Rosina's Italian Restaurant: Worth The Drive

After enjoying a delicious Italian meal at Rosina's in Oceanside recently, I decided to find out more about the background of the restaurant and the people involved.  It is a family run restaurant, with matriarch Rosina at the helm.  Her two sons create magic in the kitchen, while Rosina runs the front of the house.  She's friendly and welcoming, and I can't wait to go back again.

I discovered that Rosina and her family were the owners and operators of one of my favorite restaurants in the area (gone for the past 10 years), When in Rome.  The food at When in Rome was excellent, so naturally Rosina's would be good too.  Rosina's is in a small shopping center, close to the Oceanside Senior Center.  As soon as you enter, you feel as if you're in someone's home.

Prices are moderate, and all the regular southern Italian dishes are on the menu.  Each night the chef creates several specials, which are not to be missed.  We enjoyed a warm vegetable tower, with goat cheese in between the layers.  Eggplant, zucchini, peppers and onions were perfectly prepared, and with the goat cheese spread, it was a delicious starter.  I enjoyed fusilli with wild mushrooms and peas, in a very light cream sauce.  It was fantastic.  Ron ordered a seafood stew, another winner.  Laura opted for cannelloni stuffed with a veal mixture and topped with cheese and cream sauce.  Richard ordered pasta with large, delicious meat balls.  Most entrees were around $20.

The family runs another restaurant in Santa Luz, so depending on where you live, find your way to one of Rosina's restaurants.  I used to love When in Rome, and I'm so happy to have found this restaurant, run by the same family, but even better!