Big Willie&#x27;s Pizza

The NY-style pizza is decent, good size, a little greasy, but that's kind of the point. The outdoor…read morepatio is a nice touch. Service was friendly but slow on a moderately busy night. Nothing blew me away, and the price felt slightly high for what you get. Would probably return if I was nearby, but I wouldn't make a special trip.

Was in the area and had to grab a few slices to-go from my favorite pizza/pasta spot in SoCal…read more Slices: Buy 3 get 1 free, its equivalent to half a pie (just under $5/slice or $20 total). I like the variety pack of slices. If you only like one style, grabbing a whole pie cut to 6-8 large slices is a better deal (~$25-$30 total). As always, the slices were delicious, the service was fast and friendly, and the outdoor sidewalk seating is perfect for people watching. Each slice is crispy, thin, foldable and PACKED with flavor. They have about 10 small round tables for open seating in the sidewalk. The interior dining area has a few spots as well. The parking in little Italy still sucks, so good luck with that.

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Tiramisu

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Street view

Filippi's Pizza Grotto Little Italy

3.9(4k reviews)

I'm not much of an Italian food lover but this was hands down the best Italian food I've had in my…read morelife. I was a bit hesitant because I typically cook my noodles IN the sauce versus topping them with sauce but this meal did not disappoint. Both the meat in the ravioli and sauce were very flavorful. The garlic bread was typical but still really tasty. The waitress was nice and hospitable. The ambiance was nice. The restaurant is located in the back of what looks like a store in front. I appreciate a nice whole in the wall, mom & pop shop. I'd definitely return next time I'm in SD.

Pizza Wasn't the Only Thing Getting Fired Up Outside…read more We weren't even customers here, but after what I saw outside this place I definitely won't be one in the future. We were standing on the sidewalk near the red seating area in front of Filippi's Pizza Grotto for about ten minutes finishing a smoke. I had recently experienced a flare-up of a chronic illness, which significantly affected my well-being. During this episode,I had felt the need to smoke as a way to manage the heightened stress and discomfort caused by my condition. Right as we finished and were about to leave, a police car pulled up (it honestly looked like the officer was just stopping by to grab lunch). That's when an older lady employee from the restaurant suddenly came outside and said, "Do you mind moving down? The smoke is going into my restaurant." Fair request. We immediately responded respectfully with "Sorry miss," and started walking away to avoid any issue. But instead of leaving it there, she kept escalating the situation while they were already leaving, repeating things like "This is a family business, have some respect!" -- which didn't really make sense considering we had already apologized and were doing exactly what she asked. What made the whole thing feel strange was the timing. We had been standing there for around ten minutes already. If the smoke was truly bothering the restaurant, why wait until the exact moment a police car pulled up to come outside and confront us? From the outside, it honestly looked like the presence of the police suddenly gave her the confidence to make a scene and try to draw attention to us even though we were already complying. It appears she wanted to get us into legal trouble with her making it a bigger scene in front of the police. Another thing that didn't sit right with me was that we were the only Hispanics standing in the area at the time and the only people she chose to confront. I'm not saying that was the intention, but from a bystander's perspective it definitely didn't look great. Also, I'm still confused by the "this is a family restaurant" comment. What exactly does that mean in this situation? Are people who smoke not allowed to eat there? Because we weren't even customers at the moment we were simply standing on a public sidewalk and immediately moved when asked. If someone respectfully complies with your request, there's really no reason to continue escalating the situation or trying to involve the police by drawing attention to it. If this is how people are treated outside the restaurant, it doesn't exactly inspire confidence about how customers are treated inside. It appears that if you're Hispanic or a smoker you should steer clear of this place. I wouldn't be surprised if she has ICE on speed dial.

Chicken Parmigiana

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Margherita Pizza with meatball

Ristorante Illando

Luca was our server and tended to us very well. He was timely with his delivery of part of his…read moreservice to us and was very well informed about the menu items. In the end he went out of his way to recognize my fiancé's birthday. Great service, excellent food!

Food was amazing. But what was even better was our server Luca. He suggested everything we ate and…read moreit did not disappoint. super cool atmosphere and vibe. i Didn't think some aspects of the place were great but service and food where on point and that's the most important thing. Thanks Luca!!!!

Nice quiet spot with AMAZING food. Clean, great service and very reasonably priced.

Papardelle Bolognese

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Torre di Antipasti

Mr. Moto Pizza - Little Italy

4.1(439 reviews)

•$

My husband and I really enjoyed Mr. Moto Pizza right in the heart of SD's Little Italy…read more They have huge New York-style pizza slices. We got slices of the Hulk (meat lovers), Rocky Mountains (Meatball, ricotta, honey, chili oil), and Piece of Art (Pepperoni, hot honey, burrata). I enjoyed how fresh each slice was, but my all time fave was the Rocky Mountains. I love a sweet/spicy moment, and not many pizzas feature meatballs. We also tried their garlic knots which went perfectly dipped in creamy ranch. The weather was perfect for patio dining and people watching. We'd definitely return when we're back in town! PS. Counter service here!

Little Italy plus perfect pizza from Mr . Moto pizza What a…read morecombo Try cheese , margarita , pepperoni slices All amazing Bring friends!

Menu, 4/2026

Garlic knot with jalapeño

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Meat pizza

Nonna

4.2(1.1k reviews)

This place is a vibe. It's moody but the indoor/outdoor patio makes you feel like you're in a cute…read morelittle Italian courtyard but in San Diego's Little Italy. Service was prompt, friendly, and very knowledgeable about gluten. Which is a great segue into... this is one of the most phenomenal gluten free pizzas that I've ever had. I'm not typically an olive oil sauce enthusiast but this absolutely changed my mind. Doughy, chewy, fluffy, and gluten free?! Ordered with a glass of Unshackled Cabernet. Perfection. Finished the night with three scoops of gelato. Heaven. Can't wait to go back!

The burrata and prosciutto crudo appetizer was fresh and tasty. A promising start…read more Then came the salmon with sweet potato purée, and everything fell apart. The fish had a smell and texture that strongly suggested it was spoiled. We sent it back immediately. Serving bad fish is not just a culinary failure, it's a food safety concern. No good appetizer can make up for that. I won't be returning.

Dining room

Who took the last bite

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Arancini in Little Italy

Isola Pizza Bar

4.2(1.5k reviews)

6.4 km•Little Italy

Food is incredible, hands down the best pizza in San Diego. The hostess and bartenders are kind and…read morefriendly. The hostess more than anything was the star of the night of how she managed to get me a seat although it was super busy. It will be a regular spot for me now!

Really enjoyed this brunch. I like the margaritas, and all the different types of pizza & pasta…read more It was nice sitting outside. Servers were friendly.

Brick oven pizza

Pizza Salamino Piccante

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Delicious !

Sorrento Ristorante & Pizzeria

4.1(1.1k reviews)

6.2 km•Little Italy

This is our Go-To for the last 7 years. They greet you like family…read more They have spectacular food that is always consistent and delicious. Homemade pasta like our favorite places in Italy. Luco is the other reason we come because he is "the icing on the pizza pie". we love the patio and Next to Naples Italy the pizza is the best!

To start off the staff was great. The energy and the hospitality was great. Not the outside, side…read morepatio was perfect way to stay in the shade and yet a nice view of the street and activity going on outside. I know I wasn't that hungry and I had a feeling my choice would be smaller as I picked the Lobster Ravioli. Sure enough it was a smaller portion, but very flavorful. The bread was nice and crispy with a soft inside as well, which paired with the sauce nicely. I would eat here again, and hopefully with more of an appetite. My friend's dishes looked good as well. So much to choose from. Enjoy...

Gotta try the Magopeno. Suggested by Alex the bartender and hands down the best martini I've ever had.

Original Sin

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Red Carpet

Monello

4.0(2.3k reviews)

6.0 km•Little Italy

This place was absolutely amazing. To start off with the most important part, the food. We began…read morethe meal with the mini fried calzones with mozzarella and tomato sauce inside and they were great. You could tell the bread was super fresh and high quality so I would recommend it. Next, we got a glass of prosecco. I told the waiter that I only like wine that tastes much more sweet then bitter or strong and he made a perfect suggestion along with giving us a sampler of 3 different wines which was so generous. I got to try them all and pick the one I liked the most, but even the samples were a generous size. For main course I got one of the current options for the cheese wheel pasta they make in front of you in cacio e pepe and my husband got the formaggi pizza with truffle mushrooms. My husband absolutely loved his pizza and the crust was one of the best he's ever had. My pasta was fresh and had a ton of sauce and cream so they didn't skimp at all. I could tell easily that they use very high quality Parmesan because i'm a Parmesan connoisseur and could taste how potent it was. They let me have as much extra as I wanted on without limiting since I enjoy a lot on it which was also a plus in my book. Next time I would get a pasta that's a little lighter, because it was a more heavy dish and it tends to make me feel pretty full after which is totally a me thing, but they have so much on the menu to try that I'm sure I'll love whatever I get even more next time. Lastly, dessert. We got a regular tiramisu and it was absolutely amazing. They put a ton of cream which is exactly what I look for. It wasn't too espresso or cocoa strong and had a perfect ratio. The cream was so light and fluffy that we had to get another one to bring home and eat tomorrow night! I had seen a previous review on here about someone not liking the tiramisu here and it not meeting their expectations for a more upscale Italian place but I've been to quite a few authentic Italian gems and this one had tiramisu up there so I'd have to disagree and completely recommend! The service was impeccable. Every waiter was kind and prompt, constantly making sure we were taken care of and getting what we needed. The atmosphere was also a plus for us because we have a 1 year old baby and there was enough room where we weren't too cramped or crowded in, and it wasn't too loud or overstimulating. The place was very clean and taken care of as well as the bathrooms. All in all, I loved this place and I will be coming back. I would definitely recommend Monello for a nice little date night, and don't forget the tiramisu.

Nice calamari to start and wine Wednesday selection was fabulous…read more I had the parpadelle with pesto and chopped grilled chicken. Fresh and garlicky and the chicken portion gave a great bite with every forkful. Would return!

Inside

Squid ink lobster sauce spaghetti

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Espresso martinis

Mimmo's Italian Village

4.0(1.8k reviews)

I can't believe I havent written a review for this place. We came here a few months ago for lunch &…read morewas blown away. From the decor to the architecture, it was almost as if we were in another place. We ordered the cheese flat bread, the garlic bread, the mac and cheese, the stuffed mushrooms WERE AMAZING and a few other items that I cant think of right now. The food is so good and the desserts are even better. Service was great and we cannot wait to be back.

The best happy hour you'll find in all of Little Italy!…read more Offered everyday from 3-6pm with ample options and insanely reasonable prices. My husband and I ordered the meatballs, a side of bread, a glass of sangria, and a beer. Total cost before tip:$21!! I almost fell over in my chair! It's been so long since we've seen prices like that!! Plus the ambience at Mimmo's is so romantic and cozy-we felt like we were back in Italy again! If you don't stop here when you are in the little Italy area then you're insane because with authentic Italian food and such affordable prices, what more could you ask for?? We will DEFINITELY be back next time we're in town!

Seating

Campanelle sausage

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Sangria

Davanti Enoteca

4.1(2.9k reviews)

6.2 km•Little Italy

Hands down, the best calamari I've ever had in my life. I…read moredon't even like calamari! But the crispness and the breading on this one, is absolute perfection. The focaccia we got with the honey and the cheese on the inside was delightful. We got so many other things and I forgot to get pics. But the vibe here is great. We sat in the little courtyard in the back, and it feels like you're in Italy. They have a great happy hour. They have comfy seating, but booths and tables and a full bar. Our server was super cool and helpful. We had a big group, and everything was great. Love this spot!

I really wanted to like Davanti, but the food was a disappointment. The dishes we tried were…read moresurprisingly plain and lacked flavor, especially considering the restaurant's reputation. Nothing stood out, and overall the menu felt uninspired and boring. That said, the service was excellent. The staff was friendly, attentive, and professional throughout the meal, which made the experience more enjoyable. Unfortunately, great service can only make up so much when the food doesn't deliver. While I appreciated the hospitality, I don't see myself returning for the cuisine.