Cucina Basilico La Mesa

This restaurant offers high-quality Italian cuisine, though it's situated in a slightly inconvenient location within a small strip mall in La Mesa. We tried the special of the night, which was ravioli stuffed with ricotta, lobster, and shrimp, accompanied by extra shrimp in a delightful turmeric cream sauce. It was absolutely delicious and possibly one of the best ravioli dishes I've ever had. We also ordered the caprese salad, which was seasoned just right, with the tomatoes having a lovely texture. Enjoying our meal alongside a lovely glass of wine made for a wonderful dining experience. What truly sets this restaurant apart is their homemade pasta, which is incredibly fresh and authentic. Additionally, the staff was friendly, warm, and welcoming. I do have to deduct a star as I found the prices to be a bit on the high side; $120 for an appetizer, two entrees, and two glasses of wine felt somewhat pricey. Thank you, Cucina Basilico, for a lovely evening!

We came to dinner and sat immediately, the server we had was friendly and attentive. The restaurant offers fresh pasta, made in the house and a sample of the pasta of the day is placed on table with and explanation of each pasta from the server. (photo) On the menu you can select the pasta you want with the different sauce options, 12 options from sauces on the menu. (photo) You can add ons together with your pasta and sauce choice, chicken, shrimp, sausage, mushroom and salmon fillet for additional fee. Or you can order a main dish (3 chicken, a salmon, Cioppino or Lasagne) There are also a couple of side dishes and appetizers, salads. After sitting together with the sample Pasta we were served small rolls of bread, warm and tasty. (picture) Dessert menu also after eating. Our party ordered the Bruschetta and arancini appetizers (photos). I recommend a pass on these two appetizers. We had not expected the Bruschetta on a flat bread with a tomato wedge on it. We expected traditional Bruschetta. The menu said homemade piadina bread marinated baked tomatoes, so do not know from guilt what was a piadina bread (Italian flat bread) but a tomato wedge per piece. The other appetizer was the Arancini, which was bland and needed something, it came with a bolognese sauce that was good, that is what it needed. The Bolognese was the only good thing to make the appetizers. For the four main dishes three ordered pasta with sauce and an order was for the chicken parmigiana. (photos) The chicken parmigiana was not baked (as mentioned in another review), but cooked in sauce and had mozzarella cheese on it. Should not be called chicken parmigiana because it is not baked, but the menu description was accurate. It tastes good, worth a try if you want a chicken dish in the sauce, not baked. A pasta order was the mushroom pasta (dark green in the photo) and the aglio e. olio sauce it was good and delicious (the dish I ordered). My favorite of the three pasta dishes, I've sampled all three. Second pasta dish was the Fusilli with the Formaggio sauce. We asked for a small sample of sauce for the person who thought to order this dish because they were uncertain to like the sauce or not. The waiter said they couldn't do this and muttered. It would have been good to offer a sample of sauces for this order. The person who ordered this court did not like the sauce. I tried, and I didn't care. I really like blue cheese and the main part of the sauce is an Italian blue cheese gorgonzola, but was also not for me. Even if we could have tasted the sauce, it wouldn't have been ordered. Third pasta dish was the gnocchi with the polpette sauce, marinara with meatballs. I also tried and the person who ordered it loves Gnocchi. The meal was ready, but it was okay after the diner. I didn't try a meatball so I can't comment, but the gnocchi and sauce were just okay for me. We didn't order dessert. The Bil

The Italian food here is excellent. They offer four types of pasta along with a diverse selection of sauces.

We dine here frequently and have always had a wonderful experience. The owners and the chef are fantastic people who treat us exceptionally well, and the food is outstanding. Our dog, Bandit, particularly enjoys the terrace and the meatballs! I highly recommend this place to anyone looking for delicious food, excellent service, friendly faces, and a lovely atmosphere.

Everything was delicious! From the homemade bread, bruschetta colorata, to the homemade pasta! Amazing customer service and outstanding cleanliness throughout the restaurant. The quality and quantity is just perfect! My wife, son, and I left happy and very full! I wish they would serve some pizza though. My son was craving for it that's why ?