Bencotto Italian Kitchen

San Diego’s Little Italy has a lot to choose from. After reviewing some menus online I decided to give Bencotto a try.

First the restaurant is breathtaking, as you come outside you get a clear view of the entire restaurant through their large window that give on Fir Street. Glass and wood creating a warm and modern environment.

They have a very good selection on their menu and feature daily fresh made pasta. One thing that I also appreciated from the menu Pasta a Modo Tuo or Pasta Your Way. They will bring the selection of pasta to your table to choose from but you then get to pick the sauce that you want also. Sometimes I see pasta dish in restaurants but i’m not always in the mood for the sauce they offer and that concept settles my dilemma.

It might sound bizarre but when I visit an Italian restaurant I often base my appreciation of it on their Gnocchi. For me Gnocchi is an art of making pasta that unfortunately not all establishments achieve. If you can get them right, I have not worries about your abilities to do regular pasta.

Big surprise! I stopped my choice at their Gnocchi with Ai Formaggi sauce and for starters they had a Parmigiano Reggiano taster of 40 months and 24 months. The Gnocchi was excellent nice and tender melt in your mouth and not the chewy type. The sauce I picked it the one I like but with Gnocchi some people find it a touch filling but I really like it. The cheese taster was also very good, the 40 month old was very mild but both were delicious.

Overall a great experience and worth a stop if you’re in the area. There is parking on the street and they also offer valet parking. They are open for diner on Mondays and lunch and diner Tuesday to Sunday.