Authentic Italian Flavors at Trattoria Da Sofia
A few months ago, I was in Sicily, enjoying the amazing food and sights of Palermo and Syracuse. Sicilian food is so delicious because it blends fresh ingredients like tomatoes, olives, cheese, and bread with rich flavors from the island’s history. Trattoria da Sofia is an enchanting new neighborhood restaurant in Kensington. Specializing in Sicilian dishes, the menu focuses on handmade pasta, antipasti, salads, and secondi. Based on the dishes I ordered and devoured, I look forward to going back to try more of their dishes.
From the second I arrived and walked inside, I was enchanted with Trattoria da Sofia. The decor is warm and inviting, and I felt like I was back in Sicily. There’s attention to detail right the way down to the decorative water pitchers, hanging jerseys, fountain, and wall art. While the indoor dining area is charming, the outdoor patio is just as inviting.
Why IT's Kensington’s New Italian Hotspot
The saying that “Sicilian food isn’t just about eating. It’s about celebrating life, one forkful at a time” would be a perfect way to describe our dining experience. The restaurant stood out for me due to its excellent food, friendly and helpful staff, and generous portions of food, at very reasonable prices.
Trattoria da Sofia is extremely proud of their pasta, which is made fresh every morning. With a state-of-the-art pasta maker, they are able to maintain the consistency of their pasta. Combining great pasta with their cozy, welcoming vibe almost guarantees this restaurant’s success.
Signature Dishes at Trattoria Da Sofia
Even though I got to try quite a few of the appetizers and pasta dishes, I couldn’t help but stare at the plates arriving at neighboring tables. The food is beautifully presented, with great pride and so much enthusiasm from the servers.
I am looking forward to going back to Trattoria da Sofia, as the filetto ai funghi, short ribs with mascarpone polenta, and ravioli di carne all sounded really good to me.
Arancini: Fried rice ball, saffron, meat sauce, green peas. This is one of my favorite Sicilian street dishes, and it tasted authentic and delicious.
Involtini Di Melanzane: Stuffed eggplant with ricotta, pine-nuts, breadcrumbs served with pomodoro sauce. For me, this is my favorite way to enjoy eggplant, and this dish at Trattoria da Sofia did not disappoint. I highly recommend ordering it.
Carciofi Alla Giudia: Grilled Italian artichokes, garlic, EVOO, lemon wedges
Insalata Siciliana: Potatoes, green beans, red onion, olives, cherry tomatoes
Cacio e Pepe: Housemade asiago-filled gnocchi, pecorino cheese, black pepper. While all of the pasta dishes we had were excellent, the gnocchi was spectacular. They were soft and creamy, and the flavor from the cacio e pepe sauce was amazing.
Pistacchiosa: Spaghetti pasta, pistachio pesto cream sauce, stracciatella cheese
Spicy Rigatoni Vodka: Half rigatoni pasta, spicy vodka pink sauce
A Taste of Tradition at Trattoria Da Sofia
Hopefully, you saved room for dessert, as they serve a table-side tiramisu. They claimed it is the best in San Diego, and I think I agree. They also make their own limoncello.
Ownership of Trattoria da Sofia includes local restaurateurs Sebastian Berho, Andrea Carbonaro, Giancarlo Guttilla, Mariano Liga, Giuseppe Lo Coco, Sofia Lo Cascio, Franco Mestre, and John Rudolf.
They also offer a happy hour 7 days a week.
