San Diego chef/restaurateur Vincenzo Loverso is opening Romanella Cucina Romana at 3055 Clairemont Drive in San Diego’s Bay Park neighborhood, in the former La Pastaia space, which replaced Farmer’s Table Bay Park.
According to an Instagram post, Romanella’s grand opening is scheduled for October 2, 2025, with the tagline, “from Roma with love.”
Though a menu has not yet been released, expect Italian cuisine in an upscale, yet family-friendly setting. The restaurant’s Facebook page notes, “From pasta twirls to family toasts, Romanella is where every night feels like a celebration”.
Loverso started his culinary journey at 14, working as a pastry chef in his native Palermo. He enrolled in culinary school at 19 and, at 24, moved to New Jersey to pursue his culinary goals. He opened Grotta Azzurra in the Garden State and, after a successful six-year run, he sold it and moved to San Diego.
The chef’s San Diego restaurant portfolio includes Greystone Steakhouse and Osteria Panevino in the Gaslamp district, and, most recently, Vincenzo Cucina and Lounge. The Little Italy spot features a cheese wheel bar, where guests can enjoy fresh pasta tossed in their choice of six distinct cheese wheels from various regions of Italy. The restaurant also boasts an Aperol bar where diners can indulge in sparkling libations.
