LAVO Italian Restaurant - San Diego

Name: LAVO Italian Restaurant - San Diego
Address: 611 5th Avenue, San Diego, CA, United States, 92101
Telephone: (619) 762-5286
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.6

4.6

397 Reviews

$31 to $50

Italian

Top Tags:

LAVO San Diego is located in the city’s historic Gaslamp Quarter. Featuring 235 seats and occupying a prime corner in the lively neighborhood, caters to locals and visitors alike. At LAVO San Diego, guests experience a boisterous, vibe-led dining experience of LAVO juxtaposed with a quintessential laid-back, yet chic, Southern Californian flair.

Tao Group Hospitality Chief Culinary Officer Ralph Scamardella has created a menu of LAVO’s hits like the infamous 1 lb Wagyu Meatball alongside brick oven pizzas and housemade pastas. The menu starts with Baked Clams Oreganata and a Chopped Antipasto Salad followed by Truffle Ricotta Cavatelli, Bone-In Veal, Chop Milanese and – of course – LAVO’s signature 20-Layer Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Mascarpone. And complemented by LAVO’s playful cocktails like the Bubbles & Berries with vodka, St. Germain, Strawberries and Frizzante as well as an extensive selection of new and old-world wines.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Jun 9, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 34 times today

Experiences are available.

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Cuisines
Italian, Unspecified
Hours of operation
Mon–Thu 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:00 am–12:00 am Sun 11:00 am–9:00 pm
Phone number
(619) 762-5286
Website
http://lavosd.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Executive chef
Chief Culinary Officer Ralph Scamardella

Location
611 5th Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101
Neighborhood
Downtown / Gaslamp
Cross street
5th and Market
Parking details
Street Parking
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

$50 Prix Fixe
Multiple dates available
$50 Prix Fixe Menu All Night! Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday Enjoy a 3-course menu of Lavo Favorites!
Boozy Brunch
Multiple dates available
Saturday & Sunday, 11:00am-4:00pm. Join us for bottomless drinks & brunch classics! Brunch Menu: https://taogroup.com/venues/lavo-italian-restaurant-san-diego/menu/

Popular dishes

Fresh Mozzarella Sticks$15.00
Prosciutto, Marinara
Three Cheese Arancini$16.00
Tomato Fondue
Garlic Bread$17.00
Semolina Loaf, Basil Pesto, Marinara, Gorgonzola Dolce
Sautéed Mussels Marinara$18.00
Italian Tomato, White Wine, Sautéed Garlic
Baked Clams Oreganato$19.00
Littleneck Clams, Toasted Breadcrumbs, Garlic Butter
Fritto Misto$21.00
Calamari, Cherry Peppers, Zucchini, Arrabbiata Sauce
Charred Octopus$23.00
Cannellini Bean Ragout
Tuna Tartare$24.00
Diced Yellowfin Tuna, Avocado, Crispy Garlic, Black Olive Dressing
Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail$24.00
3 Jumbo Shrimp, Calabrian Chili Cocktail Sauce
Eggplant Parmigiano$26.00
Roasted Eggplant, Tomato Sauce, Mozzarella
Oysters on the Half Shell
Daily Selection
- Half Dozen$21.00
- Dozen$36.00

The Meatball

The Meatball$31.00
The One Pound Wagyu Meatball Served with Marinara & Fresh Whipped Ricotta

Salads

Local Field Greens$17.00
Cucumber, Avocado, Marcona Almonds, Honey Rosemary Vinaigrette
Classic Caesar$19.00
Romaine Lettuce, Parmigiano Cheese, Garlic Croutons
Chopped Antipasto$20.00
Gem Lettuce, Assorted Italian Cured Meats, Provolone, Artichokes, Roasted Peppers, Pepperoncini, Marinated Mushrooms, Green Beans, Cherry Tomatoes, Creamy Italian Dressing
Roasted Beets$20.00
Goat Cheese, Citrus, Toasted Almonds, Sun Dried Tomato Vinaigrette
Burrata$22.00
Red and Yellow Cherry Tomatoes, Pesto

Brick Oven Pizza‏

Margherita$22.00
Fresh Mozzarella, Tomato, Basil
Angry Maria$23.00
Calabrian Chili, Tomato, Vodka Sauce, Basil Pesto, Fresh Mozzarella
Spinach and Artichoke$24.00
Mozzarella, Roasted Garlic, Black Olives, Mushroom
Funghi$24.00
Wild Mushrooms, Blended Mozzarella, Cremini Crema
Carne$26.00
Sopresatta, Prosciutto, Tomato, Pepperoncini, Fresh Mozzarella

Pastas

Spaghetti Tomato and Basil$22.00
Onion, Garlic, Olive Oil
Rigatoni alla Nonna$24.00
Sausage, Prosciutto, Broccoli, Cannellini Beans, Parmesan
Manicotti de la Casa$24.00
Ricotta, Mozzarella, Spinach, Pecorino, Marinara
Garganelli Melanzana$27.00
Tomatoes, Calabrian Chili, Roasted Eggplant, Bufala Mozzarella
Penne alla Vodka$29.00
Onions, Prosciutto, Peas, Light Cream Sauce
Pappardelle Bolognese$30.00
Ground Veal, Tomato, Cream Sauce
Truffle Ricotta Cavatelli$32.00
Crema, Mushroom Ragu, Shaved Truffle
Spaghetti and Meatballs$32.00
Imperial Wagyu, Fresh Ricotta, Ragu
Reginette Seafood Alfredo$36.00
Shrimp, Scallops, Lobster Butter, Light Cream Sauce
Linguine Fra Diavolo$48.00
Lobster, Shrimp, Scallops, Manila Clams, Calamari, Tomato, Crushed Chili

House Specialties

Chicken Marsala$32.00
Chicken Breast, Wild Mushrooms, Marsala Wine
Grilled Branzino$34.00
Heirloom Tomato Panzanella, Salsa Verde
Grilled Shrimp Spiedini$34.00
Lemon, Garlic Butter, Shaved Fennel, Sweet Baby Peppers
Crispy Chicken "Dominick"$34.00
White Balsamic, Potatoes, Red Chili Flakes
Chicken Parmigiana$34.00
Thinly Pounded Chicken, Marinara, Mozzarella
Veal Saltimbocca$36.00
Prosciutto, Sage, Fontina, Marsala Butter
Striped Bass alla Napolitano$36.00
Cherry Tomato Confit, Olives, Capers, Basil
Salmon Oreganata$38.00
Seasoned Breadcrumbs, Lemon, White Wine, Garlic Butter
Rack of Veal$65.00
Milanese or Parmigiano

Steaks & Chops

All steaks are USDA prime and dry-aged for 28 days and served with our house steak sauce

Filet Mignon$55.00
New York Strip$65.00
Rack of Lamb$59.00
Bone-In Ribeye$78.00

Trimmings

$12

Creamed Spinach
Brown Butter, Fontina
Mixed Wild Mushrooms
Garlic, Shallots, Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Brussels Sprouts
Pancetta, Shallots, Cipollini Onion
Roasted Rosemary Potatoes
Garlic Confit, Parmigiano, Toasted Breadcrumbs
Jumbo Asparagus
Lemon, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Cracked Pepper
Truffle French Fries
Truffle Oil, Black Pepper, Romano Cheese

What 397 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6

4.6 based on recent ratings

4.5Food
4.6Service
4.6Ambience
4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

San Diego
Most Booked 1000-Point Tables
San Diego
Most Booked 1000-Point Tables

Sort by

OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined 5 days ago
overall4food5service4ambience4
Everything was really good, but the waiting time for the food was really long.
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SH
SteveH
San Diego
7 reviews
vip
4.0
7 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
overall4food5service3ambience2
Excellent food quality and extensive menu. Nice bar. Stylish casual decor.
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MD
MD15
Las Vegas
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined 6 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Service was fantastic, music was great, food is just phenomenal!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined 6 days ago
overall2food4service3ambience4
Food was amazing, spagetti and tiramisu were the best but service wasnt great and price for what it is, way too expensive. Not coming back.
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PS
PoojaS
San Francisco
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on May 29, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
It was a great experience overall! Food, ambiance and service were all good.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Diego
11 reviews
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on May 28, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Everything was great! Lindsay and Sam took very good care of us. Even gave us bottomless Bellini’s. 🍾🥂. This is one if the places I bring my friends and colleagues to. Keep up the great work!!
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CB
ChristineB
Nashville
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on May 28, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience5
Beautiful bar area with excellent bartenders. The food was quite good, though I didn't have anything that surprised me. The branzino at lunch was $38 for 2 filets and a bit of mixed greens... not the best value. Will went above and beyond, made it worth the price.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Orange County
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 28, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great birthday dinner experience for my boyfriend! The server was a pleasure the whole time. Quality of food is top notch and drinks were amazing! Will definitely be back.
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P
Patron1035
Los Angeles
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on May 27, 2023
overall4food5service5ambience5
Great food
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LP
LouiseP
London
8 reviews
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on May 27, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience5
Really great experience for dinner. Great menu with something for everyone. Knowledgeable about celiac requirements and able to accommodate with a fair amount of choice. Really good service. Portions very large.
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DD
DeborahD
San Francisco
22 reviews
vip
5.0
22 reviews
Dined on May 27, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
LAVO is a great find in The Gaslamp. The foos is delicious, especially their manicotti. Service was excellent and professional. We will return.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Sacramento
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 26, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
So amazing I ate there three times in one week! Food and service are outstanding!!!
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AA
AnalisaA
San Diego
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 26, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Amazing service and food was excellent! Can’t wait to come back when we are back in SD!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 22, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food was incredible, service was top notch. The truffle ricotta dish was the perfect size and the antipasto salad could easily be shared.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
New England
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 21, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food was incredible. Everything from the appetizers to our end of meal espresso martinis. I would highly recommend for a date night or special occasion meal.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on May 20, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience5
Food was good, a little pricey though. Servers were very nice and well informed with menu.
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JJ
JayJ
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on May 20, 2023
overall4food5service4ambience5
Food was delicious and tasted amazing, hyped up and positive vibe overall.
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RO
ROXIEDINES
San Diego
75 reviews
vip
3.0
75 reviews
Dined on May 20, 2023
overall3food4service3ambience4
Food is great, although a bit overpriced. We sat at bar. Service slow. Ambiance is lively.
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LG
LisaG
Los Angeles
26 reviews
vip
5.0
26 reviews
Dined on May 20, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our first time at LAVO and it certainly met our expectations by far! The staff there is fantastic! You notice that right up front. But our server, Katie, was so lovely….such a pro. It really enhanced our dining experience. Upon our request, she made some suggestions, and they were all on point. The flavor profiles on everything was top notch! This was a pre-game meal and Katie was so accommodating to get us on our way timely! Would highly recommend…Cheers!
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MT
MichaelT
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
The food was fantastic and the service was phenomenal
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LC
LynnC
Orange County
3 reviews
vip
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on May 15, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience3
Reserved for Mother's Day evening. Location was easy to find and were lucky and got free street parking on Market. At the door, we could hear the restaurant was very noisy and requested a quiet location. We were seated adjacent to the bar in the corner which was still loud but we could have a conversation. Everyone enjoyed their entrees but weren't wowed by them. If we had known we were going to pay $40 for still water we would have gotten tap. Also, there is an extensive list of wines by the bottle, but only a few under $80.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Absolutely outstanding! The service was incredible and the food was amazing. Came here for Mother’s Day and the server took such great care of us. A lot of attention to detail. Great food and drink recommendations and not once did we feel rushed or unattended
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Orange County
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall2food1service3ambience4
Food was horrible everything was so salty . Food wasn’t warm . Horrible food experience thought it would be like the Vegas location because we loved that location but it is far off as far quality .
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K
Karla
San Diego
2 reviews
vip
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall3food4service2ambience3
Food was good. Server was very nice. Unfortunately service was disappointing. Party of 10, food took about 30 minutes. One of our orders was somehow forgotten. Took another 30 minutes for that order to come out. We weren’t charged for the meal and two desserts were brought to the table (free of charge) but it wasn’t worth the annoyance of waiting 2 hours. Too bad, cute place.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Las Vegas
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
I enjoyed a Mother’s Day Brunch here with my son and my mom. The food was delicious, the service was on point and the cocktails yummy! I will be back for sure 🥰
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AP
AnthonyP
San Diego
3 reviews
2.0
3 reviews
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall2food2service5ambience5
Food quality was slightly above Olive Garden but the priced like you were at a 5 start restaurant. Service was great, staff was friendly and the vibe was great. Would never go back.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Atlantic City
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our waiter rod was amazing. Everything was awesome.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Hawaii
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our waiter, Armando, was exceptional. Drink and food recommendations were thoughtful and ended up being a hit. Highly recommended the 3 layer cookie (or it’s called something along those lines) if you like pistachio desserts. The 20 layer chocolate cake was delicious as well — and huge. For entrees we had a truffle pasta and their crispy chicken off the specialty menu. Both were flavorful and barely left us room for dessert. Food was great…Armando and the service was even better.
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S
Smiths
San Diego
8 reviews
vip
2.0
8 reviews
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall2food4service3ambience2
Denise was a great server. Place was bustling and loud. She told us to order everything at once as kitchen was busy so we did. Salads were great and came out timely. Then the entrees came out. Most were fine but one steak was cold and when we sent it back it was returned over cooked. We were done with the entrees when when the 6 sides we ordered came out. Interesting dessert(NOT). We had asked several times about them. Given our high expectations and what we heard about the restaurant, it was a let down.
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MB
MirandaB
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience5
This was a very fancy restaurant I enjoyed it very much. Nice vibe great food and great service!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Jacksonville
6 reviews
vip
4.0
6 reviews
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience5
Overall the evening was a lot of fun. Unfortunately for my wife, the fungi pizza has a lot of chili flakes on it. The menu does not state there are any chili flakes and she does not do well with any peppers.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Diego
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on May 12, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Overall excellent. Would definitely go back. Great music as well.
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R
Rhino
Las Vegas
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 12, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food really surprised my taste buds! The tuna tartare blew my mind. The salmon dish was fluffy and buttery. The staff was really nice and made my wife's birthday memorable!
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B
Bearsct
San Diego
28 reviews
vip
4.0
28 reviews
Dined on May 12, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience3
PROs: Food was good, service was superb, definitely a place to see and been seen CONs: Seats were not that comfortable, Food and especially drinks were expensive.
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JE
JohnE
New York Area
79 reviews
vip
5.0
79 reviews
Dined on May 11, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food and atmosphere are outstanding! Brian the server was a true professional and enhanced the dining experience!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 11, 2023
overall5food5service3ambience5
The only thing that I did not like was the attention of the hosts. It also makes no sense to wait for all the guests to arrive to be able to come to the table to enjoy!
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AC
AntonioC
Charlotte
22 reviews
vip
5.0
22 reviews
Dined on May 10, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Very good Italian food at a reasonable price point. The service was excellent.
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TF
TeresaF
Central Coast
11 reviews
vip
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on May 8, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The restaurant design is terrific. Was seated on time. Service was excellent as was the food. Terrific menu!
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J
Jess
San Diego
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 7, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great brunch experience. Food was a bit slow considering how empty it was but the flavor and portions were decent. Good service.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on May 7, 2023
overall4food5service3ambience5
Perfect for a fun night out, we were having a bachelorette party. Drinks and food were pricey but delicious! The vibe was fun and energetic.
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Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
- Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
- Contactless payment available
Physical distancing
- Limited number of seated diners
- Distancing maintained in common areas
- Extra space between tables

Protective equipment
- Waitstaff wear masks
- Diners must wear masks unless eating or drinking
Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

LAVO Italian Restaurant - San Diego is rated 4.6 stars by 397 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Jun 9, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 34 times today

Experiences are available.

Google Map for LAVO Italian Restaurant - San Diego

611 5th Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101

Additional information

Cross street
5th and Market
Neighborhood
Downtown / Gaslamp
Hours of operation
Mon–Thu 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:00 am–12:00 am Sun 11:00 am–9:00 pm
Cuisines
Italian, Unspecified
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
Street Parking
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Executive chef
Chief Culinary Officer Ralph Scamardella
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://lavosd.com/
Phone number
(619) 762-5286

LAVO Italian Restaurant - San Diego

Make a reservation

Additional information

$50 Prix Fixe

Boozy Brunch

Margherita

Manicotti de la Casa

Chicken Parmigiana

Appetizers

Fresh Mozzarella Sticks$15.00

Three Cheese Arancini$16.00

Garlic Bread$17.00

Sautéed Mussels Marinara$18.00

Baked Clams Oreganato$19.00

Fritto Misto$21.00

Charred Octopus$23.00

Tuna Tartare$24.00

Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail$24.00

Eggplant Parmigiano$26.00

Oysters on the Half Shell

The Meatball

The Meatball$31.00

Salads

Local Field Greens$17.00

Classic Caesar$19.00

Chopped Antipasto$20.00

Roasted Beets$20.00

Burrata$22.00

Brick Oven Pizza‏

Margherita$22.00

Angry Maria$23.00

Spinach and Artichoke$24.00

Funghi$24.00

Carne$26.00

Pastas

Spaghetti Tomato and Basil$22.00

Rigatoni alla Nonna$24.00

Manicotti de la Casa$24.00

Garganelli Melanzana$27.00

Penne alla Vodka$29.00

Pappardelle Bolognese$30.00

Truffle Ricotta Cavatelli$32.00

Spaghetti and Meatballs$32.00

Reginette Seafood Alfredo$36.00

Linguine Fra Diavolo$48.00

House Specialties

Chicken Marsala$32.00

Grilled Branzino$34.00

Grilled Shrimp Spiedini$34.00

Crispy Chicken "Dominick"$34.00

Chicken Parmigiana$34.00

Veal Saltimbocca$36.00

Striped Bass alla Napolitano$36.00

Salmon Oreganata$38.00

Rack of Veal$65.00

Steaks & Chops

Filet Mignon$55.00

New York Strip$65.00

Rack of Lamb$59.00

Bone-In Ribeye$78.00

Trimmings

Creamed Spinach

Mixed Wild Mushrooms

Brussels Sprouts

Roasted Rosemary Potatoes

Jumbo Asparagus

Truffle French Fries

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Sort by

Cleaning & sanitizing

Physical distancing

Protective equipment

Screening

FAQs

How is LAVO Italian Restaurant - San Diego restaurant rated?

Is LAVO Italian Restaurant - San Diego currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information