Fresco Cocina & 264 Fresco
One Restaurateur. Two Cultures. One Passion for Bringing People Together.
“Food has the remarkable ability to tell our story long before we say a word.”
Walk through Carlsbad Village and you’ll find two restaurants just a short stroll apart.
One serves wood-fired pizzas, handmade pasta, and classic Italian comfort food.
The other offers vibrant tacos, handcrafted margaritas, and modern Mexican cuisine bursting with fresh flavors.
At first glance, they seem completely different.
But they’re connected by one remarkable woman.
Both 264 Fresco and Fresco Cocina are the vision of restaurateur Linda DiNitto, whose life has been shaped by two cultures and one simple belief:
Great food has the power to bring people together.
Meet the Owner
Linda DiNitto’s Culinary Story
Linda DiNitto’s story begins thousands of miles from Carlsbad.
Born in Venezuela to Italian parents, she grew up immersed in two rich culinary traditions.
Inside her home, meals reflected the warmth and simplicity of Italy.
Fresh pasta.
Olive oil.
Family recipes.
Long conversations around the dinner table.
Outside her home, Venezuela introduced her to the bold flavors, colorful ingredients, and vibrant hospitality that define Latin American cuisine.
Rather than choosing one heritage over the other, Linda embraced both.
Today, her two restaurants beautifully reflect the two cultures that helped shape her life.
Two Restaurants.
One Story.
264 Fresco
Located at 264 Carlsbad Village Drive, 264 Fresco celebrates Linda’s Italian heritage.
Guests enjoy authentic wood-fired pizzas, handmade pastas, fresh seafood, and classic Italian recipes served in a warm coastal setting.
After becoming the restaurant’s sole owner, Linda expanded the experience by creating a beautiful outdoor patio with a retractable louvered roof, allowing guests to enjoy Carlsbad’s mild climate throughout the year.
264 Fresco has become one of Carlsbad Village’s favorite neighborhood gathering places—a restaurant where families celebrate birthdays, friends reconnect over wine, and visitors discover authentic Italian hospitality.
Fresco Cocina
Just a block away, Fresco Cocina tells another chapter of Linda’s story.
Opened in 2022 inside the former KoKo Beach building, Fresco Cocina originally celebrated the diverse flavors of Latin America.
Working alongside Executive Chef Chris Idso, Linda developed a menu inspired by the cuisines of Venezuela, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay, and Southern Mexico.
Guests enjoyed colorful shareable dishes including:
- Short Rib Empanadas
- Venezuelan Shrimp Tequeños
- Fresh Ceviche
- Handcrafted Cocktails
Over time, the restaurant evolved.
Listening carefully to guests and responding to the local community, Fresco Cocina refined its concept into the vibrant modern Mexican restaurant it is today.
While the menu became more focused, Linda’s original vision never changed:
Fresh ingredients.
Bold flavors.
Beautiful presentation.
Warm hospitality.
Food designed for sharing.
Today, Fresco Cocina continues to celebrate Mexican cuisine while honoring the broader Latin American influences that inspired its beginnings.
Signature Experiences
At 264 Fresco
Guest favorites include:
- Wood-Fired Pizza
- Handmade Pasta
- Fresh Seafood
- Italian Wines
- Classic Tiramisu
At Fresco Cocina
Guest favorites include:
- Street Tacos (Featured on Carlsbad Food Tours)
- House-Made Guacamole
- Fresh Ceviche
- Mexican Street Corn
- Handcrafted Margaritas
Both restaurants reflect Linda’s commitment to fresh ingredients and memorable hospitality.
Behind the Scenes
Hospitality Is the Common Ingredient
Although the menus are different, the philosophy behind both restaurants is remarkably similar.
Guests are welcomed like friends.
Fresh ingredients take center stage.
Meals are meant to be shared.
Whether serving Italian comfort food or modern Mexican cuisine, Linda believes dining should create connection.
That’s why both restaurants have become gathering places for locals and visitors alike.
Why We Love Them
One of the things I admire most about Linda is her willingness to grow.
She understands that restaurants, like communities, evolve.
By listening to her guests while staying true to her own story, she’s created two restaurants that complement one another beautifully.
Our guests experience Fresco Cocina as one of the highlights of our Taste of Carlsbad Food Tour, where they enjoy a delicious taco that showcases fresh ingredients and vibrant flavors.
On our Prohibition Cocktail Tour, guests return to enjoy one of Fresco Cocina’s handcrafted cocktails paired with another signature tasting.
Every visit reminds me that great hospitality isn’t defined by a menu.
It’s defined by how people feel when they leave.
Celebrating Two Culinary Traditions
Italian and Mexican cultures may seem worlds apart.
Yet both share remarkably similar values.
Fresh ingredients.
Family gatherings.
Meals prepared with love.
Recipes passed from generation to generation.
Food enjoyed slowly with the people who matter most.
Those shared traditions are what connect Linda’s two restaurants.
Different cuisines.
One philosophy.
If These Tables Could Talk…
“Between us, we’ve celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, proposals, family reunions, and countless evenings with friends. One serves pasta. One serves tacos. But both remind us that the best memories are made around the table.”
Cherimarie’s Reflection
One of the things I love about Linda’s story is that she didn’t choose between her two cultures.
She embraced both.
That authenticity is reflected in each restaurant.
Whether our guests enjoy handmade pasta at 264 Fresco or a taco and margarita at Fresco Cocina, they’re experiencing more than a meal.
They’re experiencing Linda’s life story.
And I think that’s one of the beautiful things about Carlsbad.
Our restaurants aren’t simply businesses.
They’re expressions of the people who built them.
Then & Now
Then
Linda DiNitto grew up surrounded by the culinary traditions of Italy and Venezuela.
Now
Today, those same traditions continue to inspire two of Carlsbad Village’s most beloved restaurants, where guests experience both Italian hospitality and modern Mexican flavors just one block apart.
Did You Know?
- Linda DiNitto was born in Venezuela to Italian parents.
- She owns both 264 Fresco and Fresco Cocina in Carlsbad Village.
- 264 Fresco is known for its wood-fired pizzas, handmade pastas, and coastal Italian cuisine.
- Fresco Cocina opened in 2022 in the former KoKo Beach location.
- Fresco Cocina originally featured a broader Latin American menu before evolving into a modern Mexican restaurant.
- Both restaurants reflect Linda’s multicultural heritage and commitment to exceptional hospitality.
- Fresco Cocina is a featured stop on the Taste of Carlsbad Food Tour and the Prohibition Cocktail Tour.
Restaurant Quick Facts
264 Fresco
Cuisine: Coastal Italian
Known For: Wood-Fired Pizza • Handmade Pasta • Fresh Seafood
Fresco Cocina
Cuisine: Modern Mexican
Known For: Street Tacos • Margaritas • Fresh Guacamole • Vibrant Latin-Inspired Flavors
Owner: Linda DiNitto
Carlsbad Food Tours Partner: ✔ Fresco Cocina
Prohibition Cocktail Tour Partner: ✔ Fresco Cocina
A Seat at the Table
If you could share dinner at either 264 Fresco or Fresco Cocina with someone who has inspired your own journey, who would you invite—and which restaurant would you choose?
Our favorite restaurants often reflect who we are, where we’ve been, and the memories we hope to create with others.
Our Legacy
Linda DiNitto reminds us that the most meaningful restaurants are often deeply personal.
Through 264 Fresco and Fresco Cocina, she has woven together the flavors of her Italian heritage and South American upbringing, creating two distinct dining experiences united by one purpose: bringing people together through exceptional food and genuine hospitality.
Her story reflects the spirit of Carlsbad itself—a community enriched by diverse cultures, welcoming traditions, and a shared love of gathering around the table.
Story Connections
This story connects with:
- Carlsbad Village
- Historic Highway 101
- Carlsbad Boulevard
- Gregorio’s Italian Restaurant
- Cicciotti’s Trattoria
- Gelato Love
- Blue Water Grill
- Carlsbad Food Tours
- Prohibition Cocktail Tour
- Best Restaurants in Carlsbad
Collection
Restaurant Storybook
Story Themes
Italian Heritage • Mexican Cuisine • Hospitality • Entrepreneurship • Family • Community • Cultural Traditions