East County can enjoy fine Italian cuisine at new Nicolosi’s restaurant

“We threw meatballs off of the roof back in the day,” stated Ron Burner, owner of the new Nicolosi’s Italian Restaurant in El Cajon. The “back in the day” was at the former location of Nicolosi’s at 40th and El Cajon Boulevard in San Diego when Burner was much younger.

“We threw meatballs off of the roof back in the day,” stated Ron Burner, owner of the new Nicolosi’s Italian Restaurant in El Cajon. The “back in the day” was at the former location of Nicolosi’s at 40th and El Cajon Boulevard in San Diego when Burner was much younger.

Nicolosi’s Italian Restaurant has been around since Burner’s grandfather, Salvatore Nicolosi, came to the States from Sicily and ended up in San Diego. Nicolosi started a restaurant in Mission Hills in 1952 and moved from there to the 40th and El Cajon Boulevard location, until eminent domain hit and they had to make way for Interstate 15. Family members have also opened restaurants in various areas including Clairemont Mesa, Lemon Grove and Mammoth Lakes.

Eminent domain did not take down the family; they later opened, under various family members’ management, on Adobe Falls Road off Interstate 8 in Mission Valley. After a few of the family members retired and with lease issues Nicolosi’s later re-opened on Navajo Road in Del Cerro.
Now, Burner and his wife, Barb, with a blended family of nine, go back and forth between the Navajo Road location and the newly opened El Cajon location on Main Street, which they also own.

To provide some street credentials: Burner’s pizza won first place in the country in a contest sponsored by Galbani Cheese. Burner went up against the New York pizzas and others across the country, which was equivalent to winning a challenge on Hell’s Kitchen: rough. They also received a best gluten-free restaurant award at the third annual Gluten Free Awards competition.

Burner says they use a 200-year-old recipe for their bread. The ingredients they use in their restaurants are all fresh. Burner said that they “use the best ingredients and home- made sauces, breads, pastas and even salad dressings.”

The best ingredients go into their signature dishes of lasagna and their torpedo sandwiches. The family has been in the business for three generations, and their loyal patronage should extend to the new El Cajon location, which opened last month.

Burner added that the best ingredients also go into his macaroni and cheese. “I’d go up against anybody with this,” he said.

The hundred-seat El Cajon restaurant will provide an opportunity for customers to sample this menu item. Considering the actress Sophia Loren used to pop in to see Burner’s mother (and eat her food) gives further witness to what any generation of the Nicolosi family can do with food.

Burner applauded the city of El Cajon officials for helping to make their expansion to El Cajon an easy transition. His dreams include five locations in five years.

While former resident Mangia Bene’s owner Dominic Donato’s dreams have turned to retirement, Burner said that the transfer has been great with the two of them doing lunch recently.

Next on the agenda for the El Cajon location are promotions Burner is working on that include Mangia Monday, which translates into “good eats” per Burner, plus a lunch buffet and more special happy hour festivities. Done, as he says, “the Nicolosi way.”

Nicolosi’s Italian Restaurant is located at 221 E. Main St. in El Cajon. For more information, call (619) 444-0303, or visit their website at www.nicolosis.com.