Finding Italian food we genuinely love in San Diego’s Little Italy has been harder than it sounds. Bencotto caught our attention because the pasta is made fresh in house, but the hospitality became just as memorable as the food.
We arrived during happy hour and started with aged Parmigiano Reggiano, polpette, a margarita for Kyle and a Montepulciano for Lana. Then Steve surprised us with burrata, which immediately became our favorite appetizer, especially with the soft homemade bread.
We shared the cheese wheel pasta with truffle cream and mushrooms for dinner. It was already good, but Lana loves pesto and asked for some on the side. We did not know the pasta could taste any better until that first pesto covered bite.
The pesto did not fix the pasta. It gave us an entirely new dish.
Ice cream and champagne arrived to celebrate our evening, which made an already welcoming dinner feel even more personal. Our move next time is simple: burrata first, cheese wheel pasta second, and pesto on the side from the beginning.
Fresh pasta is the point
Bencotto opened in Little Italy in 2010 with a focus on Northern Italian cooking. Its name refers to a meal being done well, and the kitchen says it handcrafts about 1,000 pounds of signature pasta every week.
Start with burrata. Save room for the cheese wheel.
We shared the food so we could build the night around appetizers before the main pasta moment.
Burrata
Fresh burrata with tomatoes and pesto, currently $20. Steve brought this over for us, and it became our favorite appetizer with the homemade bread.
Cheese Wheel Pasta
Truffle cream and mushrooms tossed in a Parmigiano Reggiano wheel. The current menu lists it at market price. Ask for pesto on the side.
Aged Parmigiano Reggiano
Balsamic glaze and caramelized figs made this an easy opening bite. It is currently listed at $9 during happy hour.
Polpette
Lightly breaded beef meatballs with spicy tomato sauce and bread, currently $9 during happy hour.
Lana’s order and reaction: Montepulciano and the shared dinner. Her pesto request gave the cheese wheel pasta a completely new flavor and became the move we would repeat.
Kyle’s order and reaction: Margarita and the shared dinner. He agreed that the burrata was the appetizer to beat and the pesto transformed the pasta.
What we would order again: Burrata, cheese wheel pasta, and pesto on the side.
The details worth knowing
Catch happy hour
Happy hour is currently served Monday through Friday from 3 PM to 5:30 PM. Several appetizers, cocktails and wines are offered at reduced prices.
Reserve the pasta date
Bencotto serves lunch and dinner with indoor and outdoor seating. Reservations are available online and are a smart move for a Little Italy date night.
Know the valet deal
Valet is currently offered Wednesday through Sunday after 5 PM near India and Fir. Show the valet ticket for $10 off the restaurant check.
