Marechiaro's Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in California

This is our go to restaurant for Italian food in the East County. They've been around for over 50 years and the food is exceptional. If you order a pizza ask them to put all the toppings on top of the cheese and to put the pizza on a rack instead of on a pan so that the crust doesn't get soggy. Their calamari sandwich is so good and the chicken Giuseppe is wonderful. Their bread comes from Little Italy and is soaked in garlic butter and then toasted. All entrees other than pizza come with the garlic bread but we always place an order for it cuz it's so yummy. Weekends typically are very crowded and there can be a wait of up to half hour to be seated. You can order food to go and there are two parking spots in the front for pick up orders. Parking, though, he is at a premium and it can be tough to find a parking space during rush hours. There is a separate banquet room that you can reserve for parties and it has a big screen TV. They only serve beer and wine no hard liquor. The next closest good Italian restaurant is located in San Diego off of 70th Street and that is called Trattoria Antica. However, Marrchiaro's, much less expensive and you get...

I was once a Marechiaro's employee many many moons ago, and I still adore and crave this place! Marechiaro's East is the epitome (to me) of what a family owned Italian restaurant should be like... Every Italian place I go to now days, I automatically compare to Marechiaro's. Not always a good thing if I end up disappointed, but makes me appreciate it that much more. Great cozy but spacious atmosphere ideal for intimate, casual, or even parties in their banquet room. I often go in alone and enjoy their caprese, vino, and a Spring Chicken salad. But of course nothing compares to the pizza!!! Best pizza ever and tons of variations. But they have tons of menu options, so whether you're craving a salad(my fave the spring chix), sandwich/sub(turkey club or torpedo), pasta(everything), seafood(shrimp scampi), pizza(everything.. white, veggie, works, BBQ chix, etc), dessert(tiramisu), you name it.. everything is good. Service is always consistent and good, Marechiaro's East is the best Italian restaurant...

I am sad to leave this review as we've been coming here for decades since I was a child. Many family parties here and was gonna have 2 more in August but reconsidering.The food never fails it's our favorite pizza place but service was absolutely horrible this time and subpar the last few times. We came in with 7 and a baby. Waitress was very unfriendly, we were told we'd be charged for extra ranch, this was the first time we've ever heard this (we did order a salad) and then she gave herself 20% gratuity. I understand large parties give themselves their own gratuity but this went up from 15% and she in no way deserved this much. Reconsiderating my son's 16 bday dinner there as we do not want this waitress again. The young man who was helping with drinks and clearing...