mmm-yoso!!! is the food blog you are reading. Cathy is writing because the guys (Kirk and ed(fromYuma)) are busy doing stuff, like researching future posts.
Tucked in a shopping mall near Cuyamaca College, next to the Starbucks, in Rancho San Diego, is this. Taste of Italy, kind of a local chain of "A Taste of Italy" restaurants (another location is on University in Hillcrest, on Carmel Mountain Road in Del Mar and also Vesuvio and Etna are owned by the same group; the primary menu items are all Sicilian (a more complex Italian) based). We like the Rancho San Diego because it is open late (midnight M-Th and 2 a.m. on Fri and Sat), it has a bar, televisions in the bar (we watched a World Cup game here one Saturday) and really really good, house made food.
Inside, there are a selection of wines, or you can bring your own and store the bottles, in a locked area with a personalized plaque, as you might on the island of Sicily.
We were here for lunch one day. We could have also ordered brunch (they just started offering brunch on weekends in June, possibly to coincide with the above mentioned World Cup Games.)
Artichoke soup. Made from scratch. Not heavy (no cream layer stuck to your tongue). Lemony and with a bit of heat (jalapeño juice maybe was in it). Excellent and made in house. There is always a great minestrone, I do like trying the soups. The island of Sicily has a subtropical climate and artichokes and eggplant and citrus are easily grown. Most Sicilian dishes are vegetable and seafood based). 
A few pieces of garlic bread were brought out- The garlic was complimentary to the soup taste.
A few pieces of garlic bread were brought out- The garlic was complimentary to the soup taste.
I ordered the Classic Antipasto for my meal. Red and green lettuces, fresh pickled mushrooms, tomatoes, onions, olives and rolled mortadella, salami and provolone. This was just the right amount of food for me at lunch. The house made olive oil, balsamic and herb salad dressing (also with a bit of peppery heat) is just right.
The Mister could not decide, but knew he wanted a baked pasta dish and chose the half ravioli half cheese manicotti with the marinara sauce ($14.99). The pastas were tender, house made. The manicotti were very much like crepes and filled with a combination of mozarella, ricotta and romano cheeses. The ravioli were large and overfilled. The marinara sauce, also house made, was very rich in tomato flavor and had just a touch of red pepper heat in it.
You need reservations on Friday and Saturday nights to eat here. It gets very crowded. Because it is good. There are plenty of Italian Restaurants in this part of El Cajon. This is one of the best.
Taste of Italy 2515 Jamacha Road El Cajon 92019 (Rancho San Diego-in the Ralphs/Michael's mall, across from the mall with the movie theaters) (619)660-6300 Website