Vito’s Pizza & Italian Ristorante

Vito’s Pizza & Italian Ristorante
By Bonny Small

If you haven’t visited downtown San Juan Capistrano lately, it’s worth the drive to marvel at the amazing restoration and revitalization. With the opening of the new Regency Theatre, the heart of downtown had a need for additional options for hungry movie-goers. One astonishing highlight is the renovation of the retail space directly below Ruby’s on the corner of Camino Capistrano and Verdugo Street. What had once been a mixture of small stores and quirky walkways is now beautifully unified and reborn as Vito’s Pizza & Italian Ristorante.

Vito’s is family-owned and new to California, but their successful sister restaurant in Mesa, Arizona has given them plenty of time to develop a smooth operation. The owners are very hands-on (you may even see Vito chatting with customers in the dining room) and the staff is very friendly and welcoming.

Fresh rolls and pesto butter will greet you at the table – for apps try the fried calamari which is lightly battered, sprinkled with chile flakes and served with a creamy Cajun sauce. The bruschetta is lightly toasted, mounded with diced tomatoes and fresh basil and then finished with a drizzle of balsamic reduction. So tasty!

From there, the sky’s the limit – get the Piccata with your choice of veal, salmon, or chicken (served with spaghetti and a lemon and caper sauce) or create your own pizza on Vito’s Chicago-style thin crust. Vito’s homemade tiramisu – with a light, fluffy mascarpone layer – was a favorite at our table!

Vito’s lunch specials start at just $7 and a slice of pizza, salad and soda are easy on the wallet at a mere $8.50! They also offer a gluten-free menu, featuring both pasta and pizza, as well as a variety of salads. Kids eat for $1.99 on Sundays, and make sure to stop in on Mondays for “All You Can Eat Pasta.” More good news, Vito’s will soon begin offering home delivery for those staying home to watch movies on DVD!

31781 Camino Capistrano
San Juan Capistrano
949. 481.8300
VitosPizza.com