Testo Pepesto Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in El Cajon

I've been wanting to get in to dine at Testo Pepesto for some time now. Recently I had the opportunity to pay a visit and was really impressed! I took my time and sat at their beautiful bar with comfortable high-back chairs. Service was outstanding. Everyone was friendly, professional, and hospitable. I started with a glass of Pinot Grigio and a "small" Chef Salad. Their small can easily be shared by 2 or 3 people. I loved that it was made with shredded iceberg lettuce only! I can't stand when restaurants excessively use all that fancy, hard to fork tissue paper lettuce. This mountain of a salad was teeming with chopped ham, salami and provolone, then topped with shredded onion, maters and three nice, plump, fresh tasting pepperoncinis. The side of Italian dressing was tangy and delicious.

After I settled all of that I had a glass of Chianti and their "Baked Spaghetti". It's their house blend of ricotta and Romano cheeses with marinara sauce, topped with mozzarella then baked to perfection. Such an excellent dish that I truly enjoyed. It immediately hit my two main benchmarks with a baked pasta dish. Bubbly hot throughout and al dente. Homerun for certain. I did elect to add a protein element with a meatball and Italian sausage. Both were outstanding. I expected them to come on the side but they were baked right onto the dish which was just fine with me. Even if it looks like my spaghetti has a goiter. Overall this place is a standout and I look forward to visiting again soon. Definitely a noticeable step above other local establishments in the area like Filippi's, Marechiaro's, Nicolosi's, and Ottavio's. Just wish they...

It's a shame that I have to give this place 2 stars because their food is actually decent. The reason for 2 stars is because I hate to say it, but the waiter service is terribly slow and lazy. The restaurant was not busy at all. I would understand if the server was extremely busy, but she was not. If you're lazy, please do not be a waiter. You will not get a tip. It's as simple as that. Me and my spouse went here to eat dinner last night and the waitress we had was very slow. Our drinks were empty for a solid 10-15 minutes. The waiter is not aware of her surroundings of what her customers needs are. That's not okay. Not only that, but when it came time for the bill, it took the waitress a solid 15-20 minutes to charge us to even leave. You know it's bad when you have to have ANOTHER waiter to charge your card because your MAIN waiter ignored you. Also, It should take you 2 minutes TOPS to charge the customer. The waitress didn't even acknowledge us when we were blatantly staring at her in order to wave at her to get her attention. Management, if are reading this, you seriously need to look into your waiters because it's costing you...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Testo Pepesto Italian Restaurant in El Cajon, and I must say it was an incredible experience! The pasta with seafood that I ordered was absolutely divine. The flavors were rich, the pasta cooked to perfection, and the seafood was fresh and succulent. It was truly the best pasta with seafood I've ever had!

Not only was the food exceptional, but the portion sizes were incredibly generous. I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of food served. It's definitely a place where you won't leave hungry! The value for money is outstanding.

The restaurant itself has a warm and inviting atmosphere, perfect for families and gatherings. The staff was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu. They made sure all our needs were met and provided excellent service throughout our meal.

I highly recommend Testo Pepesto Italian Restaurant to anyone looking for a memorable Italian dining experience. Whether you're a seafood lover or simply craving delicious pasta, this place won't disappoint. I can't wait to go back and try more dishes from their extensive menu. Trust me, you won't be...