Ocean Beach's Elvira Debuts a Roman Supper That Feels Like Dinner at Nonna's

CUCINA DI NONNA offers an immersive, family-style dining experience that prioritizes warmth and ritual over traditional restaurant service.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Elvira, the Roman osteria from Chef Cesarina Mezzoni, has launched a new private dining experience called CUCINA DI NONNA that aims to make guests feel like they're stepping into a 1970s Italian grandmother's home. The five-plus course, family-style meal features ritual moments like a baked timpano sliced tableside, a wood-fired roast carved for the table, and zabaglione whipped by hand. The experience is designed to prioritize connection and storytelling over precision plating, with the team acting as hosts rather than traditional servers.

Why it matters

This new dining format at Elvira reflects a broader shift in the restaurant industry, as more people seek out curated, intimate gatherings over traditional restaurant experiences. Operators are responding by creating immersive, home-style formats that prioritize warmth and ritual, making the meal less about being served and more about being welcomed.

The details

CUCINA DI NONNA is offered in two private settings at Elvira, including a newly built greenhouse space. It's available for groups up to 14 people, starting at $105 per person, with seasonal customization options depending on what you're celebrating or craving. The experience unfolds over five-plus courses, served family-style with the team acting as hosts rather than traditional servers. There are ritual moments woven throughout, such as a baked timpano sliced tableside from a cart, a wood-fired roast carved for the table, Roman 'first tastes' passed around, zabaglione whipped by hand, and coffee brewed together in a vintage moka pot. At the end, there's complimentary limoncello and digestivi dropped 'grandpa style.'

  • CUCINA DI NONNA just launched at Elvira in Ocean Beach.

The players

Cesarina Mezzoni

The chef and owner of Elvira, a Roman osteria, and the MICHELIN Bib Gourmand-awarded Cesarina Ristorante.

Elvira

A Roman osteria in Ocean Beach, San Diego, owned by Chef Cesarina Mezzoni.

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The takeaway

This new dining experience at Elvira reflects a growing trend in the restaurant industry, as more operators create immersive, home-style formats that prioritize warmth, ritual, and connection over traditional restaurant service. By offering a curated, intimate gathering that feels like stepping into a 1970s Italian grandmother's home, Elvira is tapping into a desire for more personalized and meaningful dining experiences.