This is a tough review to write. On one hand the affogato was great. Expresso was smooth. I got it with whip and dark chocolate and vanilla. Very good. Now adding a little whip was $1 extra (which she didn't mention) on top of $6.50. So totally overpriced but really good. So why three stars? It's the tactic with the containers and scoops. The small is tiny! Tiny. It's ThE smallest I have ever seen. And it's $4.50 and add $1 for whip. And then on top of that the actual small container has a ridiculous cut out at the bottom that takes up space. See picture. I just don't get it. Why not have a decent size cup. Oh and they put the first scoop at level with the cup rim and then they put another dollop just to make it more vertical so it looks like you're getting more. It's just silly. read more

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I've been here twice, my first time was at night time and I had their NUTELLA PIE, I wanted a PANINI, but they were out for the night. So I tried the NUTTELA PIE and it was so good ! So yesterday I came back again and I really wanted to try some more of their food. I Ordered: * 2 of their PROSCIUTTO PANINI *DAIYA MUSROOM SANDWICH *TIRAMISU *GELATO MIX BERRY MIMOSA *NUTELLA PIE All of the ones we tried were all good, but I wasnt expecting the simple Daiya cheese mushroom sandwich to be more delicious than the Prociuto panini. The Tiramisu was good, but the NUTTELA PIE was really good! I was like a little kid, eating it nonstop ;) If you have a little kid and you pass by PAPPALECCO you can't go wrong with their NUTELLA PIE ! And all Paninis are Half-off on Wednesday .They have outdoor seating too, I chose to be on the outdoor seating 'coz the inside is kind of a Tight space. The Staff here are all Friendly! We are definitely going back to this place again to try some more of their food! This place is Simple and Small, but really deliver satisfying foods or drinks. read more

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This is a hidden gem for me. You could work next door to this place and totally miss it. Where else can you find authentic and fresh panini and Italian Morochinno ( what I had in the pics) with people watching and outdoor seating, and indoor too if no COVID Panini is made fresh and described in detail by the staff. The staff are incredibly personable and the service is top notch. Tried the pistachio gelato and loved it too. Pappalecco doesn't disappoint. This about the food and friendly service . read more

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Good gelato and cannoli. The staff is friendly and the prices aren't bad. Limited seating but has never been too full to sit down.

This is my third stop on the San Diego Vegan tour. This is a cute place in Little Italy San Diego. I went with the mushroom and cheese panini with a dark chocolate Gelato. I'm loving Vegan food the more I eat it. They have several items that will make any Vegans happy. Non Vegans will also love this place too. I left with a happy tummy read more

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I love everything about this place. From the warm greetings to the very delicious food, pastry & Coffee. Is my to go place. Thank You XX

Good product, but you may need to boot out some of your regular customers. Apparently a bunch of Middle Eastern Men are gathering every night and shouting sexist, misogynistic, and downright offensive comments to women as they pass by. They are talking about the size of their penis, that the women need to get laid, etc etc. read more

Ok WOW this was my first time getting an affogato anywhere and THIS WAS MY FIRST OF MANY TO COME. These guys really set the standard. I didn't know I could choose which gelato I got in my affogato so I panicked because I get indecisive about choosing gelato/ice cream flavors. The staff recommended something nutty but I still couldn't narrow it down so she recommended pistachio which ended up being INSANE. They also have these fun gelato mimosas (for the summer I assume) which were great to get my friend and me a little buzzed (but ok we were on empty stomachs since we stopped by waiting for Morning Glory) read more

The hot chocolate is the best hot chocolate i have ever had. Not to sweet not to bitter. My husband also loved his coffee

Got the Americano. Good and strong. Left room for a little cream and a little sugar. Good flavor and the beans didn't taste burnt. Strong flavor which I loved. The service was good and quick. Just what I needed early in the morning while waiting in line for breakfast at morning glory. read more

Cute place and great coffee. I had a pastry and asked for a fork and the server(Meral, hink was his name.) HE said to me that I should use my hands to eat the pastry. I said that I did not want to use my hands and then he said that they don't have forks so i said ok. I saw a knife in front of me, so I said I will take a knife and he gave it to me. Then I asked his colleague for a knife and she found a fork. What's that about? They seve salads sandwiches. Quiche etc. This made the experience a not so great one. The pastry was just Ok and had a refrigerator taste from other food in the display case. Overall not great. Sorry read more

Pappalecco - Great coffee - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

Delicious gelato! I tried their pistachio and their nutella one and omg they are so good! Staff is friendly and ambiance is great! A little out of the "little italy" main street but it is definitely worth the walk up to this spot! read more

Pappalecco - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

Wow! Wow! Wow! The lemon sorbet here was incredible, and even better was the slice of heaven that we got. I don't remember what it was, but I will have to come back to get more of it! One slice to share between 3 people just wasn't enough! read more

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Only tried the gelato. Plenty outdoor seating. Amaretto gelato- So delicious! single scoop is pretty big. Can share w a special friend. Tiramisu and pistachio were mildly sweet which is nice as I don't like very sweet desserts but the Tiramisu got a bit bitter as I ate it more. read more

Really cute breakfast and lunch cafe. They serve some strong coffee, delicious gelatos and paninis. My friend and I ordered the prosciutto and caprese paninis with a side salad and tomato soup. Everything was delicious and we devoured everything. Service was really quick and the staff was friendly. They have limited seating indoors, but theres also outdoor seating as well. Highly recommend this place if you'd like some snacks and try their gelato flavors. I'll definitely be back to try their famous Nutella pie. read more

Pappalecco - Prosciutto Panini and Caprese Panini with tomato soups - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

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Cute authentic Italian cafe in the heart of San Diego. They have so many gelato flavors, so it was nice that the employee let us try some samples. Overall, the gelato was made with quality ingredients and had a perfect sweetness to it. Food: 4/5 Service: 5/5 Value: 4/5 read more

Pappalecco - Gelato - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

This coffee shop has earned the reputation as a local favorite and rightfully so. From the gelatos, the breads and coffee... just yummy! I usually avoid ordering any type of bread from coffee shops because they're usually okay at best. This morning, I ordered a focaccia with pepperoni and mozzarella. After the first bite, it reminded me of being in Italy. The cheese, pepperoni and bread was just outstanding. My cappuccino was made perfectly. Another plus is their very personable staff who makes you feel always welcome. The only challenge is it's all street parking. read more

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This is in the heart of little Italy and right around the Corner from the food court square. I decided to come here during my class break, and believe me when I say I am glad I did. The coffee here is beyond delicious and authentic, you can actually taste the roast of the coffee as if it was just freshly grinned. The staff were so friendly and I noticed they make the effort to ask for your name, welcome you and even make a cute little joke to warm up your day. I ordered a caramel latte, and salad, and my friend ordered a caramel cappuccino. The prices are very similar to other coffee shops, but the quality taste like as if you were actually sitting in Itally drinking some coffee. The coffee is not only good, but also super strong and just what I needed for my hectic law school schedule. I also ordered the vegan salad which contains chickpea, pecans, chia seeds and it usually also comes with tomatoes but I requested none be put on there. It's then tossed with balsamic vinaigrette and topped with a baguette which had been lightly toasted to perfection and drizzled with light olive oil. Over all really like this place and glad I discovered it! read more

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The last time I visited this gelato spot was 12-13 years ago and it was amazing! I came last weekend and it was ok.. we got gelato at about 6 pm and they were out of half their flavors.. I've had better gelato let me tell you.. the staff was so so.. not overly friendly.. had to settle for two flavors I didn't really even want but I really wanted pappalecco gelato. In little Italy there are so many gelato spots, next time I'm going somewhere else. read more

When you walk in you are greeted by the friendliest of staff.. everything is so clean and the gelato just looks amazing! We had a wonderful time chatting and after sipping our lattes were VERY impressed.. will definitely be back for some gelato in the future! read more

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Ordered a cappuccino that tasted like a cold cup of milk. Rude staff too. I will not be coming back. There are other speciality coffee places around Little Italy that are way better. read more

Just not very good ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ the gelato was icy and didn't taste like gelato i don't have anything more to day but I also feel misled to have gone here bc it was rated well maybe for their sandwiches but wouldn't be got their gelato i think read more

While we were walking around Little Italy we stopped by here to have some post dinner dessert. They gelato was smooth and creamy while being not too sweet. I got an espresso flavor and a tiramisu flavor. They service was really nice and friendly; they allowed you to try as many flavors as you want. It's a cute little shop with outdoor seating that enjoyed. read more

Pappalecco - Tiramisu gelato and Marocchino gelato - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

The biggest disappointment during my San Diego trip. I don't often write low rated reviews like this but my experience here was quite unfortunate. We decided to check this place out due to the strong and many reviews on Yelp. There's was no line when we arrived and We were standing in front of the gelato section. No staff member, despite there being 4 members behind the counter welcomed us or offered help. Once I asked the woman behind the counter for assistance she said you must pay before getting the ice cream. When asking for a flavor recommendation she didn't really have an immediate answer. We got the medium sized gelatos with 2 flavors each. Strawberry, Nutella, and the house cookie flavor. Our total was nearly $15 which is the most I've ever paid for gelato. There was a lid with a dome and I asked if they filled to the top and she said no so that the lid can fit...upon exiting the lids for both popped off and the ice cream was filled right to the top of the cup. the gelato was sub par..the strawberry was especially too sweet/artificial tasting. Even my 2 year did not want to eat more than a few bites. Overall do not personally recommend, I'm sure there are others with better experiences. Also one of their own employee was smoking right outside the location. Pretty unprofessional. read more

Pappalecco - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

The only saving grace for this spot is the quality of the gelato. I was so incredibly disappointed by the lack of quality service. We came in on a Friday night around 8:10 where we were greeted and could sample multiple gelatos (all good things). Then after deciding on our flavors we were first asked to pay and then wait in line again to decide upon flavors. This whole escapade made little sense. Why not just ask our size if gelato and flavors, serve us, and then pay? Instead we waited in line again after already paying to determine our flavors. At this point only one employee was actively working so we had to wait roughly 10 extra minutes after paying to order our specific gelato flavors. I was not a fan of this process, it was inefficient and made zero sense. Pappalecco, streamline your ordering process, this was absurd! read more

Service was quick and the portions were pretty good for the price. I ordered a medium and was able to choose 3 flavors. read more

Pappalecco - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

OMG the gelato is SOOOOO good!! My friend just came back from Italy and suggested that we stop in after dinner and grab some gelato while we walked around Little Italy. It's delicious and the staff is super friendly!! read more

Pappalecco - Front of business - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

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Yes they have a few vegan options for dessert and panini sandwiches. I did not order any of these as I was only buying coffee, but it made me happy to see these options as I am lactose intolerant. I ordered an ice latte with oat milk and hazelnut syrup. The girl taking my order said if I was ok with the latte having 4 espresso shots ... um ... yes!! They were quick in making drink that I didn't even have time to check out the gelato flavors. They have sugar and other sweeteners on the side for you to add to your liking. My coffee was good! I love my coffee to taste like coffee and not sugary. Def coming back to try the vegan food options. read more

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Had a quick stop here after church visit. On this hot summer weather at 80 degrees here - we had dark chocolate gelato and mixed berries + strawberries. Close your eyes as you keep diving your spoon to that mini cup, on to your mouth that gelato moment feelings.. enjoying each rich and creamy taste from 7-15 degrees Fahrenheit of coldness that doesn't numb your mouth. read more

Pappalecco - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

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Such a cute place! Awesome service! BUT the cappuccino and Palmer were amazing!!!! For sure stop here! read more

Pappalecco - Cappuccino - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

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Full disclosure, I did not have any of their baked goods. I have been striking out looking for ethnic treats. When I called ahead, I was greeted in Italian so I was picturing Venezia on my visit to Little Italy today. I wanted a cannoli but only found Americana like treats and "paninis." There is a gelato selection. read more

Pappalecco - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

We came here based on the great Yelp reviews after we had lunch at Civico. We were the only customers in the store. There were at least three empty gelato bins and the other selection of flavors looked like they have been sitting there for some days. The gelato presentation looked subpar-no fresh fruit or sweet garnishments on the gelato. The gelato near the back of the bins looked dry and when the lady was scooping the gelato, she would grab some of the dried gelato into our cups. Prior to us picking our flavors, the lady told us that we needed to first pay for our gelato. While I thought she needed to know our flavors with each size ordered, she snapped at me stating that we give the flavors to the other lady. The other lady was near the back of the counter so how was I suppose to know I place my flavor order with her. The service was subpar. The gelato was okay-nothing amazing. The service was worse than the gelato. read more

OK YUM. Cutest little corner spot in Little Italy! If you're coming for early lunch or late morning don't be surprised if you have to wait in a long line or even wait for a table. This location only has a few seating options inside and out! The staff is incredibly friendly with great attitudes. The coffees are soo good! Not to worry about the dairy free people out there, they have a wide variety of milks! The caprese paninis... wow. The bread... wow. it's very filling, you can eat half and save the rest for later. Highly recommend if you are in the area. read more

Pappalecco - Pastry case - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

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With so many gelato places in Little Italy, Pappalecco faces some stiff competition. We came after dinner on a Friday night and arrived to see a number of flavors already sold out. Out of the remaining ones, I selected mint which was good but not great. Cost is just over $5 for a small size cup, and for that price I didn't think it was really worth it. It's possible the other sold out flavors are better and many of them were more appealing to me than the mint. To my surprise they don't let you sample anything, so it's all or nothing. Overall, improvements could be made in maintaining stock of flavors and offering samples read more

I ordered an espresso drink and did not like it. When I asked to switch it to a different drink, they were not willing to accommodate me. It left me with a sour taste in my mouth. You would think they would want their customers to be happy and feel welcomed to come again, but I definitely was not happy and do not plan on going back. read more

I used to come here before the modern remodel. It had a much more charming and inviting feel to the store. Now it's too modern and the service along with it is so plastic. The servers seem uninterested and totally bored. They just want you to choose your gelato and leave. With all the competition around, i would imagine pappalecco to step it up a notch for being such a well known gelato/desserts/coffee shop. read more

A lovely shop with free wifi, good coffee, competent workers, and delicious pastries. I have been unable to try the gelato here so I cannot comment on this. I believe my portion sizes were ample for the price, however I was not completely in love with my quiche. Despite this, I am giving 5 stars due to location, staff efficiency, ambiance, and music. It's a nice cafe to sit and chat with a friend or to grab a coffee to go. I personally was able to finish some work tasks quickly while I was here. Street parking is a hit or miss, however if I'm in the area I would come back read more

Pappalecco - Espresso con Panna - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

Solid option for post dinner decaf and gelato, steps away from the crazy in Little Italy.

Love this place and the staff very friendly! Definitely recommend this place for gelato

Stopped in for a sweet treat. I got a small mixed berries gelato. It's a little pricy at over 5 bucks but it wasted pretty good. Lots of seeds so I could tell it was fresh. Haha, Lots of seating outside to enjoy the gelato. read more

Pappalecco - Mixed berries gelato - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California