These Slices Are Waiting for You on India Street
Written By: Keana McGrath Best Pizza in Little Italy
Everyone loves pizza. And when it comes to San Diego, there is no better place to grab an authentic pie than in the heart of our very own Little Italy. Lined with authentic Italian delis, restaurants, breweries and gelato shops, Little Italy is home to some of the best places to grab a slice and get your grub on. Pizza comes in all shapes and sizes, just like our taste buds, and these five spots are bound to have a pizza your heart!
Mona Lisa Italian Foods
The Brunetto family established Mona Lisa Italian Foods in 1956. With both a storefront authentic Italian deli, as well as a restaurant, Mona Lisa gives guests the chance to experience family-owned authentic Italian cuisine. Stefano Brunetto, the restaurant’s manager, is the third generation of Brunetto’s running Mona Lisa. When asked what makes his pizza the best, Stefano replied, “We make our pizza the old fashioned way. The same way we made it in the 1950s before our family moved here from Sicily. None of our food has preservatives, and we use straight flour with a live yeast,” making their pizza incredibly fresh and delicious.
2061 India St
San Diego, CA 92101
619.234.4893
Landini’s Pizzeria
If you’re looking for a quick slice of pizza, with a little twist, Landini’s Pizzeria is the place for you. Landini’s joined the neighborhood in 1999 as the first and only New York style “pizza by the slice,” making them unique to the pizza scene. Their ingredients are all fresh making their slices out of this world. Landini’s has tons of different pizza toppings, giving customers a variety of yummy options for their casual dining experience. Plus, their back patio is pet-friendly, so feel free to drop a couple pepperonis to your furry friend.
1827 India St
San Diego, CA 92101
619.238.3502
Isola Pizza Bar
For a higher-end experience, Isola Pizza Bar offers guests a contemporary and sleek take on the Italian scene, serving Neapolitan-style pizza, with imported flour from Naples. All of their pies are baked in their wood-fired pizza oven, making them crisp, tasty and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. By pairing their dishes with authentic Italian wines, Isola gives guest a full on Italian dining experience without ever having to leave San Diego.
1526 India St
San Diego, CA 92101
619.255.4230
Herb & Wood
Herb & Wood is known for their crust and creative takes on traditional pizza toppings. Chris Puffer, the general manager of Herb & Wood, stated that it took six months to perfect their crust recipe, giving it the perfect taste. All of their dough is aged 48 hours before use, and is designed to work in a high-fire pizza oven, making it thin, charred and crunchy to perfection. Some examples of their exotic pizza creations include their Bone Marrow Pizza, made with basil fed escargot, fine herbs and caramelized onions. They also have a gourmet take on the Hawaiian-style pizza, theirs is made with speck, coal-roasted pineapple and pickled habanero. If you’re looking for your not-so-average slice of pizza that is still amazingly scrumptious, then Herb & Wood is the place for you.
2210 Kettner Blvd
San Diego, CA 92101
619.955.8495
Filippi’s Pizza Grotto
Last but not least, the famous Filippi’s Pizza Grotto. What started as an individual small Italian market named “Cash and Carry Italian Foods,” on India Street in 1950, has turned into a successful line of Italian restaurants. Each still owned and operated by original family members of the founders, Vincent DePhilippis and his wife, Madeleine. Filippi’s in Little Italy looks like an Italian deli from the street, but tucked behind the isles of Italian pasta and goods, is a hidden dining area bustling with customers enjoying the cheesiest pizza you’ll ever taste. With family size servings and made to order dishes, Filippi’s is an authentic Italian experience that will leave your belly full and your heart wishing for another slice.
1747 India St
San Diego, CA 92101
619.232.5094
Buy a Slice of Heaven at These 5 Little Italy Spots
