OUR Story
Offering the largest selection of fresh pastas in San Diego, the award-winning Bencotto Italian Kitchen draws inspiration from the kitchens where families pass down time-honored recipes and teach the next generation the Italian lifestyle of cooking, eating and enjoying among loved ones. “Bencotto” refers to a meal “done well” or perfectly cooked, and we pair that with excellent service and an inviting atmosphere to offer a one-of-a-kind experience.
We believe that high-quality food can be simple and supremely delicious. Timeless, not trendy. Executive chef and co-founder Fabrizio Cavallini and his team create home-style dishes, made-in-house pastas and traditional recipes inspired by Northern Italy to be enjoyed in a warm atmosphere. With our unique approach to traditional Italian cooking, our menu focuses on classic dishes offered in a nontraditional “designed-to-share” way so we can fully embrace the Italian way of expressing love through the sharing of food, be that an “aperitivo” or a full-course meal.
Located in the heart of San Diego’s Little Italy, Bencotto Italian Kitchen has repeatedly been named among the best Italian restaurants in San Diego by Thrillist and San Diego Magazine, among others.
Bencotto Italian Kitchen was founded in 2010 by a team steeped in Italian heritage with a passion for hospitality and Italian cuisine - Milan native Guido Nistri and his wife Valentina Di Pietro, Patrick Daniels and Chef Fabrizio, who was born and raised in the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy. Bencotto and its “little brother” restaurant, Monello, were acquired by GBOD Hospitality Group in 2023. One of San Diego’s fastest-growing hospitality groups, GBOD Hospitality Group oversees dynamic hospitality brands and curated dining, drinking, nightlife and entertainment destinations throughout San Diego. The GBOD Hospitality Group collection includes Gaslamp Quarter hot spots Mezé Greek Fusion, El Chingon, Prohibition Lounge and Havana 1920.
OUR CONCEPT
“Bencotto” means and refers to a meal “done well,” or perfectly cooked. In Bencotto’s kitchen, culinary expertise meets the highest — quality and genuine taste.
The concept of Bencotto was conceived as a natural extension of the depth and breadth of Italy’s culinary heritage. Our core belief is that high-quality food can be simple and supremely delicious. With an American as well as international audience in mind, Bencotto came to life inspired by the authenticity of an Italian kitchen juxtaposed with modern scenery.
Our unique approach to Italian cooking tradition, offers hand made “home style” dishes in an environment that reflects who we are: young generation of Italians who celebrate their culinary heritage, presenting it in a modern, relaxed, and inviting kitchen-restaurant.
Located in the new “Q” building in the heart of Little Italy, Bencotto is the ultimate Italian eating experience, drawing inspiration from the kitchens where Italians grow up, cook, and eat.
Combining different experiences from the restaurant business in Milan, Modena, San Diego, and New York, Bencotto offers a unique take on Italian cuisine. The traditional menu is untraditionally “designed-to-share” so that guests can casually pick and choose dishes while enjoying either an “aperitivo” or a full course meal.
Bencotto’s space is designed to welcome guests as they enter an inviting contemporary Italian family kitchen with warm Old World service.