Italian
Delivery
Take-out
Non-veg

Serves meat, vegan options available. Offers a vegan section in the menu of Italian dishes. Includes vegan caprese, caponata, pesto and puttanesca pasta. Menu options are clearly marked. Open Mon-Fri 12:00pm-3:00pm, 4:30pm-9:30pm, Sat-Sun 10:00am-9:30pm.


Venue map for Cesarina
© OpenStreetMap contributors

26 Reviews

First Review by realrachelsd

Lj-ezee

Points +192

Vegan
22 Jul 2024

5-Star Rated Vegan Italian Food

Fun for everyone!! Serves high quality, tasteful-Italian food (vegan & non-vegan), fresh house made focaccia breads, plethora of pastas, sauces, salads, deserts, mock tails & full bar. Dine indoor or outdoor, appeared pet friendly because 2 dogs were chillin on patio. Friendly staff, jazzy music, upbeat pleasant environment. Reservations recommended, it’s a very busy restaurant.

CuriousDeer

Points +114

Mostly Veg
04 Jun 2024

Treat yourself, at least once

Quality food, friendly atmosphere and service, to go boxes are usually paper. Expensive but worth it when you have the money. Fun to try different noodles , good variety for that part, vegan menu section is pretty good (of course that's because many places have only 1-2 options, here it's 4-6) .
Overall very nice but as others noted , make a reservation.

Pros: Friendly kind staff, Not like most Italian places , Small but Clear vegan menu

Cons: Not sure if free bread is vegan , Very expensive , Busy, cramped

sarahashleymc

Points +304

Vegan
19 Feb 2024

The BEST Italian food I have ever had!

Wow. I am absolutely blown away with this place. Most of their homemade pasta is vegan and tastes so good. It is fresh to order and tons of vegan pasta sauces and topping options. It gets incredibly busy- I recommend a reservation!

Pros: Delicious food, Fun, unique environment , Knowledgeable staff

Cons: Long wait, reservation encouraged

k_robsss

Points +1157

Vegan
21 Jan 2024

Best Italian food in SD

I absolutely LOVE Cesarina! The best Italian pasta dishes I have had in San Diego. There are other great vegan options (and dessert) as well. Such a cute restaurant #Veganuary

jcartz

Points +410

Vegan
12 Dec 2023

Authentic Italian cuisine

All the handmade pastas are vegan. The dishes are made with care and you can tell they really care to accommodate vegans. I had the romesco and vodka and it was incredible! My partner had the lasagna. Our meal was so good and the service was wonderful. Would recommend for a cute romantic date night.

Pros: Ambiance, Dishes, Staff

AlejandraSanchez-Rios

Points +23

Mostly Veg
08 Sep 2023

Great Italian food

There are more than just one vegan option, there is like 6. And the vegan lasagna is very good. It also has very good vegetarian options

Pros: Burrata cheese, Mushroom sauce , Vegan lasagna

Cons: I wish they had a vegan appetizer

veganmagick

Points +170

Vegan
30 Aug 2023

Made with Love

Truly outstanding food. We had the vegan baked pasta of the day (eggplant lasagne) and bucatini with romesco vodka sauce. Absolute perfection, could taste the love. The servers seemed to have such pride in their work and the restaurant.

Pros: Authentic cuisine, Friendly service, Endless bread baskets

wandering44

Points +343

Vegan
06 Jul 2023

Great spot

This place had a great atmosphere and staff! They have a dedicated section of vegan options an a few around the rest of the menu. The tomato soup was amazing and the ravioli was really good . The food is fancy and priced accordingly but that is part of the charm of this place .

Pros: Experience , Presentation

Cons: Vegan tiramisu

GSP60

Points +55

Vegan
10 Apr 2023

Awesome vegan lasagna

Great selection on vegan options. Lasagna to die for.

Pros: Options , Have a few walk-in spaces

Cons: Good to make reservations

LorraineGadsden

Points +7212

Vegan
31 Mar 2023

Veg Italian!

We ordered the caprese, two pasta dishes, tiramisu, and gelato. Everything was tasty and fresh. There are many vegan options, and the staff is very vegan-aware.

Updated from previous review on 2023-01-29

bbgv711

Points +27

Vegan
29 Mar 2023

Lack of fresh cheez

Some aspects of Cesarina exceeded expectations, such as the fungi pasta, and table service bread without butter, opting for fresh tomato sauce instead. However, notably disappointing (and super expensive at $18) was the caprese salad with “Follow Your Heart” cheez. After receiving the plate, I asked for more details, thinking I’d seen “fresh” on the menu. Fortunately for them, it didn’t say “fresh” but at this price point, I was seriously disappointed that we received some chopped tomatoes and one slice of Follow Your Heart mozzarella cut into six thin pieces. Do not order this salad until they change the offering to fresh cheez. The other noticeable issue was a preference for serving Omni customers- their tiramisu was delicious, but came fully plated whereas Omni tiramisu was constructed at the table for the customers. Otherwise the pasta was delicious, but a few issues given the price and popularity was a big disappointment to me!

Pros: Delicious fresh pasta , Knowledgeable staff, Clearly marked vegan menu

Cons: Expensive, Lack of attention to detail with vegan cheez , Seemed to emphasize the Omni experience

dea_larissa

Points +771

Vegan
18 Mar 2023

THIS PLACE IS A VEGAN’S DREAM

They have a separate vegan menu…not just like one or two, but all the pasta options, desserts, you name it. I begged to go for Valentine’s Day and my whole omnivore family LOVED it!

LuckyAng

Points +76

Vegan
13 Mar 2023

Such a treat!

Pricier than we spend on dinners out, but we received a gift certificate from generous friends. Our dinner at Cesarina was perfect. There was a vegan menu section that was clearly marked with lots of options. The vegan lasagna with lentils was flavorful and satisfying, and the tiramisu was beautiful. The atmosphere was relaxed and warm. We never felt rushed, and we never felt forgotten. Definitely a worthwhile splurge for future special occasions.

Pros: Warm, relaxed atmosphere , Knowledgeable staff and great service

Cons: Expensive

Kirsses

Points +806

Vegan
15 Jan 2023

Great Tiramisu

We only stopped in to try the vegan tiramisu, but we ended up ordering the vegan gelato as well.

I’ve never like tiramisu before, both non-vegan and vegan. I’ve tried it time and time again. This is the first time I’ve enjoyed it. Their tiramisu is light, not too sweet, and perfectly soft with a bit of crispness. The sorbet paired well with it.

Great environment to grab a drink/dessert with a friend. #Veganuary

Pros: Beautiful Interior , Friendly Workers, Bar Seating

Cons: Very Busy, Minimal Parking

VeganHappy334

Points +158

Vegan
12 Jan 2023

Delicious vegan Italian food

Visiting from out of town and found this on Happy Cow. Went on a Wednesday evening without a reservation. Place was full so we sat at the bar. Finding the place was difficult due to no signage from the street. Despite all this, it was well worth the effort. I had the Puttanesca and my BF hade the lasagna of the day - both were amazing and we will definitely be back!

Pros: Some of the best Italian food I have had, Great service, takes time to explain the dishes

Cons: No parking, Busy, Expensive, but worth it!

ericagb

Points +34

Vegan
11 Jul 2022

BEST ITALIAN FOOD IN SAN DIEGO

Half a page is vegan menu. I had the vegan lasagna and it was amazing. My non vegan friends loved the place too. Everything just tastes so fresh and rich. Also the vegan tiramisu was out of this world.

Linzilady17

Points +480

Vegan
29 Jun 2022

The best Italian food Ever!!

Courtney was our amazing server and she let us know about all the gluten-free options on the vegan exclusive menu! We had the pesto with gluten-free penne,the funghi with gluten-free spaghetti, the Cesarina salad and a side of Polpette vegan gluten-free (lentil meatballs)…. Everything was delicious and incredible! they definitely do not disappoint with amazing flavor with options that we can eat! As Courtney said there was no compromise in flavor and options!!

Pros: A whole vegan menu, Lots of gluten-free options, Incredible service

Cons: None

KaleSeitan

Points +141

Vegan
12 Mar 2022

Vegan San Diego is no joke. You are made to feel welcomed, full and happy

The menu is set up like a travel guide to vegan happiness where you can stop anywhere you want and indulge in the decadent pasta selection rivaling Rome

Pros: Vegan Menu, Happy helpful service , Try the parm and the baked pasta

Cons: Not cheap - it’s a family dinner, Must book ahead , Worth the trip

gayesf

Points +25

Vegan
09 Feb 2022

Fabuloso!

One of my favorite restaurants in San Diego! A whole section of the menu is devoted to vegan selections. Food is Northern Italian. Atmosphere is upscale European. Many of the Wait staff are Italian. Nice wine list. Very knowledgeable staff. Charming restaurant. It was our anniversary last time we were in, and we were greeted at the table with two glasses of Prosecco sparkling in the candlelight. Food is outstanding. Great chef. #Veganuary

comradcluck

Points +89

Vegan
03 Jun 2021

Don't wait - GO HERE

This was quite literally one of the best meals I've ever had. The service, atmosphere, food, and drinks were amazing. Don't wait to go here.

Updated from previous review on 2021-06-03


Updated from previous review on 2021-06-03

Pros: Full vegan menu

Cons: Expensive but worth it

socalguy27

Points +84

Vegan
04 Oct 2020

5 star Italian experience

If you are looking for an authentic Italian experience... look no further... In short, a dozen vegan options and the best Italian food in San Diego, perhaps greater.
I can not say enough good things. Even during covid, the service and experience are amazing!

jbg

Points +35

Vegan
09 May 2020

Serious Vegan Options

The food is very tasty and I love that they have a full vegan Italian menu. Great choice if you are dining with non-vegans. Everyone will be happy, except the cow.

KatieLittlepage

Points +149

Vegan
18 Jan 2020

Nice vegan menu

Lots of vegan options. I came for lunch on a Saturday and service was very fast. I ordered the vegan Norma. You can tell the pasta, sauce and veggies are made from scratch and they are delicious! I was disappointed in the vegan mozzarella on top. It didn’t taste very good — maybe Diaya? I’d still come back though. I’m curious to try their vegan pesto next time!

Pros: Pasta made from scratch, Fast and friendly service , Dog friendly patio

Cons: I didn’t like the vegan mozzarella

veggies+sunshine

Points +131

Vegan
21 Nov 2019

Veganissimo

Italian comfort food! Literally an amazing Italian woman is making the pasta and cannolis in the window! Fabulous setting, no confusion on what you can and can’t eat, fresh pasta and bread made daily, insanely delicious!! Make a reservation, sit outside, la dolce vita!!!

Pros: Vegan section to the menu, Vegan dessert, Insanely fresh flavors

KellyBone

Points +2802

Vegan
27 Sep 2019

Vegan Pasta for All

A lovely space with lots of vegan options. Clearly a popular birthday spot (you will definitely hear singing durning your dinner).

Pros: Clearly Marked Vegan Options

Cons: Parking

realrachelsd

Points +131

Vegan
19 Sep 2019

Super cute family owned and operated. The chef does table-side vegan tiramisu

Went for dinner with my boyfriend and 2 friends. Had a lot of fun and food was fantastic!

Pros: Full vegan menu , Friendly staff, Great atmosphere




This page has been viewed 5114 times.