Nonno's Ristorante Italiano

The food was delicious, Lisa our sever was amazing. 10/10. We definitely will be coming back.

Best find in years. Fantastic food and felt like we were being served homemade meals. The place is a bit of a hole in the wall, but it's our new favorite Italian restaurant in town.

Oh man, I wanted to like this place because of the reviews. Sadly it was complete disappointment. The first attempt of coming here per their listed hours for lunch at 11am and the place was closed. It waited 20 mins and left. Okay no big deal. The second time I bring my family, a baby and a toddler with us, for dinner, we arrive at 5pm (they open for dinner at 4pm). When we walk up to the door, a lady Rudely tells us that it is a 10 minute wait. There is no one else around and the restaurant is empty by the way. Then she proceeds to shut both doors on us to have us wait outside. We debated the entire wait, and yes it was a full 10 minute wait, to go to our normal spot, Antica Trattoria (highly recommend by the way blows this place out of the water), and instead decided to just go for this place. It took an incredibly long time to take our order. She said she only had one high chair. So not kid friendly. We were never given drink menu. The food was not good. And it was expensive!! Super confused by the ratings on this place. The interior is old and smells. Needless to say we will not be coming back, and I wouldn't go here if I were you.

What a true hidden gem!

Nonno's is a humble, family-run restaurant specializing in familiar Italian food and deliver phenomenal service. The wine selection is also great!

I visited on 7/12, ($10 off a bottle of wine for Wine Wednesdays)!

I ordered the -

Appetizers -

Bruschetta - Garlic crostini served with fresh tomato, basil, shaved Parmesan cheese. It is a simple dish, yet so flavorful.

Steamed Green Lipped Mussels - Madeira wine, fresh tomato and basil, and onions. The sauce pairs well with the mussels. I highly recommend asking for garlic bread and dip it into the sauce!

Entree -

Rigatoni bolognese - Italian sausage baked with onions, mushrooms, and provolone cheese in a creamy garlic marinara sauce. The sauce was flavorful, creamy, and not heavy at all.

Lisa,
Thank you again for the great service and recommendations. The ambiance was great throughout the evening.

I will definitely come back and try other dishes.

This is a DINING EXPERIENCE!

Nonno's is a wonderful Italian family run dinner spot. Lisa and the entire kitchen make you feel so welcome and catered to. It really feels like having dinner at your favorite family members home where you are the star.

This location is small and also serves take out so it's extremely important to call ahead and make a reservation.

I called on Friday around 4pm and made a 7pm reservation. Lisa took my name over the phone and remembered us when we arrived.

Once seated they provide you with a basket of garlic bread that was delicious. Drinks and appetizers came quick and the pizza followed shortly. Lisa provided great recommendations for the pizza (anchovies on the side!)

Coming to Nonno's makes you feel like you are transported into a little spot in Italy where the food is plenty and everyone has a friendly face. This place is truly a hidden gem.

Such a wonderful neighborhood gem to stumble across. Luckily we called and were told we needed a reservation which we were able to get for that night. The restaurant is very small which explains why a reservation is required. On the night we went, they were about a half hour behind and recommended we go a few doors down and have a drink at the local pub. Thirty minutes later, on the dot, the woman came and told us our table was ready. Lisa is the woman who answers the phone, takes your order. serves your food gets your drinks, she is a one woman show, and is great at her job! The food was outstanding, the service was on point, and we will definitely be back. A very nice gesture is she asked us both of our names and referred to us by name for the rest of the night, you don't get that in many places!

My wife and I have been wanting to try this small La Mesa eatery fro some time and we finally did. We stopped in for lunch the other day and had an overall good experience.

This is a hard working family business. On this day husband and wife were running the show alone. With approximately 2 dozen seats, about half were occupied. There is nothing exceptional about the ambiance but it is a small space. Despite possibly needing another wait person we felt that service was very thorough and attentive.

For lunch we ordered the Shrimp Risotto which was spot on creamy deliciousness, topped with four perfectly cooked shrimp. Our second entree was Chicken Parmesan. The chicken was perfectly cooked but on the small side. My critique on their pasta sauce is that it contains too much oregano and over powers the dish. As a cook, I believe that when I comes to pasta sauce 'less' is ' more'! I firmly believe that the tomatoes should be the star in pasta sauce so, I prefer my sauce prepared with basil, which is more complimentary and less dominate. As I've said in other reviews, pasta sauce is very subjective so, some people may like this style....just not my style.

I've heard that they serve up great sandwiches and pizza too so, I'll give that a try next time! I recommend this neighborhood spot in a strip mall in La Mesa

Really enjoyed this small restaurant. Had the "My way" seafood pasta dish. Really good. My buddy said his lasagna was outstanding. I'll try it next time. I remembered to take photos before I dug in. That's a major accomplishment on my part. One delightful server, Lisa Honey, in the entire place (7 or 8 tables) and she was busy but kudos to her, she was spot on. Go there, it's very good.

I mean, when a place isn't 'flashy', and that's said with respect, you know the focus is their food. Well, that's Nonno's in La Mesa. Great staff, great food, especially their signature sandwich. Highly recommend!!

Going to Nonno's is a fine dining experience without the pretentiousness. There are two people, that I know of, that make this experience world class. Gerrardo is the chef and turns out the most amazing dishes. His sauces are delectable and reminiscent of his Sicilian roots. Lisa Honey is the best and most gracious server that I have ever known. Your satisfaction is her main concern. She can run the entire room and make every guest feel special.

The food is always on point. The flavors are distinct and special. The portions are hearty. The salads are fresh and unique. The pizza is perfect with incredible crust and toppings that pop. There are a wide range of entrees that inspire the best of chefs.

They get my vote for the best restaurant this side of Sicily.

Side Note. Last week I was there for lunch. I ordered the 16" Torpedo. I only could eat half of the giant sandwich and asked for the remaining half to be wrapped up to be enjoyed at home. Mistakenly, I walked out and left the doggy bag on the table. Later I found out that Lisa Honey ran after me but was too late. So, she kept the Torpedo wrapped and in a warmer until they closed that night. That kind of service and thoughtfulness is rare and admirable.