Italian in San Diego

Davanti Enoteca ★ 4.4

Davanti Enoteca in San Diego is the Scott Harris Hospitality Italian trattoria on India Street, a Northern Italian wine-bar room with house-made pasta.

OrderThe focaccia di Recco with stracchino cheese; the cacio e pepe is the canonical secondi.

TipWalk-ins are taken at the bar; book the patio for warmer nights and the Saturday Mercato crowd-watching.

Cesarina ★ 4.6

Cesarina in San Diego is Cesarina Mezzoni's Point Loma trattoria on Voltaire Street, a glass-walled pastificio where you can watch hand-rolled eggless pasta.

OrderThe tortelli di zucca with butter and sage; the tagliatelle al ragu finished tableside.

TipThe eggless dough is unusual; ask for it explicitly if you want the canonical Cesarina experience.

Buona Forchetta ★ 4.6

Buona Forchetta in San Diego is Matteo Cattaneo's South Park pizzeria on 30th and Beech since 2011, the Naples-style wood-fire room that holds the Gambero.

OrderThe pizza Sofia with prosciutto and burrata; the margherita is the test of the dough.

TipNo reservations on the patio; arrive by 5:30pm or after 8:30pm to skip the worst of the line.

Buona Forchetta ★ 4.5

Buona Forchetta in San Diego is Matteo Cattaneo's South Park Naples-style pizzeria since 2011, holder of the Gambero Rosso Pizza Accreditation 2022.

OrderPizza Sofia with prosciutto and burrata; the margherita is the dough test.

TipNo reservations on the patio; arrive by 5:30pm or after 8:30pm to skip the worst of the line.

Davanti Enoteca ★ 4.3

Davanti Enoteca in San Diego is Scott Harris Hospitality's Northern Italian wine bar on India Street, with house-made pasta and the rare Genoese focaccia di.

OrderThe focaccia di Recco with stracchino cheese; the cacio e pepe as the secondi.

TipWalk-ins are taken at the bar; book the patio for warmer nights and Saturday Mercato crowd-watching.

Cesarina ★ 4.4

Cesarina in San Diego is Cesarina Mezzoni's Point Loma trattoria on Voltaire Street, a glass-walled pastificio where hand-rolled eggless pasta is made.

OrderTortelli di zucca with butter and sage; the tagliatelle al ragu finished tableside.

TipThe eggless dough is unusual; ask for it explicitly if you want the canonical Cesarina experience.

Mona Lisa Italian Foods ★ 4.4

Mona Lisa Italian Foods is a italian room in Little Italy. Order at the deli counter, not the sit-down side; the Deluxe Sub on house bread travels well.

OrderDeluxe Sub, the Spicy Sandwich Special

TipOrder at the deli counter, not the sit-down side; the Deluxe Sub on house bread travels well.

Bobboi Natural Gelato Kettner ★ 4.6

Bobboi Natural Gelato Kettner (Italian) in San Diego: Ask for a half-and-half scoop pairing; the seasonal Miso Orange Maple flavour rotates in autumn.

OrderPistachio gelato, the Miso Orange Maple seasonal

TipAsk for a half-and-half scoop pairing; the seasonal Miso Orange Maple flavour rotates in autumn.

Cesarina ★ 4.6

Cesarina is three italian natives running a bib gourmand pasta room on voltaire street between point loma and ob, with an in-house pastificio on display.

OrderTableside tiramisu, the pappardelle al brasato di manzo

TipBook a weekend brunch on the bougainvillea patio; the donuts come hot from the kitchen.

Filippi's Pizza Grotto Little Italy ★ 4.1

Filippi's Pizza Grotto on India Street in San Diego's Little Italy, the 1950 family-Italian counter behind a market storefront pouring red-sauce pasta.

OrderPizza by the slice, hero sandwiches, family-style pasta