Ristorante Illando — Restaurant in San Diego

Ristorante Illando, above Landinis in the heart of Little Italy, is a hot date spot serving legit Italian cuisine and vino! The owners - Leo & Christine Landini have created such a cool, cozy, rustic restaurant in Little Italy. It used to be an art gallery just up the stairs from Landini's Pizzeria (also their place). This place is a hidden gem. We came with old friends (the husband is Italian and he loved everything) and we had such an enjoyable experience. We reserved the window table overlooking the street which proved extra entertaining as it was during a fundraiser w/ many people walking by who were dressed provocatively. Lotsa laughs. Also was a great afternoon spot when the sun is warm and comfy coming thru the glass. To start, we had Calamari Fritti (calamari & shrimp) - delicately fried, tender and tasty inside, but crispy outside. Hey, the jalapeño added a nice kick. Wow. This is a must have app! Also had the Tagliere di Salumi e Formaggi (mixed Italian cold cuts & cheese board w/ a yummy fig compote, etc). So good I didn't get a pic before it was half gone! The complimentary bread w/ oil n vinegar was also pretty good. My dinner choice was off the Specials menu. Fettuccine w/ mushrooms n homemade sausage in delicious marinara! Ummm yahh, so rich and yummy. The hub enjoyed a fresh fish special. Everyone's plate looked delish. The wine suggestion by Leo, was SO good! Smoo-ooth and complex! Luv the mix of fresh fruit n black currant flavors and aroma. Leo can share stories of how he knows the Castello family back in Tuscany and grew up near the Castello di Verrazano Vineyard. Thanks for sharing and thanks for the tip! It was a perfect pairing with my dish. I can't forget to add it was my birthday and I was blessed with a chocolate Tiramisu that thrilled my taste buds! It was light, yet somehow drenched in the espresso cocoa syrup. I'm not sure how we all shared this without fighting! The hospitality here is gracious, the food and service are fantastico and the atmosphere is precious! We will be back for more great food and meaningful moments to remember.

(Note: Unfortunately, there is no handicapped access to this upstairs hideaway. Also, the parking in Little Italy can be challenging, but oh so worth it! It just adds to the experience of getting out for a lovely stroll in an engaging neighborhood. Give yourself ample time, just in case! We always plan for a stroll and pics afterwards in charming Little Italy.)

ADDITION: Omgosh, just had an amazing evening w/ my sisters and some nieces just for fun. And as one of my nieces is Christine Landini, we were in for a treat! If you have not tried the Torre di Antipasti you are missing out! WOW. 3 levels of goodness to get your appetite going: Tasty cold cuts, cheeses, nuts, jam, bruschetta, burrata, polenta, arugula... that burrata. Omg. The bruschetta. Dang. We ate it all! Then we had Fusilli Chiantigiana, Pappardelle al Granchio, Ravioli Rosini and Braised Short Rib n Sage Tortellini.... all shared Fam style. Our wines: Supertuscan, Castello Verazzano Toscana 2014 & Rigoleto Montecucco Rosso 2013 (very smooth) Desserts: Cannoli & Tiramisu w/ espresso. Now I go back to dreaming of...

It was Christmas 2024 and this upstairs little haven in Little Italy was bustling with customers and we had an early reservation 5:45p and all the staff and hostess with Italian accents were so beautifully handling so many tasks at once performing amazingly and giving heartfelt smiles to everyone. It was miraculous. We were escorted upstairs to a perfect window table overlooking India Street and all the lights and Christmas in Little Italy- so lovely. The water guy came with a bottle for our table and brought me lemons I asked for and he was so nice and helpful and he was crazy busy. Another brought us plates and silver, so nice and amazing service. The waiter who came next was also Italian, incredibly handsome and had some kind of knack for charisma and looked us each in the eye as he spoke and was one of the best I’ve had in my life. He was perfect as far as waiters go and made connections straight from his heart. He recommended his favs and I had Cioppino and we had Aranicini the antipasto and I forgot what my friend had but I tasted it and it was heavenly short rib melt in mouth with pasta - I forgot the name. The bread was great the eco/balsamic dip awesome and my friend found his favorite Tuscany white wine Vermentino, which I tasted: awesome.

The Aranicini- were surprisingly amazing! A first time taste for me, delish. Hand made baseball sized crispy rice balls with meat bolognese sauce and mozzarella inside that melts like a dream when you cut into it, sitting in a orangy bed of steamy vodka sauce, omfg. Rich and creamy. Perfect as antipasto at beginning of meal when I’m hungriest. Love this place and every member of wait staff I came into contact with. Thank u...

I had mixed feelings about coming here, because all the reviews seemed polar opposite (some really great and some really terrible) and I didn’t know what to expect. But we took a shot at it anyway and I’m so glad we did!

This is a cozy restaurant that feels artisan without being too uppity. We ate upstairs. We made a reservation (on a Wednesday) but arrived about 15 minutes early and were seated immediately. There were many other guests, but it didn’t feel too crowded.

We were brought bread, oil and balsamic while we reviewed the menu. There were about 3 different people who helped/checked in on us through our experience, so we felt well attended but not overshadowed.

Looking around, the other guests all seemed to have plates with large portion sizes and this was also our experience when we ordered. My husband got the mushroom risotto and I got the shrimp & pancetta linguini with the vodka sauce, although I subbed gluten free noodles. They have GF penne pasta that can be subbed for regular noodles (although I’m not sure if that works with things like ravioli). Our food was phenomenal! The risotto was cooked Al dente, and had a great cheese and mushroom flavor. The shrimp in my pasta (4 pieces) was very large in size and cooked perfectly - juicy and a good pop in the bite - not too chewy. There was enough pancetta that I felt like I had some with every bite. The vodka sauce was fantastic, with well rounded flavors!

Neither of us could completely finish our food and took home the rest. We were offered dessert, which I would like to try another time, but we were too full this time.

This is definitely a place I...