When Christina Cunningham had the idea for an Italian restaurant during a run in El Cajon, she probably didn't expect it would land her at 4475 Ingraham St, 92109, inside one of Pacific Beach's most storied dining addresses. Sauced Pizzeria is a women-owned restaurant that opened in late 2021 after Cunningham and her nephew, Executive Chef Chad Fields, took over the space formerly occupied by Marino's Italian Restaurant, which had operated in PB for nearly 70 years under the Marino and Murino families. Cunningham connected with outgoing owner Mark Murino during the sale, and several former Marino's staff members stayed on, providing continuity for longtime regulars. Chef Fields, who previously cooked for JC Resorts in Los Angeles, runs a kitchen focused on Americanized Italian comfort food with a strong vegan program. Another Italian favorite in the neighborhood, Enoteca Adriano on Cass St, takes a more refined approach with Roman-forward cuisine and an extensive wine list. The hand-tossed pizzas at Sauced are available with traditional or vegan cheese and crust, and the one-pound sausage lasagna slab is built for serious appetites. Vegan hand-rolled meatballs, a vegan meat lovers pizza, and a vegan cold-cut sandwich with deli slices from The Be-Hive give plant-based diners a menu that goes well beyond token options. Sauced's famous breadsticks, slathered in garlic butter and dusted with what the kitchen calls Breadstick Dust, have developed a cult following on social media. Housemade sangria, local craft beers, and California wines fill out the drink list. Live piano music is featured on Friday nights, and the restaurant is available for full or partial buyouts for private events, making it a popular pick for birthday dinners and team celebrations. Italian dining along the PB strip also includes Filippis Pizza Grotto Pacific Beach, a San Diego institution with its own devoted following. The dining room carries an old-school Italian vibe paired with an upbeat, dance-in-your-seat playlist, and Sauced is open Monday and Wednesday through Sunday with expanded weekend hours starting at noon.