Marechiaro's Italian Restaurant - 2nd St. — Restaurant in El Cajon

WHY WHY WHY would you “fix” what wasn’t broken?? Your Cesar salad is one of your staple menu items that everyone loves . Myself included …. That is… until you CHANGED the dressing!! The Caesar salad is literally why I would patronize the restaurant . I get spaghetti also which is very good but it’s the Caesar salad that brought me there. I live an hour and a half away but I would get food here often on my way to visit my grandma on Steele canyon golf course who also loved the original Cesar salad . I am beyond disappointed and I don’t see myself ordering from here much anymore. If at all . You had the BEST Caesar salad there was. But that is no more.

The last time I was there I knew something was off IMMEDIATELY. I walked back from my car after picking up my order and I asked the person at the register if the dressing had changed and she confirmed that it had.

What a mistake…. It’s awful. I’m sorry , but it is. That previously perfectly rich garlic flavor has been replaced with a bland oily mess of a dressing that’s completely lacks any flavor whatsoever and was so oily that it made some of the lettuce transparent. Gross! It’s a huge huge disappointment that I can no longer get the original Cesar .

Don’t go changing things that didn’t need changing! YES be innovative with your menu and change things up every once in awhile … EXCEPT where it comes to your staples …. And that was a staple.

You’ve lost...

We've dined at Marechiaro's twice and both times, our dining experience was epic! Pros: service, food quality, cleanliness, menu variety, Cabernet wine (Maddalena), clean restrooms, private parking, Cons: still trying to come up with negatives but am drawing a blank. I'll comment on our last visit... The 7 of us came for dinner after Shadow Mountain Church's Saturday night church service and were served by "B". First of all, B was AMAZING!!! If you get a chance to be seated at any of her tables, you'll be well taken cared of, I promise! From what I can recall, we ordered their 2 antipasto salads, garlic cheese bread, 2 tortellini carbonaras, chicken Parmesan, two large pizzas, a tiramisu to-go, and 2 bottles of Maddalena Cabernet Sauvignon wine. Everything ordered was delicious, B stopped by often and regularly to check on us, our food was served fresh, hot, and delicious as ever! If you're anywhere around the greater El Cajon area, and want some outstanding Italian food without paying through-the-roof prices from places downtown or in Little Italy, look no further than Marechiaro's! I know I'm bragging a lot about B, but all the servers we encountered that night were as friendly as ever. We live in the South Bay area, but can't wait to...

Most reliable restaurant I know. As a professional chef I appreciate knowing that I get what I order, the way I order and still be fresh and delishious. This restaurants food is consitently fresh, good and to exact expectations if you have eaten there before. There are few pizza orders that they cannot satisfy. The selection of sauces is basic but excellent and the menu shows a great selection allowing everyone to find a favorite. The service is friendly, exceptional in remembering your past choices and personal quirks, striving to please. Some of the girls are family have been there for years, without showing any boredom you will find in some places. The parkinglot is always full with extra parking in the back, a good sign that the restaurant is well visited all week. ( Monday closed) This is a Family friendly place, with room for large groups, that makes you feel like you belong and matter. The owner is on premise every night, with very few exceptions, overseeing everything that leaves the kitchen. Go try it, if you like italian and Italy you will enjoy the warm and friendly atmosphere and authentic...