Vince Giacalone, began his first restaurant in 1965 and then bought a little lot on Voltaire Street in 1973, and today the Venetian Pt Loma still serves superb Italian food. The restaurant has expanded over the years by buying the next door dry cleaners and liquor store, plus tastefully modernizing the interior.  Vince retired in 1980 and when I stopped in, his son Joe was busy in the kitchen pulling pizzas out of the oven and stirring marinara sauce. I had heard the lentil soup was very good and I can say, yes it was. It’s the same 40 year old recipe.

Venetian lentil soup

The Venetian lentil soup

Eggplant Parmigiana, mozzarella, tomato and pesto salad and garlic with basil pasta were heavenly. #theVenetianPtloma

The Venetian

3663 Voltaire St, San Diego www.venetian1965.com

European cake gallery

 

And right next door to the Venetian Restaurant on Voltaire St is European Cake Gallery. Friends reminisced about getting their wedding cakes there 30 years ago. They still have the Black Forest cake and cakes with chocolate and white chocolate curls. So nice for a bakery to make gourmet cakes in this rushed society we live in. #Europeancakegallery

European cake gallery cakes

European Cake Gallery

3661 Voltaire St

San Diego, Ca www.europeancakegallery.com