This Beloved San Diego Pizzeria Has a Story Worth Tasting

This San Diego pizzeria has built a serious reputation, pulling in crowds for decades with its no frills atmosphere and classic Italian comfort food. That spot is Filippi’s Pizza Grotto, a longtime favorite tucked into the heart of Little Italy. With all the hype and history behind it, we had to see if it actually lives up to the legend or if it is just another tourist trap coasting on the past. After digging in, the experience left us with some thoughts. Here is the real story behind Filippi’s and what you should know before grabbing a slice.

Table Of Contents

History of Filippi’s Pizza Grotto Little Italy

Vincent DePhilippis, who grew up in Naples, Italy, and Madeleine Manfredi from France, met and married in New York in 1925. They moved to San Diego in 1947 and started a small Italian food Cash & Carry store on India Street.

Then, in 1950, they expanded their store to a restaurant behind the store – Filippi’s Pizza Grotto.

Front view of Filippi's Pizza Grotto Little Italy with a colorful awning in red, white, and green, like the Italian flag. There's a cheerful chef cartoon on a welcome sign saying 'Since 1950'. The window next to the door shows pictures of pizzas and says 'The Heart of Little Italy Since 1950'. In front of the store, there's a red sign that reads 'Cash & Carry Italian Foods — Image Credit: Bae Area and Beyond

It’s been run by the same family for over 73 years! They use old family recipes from Italy, which means the pizza you eat there has a long history.

The DePhilippis family invites you to come and enjoy their traditional Italian pizza. It’s like being part of their family history with every bite!

They also have 13 other locations – all in Southern California except 1 location in Napa.

Dining At Filippi’s Pizza Grotto

We ordered the Vegetarian Special Pizza at Filippi’s and asked if they could add chicken to it. The waitress was happy to customize our order.

Since the pizza took longer to prepare, our waitress offered free garlic bread. I asked if we could get a salad instead, and she happily gave us one.

A large, colorful salad on a table with a classic red and white checkered tablecloth. The salad has fresh green lettuce, slices of red onion, plump green olives, whole pepperoncini peppers, chickpeas, and a cherry tomato on top. — Image Credit: Bae Area and Beyond

The salad was BIG, suitable for 2+ people. It included not just typical salad veggies, but also banana peppers, olives, and garbanzo beans. We were almost full after splitting the salad.

When the pizza arrived, it was so gooey with cheese. I liked how the cheese on top of the veggies and chicken kept the toppings in place. The thick-crust pizza was so filling that we could only eat 2 slices each and took the rest home for dinner that night.

A freshly baked pizza from Filippi's Pizza Grotto Little Italy on a red and white checkered tablecloth. The pizza is covered in melted cheese, with toppings peeking out, including chunks of chicken and green bell peppers. — Image Credit: Bae Area and Beyond

Menu At Filippi’s Pizza Grotto

Filippi’s has 19 different pizza options! And you can add toppings for extra cost. But pizzas aren’t the only dish to order at Filippi’s. Their menu is extensive with 2 pages for food and another page for wine.

They have spaghetti, ravioli, lasagna and macaroni where you can choose to have it with just marinara sauce or with meatball, sausage or both. They use the finest grade of meat for meatballs and sausage. Gluten free pasta is also available.

If you’re looking for signature Italian dishes, they have Fettucine Alfredo, Eggplant, Chicken, or Veal Parmigiana, Linguini with Clams and more.

Plus, Filippi’s has 12 sandwich options, 4 antipasto salads and 4 dessert options: Spumoni, Cannoli, Tiramisu and Cheesecake. They also have a menu section for children.

They have the standard beverage options along with 4 beer options: Bottle, Imported, Draft and Premium.

They have a huge selection for wines with house wines, white dinner wines, blush dinner wines, red dinner wines and sparkling wines.

What’s It Like To Eat At Filippi’s Pizza Grotto

From the outside, Filippi’s just looks like a cash & carry store with a sign that says that the restaurant is inside. You walk through the italian market before entering the restaurant.

But as soon as you step foot into Filippi’s Pizza Grotto Little Italy, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to a cozy Italian trattoria. Some of the walls are painted with Italian houses giving you a quaint feeling.

The room that we sat in had Chianti bottles hanging on the ceiling. If you look closely, you’ll see that the bottles are signed by past customers.

Inside Filippi's Pizza Grotto Little Italy, numerous empty wine bottles hang from the ceiling, creating a unique and rustic decoration. Each bottle has handwritten messages and dates, adding a personal touch to the cozy ambiance. — Image Credit: Bae Area and Beyond

We came here around 3pm and there was no wait at that time. But when we finished our lunch and walked out, we saw a long line outside the restaurant and in the italian market waiting to be seated.

Also if you’re claustrophobic, this might not be the place for you. It’s very cozy but does feel like a grotto (a small cave).

Otherwise, I recommend the place for the charming old-school vibe. I think of this as the kind of place where families gather for Sunday dinners or date nights for couples.

Reviews Of Filippi’s Pizza Grotto

One thing I love about Filippi’s is their generous portion sizes. You definitely won’t leave hungry after eating one of their meals.

And speaking of generosity, the staff here always goes above and beyond to make sure you have a great dining experience – whether its including extra toppings or offering items on the house if an ordered item is running late.

he interior of Filippi's Pizza Grotto Little Italy, featuring red and white checkered tablecloths on tables. Above, empty wine bottles hang from the ceiling. One wall is adorned with a large, colorful mural depicting a quaint Italian village scene. — Image Credit: Bae Area and Beyond

Here are reviews of others who’ve eaten here:

“Every trip to San Diego included a lunch time pizza & garlic bread & a large carafe of rose’ wine … It just doesn’t get any better if you like hand tossed brick oven pizza & a semi-sweet wine in a very casual setting.” – Kinmack, Tripadvisor

“The food here is AMAZING and the prices are lower than most in Little Italy. The Shrimp Filippi is hands down the BEST shrimp linguine we’ve ever had. We went back twice in one week just for this!...” – Bruce, Tripadvisor

“Everything is homemade —cheese, noodles, sauce. The meat sauce was perfect tasting. We had Ravioli, lasagna and spaghetti. Too much to eat for one sitting. Heated it up next day it was just as tasty… When in Little Italy look for this place. You will not be disappointed.” – Rob4Patti, TripAdvisor

Final Thoughts

We recommend Filippi’s for anyone looking to immerse themselves in authentic Italian cuisine and experience the warmth and hospitality that only an iconic restaurant like this can offer.

So, next time you’re in Little Italy, make sure to check out Filippi’s for some delicious food in this cozy, family-friendly spot.