Giardino — Restaurant in Lemon Grove

Giardino Neighborhood Cucina Located in Lemon Grove, California just outside of San Diego is by far the best Italian restaurant Ive eaten in this area to date. My girlfriend and I started our meal off with garlic knots. Typically, garlic knots can definitely be a hit or miss with most Italian restaurants but these were out of this world; honestly the best I have ever had. They were so soft with a little bit of crunch as you bit into it, oozing with garlic butter. My girlfriend had ordered the Crab and Shrimp Ravioli which was very delicious. The vodka cream sauce was smooth and rich, as you can tell the note of vodka enhanced the flavor profile of the sauce which complimented very well with the cheese ravioli. Furthermore, I ordered the Fettuccine Maremonte which had baby scallops, shrimp, and mushrooms in a delicious truffle brandy cream sauce. Honestly, this dish is worth every bang for your buck. I did find that I needed to add a bit mor salt to enhance the flavor more, but overall it was a very good dish. However, the only suggestion I would make that I wasn’t a big fan of was the baby shrimp and scallops. I definitely believe this restaurant can be taken to the next level if you replace it with fresh Sea Scallops, as well as fresh caught local shrimp. Another suggestion I would make is to toast the garlic bread longer as it was soft and soggy. I thought the balsamic glaze on top was unnecessary and a little to sweet to my liking for garlic bread; just keep it simple and add minced parsley for color. The ambience is very nice and eclectic, quite lovely if you’re looking for a date night. Our Waitress was very knowledgeable of the menu and friendly. We asked her what her top picks were and she didn’t steer us in the wrong direction. Giardino offer an array of specials each night on the weekdays and even on the weekends. For example, they offer a special for two for $55 that gives you 1 appetizer, 2 Entrees, and 1 Dessert. Overall, this restaurant is very good and would recommend if you are near the...

I Just had lunch here (around 1430 hours). Ordered the stuffed mushrooms and calamari for apps and the Americana pizza and stuffed sole for entrées. Cannoli for dessert. Firstly the stuffed mushrooms looked magnificent but were bland and tasteless. The stuffing had chunks of crab I believe but had no crab taste at all. It just tasted like mushroom, if that is the goal they have nailed it. The calamari was made with mature squid, on the east coast we used to use baby squid to keep the rings small and soft; not hard and rubbery like the calamari here. The pizza was decent, the only complaint was the ingredients weren’t spread evenly. There were multiple parts of the pizza where three or four pepperoni and bacon pieces were stuck to each other (one on top of the other) as if it wasn’t separated when it was pulled out of the bag. Having worked in a pizza shop it is good practice to separate each pepperoni round, and also it is good practice to cook all the bacon bits entirely before placing them on the pizza. The dough was good and the sauce was sauce. Lastly $9 dollars for three pinky sized cannoli is a bit ridiculous, but not as ridiculous as finding a squished beetle plastered under the pizza board. When I showed a staff member she took the beetle and came back and informed me that everything is sanitized in the restaurant and I have nothing to worry about. Alas, I had the $99 bill to worry about. Two entrées, two apps and a dessert (tap water to drink) for $100! Plus the lack of air conditioning was uncomfortable considering it was 87 degrees out. There is a much better Italian spot in lemon grove, and the Olive Garden in La Mesa is always an option if you ever want Italian and don’t want garbage for an exorbitant amount of money. Edit: nearly forgot to review the Stuffed sole, it was tasteless and overpriced ($31). But at least it was cooked unlike the bacon on the pizza (and the bug...

This is the second time I have gone with my mom and sister for a fun girls night out! I have also been with my husband during restaurant week and we have loved it every time! Tonight we got there in time for happy hour and shared the calamari, arancini, brussel sprouts and stuffed mushrooms. The calamari were generous sized pieces as well as a generous size serving and they were amazing! So tender and perfectly crisp! The stuffed mushrooms tasted very good and were a smaller sized serving, three decent sized mushrooms on the plate. The arancini are served with three good sized balls and were very flavorful . I absolutely loved the brussel sprouts! They were definitely on the indulgent side , covered in Gorgonzola cheese, pancetta and a good sprinkling of bread crumbs over top. We asked for some balsamic reduction on the side which took them to the next level! They could definitely be a meal all in their own! We loved the chef flatbread and all that it entailed! It was so savory and salty with a nice thick sweet smear of fig jam on top! I think I could eat this nearly everyday and if you go on a Tuesday you can grab this flatbread with wine or sangria for just $25! The siciliano steak was not quite as good tonight as it was the last time we went but still a wonderful addition to our meal! Of course we also grabbed the tiramisu and cannolis from the happy hour menu! The cannolis were wonderful! Clearly we ordered way too much food but enjoyed it thoroughly! I can't wait to come back! The location is interesting and clearly not the best area, but they have done a great job of creating a wonderful atmosphere in their restaurant. The inside is a little on the dim side but the wallpapered wall is fun to look at! The front patio is super cute and comfortable but it is on a busy road. If you are leery of the location, I urge you to step out and try it anyway, the food will...