Life’s lemons are best when serving as inspiration for a 2,000-square-foot Amalfi Coast, art deco-themed restaurant plopped in the middle of La Mesa. You know the owner Alberto Morreale for his fleet of San Diego properties (The Seventh House, Smokey & The Brisket, Farmers Bottega, Farmer’s Table), now he’s gearing up to open his first Italian joint, Limoncello.

Nano doors separate the dining room from a patio fit for 20, where guests can enjoy a menu stuffed with colorful salads, handmade pasta, seasonal entree specials, and a thread of fresh citrus zest carried throughout. Morreale’s childhood was dotted with memories of cooking alongside his mother, fishing out at sea with his father, and journeying to the Amalfi Coast with family.