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.

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.

Word of mouth and a quick search led us to Cucina Italiana Illando and it did not disappoint. We…read morecame in search of a great carbonara (my husband's favorite), and it absolutely delivered. The meal was outstanding from start to finish, but what really elevated the experience was our server, Luca. He was attentive, knowledgeable, and paired our dishes with a fantastic wine (Pian delle Vigne Rosso di Montalcino by Antinori) that complemented everything perfectly. If you're looking for authentic Italian flavors, excellent service, and a memorable dining experience, this spot is a must. Highly recommend!

Great little place with relaxing service & excellent food. We love the ambiance. Rustic, casual…read moresurroundings. Luka and Mauricio (we've been twice on this vacation) are excellent. Our favorite place.

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!

Nonna is the perfect place to go for any occasion! My friend and I went for a cute girl dinner and…read morewe were greeted with incredible, fresh food, a lovely ambience and fantastic service. Mariono was our waiter, he provided us with thoughtful recommendations, a friendly smile and a welcoming demeanour - it really made the experience. I would recommend the lasagna and the burrata/proscuitto starter, truly authentic Italian food. Megan the barista was also so sweet and helpful :) 10/10 would recommend to anyone as the jewel of Little Italy.

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!

Atmosphere is nice and clean. Although a bit too dark to read the menu and our food. Even the…read morewaitress had to use her phone flashlight to see if what we ordered was correct. Service was excellent. Our server recommended some of the items and we were glad we took her recommendations. Food was ok. Just ordinary Italian pizza and pasta. Not much of a wow factor. Price wise was reasonable.

Overall it's ok food cool ambiance. As a disclaimer: I did not choose this place and wanted a…read morecheaper pizza night than a nice night out. When we got there it was a 45 min wait so we sat at the bar. The bartender was very nice and helpful. The cider I got was ok but it was only $9 so I'm not complaining. Let's talk about food. I got the burrata pizza. This was my fault cause i was still expecting sauce but there was none. Which I kind of understand but for $19 I would have rather just got a burrata platter as like a dip. The dough was honestly amazing. Crust is very fluffy, closer to the center is extremely thin. Overall it was good and fresh but I wouldn't pay $19 for it again. Sister got the spicy salami. Again the dough was good. Sauce was good definitely a more savory red sauce. Salami was fs spicy, we love spice but this fs had a kick. Overall good I think it could have been great with a hot honey. Pizza is on the bigger side. There's only 4 slices but it's more like 8 regular slices. More than enough for one person. We both only had half and saved the rest for home. To wrap it up, the ambiance is good for a nice night out but the food is only ok for the price. Very fresh and good but I would rather spend less on a good pizza than more on a gourmet place. Would recommend for a nice date night or something like that.

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...

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!

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!

One of the best happy hours in Little Italy from 3 to 6 every day, including weekends…read more Most drinks are $6 bucks including wines, sangrias, spritzers, & beers. I recommend this sangrias (and both red & white are good, depending on if you want something more rich or more lite). Just look at the photo of the Burrata Crostini and you'll know what to order. Fresh cheese and fresh pesto with a nice crunch. The arancini (fried risotto balls with marinara, basil, etc.) are also delicious. I take all my out-of-towners here. The hostesses can be hit-and-miss sometimes-- where I wish they were more welcoming--but nothing egregious and they're just busy. Servers were nice though.

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!

Came here for a private event, and it was such a great experience. The drinks were amazing and the…read morestaff was completely on it the entire time. We were set up in the back of the restaurant in our own private outdoor area, which felt perfect for the group. The first hour was drinks, and then the food started coming out slowly, all served family‑style -- which I loved. We tried two delicious salads, and there was plenty of food for an event of about 50 people. Next came the Focaccia di Recco, which is my absolute favorite thing they serve here. I honestly come just for this. It's served with a honeycomb on the side, and drizzling the honey over the warm, cheesy bread is next‑level. After that, pizzas came out -- simple, toasty, and really good -- followed by pasta with chicken and sausage served on the side. Everyone left with full bellies. The service was great, and they even wrapped and boxed all the leftovers for us. One thing to note: they do the whole photo‑taking and printed‑photo sales pitch, kind of like what you see at amusement parks when you first walk in. The photos are cute, but it can feel a little invasive. Overall, a lovely restaurant and a great event experience.