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Giuseppe's Cucina Italiana

891 Price Street, Pismo Beach, CA 93449
805-773-2870
Website
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Ranked #5 of 73 restaurants in Pismo Beach
Price range: CAD0 - CAD40
Dining options: Lunch Spot, Dinner, Takeout, Delivery, After-hours, Dessert
Description: Giuseppe’s Cucina Italiana was founded in 1988 by Giuseppe DiFronzo as a senior project upon graduation from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Joe, “Giuseppe”, is a son of Italian immigrants who along with the majority of their family emigrated from Bari, Puglia. Puglia is the heel of the boot region of Italy, otherwise known as the California of Italy.Joe grew up in Southern California where he learned his craft working for his four uncles who all owned Italian Delicatessens and bakeries. After fishing in Alaska on a crab boat upon graduation from Cal Poly, Joe returned to Pismo Beach and started his first 8-table restaurant in the old Landmark Hotel in Pismo. Three years later he moved to the historic Plessas Tavern, a Pismo landmark since 1921. This institution fed the likes of Eleanor Roosevelt, Bob Hope, Clark Gable, and many dignitaries and stars traveling between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Locals were thrilled to see the eatery reopen and thrive for the last 24 years! Today Giuseppe’s boasts an Italian deli and bakery across the street at 800 Price Street as well. Giuseppe also opened a sister restaurant in 2005 in downtown San Luis Obispo named “Palazzo Giuseppe.” Giuseppe spends his pastime cultivating his family farm from which he produces his 15 year old “DiFronzo Vineyards” wines, featured in his eateries. In addition to wine, he grows, cooks, and serves his organic heirloom fruits, vegetables, and herbs with pride and confidence.
Restaurant details
Dining options: Lunch Spot, Dinner, Takeout, Delivery, After-hours, Dessert
Description: Giuseppe’s Cucina Italiana was founded in 1988 by Giuseppe DiFronzo as a senior project upon graduation from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Joe, “Giuseppe”, is a son of Italian immigrants who along with the majority of their family emigrated from Bari, Puglia. Puglia is the heel of the boot region of Italy, otherwise known as the California of Italy.Joe grew up in Southern California where he learned his craft working for his four uncles who all owned Italian Delicatessens and bakeries. After fishing in Alaska on a crab boat upon graduation from Cal Poly, Joe returned to Pismo Beach and started his first 8-table restaurant in the old Landmark Hotel in Pismo. Three years later he moved to the historic Plessas Tavern, a Pismo landmark since 1921. This institution fed the likes of Eleanor Roosevelt, Bob Hope, Clark Gable, and many dignitaries and stars traveling between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Locals were thrilled to see the eatery reopen and thrive for the last 24 years! Today Giuseppe’s boasts an Italian deli and bakery across the street at 800 Price Street as well. Giuseppe also opened a sister restaurant in 2005 in downtown San Luis Obispo named “Palazzo Giuseppe.” Giuseppe spends his pastime cultivating his family farm from which he produces his 15 year old “DiFronzo Vineyards” wines, featured in his eateries. In addition to wine, he grows, cooks, and serves his organic heirloom fruits, vegetables, and herbs with pride and confidence.
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227 reviews from our community

81% Recommend
    127
    57
    18
    14
    11
Rating summary
    Food
    Service
    Value
    Atmosphere
Date Rating
Canada
Senior Reviewer
6 reviews 6 reviews
3 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 7 May 2013

Delicious pizza, tasty salads, home made pasta. If you cannot go to the restaurant, try the take-out. Found the parking very limited.

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See 3 more reviews by canuck0 for Pismo Beach
cork
Senior Contributor
24 reviews 24 reviews
16 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 11 cities Reviews in 11 cities
11 helpful votes 11 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 7 May 2013

great Pasta dishes Alittle pricey for Italian....Still a very enjoyable night. Also it is very busy and popular with locals

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See 5 more reviews by dominic52 for Pismo Beach
Carlsbad, California
Top Contributor
73 reviews 73 reviews
21 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 64 cities Reviews in 64 cities
196 helpful votes 196 helpful votes
1 of 5 stars Reviewed 29 April 2013

After 15 years of going for the Rib-Eye, what should have been a $100 meal for a relaxing 2 hours was only $50 in rushed 45 minutes. Service and standards have fallen. We waited 10 minutes to be greeted by a waiter at our table and ordered right away. It took 5 minutes to get bread. The $32 Rib-eye was... More

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Honolulu, Hawaii
Senior Contributor
24 reviews 24 reviews
6 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 11 cities Reviews in 11 cities
9 helpful votes 9 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 22 April 2013

Popular restaurant so you know it's good. Food was really delicious, service was great and fun!! Will definately be coming back. Actually went to their other location in SLO twice this last time!! Pasta's were fabulous and Pizza's and salad's ~ all great!! You should go....

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See 5 more reviews by suttona003 for Pismo Beach
UK
Senior Reviewer
8 reviews 8 reviews
Reviews in 7 cities Reviews in 7 cities
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 22 April 2013

We went there for my birthday dinner last October. We'd checked it out that afternoon and there was nothing going on, nor was the bartender we spoke to overly friendly, so were a bit reticent about returning. But we needen't have worried! Wonderful food, not cheap and a bit 'big business', but the usual great US service! Don't recommend Pismo... More

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San Luis Obispo, California
Top Contributor
57 reviews 57 reviews
34 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 15 cities Reviews in 15 cities
8 helpful votes 8 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 20 April 2013

Excellent "Italian-inspired" meals and dishes, usually based on fresh local produce. Service is usually excellent. It's easy to spend a lot of money here but if you order carefully, it can be affordable.

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See 5 more reviews by ken r for Pismo Beach
San Luis Obispo, California
Top Contributor
57 reviews 57 reviews
34 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 15 cities Reviews in 15 cities
8 helpful votes 8 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 20 April 2013

Giuseppe's serves really good Italian-style food, focusing on fresh local produce. Their most interesting dishes are often the daily specials. If you are careful, you can get an excellent meal without breaking the bank, but you can also spend a lot of money with the extras.

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See 5 more reviews by ken r for Pismo Beach
Orange County
Reviewer
4 reviews 4 reviews
Reviews in 4 cities Reviews in 4 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 13 April 2013

We enjoyed our dinner here. We were casually dressed with our two children and were welcomed. We had good service and good food. Good wine list with lots of choices. Reasonable mark ups. Did not expect such good food in a tourist destination. Would definitely return.

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El Dorado Hills, California
Top Contributor
80 reviews 80 reviews
60 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 28 cities Reviews in 28 cities
23 helpful votes 23 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 11 April 2013

I am in the Pismo Beach area on business and brought my lovely wife along to enjoy some down time in Pismo Beach. We went out to dinner to Giuseppe's Cucuna Italiana last night for dinner. We both had a wonderful experience. A very Italian feel to the place, from the Vespas parked out front of the building to the... More

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See 2 more reviews by PortugueseMan for Pismo Beach
Denver, Colorado
Senior Contributor
25 reviews 25 reviews
7 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 15 cities Reviews in 15 cities
22 helpful votes 22 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 6 April 2013

While the food was good, the waitress was not. We felt as though we were the red headed step children, perhaps not well dressed enough for the white table cloths, although most of the other patrons were not dressed any better! Another waitress who also helped was very nice and friendly, so maybe waitress #1 was just having a bad... More

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See 3 more reviews by itsruff for Pismo Beach

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