Sono, the new Italian spot from husband-and-wife team Nino Cusimano and Ocean Mohamadi, has quietly turned into North Park's latest magnet for regional Italian cooking. Opened earlier this year, the restaurant leans into house-made pastas, Neapolitan-style pizzas and small plates the chefs say rarely make it out of Italy, all served in a room that feels built for lingering instead of rushing through dinner.
According to the restaurant's website, SONO lists dinner hours as 5 to 10 p.m. daily, with a bar-only happy hour from 5 to 6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. The site also gives the address as 2835 University Ave and a contact number of 619-782-9786, with reservations handled through the venue's booking link.
A review in Times of San Diego singles out Cusimano's commitment to regional dishes that almost never show up on local menus, from cazzilli di brasato, potato croquettes stuffed with short rib, to a bruschetta porchetta built on pork roasted for 36 hours and shaved over smoked gouda. The piece also points to a roster of roughly 10 Neapolitan-style pizzas and a slate of house pastas that stretch well beyond the usual red-sauce standards.
Cusimano told Times of San Diego, "I see the sauce made this way all over Italy, but never here." His spaghettoni ai pomodoro is finished with cold butter, Parmesan and a little pasta water for a silkier mouthfeel, while the rigatoni bolognese bianca skips tomatoes in favor of slow-braised wagyu and small daubs of pistachio pesto.
Vibe and Design
The interior leans into moody, 1970s-tinged glamour, with a glowing central bar and a mix of seating that encourages long nights, according to Fabulous California. Designer Cassandra Builer of Huntress Decor led the fit-out, reshaping the corner space into a warmer, more intimate layout. Mohamadi’s cocktail program, built on clarified techniques and seasonal infusions, is tailored to play off Cusimano’s regional plates rather than compete with them.
Owners and Neighborhood Context
Sono is the fourth venture from Cusimano and Mohamadi, who also operate Flora, RustiCucina and Roman Wolves and have become fixtures in the North Park and Hillcrest dining scene. Eater San Diego included Sono in a recent roundup of noteworthy new openings, a sign the restaurant is drawing attention beyond its immediate block.
What To Order
To get a feel for the menu, start with the cazzilli di brasato or the bruschetta porchetta to share, then move on to the spaghettoni ai pomodoro or the rigatoni bolognese bianca for a fuller pasta course. If pizza is the move, the "deliziosa" topped with shredded short rib, pecorino and caramelized onions offers a solid read on the oven. Wrap things up with a simple dolce and a digestif at the bar if time allows.
Expect lively service and neighborhood energy. For reservations and the most current hours, check SONO's website. The restaurant's compact footprint and high interest mean early bookings are a smart call on weekends.
