meal I've had in years! The cioppino was excellent, the wine great, but the service was what was so outstanding. Nice view and atmosphere too. Will definitely be returning!!
(5)Nora L.
My husband and I both love going to Cicciotti's. We go at least once or twice every month. The view is incredible. The service isn't rushed so you can truly enjoy the experience of delicious Italian dishes. We love both the pastas and the seafood. I always recommend it to friends.
(5)Sherrie H.
Great food, great service. I saw this on Living Social & thought I wouad give it a try. So glad I did. We started our meal with Insalata di cesare con calamari, Caesar salad with fried calamari on top. Loved it! The salad was big enough to split. I then had a cioppino special. Clams, mussels, scallops, lobster, fish, shrimp, calamari on top of pasta. It was wonderful. My boyfriend tried the Risotto Cardiff 101. He loved it. We have since been back another time & again, great food & service. A must try!
(5)Steve A.
Here for an office Christmas party. What a great time we had. The staff was beyond friendly, the food was great, and the live entertainment was awesome. There were more people at the event than expectrd, and the owner bent over backward to make the night special. We're already planning a group dinner here for live music, great food, and wine with friends.
(4)Checkin I.
Very over priced apps expensive....sun and monday 20$ deal is good, but pasta way over priced
(2)Sez N.
Gonna go with 5 stars just for the sheer size of their menu. Good flavor and a casual but still date night atmosphere make this restaurant a winner in our books. Pros Menu Size I realize it is very popular and well-thought-out to do short menus full of good food at many restaurants nowadays. But I really applaud this restaurant for bucking the trend and going out on a limb by offering almost every possible pasta out there. Flavors My dish was a creamy buttery beauty...so decadent but yummy. Perfect to pair with a glass of wine to cut the butter and make it sheer heaven. I had the Truffle Fungi Tiger Shrimp. My hubby went for the Salmon Shrimp Scallops with Vodka sauce. The pasta was cooked perfectly - it was very rich too (just noting for those maybe seeking a more healthy alternative). Location So close to the ocean - you can park up to watch the sunset after dinner. Romance. Cons #ofShrimp While I had an acceptable number of shrimp in my dish (4) - one more would have been nice.
(5)Rachel M.
Went there last night (7/19) for my fathers birthday and it was one of the best meals we've ever had! We weren't disappointed by any of our meals or our service. We did have to make reservations and I can't imagine what it would be like without them considering how packed it was, but everyone is kind. The meals are a bit pricey but it's expected and was well worth it!
(5)Laurie M.
Great place , we dined here last night and had wonderful food, a great bottle of wine and exceptional service !! The pastas are a good size portion, very fresh, and great tasting! I heard about this place on Groupon and bought one. Unfortunately, I brought in the wrong groupon paperwork. They were so nice about the situation and even discounted our bottle of wine......... This is now our favorite Italian restaurant !! Thanks Again !
(5)Ray A.
This was our first trip because of a Groupon and honestly we like Olive Garden better. I know Cicciotti is supposed to be authentic but the food is just OK, nothing like Italy and pricey.
(3)May C.
I was visiting friends in Encinitas and wanted Italian food. I came across Cicciotti's. This place is amazing. The restaurant is very cozy and clean. The appetizers were out of this world and the food was to die for. I will come back again. Thank you Gaetano for the wonderful Service!
(5)Pouya B.
I went here yesterday as part of restaurant week. They had a $20 dinner special going. Let's see.... 1) Before we ordered, fresh warm bread with a tomato chunk dip. Awesome! The saw kind of tasted like a pizza. 2) Appetizer. I had the ravioli with squash. My friend had the lobster bisque. I tried a little bit of his bisque, it was incredible. And I like squash so you could imagine what I thought of my dish. 3) Meal. I had the 7 oz. filet mignon medium rare. They did it very well. It came with some mashed potatoes and broccoli. My friend had the seafood pasta and he paid $7 extra for the lobster tail. He said he enjoyed it. 4) Dessert: Chocolate lava cake. This is like a chocolate brownie with melted chocolate inside. We also paid $12 for the wine pairing. Not sure this is worth it because they kind of just give you whatever wine they think pairs up well with the food. You may or may not like that. My buddy said he'd of been better off just ordering a glass from the wine menu. Maybe he's right. I am no wine expert so just going by what he said. We both had a great meal and we'll definitely be coming back. I couldn't understand the bad reviews I saw. A few of the people had used groupon and thought the food wasn't worth it. Well if they make everything from scratch, you have to pay a premium for it. That is just how it goes. Others commented on the portion size. Yes, I'd say the portions weren't a lot. But we had a $20 special, I wouldn't expect to be bombarded with food. Besides, I felt like I ate enough without stuffing myself... So if you see negative reviews, don't let them persuade you. I am definitely going again..
(5)terry g.
We've been eating here for several years. The food and service have been consistently great to outstanding. Tonight was totally off all of the CHARTS. I had the best pizza that I have ever tasted - the crust was light, tasty, the edges flaky, and delicious. The ingredients were fresh, plentiful, and perfectly balanced. The Better Half had her favorite Papadelle Bolognese. She normally eats a third and takes the rest home. Tonight, she ate everything - more than she has ever eaten of anything. She reported that it was ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!!! I tasted it and it was scrumptious. Gaetano, the owner, is available and affable. His entertainer on Friday and Saturday nights has a great voice and adds an extra delightful dimension. This restaurant is a place that you must try. tg &jb
(5)Devin W.
I've been here at least 5 times because my parents really enjoy it, but for myself it's a whole nother' ball game. The first time I went here they had some guy singing Italian at the top of his lungs in a room about the size of a living room. Talk about a conversation killer, totally killed the mood. I understand they want to have some live music, but maybe some soft guitar player... not some italian opera wannabe hitting high notes that will shatter your wine glass! Everytime since we have requested a table either outside or on the veranda, just anywhere away from the noisy inside. Ok now on to the food quality... or lack there of. I've had pizza that was very mediocre, pasta that was bland, and some salad that was served warm. The service is relatively good though, I must admit. They do a good job, but the food is a major downfall. Wine list is a plus point, it is very good. The only plus on the food is that it isn't extremely over priced. But I'd pay more for something I'd enjoy. Overall, this is a nice place on the outside and is also on the inside (granted there's no annoying singer). The food needs major work.
(2)Matt L.
I would have given this place 4 stars aside from one major faux pas by the waiter. The Good: I organized a large birthday group dinner at Cicciotti's. I verified the reservation a few times in advance and that part of the night went smoothly. The food came out timely, and everyone seemed to enjoy it. The price of the dishes was very reasonable. The view is spectacular, especially during sunset. There was a festive crowd. The Bad: Since it was a large group, and everyone enjoyed the evening, I informed that waiter that I knew about the 20% discount through Yelp but was not going to ask for it. He said thank you, and brought us the bill. After passing around the collection plate, he took up the bill and came back a few minutes later to loudly inform us that a 16% tip was unacceptable. To me, this was wrong on several levels: 1) In my world, tips can range from 15-20+% and are at the discretion of the diners. It wasn't like we stiffed him. 2) He was basing his 16% tip figure on a post tax bill, which would have put his tip very close to 18% had he subtracted the tax. 3) Had we asked for the 20% Yelp discount, the restaurant would have lost $50 off the check. 4) Have you every heard of being discrete? Slamming the check fold in front of me and demanding more more certainly left a sour taste in all 15 diners at the table. Overall, a good experience. The waiter bummed us out, but only at the end of the night.
(3)Ryan C.
On the pricy side, however delicious pasta!
(4)Matt G.
I was really surprised by the negative reviews on here and once I saw they were for restaurant week it made sense. This place is super small and not cut out for events like that. My wife and I went here on recommendation from my mother and we had a terrific time. I had a pasta sampler platter of ravioli, gnocchi, and manicotti and it was FANTASTIC. My wife had some kind of seafood medley pasta, and while I don't eat seafood, judging by the moaning sounds coming from her as she ate, it was really good as well. We have a lot of good Italian in SD and this place is one of my new favorites. The place is small and can be crowded, but the service was great, the wine was good and the prices were reasonable for Italian (my bill was about $90 for two including drinks and desserts). I'm going back next week for my mom's birthday and expect to enjoy myself just as much.
(5)David K.
Poor service, long wait for bland food. Did I mention abysmal service? Any sort of competent management is clearly lacking.
(1)Olivia J.
Are you serious?! Came here because we were invited by my husband's cousin, who had a groupon for a dinner and drinks for four up to $90! However, we owed $125 AFTER the $90!! For starters, they counted our KIDS (ages 3 and 1) as part of our party and charged us 15% gratuity for having a "large party"!! Who does that?! Second, after I asked for a kids menu, which I was told they don't have, I asked for them to split give me half a portion of a spaghetti plate for my kids and split that in two plates, he charged us $8 per kid on top of $3 for each of their drinks, which he never paid attention to and we had to get up and ASK for refills. The service was horrible, until it came to picking up our bill and the signed credit receipts! He sure did find the time to immediately pick THAT up as soon as we finished signing it, but couldn/t removed dirty plates, refill glasses, or much less make sure everything was okay! Third, we asked for a specific bottle of wine that was on their menu, he didn't tell us anything, but instead brought us a bottle that was twice as much of something else and only apologized that the one we asked for was out after he poured it! Finally, our food was NOT even CLOSE to being worth $20 a plate! I could have gone to Fazoli's (fast food Italian) and gotten the SAME quality for a cheaper price!! And the portions were SO SMALL!! I probably would have gotten MORE for cheaper at Fazoli's!! Just overall horrible experience, we won't be going back there, EVER!
(1)Vicky K.
er.... Average... when I went there, the table we were seated at was kind of dirty which was gross, and the food was definitely mediocre. Nothing special I remember or that I'm dying to go back for.
(3)Oweness T.
Based on our only experience here, there is no way I can give this restaurant less than five stars. Also, we are pretty fussy and selective, and find most restaurants over-hyped. It was a special day for us; the first time in over 15 years I was able to spend an entire day with my husband since we started our own business. We began the day with a trip to LA and breakfast at the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills, one of my favs. We figured that would be the high point of the food experience, but not so. We arrived back in San Diego and got here as they were opening, so it was early in the evening. We felt so welcome when greeted by our server Scott; a super-nice guy with a vast knowledge of the business and possessing a really great mix of professionalism and sincerity. We split a decent enough Caesar salad, plus an amazing appetizer of gently-stuffed artichokes in a very light olive oil. Highly, highly recommend the artichokes--wonderful! My eggplant truly was one of the best preparations I ever had (including my favorite at a New Jersey establishment), and my DH was pleased with the meat lasagne. I don't eat meat, so I had to take his word. We split the excellent chocolate lava cake a la mode and had a impressive cup of decaf coffee to finish things off. We're thrilled to have found the gem in our neighborhood and, for those of you who found fault with it, please consider giving it another chance.
(5)N O.
WORST EXPERIENCE IN CARDIFF, RUDE STAFF. I bought 2 restaurant.com vouchers here thinking it would be a good way to try a new place as I have lived in Cardiff for years and never thought to go here and had never heard of anyone actually going there. It looks dead all the time, especially compared to their neighbor Wine Steals. Anyway we got there at 6PM on Friday and the place was pretty dead but we were told that without a reservation there was only seating at the bar, which is fine. We went to sit at the bar and they said not there, here... in front of a glass window. Again ok fine. About 10 min 3 ladies (late 30s early 40s) walk up and they sit where were we sitting previously. They looked at the reserved signs and said "oh this is reserved?" and the guy said "ya for you". They get all their drinks, meanwhile another 10 min goes by and no one has even spoke to us. One waiter eventually asks us if we were waiting for a table, we say we are just waiting for menus and he walks off and talks to the ladies next to us. We waited another 10 min and left. In 30 min NO ONE SPOKE TO US ONCE. Its not like we looked out of place or something. I appalled by how rude the staff of this establishment is and even though I paid for my vouchers I would rather tear them up then use them or give them to someone else to have the same horrific experience. Needless to say we left and went to Beach House where the service is always 5-star. My suggestion is avoid this place like the plague.
(1)Yoon P.
We came here for restaurant week- but it was way too hectic... great location and atmosphere, however. If you can come during normal business hours and not during restaurant week, maybe you will have better experience... The service was not so good. We had made a reservation but no one greeted us and made us wait for a long time before we were seated. People who were behind us were seated first. Not a very nice experience considering we had made a reservation several days beforehand. They said they have vegetarian selections online. However, the waiters were very rude when I asked them what are vegetarian items here. They murmured "uhhh, we have eggplant! eggplant!" and walked away. Turns out, food was really just okay. I ordered artichoke hearts, mushroom ravioli, and chocolate cake, and they were alright. They somehow think shrimp is vegetarian. :( The mushroom ravioli was big but not tasty. The bread and tomato dipping sauce were delicious though. The warm chocolate cake with ice cream for dessert was okay but a bit too sweet for my taste. I should have had the tiramisu like Traci W. suggested. +overall atsmosphere +good quantity -not so good service -not veg friendly on busy nights
(3)William R.
Nice location and not a bad interior. Our waiter was friendly and the service was good. That's where it ends in my opinion and the opinion of my group. The menu is way too big for the food to be fresh with such a light crowd on a week night. My wife had an Italian chicken dish and I had the veal. They were both pounded this and we could hardly taste the difference between the two tough meats. I have a feeling that they prepared the items days in advance and heated them up in a microwave. We have not been there for years and will go back.
(1)Erich C.
Visited Cicciotti's for the first time off a $25 Restaurant.com certificate. I took my wife and two daughters. They split the cappellini with tomatoes which was actually pretty good though it's a quite simple dish. The entree was only $10 and the portion size was huge (since they split it onto two plates). I had the flat-noodle pasta with sausage and mushrooms in a thick white sauce. It was fairly good although the flavor was pretty one-note. My wife had the short tube pasta sauteéd in a gorgonzola cheese sauce with chicken & sundried tomato - her dish was very good. She had to settle for this though because they ran out of risotto which seems crazy for an Italian restaurant (we were there @7:30). Prices were a little on the high-side. Drinks - iced tea, pepsi, lemonade were $3 a piece! The place was quite busy on a saturday night...the wait time for food was quite long. Overall I'd come back again to try some other dishes.
(3)Patrick P.
One of the best dining experiences I've had in a while. Attentive and courteous service, outdoor seating with a beautiful ocean and sunset view, authentic Italian food, and some quirky live music. Can't wait to come back.
(5)Yep Y.
I might be a little generous with mediocre for an overall rating. Sat down on a Wednesday night before my group got there and the first thing that the owner does is tell me that If i was planning to use the restaurant week, I cannot use the 50% off wine special, and also that the groupon would not work either. Listen owner, I was there to purchase a full price meal, but thanks for telling me upfront that you were cheap. Since I got labled as a groupon user already, I ended up ordering the restaurant week meal and a wine pairing (3 glasses - all of which were delivered at once). This was a decent deal ~$30 before tax/tip. Word of advice: being snooty to customers or offering too many deals all at once is not good for word-of-mouth advertising.
(3)Josh B.
We waited about 30 minutes for our fist course to come out, a pizza. It was very good. Another 25-30 minutes for our entrees, and they were not worth waiting for. Very bland. I had a gnocchi with mushrooms and goat cheese with very few mushrooms, very little goat cheese, and very little flavor. We waited another 15 minutes for our check to be picked up, and then another 5-10 miniutes for our desert to go (we ordered it when we asked for the check). Given the slow service, and bland entrees, I don't see myself going back except for pizza and a few drinks.
(2)Pete Y.
Used groupon deal with my family (5person)on Sunday night it took us 20minute for the meal and It was excellent And lava cake awesome will go again thanks chef
(5)Edwin L.
I went here here yesterday with my family and have to say that I wish I would have done this sooner. While the interior of the restaurant could need a makeover, the ambiance, service and music makes up for this short coming. We sat across from the bar next to the Piano - do not do this if you dont like live music. The bartender (Fred) is an awesome character and if you decide to talk about Football, make sure it is the European football (soccer). He is a walking encyclopedia and he make some amazing cocktails as well. The food is simple, but really good Italian. We had oysters and fresh mozzarella, which were both to die for. We stuck to veal and pasta for the main course. During dinner, a piano player started to sing and play a variety of songs. As soon as this happened the whole plays changed into a wild sing along fest. My 2 1/2 year old sang along and had a great time. All in all a great experience and just shows that if you stick to your roots and good food, you dont have to have a fancy interior. Oh and one more thing. Wednesday and Thursday, they have 50% off the entire wine list. I will be back for sure.
(5)Tom H.
Wednesday night, 7PM reservation. Great ocean view, prompt services, excellent food, reasonable prices. What else could you want? To be picky, my wife's lasagna al forno is better, but I'm a prejudice. My seafood lasagna was outstanding. Gorgonzola salad was fantastic, and the bread scrumptious. Wish the folks with the toddler wasn't there but can't blame the restaurant for that. All in all, a great anniversary dinner.
(5)Zach B.
Sounds like restaurant week was not a big hit for this place....but I had a very pleasant experience here. The bread was good, the wine was good, and the pollo alla parmagiana was good as well. Sal our server was great everything came out in a timely fashion and service was excellent! I think it's funny that someone mentioned they wanted huge chunks of lobster in their lobster bisque....they set themselves up for disappointment...don't order lobster bisque then because that's not how it's made. I think all the people who went on restaurant week and had a bad time should give it another try.
(4)Leslie R.
Just had the worst dining experience. Had to move tables since we were not informed that the piano player would be, literally, joining our table. To top it off, the food was generic. Nothing to make you want to return. Expensive for the quality. And to top it all off, the restaurant was very noisy.
(2)Alan L.
Cicciotti's is the place for delightful, authentic Italian cuisine. As a bonus, there is live music Thursday through Saturday, with the audience often joining in. The atmosphere is a giant party in itself. If you love good Italian food spiced with familiar Italian music, Cicciotti's is not to be missed.
(4)Dominique H.
Friendly service and yummy food. Fried calamari with lemon and gnocchi were great. They put out bread and tomato and basil to start which were a nice touch
(3)Marilyn O.
Although the food was good the prices were too high for the ambience and crowded tables squeezed into two small dining rooms. We experienced the worst service ever with an unattentive waitress who spoke a mile a minute, never picked up my husband's empty plate until I handed it to her and while I was still eating my pasta and sipping my wine she brought over the check and started closing the bill. I told her I was a restaurant critic "as everyone is today" and I have a couple tips for her. 1) You didn't pick up his dirty plates the three times you came to our table. 2) Never start closing the bill when your customer is still eating and drinking wine. She responded and said she was trained not to pickup dirty plates when the other party is still eating. Haha!!! Have you ever heard such a thing?! That was the first time I've ever experienced such amateur service in a high priced restaurant! The kitchen area was extremely noisy with staff throwing things around and pounding pizza dough with noise levels that overtook the good tasting food. Too bad the owner doesn't invest in a manager who could turn this neat local beach town Italian Restaurant into one that everyone writes positive reviews about. I did read positive and negative comments on Yelp & Trip Advisor before going and still decided to give it a try with my Restaurant.com Certificate. I have to say that many of the Reviews offered were accurate descriptions of the dining experience we had. It's not just good food that makes a good restaurant. It's excellent customer service with a smile and personal touch, not feeling like the waitress can't wait to close your bill and be done with you. If you want to eat a good meal and don't mind waiting and feeling frustrated throughout your dinner, this restaurant won't bother you. If you want to eat in peace and be served like you're special, don't go to this restaurant. There are well known Italian Restaurants in the same area that pay attention to every detail to make your dining experience the best it can be!!
(1)Sean O.
Nice place, good food and service. The bread they have comes from the wood fire oven and is served with great tomato olive oil dip that really starts things off well. We loved the creamy tomato sauce in the pasta dish - really hard to find it that good. Had the pizza with artichokes and mushroom that was really enjoyable. The wood fire oven is put to good use on the pizza's, but also in finishing some other dishes as well. Gives much more flavor than an overhead electric broiler would performing the same task. It's more work for them to do it that way but the results are there for the effort. Look forward to going back!
(4)Melanie L.
First time dining today, we absolutely loved it! The food was amazing! Marinara sauce was so yummy!! Tiramisu was great! Cute set up too! We bought a groupon (which we rarely do) and gave it a whirl...and we were impressed! Plan on going back, it's not everyday you find a restaurant that is "the whole package." Thanks!!!
(5)Emily W.
Yum! We've been here four times now thanks to Groupon and we're big fans. Everything we try is delicious. Wait staff is always knowledgeable and friendly and the food has never disappointed! Love it!!!
(4)Vonnie S.
I am only rating this restaurant on their lack of communication and not their food. We had tried calling to make a reservation for an early Sunday lunch. They had been listed as a featured restaurant for San Diego's Restaurant Week. We couldn't get anyone to answer the phone the day before but figured that we'd be okay since they had their hours listed online and were clearly part of the event. WRONG!!!! I drove down from LA to meet a friend for lunch only to find that they were closed until 5pm for a private party (wedding I believe). We were SO annoyed as we had really been looking forward to trying them. The menu looked awesome on their website and the coziness of the place was very appealing. I'd love to try them when I am in town again but was extremely disappointed at their lack of communication around their hours of service. Word to the owner (who was actually very nice when I met him outside): Don't advertise as being part of restaurant week when you are closed down with restricted hours. We ended up having to try another participating restaurant down the street.
(2)Joe J.
Went here with some friends who frequent the place and I can see why they go there! My wife and I don't go out for Italian food because no one does it quite like we make it at home, but now we stand corrected! We had the caprese with prosciutto to start and it was amazing! Then we moved on to a margherita pizza which was done just the way we like it. Of course we had wine with our meal and the waiter helped us choose a great bottle to share. We couldn't leave without trying the gelato and it was the perfect dessert to end our perfect meal. And I can't leave out the live music by Daniel the world class opera singer- the perfect setting for a great meal with friends. It wasn't just a meal, it was an experience! A must go-to place if you're in the area... even if you're not in the area, go there! You won't be disappointed!
(5)Ali S.
The extra star was for the server and manager's attentiveness. The ambience is lacking despite the great location. However, the food was BAD. The chicken Marsala was the worst I have ever had- the sauce came out looking congealed and it tasted sour. The penne with vodka sauce was meh. Pretty disappointing, but I think the responsibility primarily lies with the kitchen.
(2)Couple O'Critics A.
Everything was alright for the beautiful location. Crowded dining area, back to back with other patrons. Ordered the artichoke hearts with shrimp. Canned artichokes with cheese melted over them :( The rest of dinner was OK and not to name drop or anything...... but we would have rather gone to Vigaluccis in Carlsbad.
(3)Josh W.
Good food and pretty cool location! We went here today a little after 1pm, and there were only 2 other parties there. The waitress was very friendly, helpful(made some good recommendations), knowledgeable, and patient(because who wouldn't become indecisive after browsing their LARGE menu). We had the groupon, and were treated no differently after presenting it. Wife had the special (linguine with, salmon, squid, lobster, and a bunch of other seafood in a spicy tomato sauce), the child had spaghetti and meatballs, and I had flat noodles with porcini shrooms, Italian sausage, and a brandy or cognac(I forget which) cream sauce. We also had the crab stuffed portabello mushroom appetizer. Everything was really good! It all started with their bread and tomato sauce they brought out, then the appetizer(there were 3 we were stuck on before going with what we got), and our entrees. The wait wasn't too long, and it was well worth it. There were so many other things on their menu that looked good too. Total bill pre groupon came to $85. And did I mention that this place is across the street from the ocean? Very nice lunch, nice atmosphere/view, good food, and great service made this a great dining experience I recommend here to anyone wanting a good and slightly different from the norm (Italian) meal.
(4)Robert W.
Deeeelicious! If you like small, authentic and quiet spots right along the Californian coast, then this is the Italian place for you! Great staff, live Italian singer (select days) and wonderful handmade meals. Portions are perfect size to not overstuff you, but satisfy. Desert is also a must have. Try the Molten Lava cake with the ice cream. You wont be sorry you did!!
(4)Vivian T.
I took my boyfriend here to celebrate his birthday. The ambiance is really nice. We sat by the window, so we had a great view of the ocean and the sunset. Although the place was nice, the food was terrible. Both of our pastas were bland and the sauce was super thick, so I felt so bloated and nauseous after taking a couple of bites. The waiters were super nice though. They were very welcoming and nice. However, I would pass on coming back here again.
(2)Russ P.
Please do not attend this restaurant unless you intend to spend more than 2 hours to dine. The service is inadequate, especially during a week day. How can you go wrong with spaghetti and meatballs? The menu boasts homemade meatballs in a tasty marinara sauce. It tasted to me like Chef Boyardee but at a $15 price for the plate. I really cannot believe this is their best Italian restaurant in town. I have tasted much better and certainly at a better value. I think this restaurant needs a better chef, a better menu, and, most importantly, better service. I can think of much better restaurants where pasta does not taste like it was pre-heated and sauce not out of a can. These better restaurants are like Vigilucci's, Carmela's in San Marcos, or Trattoria Trulli in Encinitas.
(1)Sari S.
My boyfriend and I decided to try somewhere new for date night, so we chose Cicciotti's because there was a Groupon deal and it gets good reviews. We were not disappointed. We just got home and I have already bought another Groupon to use when my parents come to visit. We didn't go crazy and order any drinks, but they have a extensive wine list and a full bar. The restaurant is quaint with two small dining rooms, a bar and live entertainment on the weekend. We sat in the room away from the bar, and while it was busy, it wasn't too loud for us and the atmosphere was nice. They have an ocean view from that room, but we had a later reservation, so we couldn't see the water. They brought out warm bread with a tomato dip. The bread was yummy! For an appetizer we decided to share the Calamari and Zucchini Fritti that came with a marinara sauce to dip it in. It was very good and the portion was plenty for two people to share. For dinner I ordered the Papardelle Funghi & Gamberi Tartufati (Papardelle pasta with mushrooms and tiger shrimp in a brandy cream sauce). It normally comes with truffle oil, but I chose to get it without. The sauce was similar to alfredo sauce, and it was just the right consistency. The shrimp were cooked perfectly. My boyfriend had the Picatta di Pollo (Chicken Picatta) which has capers and a lemon sauce, and it came with steamed veggies and a side of pasta with olive oil and garlic. We both finished our entire meal. I'm sure their desserts there are very good, but we were full, so we'll have to wait until next time to try dessert. Overall it was a great experience. The owner was walking around greeting guests and even seating them. The service was great as well. We arrived early for our reservation and were seated within 5 minutes. The staff was friendly, attentive and the food was brought out in a timely manner despite the restaurant being busy. We will be going back when my parents come in March! I definitely recommend this to anyone who likes Italian food. There is something for everyone on the menu!
(4)Tina L.
I've had better. Way better. The service was mediocre; the sever took forever to take our order and never checked on us once. He just dropped off the food and went to his corner right after. And they charged us a 20% gratuity?! Please. Food was very bland. Yelp listed the ambiance as "romantic". However, my experience was anything but "romantic" due to the big tv screen hanging over our heads and the loud music. I am never coming back, and I won't recommend this place to anyone.
(2)Cyndi J.
Stumbled upon this place by accident, and before hand we were looking for a little romantic place for dinner...we sooo found it! It's charming, by the ocean, and the nmenu does not dissapoint. We had the best fish, a bottle of wine and some entertainment all on a quaint lil patio overlooking the ocean. We'll be back!
(5)Joe H.
This place is the most italian, friendly, entertaining place in town, particuarly on Friday and Saturday evenings. The food, ambiance, and service is 100% italian. Add the wonderful music and it gets even better. I don't get a couple of the negative reviews. I suspect those who describe the food as bland are people who indulge in the typical, poor, give me a heartattack, a stroke, high blood pressure American diet that is disgustingly saturated with salt and "seasonings" so you can no longer enjoy the natural, delicious taste of seafood. Anyone that has been to Italy knows that is not what Italian food is. The service is also very friendly. The owner and manager make you feel like you are part of their family. What an authentic Italian experience. :) Hope this helps! Arrivederci!
(5)John P.
We ate here last night (9/18/2011) and were less than enthused with the fact that of the four meals, three were served cool to being cold. Once the dishes were finally served, the food was very good. Further, we had to ask for service in place our order while the manager paid a lot of attention to two women at the bar. We expressed our concerns to the manager as we departed. Unfortunately, he didn't seemed too concerned about our comments. It is doubtful if we'll ever return.
(1)Joyce T.
Came here for Restaurant Week with my bf and we had a great dinner! I got the lobster bisque, salmon stuffed with crab meat and tiramisu. He ordered the ravioli with sausage, filet mignon and chocolate souffle. We both loved every part of our meal. The appetizers were a bit small in size but we agreed that overall, we enjoyed the portions of our dinner. At the end we were full but not "feeling gross" stuffed. Parking was a bit difficult since its along the dirt lot directly across the street of the restaurant, but we lucked out and caught someone just as they were leaving. We made reservations for 6:30 and by the time we get there it was already dark so we could not enjoy the view from our seats (we had a window table, YAY) but I imagine that it is very nice since its location is very close to the beach. We were seated in the main dining room and it was a full house so it was quite noisy but I did not mind it much. The desserts were delicious, I especially enjoyed my tiramisu! Will definitely be back for a nice casual date night.
(5)Diana A.
A friend and I went this past Sunday to try their restaurant week. We had the seafood manicotti. It was delicious; different and the sauce was yummy. The creme brulee and tiramasu very delicious. I liked the lobster bisque as well. If you can sit in the front room; fantastic place to take in the sunset. The waiter was very friendly. The restaurant itself is charming and will return.
(4)Marisa S.
I found out about this charming Italian eatery through Groupon and my husband and I were very happy with the outcome. First off, I'm Italian, I was raised there, helped run an Italian restaurant with my ex for ten years in Florida and cook the cuisine; just so you know my qualifications in rating this stuff. So, we get there and are greeted by Massimo, who is Italian and we were led to a sun-room deck that was breezy and allowed for views of the outdoors. The tables were all tastefully dressed up in white cloths with cute little glass vases holding fresh rosemary; simple, yet classy. After chatting with Massimo about Italy's loss to Spain in the Euro-cup; I asked him to recommend an appetizer for us and he said the "burrata" with "prosciutto e melone" that's fresh mozzarella di bufala with canteloupe slices and prosciuto, a very summer-friendly appetizer in Italy. So, I gave the go on that and then ordered the "farfalle alla vodka" farfalle pasta in a pink "vodka" sauce with scallops, shrimp and smoked salmon. For my husband, the "rigatoni" with the Italian sausage and "melanzane" (eggplant.) To drink, my husband ordered the Peroni on tap which he enjoyed and I ordered a Mimosa which Massimo served with a small bottle of Prosecco Superiore, a wonderfully crisp, dry, white bubbly that Italians like to sip before a meal. The bread that Massimo brought was a tasty, fresh sour doughy bread, that went well with everything we ordered and he also brought a lukewarm sauce made from San Marzano tomatoes, basil and garlic, that went exceptionally well with the bread. For dessert, I ordered Cicciotti's creme brule with a "frutti di bosco" fresh berry cream swirled inside the custard. It tasted fresh and the texture was creamy light with a rich egg-buttery taste. The best part of all this is that I bought a $20 Groupon for $45 value on food/drinks at Cicciotti's. So, although my bill was appox. $73 (tax included) I only ended up paying $28 plus tip at the restaurant; in addition to the $20 I had originally paid to Groupon. So, a total of $48 bought us a wonderful two course meal at a really nice Italian restaurant, which included alcoholic drinks! Where can you get that in a coastal town like Cardiff, so close to the water, in Southern California?
(4)Jodi F.
I wanted to try someplace new so I purchased a Groupon.... it was a pretty good deal. My boyfriend and I made reservations, which was pretty easy to do on line. We thought the food was amazing, the service was amazing, and the prices seemed pretty reasonable. Most italian restaurants give you huge portions that you usually end up taking home. They gave a perfect portion and I was glad I didn't have to take anything home ( I'm not a fan of leftovers). I would definitely go again and recommend to others. Will try to go again during the day for the view!
(5)Michele W.
Great sunset / ocean view, not overcrowded like Wine Steals! Great service, friendly, relaxed ambiance in a beautiful old (1944) building. Food was excellent... Loved their freshly baked bread, it melts in your mouth. They were very cool about honoring the Yelp discount too! The owner even came over and said hello.. We will be back..
(4)Ashley W.
Yet another place that My husband and I use to go to so often. Yet again over the years the service and the food have both gone down hill. We recently went here for the latest restaurant week with our family. We got to our table very quickly, due to the fact we had a reservation. Unfortunately when we came to our table we did not have enough table settings or water glasses. It took quite some time and multiply waiters to finally get the last 4 settings that we needed. We ordered wine for a few of us and only 2 of the 3 people got their wine in a timely manner. Now I know it's restaurant week and it can get very busy, with that said everyone should be treated with care. It took again sometime before we even had someone to come around and take our order. Unfortunately some of our family did not like what was on the restaurant week menu and we asked for the normal menu, apparently they were not allowing anyone to order off the regular menu. Before we could even order our waiter walked away. Again after waiting some time we finally got our orders taken. We got our 1st course in an appropriate time, but our 2nd course took almost 45mins from the 1st and our 3rd course came very quick right after that. (very odd timing). When it came to our check it took almost another 30mins to get it and then 20mins for them just to pick it up. This is just one case of many experiences like this, that we have had at Cicciotti's. We would love to love this place again, but unfortunately until the service and food get better we will not be returning.
(1)chris R.
Over priced and not all that great food but the atmosphere was nice. I had a groupon so it was worth a shot but I would never visit to pay full price! Simply much better options at a better price. I won't suggest them here but within 1 mile of the restaurant there are at least 4 other Italian restaurants with better food, price, and service. Thanks to Groupon I only paid 50% but still wasn't even worth that! food: 2 out of 10 service: 4 out of 10 price: 0 out of 10 Atmosphere: 5 out of 10 Overall: 2 out of 10 Advice: Go elsewghere
(1)John D.
Very disappointed, do not judge your experience from their website as you'll be sorely disappointed. The food is blah and without the view, this place would have been a 1 star for me. Especially given the price! Go for the view and that's it. The food looked and tasted like it came from an amateur restaurant. The carpaccio appetizer was OK, but I've had far better. I ordered the chicken picatta which looked like it was a generic bland chunk of chicken that they applied the picatta sauce to as an after thought. Same for my partner's chicken with sausage; only "so so" in taste and presentation. I will not return.
(2)Taylor S.
My wife and I bought the groupon for this place since we've driven by it a million times and always wanted to try it. I'm sure glad we did! We started out with a bottle of the J Lohr Syrah, and the Caprese, which were both delicious. I had the Caneloni which was so-so, but my wife's ravioli was delicious. I think the Caneloni just needed a little more sauce on it? Anyhow, the desert was also darn good, and the service was very nice/attentive. All in all a good experience, and we will definitely go back!
(4)Lindsay W.
Don't go here. Just DON'T do it. You will definitely regret it. Short version: The food is terrible and grossly overpriced, the management is rude. Long version: This is not Italian food. It's also not good food. It's on par with the Olive Garden in terms of authenticity and quality.... maybe even below that level. The first red flag was the menu, which was something like 9 pages long. I'm always wary of a menu that long because how can a restaurant possibly guarantee that many items? Food availability changes and if you have a static menu you are either going to jip the customer one time or another by omitting an ingredient you can't get, or sacrifice quality at some point to provide the dishes you've listed. I was right to be wary; they didn't have two of the wines we ordered, and the "Fresca Verde" salad my sister ordered was missing radishes. The second red flag was the Caesar salad I ordered. I had a bad feeling about ordering it, but I was in the mood for a Caesar salad and I thought that since this places advertises itself as Italian, it might at least be decent. I was so wrong. I've had better Caesar salad at a corner coffee shop. The dressing was absolutely disgusting. It was basically some kind of bottled Italian vinaigrette. It tasted like high fructose corn syrup and chemicals. Not a hint of anchovies, lemon or Parmesan. The fact that it was bottled dressing was one thing, the fact that it was terrible bottled dressing... not even bottled Caesar dressing is just ridiculous. You can't just give a customer a plate of romaine lettuce with pre-shaved cheese from a 5 pound bag, drizzle it with crappy bottled dressing and call it "Caesar salad". After one bite I knew it wasn't worth it, and stopped eating it. A bus boy took it away after awhile, and must have told someone, because the owner came up to me and asked me if I liked my salad. I explained to him it didn't taste like a Caesar to me, and he brought me a small dish with the dressing. He asked me to taste it in case the kitchen staff had used the wrong dressing. I did, and explained to him that yes it was the same dressing, but in no way did it taste like what it should. He then when on to do this thing I can't stand, which is say a really rude thing in a nice way-- pretending to apologize but really just telling me I am wrong. He said they'd been using it for 10 years. I find it hard to believe that in 10 years no one else noticed it was awful. The real thing is SO EASY to make! Why use such a poor substitute? I ordered the special for my entree, a penne pasta dish with a cioppino style sauce. HORRIBLE. First of all... nothing about this dish, besides the fact that there was seafood in it, was reminiscent of cioppino. I basically got a bowl of pasta in a watery marinara sauce with some overcooked pre-frozen seafood. The sauce had no wine in it, wasn't slightly spicy or even remotely rich. I will give them this, the clams and muscles were fresh tasting and not overcooked. The first shrimp I had was so overcooked, though... and the calamari, good god was it awful. It was so, SO rubbery. If I hadn't been at the table with my grandparents, I would have spit it out in my napkin. Instead I had to chew it for roughly 7 minutes and then force myself to swallow it. That was the last bite I could handle. There are other things about this place I found sub-par (i.e. the Opera singer who plays a crappy keyboard and sings way too loud, the red wine stain on our table cloth that was there before they seated us, the wait staff that stood around and had conversations behind my table and didn't even notice when I got up to use the restroom or said excuse me), but I think I've said enough about what a complete waste of money this place is. Go somewhere else. ANYWHERE else.
(1)Zoe B.
Many people seem to complain about the food being bland. I disagree completely. "Bland" is the complete absence of seasoning. They DO season the food here, and are very light-handed with the salt. If you love Pizza Hut and tend to throw salt on everything you eat, then you will not like the food here. We went for restaurant week and chose from the fixed-price menu. Everything, from the lobster bisque to the sea bass and all the way down to the tiramisu, everything was full of subtle yet delicious flavor. Actually there was nothing subtle about the tiramisu... if you love coffee, you will LOVE this tiramisu! Huge, bold coffee flavors there! Everything was also perfectly cooked. The sea bass was so tender, the veggies were not too crunchy or soggy, the filet mignon was just right, everything was really good! There are so many other seasonings other than salt, it's wonderful when I can finally find a place that knows this. I risk sounding like a snob, but it takes a refined palette to enjoy food low in salt. Swish it around in your mouth and let it fill your senses, like a good wine.
(5)Jeff B.
Where to start? This was an evening of comedic follies. Service: The place was apparently not prepared for the "rush". Our waiter, Zach, was very nice and apologetic, but pretty slow. The bottle of wine didn't arrive until we were finished with the water and bread. Food: I had the chicken and Italian sausage in a garlic rosemary sauce with steamed vegetables. "She" had the penne with chicken and sun-dried tomatoes in a Gorgonzola sauce. I was apprehensive about the food given some of the reviews that I read previously, but both dishes where quite good with excellent subtle flavor. We accompanied the meal with a nice bottle of Las Almos Cabernet from Argentina. Because the aforementioned service was slow, we were offered a complimentary cheesecake (I don't like cheesecake, but "she" seemed to enjoy it). Atmosphere: It was much more cozy and quaint inside than I had anticipated. There's some history about the building that I wasn't listening to, but definitely a great place for sunset, drinks, special occasion, or whatever excuse you can think of. Overall, I give it 3 stars due to the wait and bit of misunderstanding sorting out the bill, but would definitely go back. The bar looks intriguing... Quick tip: Wednesday night is half off bottles of wine night.
(3)Tessa M.
fabulous. legitimate italian food is hard to find, and cicciotti's delivered. i had filet-stuffed ravioli with some sort of alfredo sauce, and i should mention, for a lot cheaper than i expected. the restaurant is beautiful (although the restrooms are outside which, especially for someone from pennsylvania like myself, was a little strange). the service was good and the prices were reasonable. there really isn't much else i can even say about this place except everyone ever in the area should check it out at least once!
(5)Digger M.
We had a groupon so tried it out. The staff was nice and atmosphere was good. Food was way over priced for the quality. Sauces lacked flavor and meat was a bit dry. The bread was the worst bread that I have ever been given at an Italian restaurant. Won't be back.
(2)Muir W.
Went there with my friend after getting a Groupon and we were very pleased! We came in early around 5 and they sat us right near the window with the view which was nice. We were instantly greeted and our waiter was assertive and on top of taking care of us the entire time. I ordered a pasta with a creamy sauce thinking that would be the yummiest, and my friend ordered a seafood pasta with tomato sauce... I figured it would have been typical spaghetti sauce so I didn't order one with tomato sauce.. but I was wrong! My friend's meal was so good, I wanted to eat all of hers instead of mine! The tomato sauce was really, really tasty, and the seafood pasta was just perfect. Mine was still very good too, but there is nothing better than good and slightly spicy tomato sauce. I am looking forward to going back there again!
(5)Julian V.
This was the worst food I've ever tasted. I've never had pasta or meatballs out of a can but am willing to bet they'd taste far superior to the dog food they called Italian here at Cicciotti's Trattoria Italiana. The location is awesome and that's why we chose to eat here but really that was the only thing this place had going for them aside from the appetizer bread. The food over all completely lacked any flavor and some of the pasta wasn't even fully cooked. I ordered a plate w/ pesto gnocchi, ravioli & stuffed shells. The pesto tasted like a handful of dry packaged parsley in a flavorless Bechamel, the Kirkland Ravioli sold at costco dwarfed theirs in every way imaginable way and the shells were like under cooked cat turd stuffed into an undercooked piece of store bought pasta. Actually a cat turd would have been better. I took one bite of everything and didn't touch the rest. I would comment on my Gf's meal but I'm sure she will be on here soon to put in her two cents. Bottom line, STAY AWAY unless you're going to have a drink and watch the sunset. Even still, stay away. People who serve junk that bad and call it food shouldn't be allowed to serve food to the public.
(1)Jason W.
Let me start by saying I want to love this place so bad. It's cute. In a great location. Good menu, solid wine list. It has the potential to be 5-star, but alas it has it's issues... I've been here several times and keep expecting/hoping it would get better. It didn't. The food is okay, not bad but not great. The service is mediocre at best. The last time I was here was by far one of the worst service experiences of my life. It was during Restaurant Week so the place was mobbed and crazy busy but that shouldn't be an excuse for horrendous service. I'll be waiting for my friends to let me know if/when Cicciotti's improves.
(3)Ryan D.
It seems like most people have had some tough reviews of Cicciotti, and providing we didn't actually have dinner here...who knows. BUT, for what we did have...I really liked the place. Started with a couple glasses of a great Argentina Cab, reasonably priced around $8...it was delish. Really enjoyed the bread with the stewed tomato spread as well. Ordered the artichoke heart and cheese + shrimp app...which was not very big for the price (about $12), but it was tasty! Not sure if we would be itching to come back for dinner, but the service was good, aps and drinks worked well for us...so they get 4 stars from me!
(4)Traci W.
Pros- really great service, nice view, comfy and inviting sunroom/eating area. Cons - Some of the food was delicious - the rest was just OK. They brought out bread and a tomato dipping concoction. The tomatoes were perfectly seasoned with fresh garlic and fresh basil. Loved it. The bread was.....meh. My date and I each ordered salads. I got a simple green salad and it was very nice. Fresh ingredients, nice dressing. Husband got the caprese salad and was disappointed. The portion was relatively small and it didn't come with the balsamic reduction that we're used to getting. (I realize that it's not standard, but it would have definitely helped in this case.) It was just tomatoes and mozzarella with a bit of olive oil. Also, the tomatoes weren't very appealing. They were of the washed-out, bland-tasting, tomato-flavored-water variety. Overall, another "meh". We ordered a margerita pizza and found it to be lacking substance. The crust was very, very thin and didn't have much oomph to it. It was topped with a bit of sauce, a bit of fresh basil, and a small amount of cheese that melted right into the sauce - it made the cheese barely detectable. Overall, underwhelmed with the pizza. Felt like a gourmet cracker to me. I would almost be inclined to give this place a 4 because the overall experience was pretty good- however, the reason we stopped at this place was because their sign touted wood-fired pizza. If an establishment is going to make something their signature, it would behoove them to make sure that said speciality is out of this world. Not so much in this case. Finally, got the tiramisu for dessert. Although vegan 364 days per year, I allow myself to cheat and have a piece of tiramisu every year on my birthday. I'm glad I splurged here - the tiramisu was among some of the best I've ever had. Bottom line - Great service, split on the salads, underwhelming pizza, and heavenly dessert. I'll go back, but I'll skip the pizza and will try the pasta instead.
(3)Blakely S.
Last night I took 3 out of town friends here for dinner. One from Canada, One from Mexico, One from OC. I was the only local. We ordered 4 different meals because we have 4 different tastes and 4 different cooking skills. The most experienced ordered the Lasagan with cheese. It was dripping in cheese. The least experienced ordered the Chicken Parmesian and enjoyed every bite. Another ordered the new Gnochi with Mushrooms and ordered the Chicken Piccata. We all left very full and happy. The waiters and the owner are a delight to make sure your evening is a wonderful for us.
(5)Alexandra L.
The prices should be double considering the tastes, quality, and location. The food was wonderful! We had a restaurant.com gift card so we needed to spend $100- which we innocently thought would be easy. We got 2 appetizers, 2 entrees, a bottle of wine, a desert, and 2 coffees, and barely made it. There was a man singing Opera throughout our dinner, and the entire ambiance was very enjoyable. Food was excellent!
(5)Jen K.
This is the second time we used a Groupon for this place and we LOVE it. We would eat here more often but rarely can spend that kind of money for a night out. Groupons make it more affordable when we want to splurge. Also, it is a bit far for us to drive for just a meal out. The ambiance is fantastic...we have eaten on the outdoor patio and inside. Great view, gorgeous sunset, and a quaint little building. Everything is clean and well maintained. They use nice linen table cloths and napkins, which is a nice change from our regular joints. For starters they bring out fresh baked bread and chunky tomatoes, but are willing to provide olive oil and vinegar, too. (We get both!) We could stuff ourselves on the bread alone. The menu is extensive - there are pages and pages of salads, pastas, pizzas, and other entrees. We had the same waitress both times and were amazed (both times) that she could remember the 8-10 specials they have every night. It is almost impossible to choose because everything sounds so good! We have eaten the seafood lasagna, a pasta dish with marinara and seafood (not sure the name), and a linguine with seafood/fish. We had the Caesar salad and a mixed green salad with Gorgonzola and both were the best salads we ever had. Their house balsamic vinaigrette is absolutely fantastic...I would say the best I've had and I'm not a vinaigrette fan in general. Service is fantastic, food is delicious, and it is a nice romantic place to catch up with your partner after a long week (or just hang with a friend). We will definitely go back. Prices are not outrageous given the quality and size of plates. Two people could easily split a salad and entree and be stuffed. Salads range from $8-20 and entrees average the $15-20 range, but as I said -- if you can agree on plates to split this is well worth the money. My husband and I split salad and entree and had to go shopping for a couple hours to walk off our full stomachs. Highly recommend this restaurant. We will definitely be back.
(5)Leslie J.
Had such a nice evening the night we went for dinner here. The waiter was so nice and had such a great personality. (wish I was better with names) We sat outside and enjoyed the warm evening and the Italian bread served with the tomatoes was yummy. We are not ones to go to fancy restaurants, so the casual atmosphere was nice and relaxing. As for "romantic" I don't think I would say it's one of those types, specially with the football game blasting out the window above our heads. Our food was VERY good. I ordered shrimp and crab in a white wine sauce over fettuccine and my date had the meatball lasagna. Both dinners were around $20 each... (this is a lot of $$$$ for us--but we don't go out much and this is probably the norm) I was a bit dismayed that for this price that a salad wasn't included... Would I go back? Yeah... probably... it was a nice evening. OH... parking... we had to walk about 2 blocks because we didn't know that there was parking behind the building.. so here is a heads up on the parking situation!
(4)Aparna P.
We came here on the last day of restaurant week. Even after making a reservation at 9pm for four people, we found ourselves waiting a good 10 minutes before we were seated. We weren't even greeted at the door by a maitre d'. We had to approach some waiters ourselves and tell them we had reservations. The restaurant was unbelievably noisy and crowded! I mean I understand that restaurant week is a busy time for them. But when I make a reservation I expect to be seated right away. I let it slide as the ambiance (besides the noise) was quite charming. There were torches blowing fire out of them on the outside of the restaurant. The decor was simple and elegant- white table clothes, little lights trimming the area where the ceiling and wall met, and a wooden interior. On to the food: I'm a vegetarian, and I checked the menu online, which said that a vegetarian option was available. Of course, they had the classic eggplant parm. So I ordered that, along with a baked artichoke appetizer, tiramisu for dessert, and three wine pairings. While the food came we were given two baskets of warm bread that came with some kind of tomato concoction. The best thing to have when you're starving in an Italian restaurant. We got our food pretty quick for the amount of people that were coming into the place! The artichokes were perfect. There was cheese melted and baked onto the plate and the artichoke hearts were tender and tangy. Our waiter forgot our first wine to go with the appetizer so we had to remind him. When he brought it, it was some sort of pinot (I'm no wine expert). Quite delicious with the artichokes! The main dish, eggplant parm. was perfect. There was a ton of cheese on top (easily scraped off for people watching fat intake), but the eggplant was cooked well and the breading was just right. It was a fairly large piece of eggplant that also came with a dollop of mashed potatoes, a huge piece of steamed and unseasoned broccoli and zucchini each. In my opinion, the mashed potatoes were enough! The wine that went with this was a merlot. So strong that it burned my throat as I tried it. Red wines are definitely not my calling. The tiramisu that came out was so beautiful. However, when I tried it, I could sense that it had not been thawed completely because I could still feel the small ice chips that form in food when you freeze it. So the tiramisu was not as smooth as it should have been. But the flavors were all there. The wine that went with dessert was also a red, but not a sweet enough dessert wine. I don't know how they thought it would pair well with dessert. I'm giving this place three stars because the service was on the poorer side, we had to wait even though we made reservations and some waiters were extremely touchy feely which made me and my friends feel awkward! The food and bread were both great, so come here if you want decent Italian food other than Olive Garden!
(3)Billy L.
Pretty bad. Everything seemed either frozen or out of a can. This risotto was not creamy, it was like rice pilaf. Kind of amazing that this place is still in business. Their pizza is not even home made. It's pre cooked crusts. How hard is it to make your own dough? It's not hard is the answer. And I bet it's cheaper than buying that crap. If you are looking for Italian food you would be better off getting some spaghetti O's. Pass on this place, especially since its WAY over priced!
(2)Christine D.
This place is just a couple of blocks away from my office and the lunch specials are good. Service is pretty friendly and they seem to greet their regulars and new customers with the same kind of "Hey, make yourself at home" kind of vibe. But I like that the service is attentive without being intrusive. Bread basket was warm and I love the tomato/basil mixture they give to dip. I tend to get the same lunch special. Either the cioppino or the spaghetti a la checca. The sauces are light and flavorful and the seafood in the cioppino is cooked to the perfect texture. Not tough and not mushy undercook either. But the best part of this restaurant is its location. It's right on San Elijo Avenue, where you can have an open view of the ocean. And it's also right next door to Wine Steals.
(3)Cathy H.
Well, most of the negative reviews came with restaurant week, so I went with a pretty open mind. It certainly wasn't awful, but I would have rather saved the money and calories and eaten at home. 1. The waitress clearly didn't want to be there. Or at least with us. She never reviewed the specials (with us, she did with others), never checked on us, etc. Okay, not awful, but whatever. 2. They seated us in a big empty dining room. Okay, cool. But then they seated a party of 8- RIGHT next to us... which wasn't even near a window or anything. The whole place is empty, so wtf? They were awfully loud too, which was a bummer. 3. There wasn't enough food. And I'm a relatively thin female. My poor date looked miserable. Yet, the table next to us seemed to have twice the portion size? 4. This might be my own personal taste, but the pasta was way too "al dente" for me (I don't think it was supposed to be?) 5. I ordered the shrimp pasta. There were four shrimp. Sigh. So I would have thought they would at least make up for it with more pasta, but alas... I was out of luck. And I went home hungry. So all in all, it wasn't terrible or anything, but I wouldn't ever go back.
(2)Ashley E.
. Worth a 2.5 but not any higher. Four of us went on a Saturday night - when there is live music. With a very cottage Italian feel the ingredients were there but fell flat. The music was SOOOO loud that a conversation could not occur. Therefore if you don't like your date...might actually be a good option to go when there is opera around. Anyway the bread and dip they start out with a fine but then came the meals. The looked a lot worse than tasted so I guess that's a plus however when you order a seafood lasagna you want a meal. For over 20 bucks I hardly had enough food and as a petite person that is hard to believe. The service was ok but not great. The worst was that after the music they started to clean up shop. It was like being in a noisy kitchen and feeling like you are being kicked out. It was 10:15 on a Sat...Kind of rude. Anyway not a bad local joint but absolutely that is what it is a local joint. Wouldn't make the trip from downtown or any where else to make it a destination stop
(2)John Y.
Yum Yum Yum......... Fabulous Italian eatery with peek views of the Pacific in one of the most quaint areas of San Diego. Service I found to be friendly. Servers were helpful and knowledgeable about the menu. The servers were very busy though so it took a few minutes each time to get to us. They sure earn their keep. I would not want to do what they do. The food was awesome. The food here could rival many great Italian restaurants in NYC ! Saute calamari in tomato sauce appetizer is one of the best I had in years. Hands down. The sauce is sooo good. Would be awesome if they had stuffed calamari with a seafood or sausage stuffing......... just saying. Also the Asparagus wrapped with Mozzarella and Prosciutto was excellent too. The chicken with sausage and the veal saltimboca were all very tasty with good flavors without being over powering. Simple but delicious with layers of flavor. The chocolate drizzled on the tiramisu is a PERFECT pairing while sipping on a glass of pinot noir. This is a must .......... If you don't you are missing out on a great tasting combo. The menu is huge. I'm not fussy when it comes to food but I know decent food and the menu has something for everybody. I don't work for the owners nor do I know the staff ........... just a new fan........ we will be back Don't understand the bad Groupon reviews. Perhaps Groupon needs to re vamp things a bit. I see that alot with other restaurant reviews on Yelp with regard to Groupon. Too bad because this restaurant offered a great menu to choose from and the food was excellent on many different levels. They must be busy for a reason...... It's freakin awesome and worth any kind of wait. It reminds me of the Italian flavors of Arthur Avenue in the Bronx plus the Pacific Ocean at your doorstep. Sounds great to me............
(5)D M.
Totally enjoyed the food, setting and service. Great traditional Italian food with a view of the beach. Good prices for the quality service and variety. I recommend it highly.
(4)Vanessa L.
I came here with some friends and I had such an amazing experience the food was amazing I had the Linguine with creamy tomato sauce with chicken and artichoke it was so amazing the taste in my mouth made me want more. All my friends were very satisfied and all of our plates looked beautiful. All of your staff were extremely nice and very helpful. Thank you
(5)Dee H.
3 of us decided to try Cicciotti's during restaurant week and we were really impressed with the food. One had lasagne, one had the filet, and I had the bass and it was the best fish I have ever eaten and my two friends were equally impressed and we all said we wished we could lick our plates. We were figuring out what day we can go again on our way home. It is a little noisy, but the food and service makes up for it....our new favorite!
(5)Jackie s.
This is a gem. Wonderful food-fresh bass, great pasta dishes and nice salads. The setting is unbeatable-ocean views-and the service by the young staff is great and cheerful. Corkage fee is $16, but it does have reasonable and good wines on its wine list. No kids menu but it does offer small meals for kids-my grandkids love the pasta.
(5)Lindsey D.
Ambience and staff are worth 4-5 stars combined, food more like 3. As others have said, the bar area is really very cute and there's no hustle at this place, which is nice and worth noting. The pricing is also quite reasonable. The food didn't bowl me over, but it wasn't bad, and I appreciated the offer of fresh water, ground pepper and fresh Parm with every new course. That's always nice. Obvious, but you'd be surprised how few restaurants do it. Standout: Creamy, cheesy Lasagna al Forno. Less impressive: Waitress talked me into a seafood & pesto pasta that wasn't on the menu, which was less good-- the pesto not being pesto, but a creamy pesto sauce, which I probably wouldn't have ordered if I'd known how heavy it would be. That said, the seafood in it (especially scallops and calamari) were fresh and delicious, and that Cardiff sunset really can't be beat.
(3)Abhinandan S.
Nice Italian place, well the menu is humongous but you know what you need. I have veggie artichoke and pizza, they were great. Also used my Groupon :)
(4)Ping G.
Mr Cicciotti saw my yelp review and mailed me a gift certificate for me to give his restaurant another try--so nice of him. It's wonderful when business owners care and try to improve. That's how they get better too. I went with two friends for dinner and tried the pizza this time. The place was packed. It seemed like other people enjoyed their food better than we did, probably because the pizza we had was a little too creamy and we are not big fans of creamy food. I have to take a star off because the food was just not my type.
(4)Brent B.
Sorry but this place was negative in almost every way. We decided to eat here because it was within walking distance from our lodgings and it also had a restaurant.com coupon. Those were the only highlights. When we arrived a few minutes before our reservations, the Maître d' asked if we were willing to wait for a soon to be open window seat. We said yes. We waited for twenty minutes only to be seated at a table next to the entrance in the middle of the room. Once seated and a little perturbed, we saw a table by the window open up. I asked the Maître d' if we could move and he said yes and to wait a few minutes for them to prepare the table. Minutes later, another group was seated at the table. Next up came the silverware. I can let pass a dirty fork, but three out of four is a bit much. Then came the ordering. We asked for a few extra moments to look over the menu. Our waiter, who we think was working the other side of the restaurant, took a long time to return. Then we ordered our food and a bottle of wine. Over 15 minutes passed before he brought us our appetizer, then we still had to wait for the wine. He could of at least stopped by and told us that the bar was busy. Even the table next to us was perturbed during the long wait for their bottle. Once the food arrived, we ate the meal unimpressed. The lasagna has no flavor to it and the Pizza due Salimi was nothing special. The only good food was the free bread and dipping sauce. This place seems like a local favorite, but I would not recommend this place to anyone.
(1)Tami J.
I seriously can't wait for this place to go out of business. The first time we went the food wasn't great but there was an opera singer and we'd had a bottle of wine which somehow deceived us into thinking this place was tolerable. We went back a second time and the waiter was rude, food took almost an hour to come out and again, the food wasn't great. I decided to go a third time for lunch (I tend to forgive very easily) and I have never had a worse Italian meal in my life. I ordered the shrimp linguine alla sorrentina which was described as "shrimp with linguine served with white wine and garlic in a spicy tomato sauce". When it came out it looked like it had been drowned in olive oil, garlic and red pepper flakes. And the shrimp were so small and tasteless that I took two bites, paid my bill and left. In fairness, and since this was my third bad experience, I didn't alert any of the staff that I wasn't satisfied with my meal. I realize that the only way restaurants can get better is through feedback but I figure after three similar experiences, this may just not be the place for me.
(1)Bill H.
Where to begin? Lunch, bright sunny day, only two others in the restaurant. Took a seat on the patio. Nice waiter, with Italian accent, brings menus and asks if we would like drinks, two white wines and two waters, please. After about 10 minutes our drinks arrived. I noticed the cooks and waiter were watching a soccer game in the bar area TV. He returned and took our order, Ravioli and Paella and we waited and waited. When our food arrived, it was good, not great. My wife had something in her wine, cork...I hope. We couldn't tell but he took it back. Then we noticed both our forks had dried food on them, we waited and he bought us new silverware. I had to ask for bread, really....a Italian place where I had to ask for bread but the marinara dipping sauce was good. Over all, it's over priced, over accented and I'm over it. Go elsewhere.
(1)Susanne S.
I came here earlier this year with a girlfriend for restaurant week. The food wasn't amazing but the atmosphere is lovely. The beach is literally a street away. And the service was perfect. Maybe it was because we were the only ones there (there was a big Chargers game on that day), but still our waiter was very sweet. They even let my friend, who is vegetarian to select off the regular menu. I got the sea bass and she got gnocchi. I don't really remember the taste of the fish, only the too-strong taste of the capers that it was cooked with. My friend seemed to like her plate but left over more more than half saying it was too rich to continue on. The best part of the meal was the dessert. We both got tiramisu and it was awesome. Overall, we were both satisfied.
(4)Cindy H.
Ate dinner there for Restaurant Week on January 17. Great atmosphere and food, (I had the fettucini & lobster and the creme brulee, my husband enjoyed the portobello ravioli and tiramisu) very attentive and helpful waiters, and seated promptly (for 6:30 reservation)! We look forward to eating here again in the future.
(5)Peter R.
There seems to be sort of a lot of variation when it comes to reviewer's ranking of this place, and although I am giving it 4 stars, I think there is room for improvement. Personally, I really like the food, or at least the things I have had there so far. I have been to Italy several times and I think the food is a reasonable approximation to some places I've eaten at in Rome. I am paritcularly partial to Canelloni (pictured here) and I think they do a pretty good job of it at Cicciotti's, such that it is what I order 90% of the time - much to my wife's disgust, of course. The wine list is, much the same as most restaurants, hideously over priced. You get a $5 bottle of wine for $35, but that's typical I guess. I think they are trying to be up-scale, but should throttle back their view of themselves to 'average, decent Italian food' and decrease pricing by about 20% and I'd be a little happier. Anyway, we like it and will go back periodically. Would go back a lot more often if dinner for two + bottle of wine ran closer to $60 - $70.
(4)Joel B.
Just back from our first visit, using the super Restaurant Week deal to sample the fare. Unbelievable bargain. For starters they brought fresh-baked bread with kind of an Italian salsa, big hunks of soft, tasty tomato. That stuff was so good I bought some to go. For dinner, Nora and I both got Lobster Bisque soup, and rated it 'A'. Nora said it's the best she's ever had. She ordered the salmon, which came perfectly cooked, though the rich sauce could have used more seasoning. We give it a B+. I had the manicotti stuffed with fish, shellfish, and more. It came in the same sauce as the salmon. It didn't tickle my taste buds as I'd hoped, but others might like it better. The osso bucco and filet mignon, which we saw others enjoying, looked fantastic. I plan to return to try them sometime. Finally, we chose the chocolate souffle lava cake ala mode for dessert. Scrumptious, wonderful, delightful. And for a total bill of only $20 each (plus $5 for my Italian-salsa-to-go and a very generous tip for our friendly, overworked, and super-efficient waitress), tonight's dinner was an economical delight.
(4)Craig N.
This is one of those quaint places you would not think to stop at if you were driving by. It has a fairly nice view of the Ocean and simple decor. Service was excellent. Menu is a bit overzealous but full of interesting dishes. I think simpler would be better / less is more. The meal was outstanding however. This is NOT mediocre food like some big name Italian restaurants - this is serious Italian food and worth checking out. You can almost hear Dean Martin singing "Volare'" live in the background... Take your 'significant' other. Their Sunday + Monday special is crazy good and priced to please - and it's a lot cheaper than flying to Genoa for similar quality! I will be back....
(4)Del Mar Girl H.
Went here after the Charger game last Sunday. We were sat promptly and there were about 6 tables in the restaurant with one waiter. Service was still quick, but made us feel rushed. Food was mediocre, WAY OVER priced for what you get. Also the wine menu is lacking variety for good wines. My biggest complaint is that I was brought the wrong dish, but everyone else was done eating before the server came back to us. When I told him he brought the wrong dish he offered to get me a new plate. I was like, no thank you...we were tired and wanted to go home. I was still charged for the dish and a $2.00 service charger for splitting the dish. Seriously? I was so tired, I way over tipped too when I noticed the bill the next morning and reviewed the charges. For the record, the other 3 people at our table said their food was just "ok". One of them ordered the spaghetti and said it was very plain and lacked flavor. Won't ever dine here again. Too bad Vigilucci's is no longer in this location. Do yourself a favor and go to another Italian place, lots of cute ones in Encinitas.
(1)Valerie D.
Got a groupon worth $45 for only $20! Score right?! My mother and I went here after she got out of work and the parking is weird. It's street / beach parking and then you have to jay-walk across :/ I don't understand why they squeeze guests in tiny places... but of course they did. There was a heavy set lady literally right next to me and a couple behind me chatting about investments.. luckily one party moved and the music finally came on ( it was dead silent before, which is why I had to choice but to listen to people's conversations ) So.. we order 2 sparkling wines 7.95 each (typical pricing) My mom get the Penne Maria 14.50 and I buy Vegetali alla Piastra 14.50. The display of the dishes looked like fast food. EWWWW :( and they BURNT some of the onions and eggplant beyond belief and still served it to me?? WHY?!?! besides the ugly burnt food.. it didn't taste bad. It was OK and it sucked because the owner was so nice!! He came from Naples and talks up a storm with guests (I like it when owners stick around their restaurants, feels like they give a crap you know?) My mother will return but I won't :/ not enough veggie options or substitutes.
(2)Edward L.
Maria and I enjoyed the wine and appetizers .the seafood pasta as my wife said ( to die for ) everything great !! Except the bread very bland.
(4)Sarah K.
love the vibe of this place..but you must go at one of there off hour times. The pizza is unbelievable and the wine is definitely affordable. the pastas with white sauce are also good. friendly waiters but better service at the bar. They also have live music on the weekends.
(4)Jill S.
Cicciotti's serves classic Italian food dishes that will satisfy you. I think it will outlive many of the other Italian restaurants in the area because the atmosphere has a fresh and modern vibe without being trendy. I split the Insalata ai due formaggi with my husband. I chose it because it has little deep fried goat cheese medallions on the salad that melt in your mouth. They split the salad on separate plates which I thought was generous of them. Then I had the Penne Maria and it was powerfully delicious. It was penne tossed with fresh vegetables and chicken in a tasty wine sauce. Our server was attentive but not notable. I think he lacked sophistication and charm. I am not looking for an entertainer, but I do like someone that you feel you hope you have again upon leaving. He didn't leave a lasting impression. That is why I didn't give Cicciotti's 5 stars.
(4)Mimi G.
After 12 years in San Diego County, I now realize why I've never taken the time to venture out during "Restaurant Week". After a long busy day, the hubby decided we'd try the EXPERIENCE and ventured to a local restaurant that we've been to before...but not recently...because the menu looked yummy. The first words out of the waiters mouth was "Have you decided yet?" No welcome...no do you want some water? wine? So I appraised him of the fact that we wanted a bottle of the house chianti. 10 -15 MINUTES LATER ...we were sitting there with our water and our bread...no waiter to be found, but scores of people being crammed into the outdoor patio room. I chose the bottle because the menu said that the wine pairing offered @ $10 was 3oz of wine each...so for $20 I figured we'd probably need another glass...therefore ordered the bottle. He FINALLY arrives with the wine. The house wasn't available, so lucky us we get their "Riserva". IT WAS THE MOST GOD AWFUL WINE THAT I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY ENTIRE LIFE!...RISERVA? RISERVA ME ROOM TO BARF! The meal...though yummy sounding was quite mediocre considering their kitchen reputation. Finally, when the table next to us had their "wine flights" delivered, it was jacuzzi sized glassful wine. What part of the waiter telling us "Yo... it may say 3oz but we are more generous" to clue us in? Of course, if it tasted like the Riserva, then we wouldn't have finished it anyway. Not often I leave behind wine in a wine bottle at a restaurant........................... Stay away.............Not enough help to do Restaurant week...mediocre food... Oh why didn't I stay home and have a PB&J sammy.
(1)Lisa C.
Today was Mother's Day and the menu was preset as a multiple course meal which is truly Italian Style. I was told that the food was all homemade by Gaetano himself, who was in the kitchen almost the entire time we were there. The soup was a lobster bisque, delicious, followed by the next course of fresh fruit, assorted cheeses and smoked salmon. Then came the eggs florentine, sausage and quiche. We were then served pennette alla vodka and lobster ravioli. I skipped the chicken, meatballs and potatoes so I could save room for the homemade ricotta cheesecake and tiramisu which were fabulous! Gaetano truly outdid himself! Now I would be remiss not to mention the Opera. The beautiful sounds of tenor Daniel Hendrick serenaded us mothers throughout our meal. Our waiter Salvatore also serenaded us with a few songs from the Godfather and some old italian songs. This was one of the most memorable the Mother's Day's brunches I have ever been to. I will definitely come back next year for this event.
(5)April W.
I didn't like the lobster stuffed raviolis, but the spicy prawn pasta was delish!! Service a little on the slower side, but ok.
(3)Ethan S.
Went during restaurant week...food was decent. Lobster Bisque was pretty good but everything else (Pasta/Steak) was average at best. Service was ok but I really just didn't like many aspects of this place. Didn't mind the view but I am from the area so that didn't really come into play. Won't go back for the food, that's for sure.
(2)Donna L.
Since my son lives within walking distance of the restaurant, we have had many opportunities to dine here over the past few years. We have always enjoyed our meals and have taken friends and family on various occasions and all have agreed it's good value with cozy atmosphere along with excellent food and service. They have quite a varied menu compared to other italian restaurants. It was for these reasons I decided to make a Baby Shower luncheon at Cicciotti's. Seemed like a no brainer. Nice atmosphere along with good food. The owner, Gaetano was a dream to work with and helped make the event a huge success. Everyone enjoyed their meal and the room was beautiful along with the ocean view. Could not have been more pleased with my choice. Thank you Gaetano, for making our event such a pleasant experience. Will be back for dinner soon!
(5)Rachel A.
I got a groupon for here, it was perfect my friend lives in Carlsbad and i live in clairemont so we jumped at the chance to meet halfway to get dinner. LOVED this place, the atmosphere was adorable and the food great!! I got the chicken alfredo and a glass of their house pinot grigio and it was soooo good. My friend got a glass of chianti and pesto sundried tomatoes ravioli, her's was especially good. i highly recommend this place :)
(5)Bo G.
Attended a birthday party for about 25 last night, while its not our first time there, last night reminded us of why we go there. Service was fantastic, I don't remember our servers names but it was the large party on the back patio 8/7/15. They were on it. Pizza: delicious Pasta primavera: cooked perfectly slightly al dente Lasagne: beautiful Side note: many of our party was switching seats and mingling when the main came out which can be very frustrating for a server. These dudes handled it like pros. Thank you guys. The owner sang happy birthday in an operatic voice to my friend. Over all a great night, great service, great food.
(5)Leilani B.
A friend of mine told me this restaurant was one of the best Italian places so I decided to give it a try. When my boyfriend and I arrived we walked through the doors getting a blank look from both waiters just staring at us... Then he didn't ask where we would like to sit he just picked up the menus and said outside tables. Even though there was only two other tables sitting inside...Then after being seated it took over 5 minutes to get water, bread and our order taken. After the food came to our table I didn't even care about the terrible service since the lasagna was amazing and extremely authentic. Again..The waiters didn't come to offer a desert menu or check so I went inside to hunt him down and get my check. Food is amazing... Service needs improvement
(3)Rene P.
We finally got around to trying Cicciottis this afternoon and are SOOO HAPPY We Did.....I've read loads of great Yelp reviews and bought a groupon for them a few months back....After eating here today we asked ourselves what da heck we had been waiting for There were 3 of us and the owner greeted us on the way in....We sat out in the open air room with a nice view....nice music playing and nice ocean breeze coming in We started with the Fresh warm bread they have with the tomato or olive oil dipping sauces and Wow that's some good bread Then on to Calamari Fritti which was cooked perfectly and Fresh n Light....Perfect starter Then I ordered the Meat Bolognese and the ladies ordered the Meat Lasagna and the Risotto with Mushrooms and Italian sausage.......We shared everything and all agreed that EVERYTHING was DELICIOUS and cooked perfectly.....the sauces were great and the pasta was homemade n soooo Good We still had enough food left for a small lunch tomorrow To cap it off I had to try the Cannolis I read so much about ......WOOOHOOOO R they good......we ordered 2 orders which is 6 of them and brought 2 home.....they are made expertly and have a nice chocolate syrup drizzled over them. YUMMM....Save room for dessert We All Agreed this is Our New Italian Food Home Away from Home Plus we found out they have Happy Hour as well 5 STARS ALL THE WAY FROM START TO FINISH. HIGHLY DESERVED We"ll be back to try diff items and for Happy Hour for sure Thx For a PERFECT PERFECT LUNCH
(5)Areli R.
I went here with my honey to try it. And we liked the food a lot. Portions were just right. We went on restaurant week. So, we had three course dinner. I must say, it was very good. The ambients was very nice, relaxed all with a really great view. I highly recommend it to anyone. It is a little on the expensive side. So, to me counts for a great special place to take your love one. Go on a date to impress your date.
(4)Paulette C.
After moving to San Diego from San Francisco 4 years ago, I can finally say I've had San Francisco quality cuisine! Wonderful presentation and outstanding flavors. Tried to get in twice before and now I know why a reservation is recommended on prime nights! Such an Italian atmosphere too...yes, you do need to wait for someone to come by but looking around, the patrons are "dining" and everyone enjoying themselves. Join in and relax. Would I wait 10 minutes past my reservation time for a table at Cicciotti? Absolutely, the food is worth it!
(5)Thuong T.
Came here for my boyfriend's mother's birthday last night. Didn't know what to expect. My boyfriend had arrived there about 20minutes early to get a table first. He said it was going to be a bit of a wait. By the time we got there and went inside, I noticed that there were plentiful of tables open. Which was odd, that they didn't let him sit down first when he was only waiting for 3 other people including myself. SETTING: The place looks small on the outside but was semi-spacious on the inside. They have outdoor seating and indoor seating. They have two separate dining rooms inside. They have large windows so you can see outside onto the beach. It might get a little cold if you're sitting by the window. They do have parking in the back of the restaurant (but not that many) You can also parking across the street on the dirt along the beach. They also have a full bar with bar seating. They also have multiple large flat screen TVs. They were showing sport games on some and formula 1 racing on others which was cool. SERVICE: The server that seated us did not greet us. And he did not smile the whole time we were there. When he was explaining the current "special items", he spoke really fast. He was simply monotone and had no expression what so ever. At least they made sure we had waters filled, etc. I did also notice that our little appetizer plates that were already sitting on the table when we arrived, were horrifically dirty. There were tons of lint, specks of dust, and grimy looking water stains. It seems like they do not wash their plates properly or the plates have been sitting on the table for along period of time. I requested for our plates to be changed. FOOD: Linguine alla Genovese di Mare $24.75 (Linguine noodles with scallops and shrimp in a creamy brandy pesto sauce) Add lobster tail to any dish $10 This dish was amazing!! Even though the scallops were tiny, there was plentiful! The shrimp was large and juicy. The sauce was very creamy and delicious. Highly recommend this plate! The lobster tail was an average size and it was also nice and delicious. Special Ravioli with Shrimp $26 I don't remember what it was called exactly, but it was one of their specials not on the menu. It consisted of ravioli stuffed with veggies and cheese. With a creamy orange colored sauce and juicy shrimp. This was another delicious plate! Complimentary Bread The loafs of bread came pre-cut. They were very soft on the inside and warm. They were fresh and delicious with their tomato sauce on the side. Overall, the food here is delicious!!! But they can definitely do some work on their customer service. I kind of felt unwelcomed by the servers since no body smiled and seemed to dislike their job or serving customers in general.
(4)Noelle S.
Authentic, quality food for a decent price. Pairs great with a good bottle of red wine too!! Don't forget to check out the groupon when you go, definitely worth the trip. I recommend the Lasagna, traditional but done to perfection! Been there twice in the last two weeks since I craved it so bad!
(5)Ginni S.
For starters we had oven fresh warm bread with tomatoes and olive oil dip. The dip was so simple yet so flavorful. Chunky tomatoes with salt, pepper and olive oil.. i could eat a bowl of just that. Wonderful cold dip to go with the warm bread. Caprese salad.. sliced thick tomatoes with basil, mozzarella cheese and balsamic vinegar. Topped with thinly sliced prosciutto. Flavors were good. But quantity could be more.. Rigatoni pasta in a spicy tomato garlic sauce with eggplant and Italian sausage. The sauce was of perfect consistency - thick enough to stay in the pasta and I could easily dip my bread in it for extra oomph. The chunks of garlic in it were perfectly sweet and spicy at the same time. Loved the eggplant in the dish.. never thought I would prefer that over the spicy Italian sausage. .. would love to try this recipe at home. Traditional Lasagna with a meat sauce and bechamel sauce topped with cheese. One of the better Lasagna which we have eaten after a long time. Good quantity and nice flavors. Needed a little bit more bechamel to make it more creamier.
(4)Abby W.
I returned to Cicciotti's again for date night and continued to be impressed. We arrived close to sunset and enjoyed the beautiful and romantic view of the ocean. The setting is definitely a great spot for a date. This time, I decided to try the chicken fettuccine alfredo at the recommendation of our waitress, who said that it often gets good reviews. I thought the dish was very delicious and the portion size was huge with plenty of leftovers for lunch the next day. My boyfriend ordered the Melanzane alla Parmigiana, which is basically eggplant parmesan and was very impressed. We'll likely be back again!
(4)Jordan M.
I work close by and stop here for lunch once a week. The more I've gone the more this place has grown on me. I've had most of the items on the lunch special menu, but my absolute favorite is the seafood cioppino. They also serve bread with this really delicious chunky tomato topping. I've had other italian in the area and this is the place I keep coming back to.
(4)Lianna S.
Cicciottis really should have more than a 3 star rating. We haven't been in a while and decided to have one last date night last night before our baby comes. The food was so good and we kept commenting on how awesome the atmosphere is. Our waitress was really attentive and friendly too. Where else can you get great Italian food with an ocean view? And prices are reasonable especially considering the prime location and quality of food. It was a good choice, happy we came back.
(5)P B.
Sooooooooo good, fresh bread and food. Very flavorful. Seafood was cooked perfectly. They didn't have a kids menu but they made a kids size plate for my daughter and she loved it as well.
(5)Danielle H.
Decided to give this place a try Saturday night when I was craving pasta and the bf wanted pizza. We were pleasantly surprised with happy hour when we arrived around 5pm. Happy hour on a Saturday makes me smile, especially when the selections are items I would usually order off the main menu. Overall we loved the ambiance, service and happy hour items. Not our top favorite pizza spot, but will be back again! What we ordered: - 1/2 dozen oysters - $1 hh (fresh/delicious, highly recommend) -Beef carpaccio - $6 hh (not huge but good size portion for hh, capers were a nice add) -Pizza buffala - not hh (pizza was OK, fresh ingredients and good crust. I didn't like the small cherry tomatoes that were used and the sauce was a tad bland, which was weird b/c the tomato sauce they serve with bread was extremely full of flavor and we loved it.... Just wished we loved the pizza sauce as much. -Lobsta ravs - Homemade ravs were perfect and overall really good. The sauce was a bit rich for me but bf enjoyed them. Seems like a local fav as most of the diners that came in knew the servers and owner. The staff was speaking to each other in Italian, which reminded me of home :) I loved the ambiance in the bar area so we sat at the bar right across from the brick oven. It was empty when we got there but as we enjoyed our meal, more and more people joined us at the bar. The dining area was still open when we left but people were waiting for our bar seats.
(4)Sharon R.
I have been to Cicciotti's three times and each time the food has been amazig. Wonderful atmosphere and a beautiful view of the ocean
(5)Jonalie I.
Oh yeah, Italian food craving satisfied. Came here for lunch today and ordered off the Restaurant Week menu. I chose the Salmone ai Carciofi for my entree. This was a salmon fillet topped with artichoke and capers served with some plain spaghetti. The salmon was cooked nicely, very moist and tender. I'm not sure if the artichoke and capers really worked in this dish, but I still found it to be pretty good. I really enjoyed the spaghetti, which seemed to be flavored with butter. My lunch mates chose the Pappardelle dish which came with shrimp, bay scallops, and mushrooms. They said it was really good. For dessert I chose the Cannoli Siciliani. This came with two small cannolis stuffed with sweetened ricotta cheese, drizzled with chocolate sauce, and sprinkled with powdered sugar. While savoring each magnificent bite, I noticed they contained mini chocolate morsels. These were possibly the best cannolis I've ever had. They were so decadent and creamy. I suspect their regular menu is just as delicious as the meal I had today for lunch. Can't wait to come back to try something else and get those cannolis again! Update 2/26/15 Came here for lunch, and it wasn't as good as my first visit (maybe partially due to the fact that I didn't get the cannolis this time). Also, when we were done with our meal, the waiter was nowhere in sight. I finally had to go fetch him and saw that he was eating his lunch too. I understand that a person has to eat, but when your restaurant opens at noon, you probably should eat before opening or AFTER the customers are gone.
(3)Desmond F.
Came here for restaurant week and I realized that it was a restaurant I had passed dozens of times without realizing it. It's actually a converted house and that makes it super cozy. A cute little date place I'd say. Originally we were seated outside on the patio which was great but be warned the table right next to the fire is way too toasty. I asked to be moved and it was no problem. Ordered the filet mignon and it was perfect. Tender and moist. Not too strong of a beef flavor like filet should be, instead concentrating on texture and with the right amount of char. All those times I walked by without trying it. Thank god for restaurant week!
(4)Rick L.
Food great, entertainment great, Massimo and Gaetano great! Fun night!
(5)Vicki C.
I hit Cicciotti's up after a grueling day at work. Italian food with an ocean view seemed to be the perfect way to finish on a high note. Our server suggested a red wine and my husband ordered a beer. We wanted to relax and started with an eggplant appetizer. Our waitress warned us about a 25 minute cooking time which I appreciated. The drinks arrived and my wine was way too sweet for me. I watched my waitress come into the dining room four times over the next 15 minutes and tried to get her attention. I needed a different kind of wine pronto, I was drying up when the eggplant arrived. It had great flavor and a nice sized portion, it was something that I would order as a meal. The flavor was really nice even though they served it slightly undercooked, there were no browned bits of bubbly cheese on top. The food selection is broad there are all kinds of things on the menu, and if you don't see what you want then the chefs are happy to make substitutions. My dinner consisted of pasta with a creamy tomato vodka sauce that had three shrimp and a couple of miniature scallops in it. I swapped out the salmon for mushorooms. The dish could have used some pizzaz, a vegetable and better tasting scallops. It did not taste bad but could have made it a lot better at home. So I am rounding them up to 4 stars, propped up by the ocean view!
(4)Ariel C.
Came here for the first day of Restaurant week 2015. My friend and I loved the food and the service! Not to mention the price point is awesome ($20 for 3 course dinner! ) the ambience is romantic and cozy, sweet server and the owner, Gaetano, is such a wonderful human being/business owner. I ordered the steak and it didn't come as medium rare as i had asked, they kindly replaced it and it came back the most perfect filet mignon ever! Owner was very courteous and came to ask me if everything is ok. He even ordered wine for us!! This is my first time and and will not be the last! 5star service!! 5star food!
(5)Jodie G.
So pleased with Gaetano and his professional staff that catered a Mission Bay Gala for my organization. The food and service was impeccably divine. I highly recommend his restaurant dining or catering for any event. Flawless service and the tastiest of menus.
(5)Connie G.
Okay everyone deserves a second chance and I am glad I gave this one a 2nd round! The owner from the beginning of my observation was very hands on. As soon as we entered the restaurant we were greeted right away. We were then directed to seats that had a semi descent view. Everything was clean and a server came to our table immediately. The menu is full of choices and price can range anywhere from 11-25 for most items. I decided to start with an apetizer to get a good feel for the menu Cuori Di Carciofi Al Forno Baked artichoke hearts with provolone cheese 11.00 They were awesome! 4 pieces so 2 for me and 2 for you haha! I moved on to my main dish which consisted of: Farfalle alla Ponzese Bowtie pasta sauteed with smoked salmon shrimp and scallops in a creamy vodka sauce $17 1/2 Yummy Yummy in my tummy! The seafood was seasoned well as there was no fishiness to it just pure Italian goodness. Last but not least Dessert! Why not you can burn the calories later! Canolli's please!! Not sure how much they cost just knew the way the meal was going it was bound to be good! Out came 4 mini canolli's and I must admit they were the best ones I have had in a long time. All the food was so fresh and served with perfection! Portion size was about average. The servers consistently were professional and accommodating to all guests. The owner even came out to make sure our meal was up to par! He got bonus kudos points for being charming and considerate of our opinion of his food. I think with time this place has really invested on how the customers feel about the experience. The owner you can tell has placed his heart and soul into this place and pays attention to detail. Thank you for a great experience I am delighted to see improvement and will recommend this place to all and be back soon!
(4)Yeti N.
Awesome clams and linguini, best I have had. Others had the lasagna and the linguine with minced crab and tiger shrimp...awesome too. We started with the scallops wrapped in prosciutto and loved it. Overall, fantastic food and nice atmosphere with reasonable prices.
(4)R F.
The food was extremely bland and over-priced. It's pretty sad when the best part of the meal was the free bread... the bruschetta-type topping that accompanied it was the most flavorful thing we ate. Our sever, Luca, seemed disinterested and almost annoyed that we were there. At one point, he arrived at the table with a plate of food in one hand and dialing a portable phone with the other. Then returned and put a bowl of grated cheese on the table with the phone up to his ear... never once looking at any of us at the table or asking if we needed anything else. Between the service and the boring food, we won't be going back.
(2)Tracy V.
We were really impressed. Our waitress was very nice and attentive. We got there a little after five on a Friday night we were one of the first and where able to get a window seat. By the time we were done it was full. I had the seafood Lasagna di Mare. WOW!!! it was great. Alina had the Salmon. It was cooked to perfection. We had the Tiramisu for desert. Alina said it was the best one she ever had. I will be recommending Cicciotti's to my friend's. We will be back
(4)Rory B.
This has by far become my wives and my favorite new restaurant! By far the best italian in North County. We have had the blessing of coming here 3 times now and it just keeps getting better. I will break it down for you in catagories. FOOD: authentic, flavorful, large selection, hearty servings, fresh, obviously high end ingredients. SERVICE: nothing quite like the owner Gaetano coming to your table, greeting you at the door, checking on you meal, and having a nice chat if you are up for it. This man is an asset to his field. Gaetano cicciotti makes you feel like family right off the spot. It is like going to eat at my italian grandmothers. He and his staff are so caring. We went for dinner and wanted to sit out front and Gaetano came out and lit two heaters and ignited the fire pit. It was so warm and wonderful, we could even take off our sweaters on a cold January night. PRICES : upscale dining at very reasonable prices. We are far from rich but we can come here and have a amazing meal including an appetizer for under $50. Where else on the coast can you do this? NO WHERE. FAVORITES : calamari fritti- lightly breaded, not greasy, fresh, no fish flavor, and they even put in a few pieces of fried zucchini. Also the old lemon in a cloth trick! I haven't seen that in years. Great touch. Gnocchi - pesto or gorgonzola are both to die for. They will even mix the two sauces which is just beyond amazing. And if you can believe it the dinner portion is under $14. Almond tiramisu- so moist and creamy, the alcohol free desert is to die for. All the dishes are elegantly presented , you start off with a delicious basket of fresh bread and a bowl of the freshest, sweetest tomatoes with basil and slight garlic flavor. Basically an on the house bruschetta style starter. While we don't drink alcohol, there are plenty of well priced wines and a full bar. One tip, make a reservation as this wonderful restaurant is always busy, yet we have never had to wait more than 5 mins. Thank you again to Gaetano and his staff for multiple nights of pleasure close to home. Why go to the gaslamp when this place is right here. Will be back again and again. P.s. they cater and I asked Gaetano about making an almond tiramisu for my wife's up coming girls night craft party and not only was he excited to but he kindly offered to let us borrow one of his personal beautiful platters to serve on. What a guy! Rory
(5)Edilie D.
The best place in Cardiff for Italian Seafood dishes! We usually go to Cicciotti's for big parties to get catering and it tastes as delicious as if you ordered a special dish at the location. Ask for window seating our sit outside if it's not busy and you can get a pretty decent view of the ocean. I have met the owner Gaetano a couple times and he's a very genuine person that really cares about the customers and making sure that everyone is more than satisfied. The location is a little weird, and it's pretty easy to miss. It's right next to a Jack in the Box at the corner and very small. Other than that, I give this restaurant 5 stars for having an amazing staff, owner, and delicious food.
(5)Robert W.
We got a groupon for this place random ally. Excellent food, service and feel. Tiger prawn skewers are superb and the Alfredo is heaven. Coming back for sure next time. Good wine list too. Close to the beach.
(4)Laura C.
We started with nice, warm bread with tomato sauce that made me hopeful. It was delightful. We followed up with a red blend, Conundrum, which was marked up 100% over market price. Following was salmon bruchetta which I could have made from home with smoked salmon and crostini from Costco. The crostini had no flavoring and was uneventful. Next up was filet mignon ravioli with a gorgonzola sauce. The filet was ground and was indistinguishable from ground chuck. Following the filet ravioli was the ground chuck itself labeled as the highly recommended filet mignon. The waitress was strongly comparing the filet to the Outback.... I am 99% sure I would have gotten a better filet at the Outback. The filet was grisly and was not nearly as tender as filets typically go. Lastly, we ended with the meatball appetizer. The meatballs themselves were suspicious as having been frozen. The sauce was decent with globs of ricotta in it. Your time and money would be better spent at Olive Garden.
(2)chi v.
I got the deal from Groupon. Great place to hang out for weekend with nice atmosphere and great service. Make sure you call to book appointment before coming. I love they have a live music on weekend with the guy doing and play piano.. Very romantic and fun..
(4)Todd P.
I love this place. Italian restaurants rule. They only have to be decent to be good, however, Cicciotti's is very good. Very Great, I should say. I'll tell you something about myself, I loooooooove cheese ravioli. If it's good ravioli, I love it. If it is great ravioli I am crazy for it. By far and above, cheese ravioli is one of 2 foods that I go nuts over. Ciccioti's makes that "go nuts over it" cheese ravioli that I love. A really cool restaurant located in Cardiff with a great view of the ocean areas Ciccioti's is fantastic. If you are single looking for a great date place, this is it. If you are married looking for a date night place, this is it. If you are hungry for great Italian food in any circumstance, this is definitely the place. I am loving the life in Southern California's better local restaurants. Ciccioti's is one of those these. What a great place.
(5)Anand And Lux K.
Slightly below average food. Much better Italian in the area. Marinara sauce tasted like it was right out of the can?
(2)Kelsey J.
This Italian restaurant has the best pasta carbonara I have ever had. It is so creamy and is filled with a ton of pancetta. My friend and I come here often and always enjoy it. The atmosphere is nice. If you sit in the main room there is a view of the ocean and the lit tiki torches out front. If you sit in the bar area it's a little more casual and usually have some type of entertainment, usually a singer. The reason I didn't give it five starts is due to the service. It's usually not too bad, but sometimes there are only a couple waiters/waitresses for the whole dining area and it takes a while to get someone's attention if you need something. Overall it's one of my favorite Italian restaurants. I highly suggest going and ending with the chocolate soufflé!
(4)Ilona M.
I would give this place zero stars if I could. I was so infuriated with my experience here, that I actually took the time to write a note telling them how unhappy I was with their service. First off, I'm from LA and I'm only in San Diego for one night. My friend from Europe is visiting and from early morning we have been out and about doing touristy stuff, we chose this place because we were hungry and we may not have been dressed to impress but we were certainly dressed perfectly casual, however that is no reason to stick us in the back corner by the bathroom and not wait on us all night when there were plenty of available tables inside AND outside! The manager clearly put us there on purpose, nobody came to our table all night - I was unhappy with my food but nobody came to check on us so I didn't even bother to look for anybody to complain to. In the end we waited and waited and waited for somebody to finally come around so we could ask for the bill. Another 15 minutes later they brought it. We payed with card - another 15 minutes passed before we got the card back. This is absolutely outrageous and I can assure you I will NOT be returning here on my next trip. We were 3 extremely unhappy customers.
(1)Glen F.
Plain horrible. Lowest quality Italian food I have ever experienced. Too bad... Nice location and patio.
(1)Ramona C.
Love this restaurant. Friends came in from Arizona who love Italian food and because on two previous occasions I had great food and service I decided to take them here. Again the food was magnificent as well as the great service by our smiling waitress Elena. Nightly specials and a great menu. We had a mix of foods from Lasagne to pasta gnocchi and salmon with capers. The Italian sausage is to die for. Delicious desserts from flan to cannoli and chocolate bomb.
(5)Ellie L.
Great food , very good atmosphere We used a groupon that was just expired . They honored our groupon . Gaetano is very sweet Guy. Please try this Resturent . You will be very happy ;)
(5)Happy L.
Delicious food every time! I've been here many time with friends, family and on dates. A great team that provides good service. One night my family and I stayed way beyond closing time and they never rushed us while we stayed talking and laughing over our long lasting drinks.
(4)Stephen R.
This place has an ocean view with campers between. The bread was smashed in the basket. I wanted a meat sauce with my spaghetti and meat balls and the sauce was ok, but the meatballs tasted frozen with little flavor. To boot they charged $7 to modify the menu item, without any notice. Disapointed.
(2)Estella G.
Our experience at this restaurant was not unpleasant. They have a parking lot with about ten or fifteen spaces which is convenient. It's best for compact cars. We came at night but it's right next to the ocean. I'm sure the view is great during the day. But if you don't look like you're going to drop a load of cash in one sitting, you'll get lame service. CUSTOMER SERVICE I give 4 stars for the waiters who helped us. The first impression from the restaurant was terrible. We called at 7:50 pm to see if they had any availabilities for that night. I was greeted with what sounded like the name of the restaurant but I wouldn't have been able to repeat it to you. I started asking if they had a table available for two when the guy on the other end started talking. It was inaudible and right away I could tell he was speaking with someone else who was in front of him. I waited almosth an entire minute on the phone for him to finish greeting this other person or whoever. He finally came back and didn't even attempt to apologize. I asked him for a table for 2 and he cut me off with a loud "8:30? Is 8:30 ok?" I said yes and we hung up. I just hoped the food would be better. On arrival to the restaurant we were never properly greeted. There's was no wait to be seated. Someone just waved us over to a table crammed in the corner next to the door we walked in through. The entire time I'm pretty sure we were being helped by the bus boy. A waiter never properly came to our table to introduced himself as our waiter. I believe it was the manager or owner who we had spoken to over the phone. There was a tall slender man making nice to a few well dressed clients, not sure if he was Italian. We asked him if we could be seated somewhere else but little to no effort was made. Granted, they were busy when we came in. I looked around the restaurant and every table was occupied so we got over it and after a while the table next to us opened up. It was slightly better. ENTERTAINMENT 5 stars There was impeccable live music while we ate. Not sure if this is every night but there were many beautiful voices that night that could be heard very well even in the far corner of the restaurant (where we sat). It made the stay much more enjoyable. FOOD 3 stars We were given a basket of bread. It was divine. A small loaf of white bread that was sliced already. Instead of butter it came with a small cup of tomato chunks. I love tomatoes and these were delicious. This restaurant has a ridiculous amount of choices. Their menu has pages upon pages of menu options with names you cannot pronounce in English, haha. I had the Papardelle Funghi & Gamberi Tartufati. It was a wide flat pasta in a white sauce with shrimp and mushroom, I enjoyed it a lot. It had the flavor I was looking for. A sweet yet savory sauce and the shrimp was delicious. They were large but not jumbo shrimps with the tail still attached. My friend was not so lucky with her dish. She ordered Papardelle Funghi & Salsiccia. I had a taste of it and it was significantly more savory than my dish. It had the same wide flat pasta like my dish and had mushroom and sausage. Her plate had little flavor and tasted bland almost halfway through the dish. For dessert I had a creme brûlée which was expectedly not delicious. I know I'm in an Italian place getting french dessert but if they offer it, what's a girl to do?! I love creme brûlée. The texture had a good fluffy yet smooth feel to it. The top was torched well, it was caramelized a little thick but the flavor was a good balance of sugar and burnt. The actual creme of the brûlée had very little flavor. I couldn't finish it because it was so dull. My friend had the tiramisu. I don't like tiramisu but I think it was good. I had a bite. It tasted like tiramisu.
(3)Chelsea W.
Not super excited about this place. Came here with my boyfriend for dinner and were virtually ignored while we waited uncomfortably in the hallway that has no 'wait for host' sign. Finally a frantic server came up to us and shrugged that we could sit at some table on the patio. We grabbed some drinks and ordered a delicious meat, veggie and cheese plate. A while later the server came back and asked for our entree order. We split the Gorgonzola Gnocchi and found it was just OK. Nothing special about the dish, just tasted like potatoes with fettuccine sauce. The whole time nobody came by to ask how we were doing or how our food tasted. It was like a quick business transaction. This kept us from ordering more drinks and dessert. The highlight of the meal was the bread and tomato side they gave us before our dinner.
(3)Steve G.
a 5 star rating for what it is. It doesn't mean it is a top of the line, fancy, expensive, eclectic restaurant. It means they have outstanding food, reasonable prices, a very accommodating, friendly staff, and a pleasant setting with great views. We often stop here for lunch and the food is always good. Your dog is welcome on the patio seating. Great place.
(5)Andrea J.
Excellent food and service. A little on the pricier side. More like $$$. Gorgeous view and nice ambiance.
(4)Dawn S.
Wow. We looked at multiple places before settling on this place. Very glad we did. Compared to the other places the first impression here was better in that they smiled and greeted us when we entered, the place has a nice patio with torches and it had the family italian style I was looking for (I'm tired of expensive, marginal italian food with no feel of family). Sooo, the food... Very good. The Caesar was tasty, not overdressed with shaved parm but marginal croutons. We had the linguini with clam sauce and the eggplant Parmesan (I was looking for lasagna but none of theirs are meat free). We were very happy with both meals. I also get to eat the other half of the large eggplant for lunch today. At first bite I was not sure about the tiramisu but then loved it. I realized that it has more custard than most but that was what kept it from being soggy which is many can be. I assume they make this in house but did not ask. It was delicious and the coffee was also. Oh and our waitress was helpful, attentive (holy cow, my autocorrect almost changed that to ATTRACTIVE) and everything she should be. Will go back when in the area.
(4)Jessica C.
My friends and I came here for San Diego's restaurant week. We all got different items so I was able to try a little bit of everything (lamb shank, lasagna, filet mignon, ravioli, shrimp/lobster bisque, tiramisu, and the lava cake). The lamb shank and filet mignon were cooked well (tender), but the flavor is "eh". It's actually kind of bland in my opinion, so if you prefer food on the lighter side, then maybe it will suit you better. I think dessert was the best part of the meal. I was willing to give this place a try, but I wouldn't come back again.
(3)Yuchi W.
Fantastic service and great food - what more can you ask for? This is a small cozy restaurant out in Encinitas with a casual and charming atmosphere. The staff is fantastic with service, and the owner even stopped by twice to make sure everything was good with our food. Oh, the food. I opted for the nightly special -- a linguine with prawns, mussels, and clams. It was made in a fantastic marinara sauce. My date had the pesto dumplings, which had the best pesto sauce ever. The portions might look small on Yelp's photos, but they're filling and just the right amount. It's a great place for a date or to celebrate something small in an intimate environment. The ambiance was catered towards an older crowd; the live entertainment was singing Hey Jude and Besame Mucho, just to give you an example of what to expect. Very friendly and warm atmosphere, with lots of conversation and wine. Dress code is casual, and they allow dogs on their outside seating area. I recommend sitting outside if you don't mind the pets; it looked a bit cramped inside and more boisterous. I would definitely visit again; the food was fantastic and I had a great experience!
(5)Morgan N.
Ok this place has a very nice view of the ocean if you are not facing the ocean before sunset, in which case you be looking directly into the sun and they have no way of blocking it. There were 8 of us at the table, when ordering food the waitress had her back to two of the people at our table and forgot to take their orders, we had to call her back. She also forgot to bring the milk we ordered for my son the entire two hours we were sitting there. They charge extra $3 for gluten free orders which is understandable since gluten free pastas generally cost a little more and might need extra preparation. So I was under impression that I would get my fish with a side of gluten free pasta, but no they charge $3 just to remove the pasta from your dish ... There was no gluten free pasta replacements. They could not mange to being all the dishes out together so we had to wait for 10 minutes or so so they could bring my husbands order. My bass dish had a long strand of black hair on it when it was placed in front of me. I know I should never return a dish so I removed the hair and ate it. Food tasted disgusting. The squashes were bitter, I even offered it to others at table and they all agreed they were inedible. The bass had the flavor of pond algee or some sort of nasty grass, topped with a very salty marinara. Sauce was quite gross, it had a medley of stuff like olives and capers and was very salty, it just didn't go together. It tasted very much like watered down tomato paste and chunks. Prego out of a jar would have been better than their sauce. When leaving the waitress could not understand that my husband and I were paying together and could not handle the billing. She kept giving credit cards back and forth and ended up giving cards to wrong people. I will scratch this place off my list in the future.
(1)Dov S.
This is a hidden gem that pays respect to the taste and essence of regional Italian cuisine. At Cicciotti's I have never been disappointed and have always gotten a chance to sample something I have never had before - new flavors and new combinations all of which are very inspired. This is a rare place where I look at the menu and instead of not knowing what I want, I want one of EVERYTHING. Service is good, but for this level of restaurant it could be better. There is no reason that during a slow time, service can't be more attentive. This is the only reason I didn't give full five stars ... something I hope to fix after our next few visits.
(4)Dayae K.
I'm sorry... I wanted to give this place more stars but my heart won't let me. I wanted to like this place because it was part of San Diego's restaurant week, but what I ordered was just so hard to eat. TT__TT So my apartmentmates and I went to this restaurant for restaurant week. The restaurant week menu sounded very promising and the restaurant itself seemed like a cute little italian place. BOY WERE WE WRONG. We all ordered the lobster bisque for our appetizer hoping that there would be huge chunks of lobster with great lobster flavor. But to our disappointment, the soup tasted kind of like a tomato cream soup and there were no pieces of lobster. Fine, we were disappointed with the appetizer so we were all hoping for an amazing main course. We ordered a filet plate with vegetables and mashed potatoes and I ordered the Pappardelle Funghi & Gamberi Tartufati which is basically flat noodles with mushroom, shrimp and thick creamy brandy sauce and truffle oil. The filet was bearable to eat... nothing amazing. My pasta on the other hand was inedible. I took my first bite and tasted mush and something that of metal in my mouth. Thinking that maybe my taste buds were acting weird, I told my apartmentmates to try it and they all agreed that the taste was "off". Since I didn't want to waste money and food, I just asked my waitress to give me Tabasco sauce and I drenched that pasta with it... then it became okay to eat. After forcing myself to eat the worst pasta I have ever tasted, I was reluctant to try their dessert. True to my assumption, their chocolate souffle was nothing like a souffle and was just too thick and way too chocolate-y for my taste. I'm sad that my restaurant week experience was this bad. The only thing I enjoyed was their free bread... :'""""(
(1)Jazmin T.
Had a wonderful time here. Food was amazing! Staff and owner were very friendly and accommodating to our large crowd. I would definitely recommend and visit this restaurant again!
(5)Judi P.
Horrible! Horrible! Horrible! We tried a Groupon for CicciottisTrattoria italiana with another couple and it was a total waste except for the company. The one star is for the service. The service was good but the food wasn't. Won't go back again.
(1)Sharon V.
Darn it! I just went to write a review for this place and just realized I could've saved 20% just by mentioning yelp. WTH! With a $84 dinner check (not including tip), that could've come in handy. I guess I should looked at the yelp page more carefully! Anyway, I came here with the hubby for date night and we really had a lovely evening. We didn't realize that they had live music on Fridays so that was a nice surprise. More on the entertainment later. We've been here countless other times for lunch and love getting their pizza. Very delicious. You won't be disappointed. My favorite is the margherita pizza. Simple but flavorful. This time for dinner, we departed from our usual order. My husband went with spaghetti and I chose one of the specials for the evening, the Cioppino. My husband loved his spaghetti and licked his plate clean. I sampled and thought the sauce was nice and had a hint of garlic which I love in my sauce. My husband loves simple spices so this was perfect for him. My special, the cioppino was scrumptious and I was happy I ordered. It was generously packed with seafood such as muscles, squid, 3 oz of fish etc;, and was served over a bed of linguini. I would've loved for it to have more spice but I'm sure the mild flavors catered to the masses and a simple addition of crushed pepper flakes did the trick for me. I would've loved for a grilled, crispy slice of bread with EVOO and rubbed with garlic to eat the cioppino with. I also would've loved a little fork to remove the muscles from their shells. It was a little challenging (and messy) to remove with my dinner fork (they were large). Also the fish they used (I believe it was seabass), was a little overcooked. I barely ate much because of it. I was a little shocked to find out that this dish was $26 when we got the check though. A little more than I would've thought. The mixed green side salad that my husband ordered had fresh ingredients and was not overdressed. We also ordered a side of steamed veggies and they were also fine. We just needed a little extra greens and this did the trick. It's not on the menu but they charged us $4 and we thought that was fair. Complimentary bread and tomato basil sauce is delicious. It was hard to resist having one slice of bread. I might've had two. ; ) For dessert we had the tiramisu and it was delicious. Light and very reminiscent how we had it back in Italy. Needless to say, we devoured. Aside from the company I kept, the best thing of the night was by far the entertainment. There were two different musicians that played throughout the night and both were amazing vocalist and pianist. We were blown away and felt as if we were in this intimate italian Opera venue. The first gentleman playing when we got there brought tears to my eyes with the amazing range he had. It was so beautiful. I usually hate to wait for a seat but the 15 minutes we waited went by quickly as I was just mesmerized. The second musicians were two gentleman. One played the piano and the other blew us away with his amazing, I mean amazing voice. Boy, what a pair! Their style was more contemporary but it was just as breathtaking as the first guy. Throughout the night, people would stand and applaud him after he finished a song. After his last song of the night (at 10pm), the entire room stood up and shouted "encore! encore! encore!" So cool! It was not what was expected for dinner but it was such a pleasant surprise. This might be our new favorite place for date night if this is a regular occurrence. I am tempted to give this place 5 stars but I had to ding them for a few things: 1). Overcooked fish in my cioppino. 2). I like to have the table cleared once we're finished with dinner and definitely when we are having dessert. When our dessert was served, we had remaining plates on our table and that just bugged me. There were several opportunities for a bus boy or even our waiter to have cleared the table but they didn't . 3). Price of the cioppino. I think this would've been better priced at around $20, not $26. All in all though, this is a great restaurant and I would recommend it. The staff speaks italian and the food seems very authentic.
(4)Alex T.
I came here with some friends just an hour ago and this place has to be the best value restaurant in all of Cardiff. This restaurant has the distinction of being so good that I made a Yelp account to ensure it gets the credit it deserves. The chef, Gaetano (sic?), was outstanding and very friendly. I'm new to the area of encinitas from San Diego so I'll be hitting this place a ton. I had I believe the Pappardelle Funghi & Salsiccia, which was great, and the group shared some pizza which was Amazing. Pros - - Great Service - Food was great and much more affordable than most of Cardiff - Calm ambiance and casual yet high class dining - Beautiful scenery by the window. - Not too much traffic getting there as it is east of the 101 Hwy Only Con- - Parking is a bit odd, but it is free and that is better than most every restaurant in Cardiff.
(5)Andrea B.
To start we order a bottle of house Chard which was 28 bucks a bottle Blue Fin, then we ordered the appetizers: Antipasto Italiano $13 1/2- Fresh buffalo mozzarella and tomatoes, grilled vegetables, bruschetta, prosciutto di Parma and assorted cheeses. Should have stopped there, the tomatoes on the 1 slice of bruschette (same as the free bread they bring our except toated) were bland, oh but it gets worse, the black olives were straight from a can, sliced not even italian, the atitichokes were from a jar could have been any brand and the garlic, the big jug from costco of already peeled garlic. I pointed out each of these things to the aiter and you know what his answer was? He said "What do you want me to say" OMG..... Next the food came, I had the: Bandiera Italiana $15 1/2- Sampler of gnocchi in a creamy gorgonzola pesto sauce, cheese ravioli in Alfredo sauce and meat cannelloni in a marinara sauce. The sauces were mediocure, there were three over cooked ravilois and the meat cannelloni tasted rancid, oh yeah and the gnocchi, you can buy it in the pre made package again at COSTCO. I highly do not recommend going here, you will be wasting your money! Groupon users beware.
(1)Tom N.
Service was friendly and fairly quick although the waiter had to be told several times to clear our very small table when we were finished with a course. Restaurant was crowded and very noisy and we were given a makeshift table next to another couple who could hear our every word, I HATE that! However, the food was soooo good that it was worth some of the unpleasantness...besides, the couple next to us were real good sports and very friendly. You can't blame the restaurant when the child behind you screams incessantly at ear piercing decibels...but you can blame the parents for not being considerate enough to remove the child. Anyway, I had the Buffalo mozzarella and Prosciutto appetizer and the Naepalitano Lasagne with meatballs. I have to say, it was the best I've ever had. They have a crazy bar with a great operasinger/piano player who competes nicely with the noisy din from the other room. All in all, Id say we enjoyed ourselves. We'll be going back!
(4)Liz L.
I really want to give this place more stars because the owner was so nice when I asked him to adjust our bill for the bad experience we had. But since I even had to talk to the owner...this is the best I can do. I went out with 3 other lovely ladies for Friday night, restaurant week, trying hard to block out the mediocre (but not awful) experience I had with my hubby at this place during the last restaurant week. I was optimistic. Here is what was GOOD about the experience: 1. Dessert: Panna Cotta. 2. The bread 3. My steak was pretty good 4. The busboy was INCREDIBLY nice and took better care of us than our waiter 5. The owner adjusted our bill, very nicely 6. Live musical entertainment in the bar Here is what SUCKED: 1. Being sat at 910 for an 815 reservation (**tip to the management: don't accept reservations for parties larger than 6 for restaurant week. They take FOREVER and result in you having a hot mess of angry people standing around immediately in front of those who are dining, and in the way of your servers) 2. Lobster bisque was lukewarm 3. Friends pasta dish was cold 4. My mom's fish dish was undercooked 5. 3rd friends fish dish was barely warm 6. They ran out of the dessert we ordered, even though they made us order it at the same time as our appetizer. 7. They ran out of tomato dipping sauce for their bread The first time I went to this place, with my hubby, they were also late in seating us. The waitress rushed us, was very rude, and the food was just OK. Maybe it is just a Restaurant Week problem for this restaurant, but they'd be very wise to pull out of it next time around or re-think their approach. RW is supposed to be the time to try the best of what San Diego has to offer and they clearly offer anything close to the best when there is a crowd.
(1)Noel Y.
Standard Italian with fantastic ocean views from the front enclosed patios. Food is well prepared, servers are friendly and knowledgable.
(3)Edwin M.
Hot food! Seems like you can only get it in Europe anymore. Food was excellent as was the service. Portions were almost too big. Planning to go back soon.
(5)Hal B.
Do not go on a busy Saturday night. They were simply overwhelmed. 3 of our 4 meals arrived, the fourth was about 10 minutes later. All were almost an hour after we ordered. The waitress was rushed and perfunctory. The food was just adequate. The noise was overwhelming ... one of our party got a headache from the noise. I will not go here again.
(2)Sarah C.
The service is impeccable. I ate here with my boyfriend on a Tuesday evening and it took us just a little over an hour to finish eating our meal and dessert. I ordered the pasta plate with mushrooms, shrimp, and truffle oil. I enjoyed it, but I imagined it to be more flavorful. The tiramisu was a lovely finish. Watch out for the cocoa powder sprinkled on top, though. If you breathe in the right way, it will make you cough. I suggest placing the cocao powder side down on your tongue to avoid that. Haha. It was a good place to try with a Groupon deal. The tab can add up quite quickly is my only issue.
(3)Audrey B.
Two stars because the food was delicious, everything from the appetizers to the dessert, other than that the service was no better than a take out place. At the beginning of our meal the service was slow but nothing stood out as unprofessional or unsanitary but about 45 minutes into our meal my friend I was dining with pointed out that I hadn't gotten a refill on my soda since we got there and I noticed the server did not put lemon in her water as she had politely requested when we first got there, the couple sitting next to us had arrived after us was served before us, received many more visits(refilling waters, asking if things were okay) than we received the whole night and were promptly brought their bill. After we finished our entrees we waited a very long time before we even saw a server (who wasn't ours) to ask for the dessert menu which we were never given. When our server finally arrived for one of her final visits I inquired about the bowl of cheese we were given with our entrees and if they emptied out the shredded cheese after each table or if it was a community bowl they topped off and gave to the next table..... It was a bowl of shredded cheese that who knows how many people ate out of.... The same bowl the same spoon the same cheese... My stomach turned instantly as she said this. After my question our slow service became even slower, our waitress would swiftly walk by to avoid eye contact and iv never seen someone walk to and from a table so quickly to pick up our check(again we had to ask another server) and to top it off the last time our waters got topped off before we got our bill I took a sip and saw large back things floating in the bottom of my cup..... Asked my friend if I could see her glass.. Same black things as well as some other grunge in the bottom of her cup. Food was good besides the community cheese and dirty water but before we went I looked up the menu on line and the prices of EVERYTHING are higher than advertised on line and their menu is very small compared to what they show on line as well
(2)Judy S.
Wow, the worst experience ever!! Bought a groupon for $90 for 4. Made reservations online for the 3 of us & mentioned groupon. Sat down, ordered, showed my voucher on my phone, then was told we couldn't use it because we were short 1 person. they couldn't make a exception because it was groupon rules......, dude, you're the owner. So he said he could give us $50 vs $90, I told him no that I wouldn't accept that. He was rude and aggressive & all in our faces. I asked "so if we didn't order anything else but had someone sitting with us then we could use the groupon?" The answer was yes, so what does it matter!? I'll have to contact groupon to get my $ back....too bad, we were so excited to try their food. I told him we'd pay for what had already arrived at the take and that we'd never be back to which he said he didn't care. That's customer service alright!!! His attitude stunk & his staff didn't seem very excited to be there either. I guess I'd hate life if I had to work for someone like that too. Funny, he was angry at us for not being fair and wasting the food we had ordered. If he was smart, he would have made an exception, we would have had our meal, no food would have been wasted by him and instead of making $12 off of us, he would have made more since we did order more than the $90 value of our groupon even before dessert, and he may have gained new customers.... he screwed himself on that one that's for sure :(
(1)Yashar A.
Best Italian in the neighborhood and certainly at the top in San Diego County. This place is a favorite of my wife and I, our families and as of tonight our friends. I read some bad reviews to see what they were upset with. Seems they were stingy Groupon buyers etc. Another complaint I read was wait time. Folks this is not McDonalds! Learn to enjoy time with family and friends, drink wine, listen to the magnificent music they play live and sing magnificently! Especially if you are so every graced by God to hear Daniel Hendrick, a world renowned Tenor singer who has performed all over the world, written composed tons of work! He also allowsguests join in too. Sometimes professionals like tonight with girl from Manhattan NY. Just epic! I love you all! This place is the absolute best!!! One more thing, the food is bland!!!??? Are you NUTS!!! The food is DELICIOUS!!! Those who think it is bland must never have had real Italian food where subtlety is what is called for, not where there is so much sodium like the fast food joints that basically is the cause of the high blood pressure America is suffering from! I've been to Italy three time, lived in Europe half my life, so from my perspective, the food is superb! Grazie po tutti Ciocciotti's!
(5)Kathy A.
Great neighborhood place with beautiful ocean sunsets! The owner and staff make you feel so welcome and I loved hanging out in the bar drinking Italian wine and listening to the amazing singer, Daniel. I would definitely return to enjoy the ambiance, the pasta and enjoy a wonderful night with friends!
(5)Danny L.
excellent service. great food. good prices. authentic Italian cuisine. try it!
(5)Steven S.
So we are regulars here (take a look at my check-ins although I do not always remember to check in so have been here even much more often than I have check- ins) and I must say the food seems to get better each time we go. The service is always attentive, especially Luca, and we just always have a great time. We are almost always able to get a table and this has become our go to place to relax and have a great meal, well done to Gaetano! Just go and have a great fun meal!!
(5)Megan H.
I loved everything I've eaten here! Been there twice and left stuffed and happy :) The bread dipping sauce is a great app on its own, but I also recommended the prosciutto wrapped scallops in creme sauce. I've tried both mushroom paparadelle dishes, the truffled dish is pretty delicious but it was very rich and I couldn't eat it all...the sausage dish is a little lighter and just as naughty and creamy ;) I will be back, Groupon in hand!
(4)Brittany R.
I was a little disapointed when my mother and I dined here. We were given a groupon to try this place from a friend.. I really wanted to like this place considering it is so cute from the outside and I was hoping to find a new favorite italian resturant but I was definally let down.. We first arrived and was seated promptly and started out with a delicous glass of wine 1 star we were also given fresh warm bread with a tomato herb sauce which was I think the best food we ate all night.. 1 star.. Let me say the server didnt know the specials what so ever and not once checked on us to see how our food tasted through our whole meal other then when our raviolis were almost done.. We then ordered the capresse to split and the cheese was dry it wasnt creamy like most capresses.. the basil however was huge and fresh.. 1 star... After that we ordered the lobster ravioli to split.. Although my mom loved them I thought they were just ok. I am a huge fan of viggiluccis lobster ravioli and unfortuantly this resturant just couldnt even stand at the same level..:( total=3 stars I dont think ill be back there are too many other italian resturants in encinitas that out rank this place by far in the taste department
(3)Kevin D.
This was our first time here, and we loved it! The service was excellent and the food fabulous. Everything was fresh and homemade including the the pasta. The portions were perfect....not too much so we left feeling satisfied but not stuffed. My wife and I split a salad and they put it in 2 bowls for us at no extra charge....definitely a nice, service-oriented touch. We had the canolis for desert which were also excellent. They were very crispy and flavorful. Wine selection was impressive on the bottles, by-the-glass was decent with reasonably priced choices. Easy access and parking. We will return and would recommend to anyone. Thanks for reading.
(5)Heather G.
Hands down one of my favorite restaurants in the greater San Diego area. My family and I love italian food, have lived in San Diego for 12 years, and have traveled the world eating great food. While we're at home, this place is a regular. The caprese and penne alla vodka are my favorites because the tomatoes and mozzarella are always fresh, and the vodka sauce is extremely flavorful. The chicken marsala is juicy and every pasta is cooked to a true al dente. Aside from that, the whole menu is delicious. This is quality italian food. After our third visit, we purchased Chef Gaetano's recipe book, and attempt to recreate his masterpieces at home.
(5)Mia B.
Came here for a Groupon deal and overall it was pretty good. I got the Linguine creamy tomato sauce with chicken and artichoke, delicious! My mom loved her portabello, cranberries spring mix salad. They really know how to fill up your red wine glasses, wow! awesome :) We got a dessert for my brother's bday (chocolate lava) ummm $9.50! And it wasn't that good, bummer. But everything else was very good and the staff was friendly and hard working. Nice small view of the ocean. In a great location of downtown cardiff. I would come back.
(3)