If you've been to Italy or even New York and have eaten delicous Italian food, then you know Filippi's ain't it. They overcook the pasta to mush and their sauces taste like something out of a can. But if you like quantity over quality and lots of hanging chianti bottles then Filippis is the place for you.

During the summer the restaurant is extremely hot no AC, no parking, long wait, resroom always dirty, services is from 1 to 10, 5 and Italians upppppppppppppppppsss

This is not pizza: Anyone who thinks this is pizza has not had a real one. I sent mine back. It was more like a loaf of bread with cheese on it.

Not our style: If you like your crust thick and bready and a little sweet, then this is the pizza for you. We thought the cheese was of good quality and the sauce was decent but we really disliked the crust. We tried the pizza from the Mira Mesa location, and I don't know if it varies from location to location, but we won't be going back to Filippi's for pizza again.

I have been going to Filippis since I was a baby. My family and I still go, the food is great, price isn't bad. They have great pizza (especially the cheese).Many family's go and its always busy.

I like their lasagna. Not their pizza. And don't get their garlic bread - not worth it. But their regular bread is really good!

Been going here since 1971: Our favorite place in San Diego County for pizza, lasagna, etc. Their pepperoni pizza is the best! Always take out of town guests here just to walk through the deli before having dinner! Always a treat for them! Part of the restaurant was the first blacksmith shop in San Diego. In the heart of Little Italy section of San Diego!! Interesting history!

Excellent hole in the wall!: We love this Italian restaurant! Whenever we are in San Diego we have to make a stop here. You go through an authentic little Italian deli to the restaurant. Try the meatballs and sausage (homemade). And get a bottle of chianti in the basket, so you can sign it, and they'll hang it from the rafters! Lots of fun!

Impartial from Cuernavaca Mexico: An impartial review from someone who has lived south of the border for over 20 years. I have NEVER ever written a review or made a comment on any restaurant. The exception is Filippis. The true test of an Italian restaurant lies in the sauce. It is the best. The best. The best. The best. Congratulations.

Paul Says "SIMPLY THE BEST": 57 years of going to the downtown Grotto and we will continue that trend until ?? Torpedos, Pizza, you name it. Enter the front door and you are in Italy for a brief stay with all the smells wafting around the Italian cooking and the store in front with the dried Haddocks, hanging cheeses and a wide variety of fine Italian foodstuffs on shelves and in cases. The original store, kitchen and 6 boothes still are in use but the overall resturant has expanded and accomodates many today. FILIPPI'S WILL ALWAYS BE THE BEST!!!!

So Glad We Found It!: We could have eaten at any number of lovely, pricey, sophisticated places, but when we saw this place we knew it was what we were looking for. It is obviously not a secret among the locals since the place was packed. Fantastic food. Warm, family atomostphere. No pretense here. Just a great meal for a very reasonable price. Don't miss it!

The best ever.: This was the best tasting Italian food I have ever had. Even spagetti, which I seldom care for was excellent. It must be the spices or the recipe. I consider this the best restaurant I have ever been to.

the best: Pizza is the best you'll eat along with all the other italian foods on the menu. it is all good, everytime. you won't be disappointed

this is the best restaurant when it comes more for your money! you can take the hole family for less than 100 dlls they also have a great chicken parm and a good shrimp fillipi. it is exellent. the servers are very polite and even when a heavy line they bring the best to the table! ask for andre.

I'm not going back!: We made a reservation for 23 people and they had no space inside the resto so we had to eat in the patio. That's ok except that there were flies everywhere, the salads were already laid out on the table without covers so go figure right? Two of my companions asked for new salads (who knows how many flies landed on the salads right?), so they took the salads away and replaced it with a "new" one...guess again, what they did was piled more salad on top of the "old" salad. This is unacceptable. It also took too long for the servers to serve us our orders, and to think that they were pre-ordered. It was my first time to eat there and I will not recommend it to my friends. Service is not good either.

The real Filippi's Pizza Grotto: The serves was Awful and I found hair in my food, the dishes ware dirty. Every thing was really over priced. The place is like whole in the wall.

Best pizza ever!: The pizza is the BEST I've ever had. It is very cheesy, and the flavor of the crust is awesome. I used to live in the San Diego area, I would go there at least once every other week. The service is great. I moved away 4 years ago. I visit at least once a year. As soon as we get off the plane, Fillippi's is our first stop every time.:-)

Great "homemade" Italian food!: This was a great experience overall. The food and service was excellent, left my friends and I stuffed, and was very reasonably priced. The only negative was the long wait in line...but that was on a Saturday night...next time I'm going on a weeknight!

I am from San Diego and strongly recommend Filippi's. I have been to 4 or 5 of the restaurants in Little Italy and now only go to Filippi's. The market in the front is the only place to find a lot of Italian foods also.

I am from Western New York (Buffalo, Niagara Falls etc.). I went to San Diego on a business trip (wonderful city!). I have lived in Europe and spent a weekend in Italy and I must say that Filippi's had the best lasagna that I ever had in my life. I went with a group of friends to the one located in San Diego-Little Italy. Everyone loved the food!! Everyone in our group with the exception of myself, went back the very next night to try the pizza. They absolutely loved it.

Been going to the one in Escondido since 1984, the pizza is just hard to top. Flippi's is the best pizza in town, hands down. Try the Fit For A King, even if you don't like vegetables on your pie, you'll still enjoy it. The lasagna is also excellent.

WOW!: The food was delicious, the service quick and friendly, and a very romantic and Italian ambiance even seating beside the kitchen. Very clean and organized. It has a litlle market on the front that sells a lot of italian import products.

Unbelievable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!: My perfect Saturday night. Fillippis pizza,a couple of peronis, and good company. I compare every pizza to fillippis and nothing comes close!!! I could live on this pizza. YUM

First visit to the original location on India St today. "I get it" and I'm a convert. If you grew up in a place that had a family owned Italian chain--this is probably not that dissimilar. Try to sit in the middle main restaurant section. I'm betting those that didn't like it were in the back add on section. Get there early if you don;t want to wait. Pizza did not have eye appeal I expected, but was really good. Lasagna was to die for!

the worst pizza I have ever had. I would rather eat Little Caesars for half the price. The crust was thick and dry, and they just glob on the cheese. I had bell peppers on mine, and they tasted a little funky. Worst $13 I ever spent.

YOU have got to be kidding, I would rather eat the cardboard box with sauce on it than any pizza they ever made. Evidentaly they are not from the east coast.

Filippi's Pizza knows that they make such a DRY, (lacking of) tomato sauce "Meatball Sandwich." That choked me, via the last 2 meatballs. As I had to (no sic) form my own mucus, just to get those meatballs swallowed. (no I didn't have a drink; I was not obligated to. The dry sandwich was not an expectation.) At their "Kearny Mesa" location. That "Filippi's Pizza Grotto" had my review removed off YAHOO.

I had the pleasure of visiting San Diego this March for vacation and stumbled across-what many claim to be-the best Italian joint in Little Italy. Filippi's has enough quaint charm and "red checkered tablecloth" atmosphere to excite even the least persuaded...It's like walking into an Italian deli in the heart of NYC. The lines are often out the door for this joint, we were lucky to sit right down. Service was prompt and to the point. We decided to split a lasagna and cheese pizza, figuring this would be a sure hit. Boy, were we WRONG! The sausage and meatball lasagna was presented differently than we're accustomed to...The pasta and ricotta (no mozzarella!) were piled up in a boiled mess...one large meatball and one sausage sat on the side. Now this may be the "traditional" way...so I won't cast stones on that alone. I bit into the sausage...it tasted as though an entire jar of oregano had been dumped on stale hamburger meat...then formed into a hotdog. It was neither flavorful nor moist...it was a dry, lifeless piece of meat. The meatball was decent...again, much like the service it was to the point and less than spectacular...I liken it to something I would get out of an upscale TV dinner. The lack of mozzarella was disappointing...chunks of ricotta lined the lasagna pastry. It wasn't terrible by any stretch....it just wasn't exciting. Again, I think my good friend Chef Boyardee could have pulled off better. The pizza came out as well. Loaded with cheese, a hint of oregano and almost no presence of sauce. Here we come to an opinion...while the pizza wasn't bad...again, it just didn't knock my socks off. The dough was pillowy yet undercooked...leaving a spongy wet mess under the cheese. It was most similar to a piece of wonder bread that had been chewed up then spit out. Ugh. The bill came out to just under 40.00, which included a beer. Undoubtedly too expensive for the quality of food. I just don't get it...the BEST rated spot in Little Italy? Mama Mia! you Diegans need to head north to Ventura County...we'll put that pasta and pizza to shame! To the future entrepreneur out there looking to make it big in Little Italy...here's a hint...Open a Pizza Hut...If they liked Filippi's, they'll go crazy for PASTA HUT! -SEWO

This place was recommended to me by someone who said this restaurant was "the best italian food they had ever had". I'm not sure where they have eaten before, but I have definitly had better. I'm not saying it was awful, just not the best ever. The prices are decent and its a good place to take the family.

love it: we have been going for years to the friars rd....great food, but terrible service so we take out

Great Pasta: I love this pizza and pasta place. They use mozarella like its coming out of their walls or something... It's just that the food is a little too oily which is why we spread out our visits to this place.

we go every other week love the pizza!!!: we love that the pizza is very fresh and the ingredient's are to die for.

From the outside, you would think it is just a take out deli. The hostess was a bit rude, but maybe a little overwhelmed with the large amount of customers in the house. My wife and I ordered the Sausage Lasagna & Chicken Alfredo. HUGE portions with very good prices. Sausage Lasagna & Chicken Alfredo with an order of garlic bread and a small antipasta salad set us back a cool $42. Loud, casual dining environment with classic italian mom & pop vibes. When in San Diego, you have to visit Filippis Pizza Grotto.

Filippi's is THE BEST!: I see that someone has written a review comparing Filippi's Pizza to Dominos. Please! I probably drive past at least 3 or 4 Dominos stores to get to my nearest Filippis. I've been enjoying this pizza since 1979, and it's the greatest. The reviews that say that the Little Italy location on India Street is the best, that is absolutely correct. But the Poway location is a good one, and so is the one near the 163 and Clairemont Mesa Blvd. I've had spaghetti & meatballs at Filippis too, and my wife has ordered things like lasagna and ravioli, and it's all very good. Filippi's really is the best pizza in San Diego!

Love there food: Very good food, would wait how ever long to eat there. The spaghetti sauce is scrumcious.

The best this 50 year old has ever had: My wife & I loved it so much that we came back the next day to experience it all over again and it didn't disappoint!!!! Steve Phoenix, AZ.

This is our favorite spot to eat for over 20 years: Filippi's is a great place to eat. The food is excellent, the service is like you are eating with family, there are so great, and value well and delicious pizza for 13 dollars, WOW what a deal. Eat, Enjoy, have a blast, we do at least once a week!!!!!

Outstanding pizza and pasta: The original Filippi's location in the heart of San Diego's Little Italy district. I've lived all over Southern California, and this is the best pizza you'll find: thick, chewy crust, wonderful sauce with a generous bit of oregano, and tons of mozzarella cheese. Also try the lasagna -- it's heavenly.

momma mia!!!!!!!: If you want excellent and true Italian pizza, then Filippi's is the BEST!!!!!!!! Fresh ingredients and no B.S. Just good ol' family recipe style pizza; and to go along with that delicious pizza is the cheesy bread..... WOW!!!!!! makin my mouth water..... use real cheese and fresh homemade bread and use real garlic and none of this garlic powder nonsense and olive oil and a lot of TLC!!!!!!! KEEP UP THE EXCELLENT JOB GUYS AND DON'T CHANGE A THING!!!!!!!!

Every time our family is downtown, we head to Filippi's. WE LOVE IT! Great family style food for not a lot of money. Great atmosphere too. We've been to a lot of the other Filippi's in San Diego county, but there's nothing like the orignal! Keep up the good work, guys. :)

my true love: My parents used to drive myself and my two older brothers an hour and a half fighting in the back of a car just to get this amazing pizza. I have seriously consisdered moving to be closer to this pizza. If you live in San Diego and have never eaten here, shame shame on you and may God have mercy on your soul.

I, and my guests, were literally assaulted by the staff here at Filippi's in downtown San Diego. I will be filing a civil suit on Monday against this company. If you are dumb enough to buy this crap they call food, good luck to you.

Forget Pizza Hut & Dominoes: Great food Top of the line Ingredients, What a real pizza should taste like. Take a friend or two.

absolute quality and quantity for the price: Mainly ikes, very cozy, friendly staff. The portion in theis place are unbelievable. Strong YES for the house salad and lasagna.

Taste of Old Skool Pizza Pie: Ive been eating Filippis since I was a kid, and still to this day the recipe hasent changed. Great crust, great sauce, excellent toppings what more could u want. I juist caught word from someone in the DiPhillippis family that they just opened a restaraunt in the Napa Valley, good luck guys hope everything turns out well. Anywayz, I for the first time tried something other than the pizza, I had Lasangna. They can cook the shit out of that too!!!.. Overall, great food and very reasonable... Thumbs up!

Filippi's in Little Italy: Filippi's in Little Italy serves excellent Italian standards like pizza and lasagna. The wait is generally short considering the number of people they serve on a daily basis, also Filippi's has ample parking when taking into consideration how cramped the Little Italy section of San Diego is. Since Filippi's is a small family chain of restuarants here in San Diego it is worth noting that not all of the Filippi's Restuarants are as good as the Little Italy location. The Grantville restuarant near QualComm Stadium is also excellent. The Chula Vista location is probably not worth visiting at all. That having been said I have eaten at one other Filippi's Restuarant in Temecula and the food there was pretty good. So I think that it is safe to say nearly all Filippi locations are at least passable.

First time and definately not the last: Went to SD with friends. At the end of the day one of them said we HAD to eat at this place. Glad we did, the food was awesome and plentiful. Not a fancy restaurant, had that sitting around the kitchen table feel. We ended up sampling off each others plates. Can't wait to go back. We went on Saturday night and there was a long line to get in but once we tasted the food we didn't mind the wait at all.

Great Italian Food: This is probably one of the best Italian restaurants in Southern California. In fact, it for the price it probably of one best restaurants in Southern California. Great service and big portions.

I eat here every time I go to SD.: Great atmosphere - I think they hired a guy to look just like the guy that should be standing behind the cheese and sausage counter - aromas are terrific - then you get back to the restaurant and the basic Italian is perfect - the provolone chunks on the salad are great, and the prices are very affordable. No pretense to this place.

I WILL DRIVE 100 MILES FOR THIS PLACE: Absolute the best meatballs "ever". This place has it all the food totally great pizza spaghetti,lasagna,it has it all. It is Italian home cooking inside the deli. This is best of both worlds Definitely worth the wait This is A must in San Deigo

Loved it: Great food, kind hostesses and wait staff. What more should you want from a restaurant? Neat atmosphere, though really dark. A large pepperoni pie is only $10.00 or so, so they're not overly full of themselves.

Truly great food: If you're lookin for high brow italian.......this isn't it. If you're lookin for great food at an even better price, look no further. For a place so well known for pizza, little has been written about their other items. The sausage and meatballs are fabulous. And the lasagna is ABSOUTELY INCREDIBLE. This from a guy whose italian grandmother couldn't speak a lick of english but could make miracles happen in the kitchen. A definite stop on any trip to San Diego. Dine really early or really really late on the weekends, a line at 9:30pm is not uncommon.

I had lunch with my friend, we were both starving for some great italian food so we came here expecting to find it. We ordered a pizza and I was greatly surprised and happy to find that they served fresh anchovies on their pizza. Anchovies are very hard to find these days and these were excellent. I even ordered another dish of them halfway through our lunch so I could sprinkle more on my side of the pizza. The service was very friendly, courteous and prompt. We couldn't finish our pizza so I took the rest to go (along with the remainder of my anchovies). It was even better the next day! The price was suprisingly low even with the 2 bottles of Heineken. We were both very pleased with our lunch and we can add our recommendations to anyone else who needs an italian food fix!

Just had dinner there a week ago and it was everything we were told it would be. We didn't realize it until after we had ordered that we could have asked them to go light on the cheese on the Pizza. It's a little too heavy for our taste, but still terrific. The Antipasto Salad is a 5 star and not to be missed. Wait staff teriffic as well. You won't be sorry if you go. We got there early - 5:15 and only had to wait about 20 minutes.

You have got to be kidding! I am amazed at the anger with which some of these reviews are written----get a life!!! Those pretentious jerks who come to San Diego, California and expecting to be in Italy? Here is some advice get off your poor ass a buy a ticket to your favorite East coast pizza place or to Italy. Thats like me being pissed off about not having the freshest seafood in Nebraska. I live in San Diego and Filippis has a cult following. Their pizza is incredible and probably on of the best I have had. By the way I have had pizza throughout the world, including Italy...thank you. A restaurant these days cannot survive for 60 years if it is as bad as you say. The lines every night out the door on India St, is testament that the few bad apples in here obviously have an axe to grind.

This place is the best. I asked for a spoon to eat the meat sauce the covered the ample serving of lasgna and a huge meatball. I did not want to miss a drop. One bite and It thought I was in my grandmother's kitchen eating her sauce. The pizza is fabulous. I ordered a meatball sandwhich to go. The only problem was I forgot to order a small container of sauce to dip it in. A must place to go to for a nice casual, dinner that won't break your piggy bank to pay for. Great staff and great service. I will defintely go again...

Since there is not a spot for the new one in SANTEE I will write it here. The first 3 times we ordered the pizza and it was great. Let me start to say there is not a good pizza place in the santee area so I thought we finally got lucky. This was a mistake. The next 3 times, it was on a friday/saturday night when we ordered out. It was busy and the pizza was undercooked,the toppings were messed up and in some cases just dumped on the pizza in one spot. Why did we go back? because the place was new and giving the benefit of being new and crowded. The last time I went I told the waitress who took the order what had happened and that I will wait the extra minutes to do the pizza right. Again same thing under cooked and messed up on the toppings and gave us the wrong dressing for the anti pasto salad. We will not be returning to the one in Santee. Do not get me wrong when they do it right the pizza is good. Perhaps the one off of Friars Road thats where we used to go and were allways treated right.

Only Mira Mesa Location: I have eaten Filippi's pizza back in the 70's, but NOT at the Mira Mesa location. My two purchases of pizzas at Mira Mesa were not very good. The crust was too tough and thick and had a strange bland taste. I tried to rip the outer crust off a slice and it just wouldn't tear. I had to chop the thing off. The topping was a thick layer of "slab-o-cheese".

Can you say Cheesy?: If you love cheese, this is the place to go. I can honestly say this would have been the best pizza I had ever had.... IF there was half the cheese on it. Great sauce. Nice herb flavors. Toppings were high quality. The only problem was the layer of cheese was thicker than the crust. I rarely get heartburn, but I did that night.

Dont' Expect Too Much: I cannot believe that the average star rating of this place is so high. This place is a just a small pizza franchise, with mediocre pizza, mediocre service, and mediocre prices. Nothing exciting about this place at all, if your looking for Dominos quality pizza but without the dominos delivery man knocking on your door, then sure this place would suit you just fine, but if you want authentic italian pizza/pasta/etc... then go somewhere else, Filippis is a three-star max quality joint to eat at

The Getaway Pizza: I can't actualy believe that it tasted so great! that you can forget the other brand that we used to eat.

Good Old Pizza Restarant: Probably one of my favorites since I wuz a kid. Good pizza, reasonable prices, and cold beer. Excellent place o take a date, and not have to spend $100 on a dinner for 2. Be careful on Fri and Sat cause they are busy. But all in all good place to go... as long as service isnt at the top o our list.

great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great

Heaven.: Decided to make this one of my stops when I was planning my trip to the San Diego Comic-Con. We went to the Little Italy location our first night in the city and wound up leading a group back there Sunday after the show wrapped up. Reservations might be a good idea, but if you don't mind standing in line, it does move fast and you get to soak up the aromas of the market up front.

Yummy :)~: I grew up eating their pizza and every time I'm in San Diego I make sure I stop in.

My wife and I experienced the best dinner we ever had by eating at Philippiâ??s grotto at Little Italy in San Diego. I have to say it was the best spaghetti and pizza in San Diego. Greasy Pizza Hut, Papa John sundried Pizza and Frisbee thin Pizza at Domino doesnâ??t even come close to Philippiâ??s. My wife and I were very impressed by the taste of pizza and the generous serving of spaghetti & meatballs at Philippiâ??s. I am giving them 10 stars overall for a spectacular genuine Italian taste. The only negative aspect is the person in charge of assigning people where to sit. Seating arrangement is less to be desired because theyâ??ll sit you anywhere without regard to whether youâ??re old person that want to eat quietly with your wife. We were eating quietly enjoying our spaghetti and pizza when a group of screaming teenagers and grownup adult were seated next to us, the rest of our evening was ruin, we just packed the rest in a doggie bag and went home.

great family eats: the pizzas are wonderful as well as other choices on the menu. if you like fresh italian food this is the place

The pizza here is awesome. The minestrone soup is to die for and the lasagna, and raviolis are perfect. Everything is reasonably priced. I have been going here since I was a child and will continue going as long as I live in southern cali. I highly recommend it!

Old Fashioned Italian Pizza Restaurant: When you come to San Diego, CA. You must visit The Filippi's Pizza Restaurant. This family has been in Little Italy since I was a child.(Yup, Im an oldie!) One of the last Italian owned family restaurants still around in Little Italy and the food is the best. love the atmosphere. You walk in and you feel like you are in Italy, the smells, the pizza dough being thrown in the air, the deli, the Chianti.. it's a fun experience and since the age of 5, I am still eating there and the food is still unbelievable if not better. It is all about the pizza and wine. And dont forget to have their fabulous Canoli for dessert. Manga!

Not worth it: I can't believe that people are raving about this place! My company frequently has its luncheons and retirement parties here and I have to say: this food is insulting to any semi-epicurian. The pizza is so-so, the salads are iceberg lettuce with cold cuts on top, and the 'garlic bread' is Wonder bread dipped in butter with dried herbs sprinkled on top. Are you kidding me?? The bathrooms are always filthy and the service is quite slow. I've been to each of the locations at least once and I can't understand why anyone would go back there with great restaurants like Buca di Beppo around. If you think this is good pizza or Italian food, then you've obviously never had REAL Italian food.

Not good at all...horrible is a better word. The place is a dump on the inside and I cant believe people consider this pizza the best in the city, and if it is I will never eat pizza here again. I just moved to Little Italy from Chicago and wasn't expecting anything like the pizza back home but next time ill throw a frozen pizza in the oven rather then eat here

Never going back again: People on the west coast wouldnt know good pizza if it landed on their face. This restaurant is a disgrace to Italians and pizza lovers. I am from the east coast and have had tons of good pizza to compare this too. The crust is similar to Ellios and the sauce had little flavor. I have better frozen pizza before.I was very disappointed. If you want real pizza I would recommend Bronx pizza or Cafe Bella Italia, or even DiGornios in your local foodstore.

THE FOOD SUCKED MONSTROUSLY!!! FOR AN "ITALIAN" RESTAURANT- THIS PLACE DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO MAKE PIZZA. FOR ONE, ITALY DOES NOT SERVE THICK CRUST PIZZA. THEIR SAUSAGE AND MEATBALLS WERE TOTALLY TASTELESS. THEIR PEPPERONI WERE THE CHEAPEST YOU COULD FIND IN A FREAKIN GROCERY STORE. THEY JUST PUT MOZARELLA SO IT DID NOT HELP WITH THE TASTELESSNESS AT ALL. THEY USE FAKE PARMESAN. WOOD PULP PACKAGED PARMESAN! WHAT THE F@#*!!! THEY CAN'T EVEN GIVE YOU REAL CHEESE FOR CRYING OUT LOUD! AND ONE OF THE OWNERS WAS RUDE TO AN EMPLOYEE IN FRONT OF US. TOTALLY UNCOOL! PROBABLY WHY THE STAFF DOES NOT EVEN CARE TO CHECK ON THEIR CUSTOMERS. THEY HAVE AN A$$#*&& FOR AN EMPLOYER. TOTALLY WASTED MONEY. WE DID NOT EVEN BOTHER TO BRING THE LEFTOVERS COZ I DON'T THINK MY DOG WOULD EAT IT ANYWAY. DON'T GO THERE!!!

When you want Pizza....: Great atmosphere for kids. Pizza's good and the childs portions are great for adults too! The shop is the front is neat, speciality and imported items like cheeze, pasta, and chocolate.

AWESOME: I was just there for a retirement party. We weren't sure how many would show up at the reception so we said 40 coming and going. The food was AWESOME, not one drink ever went empty and never did a dirty plate sit for more than a minute. It was buffett style in their back room. It was a wonderful time. I've been back twice since (in less than a week) best pizza I ever had. I even asked the owner if he could do me a favor and open a branch in Knoxville where I'm from. He said he would work on it. THats another thing, what resturant does the owner come by several times to see if we needed anything. He's a wonderful man and took very good care of us. The pizza is to die for. I will be back before i leave next week. I wonder if they deliver to Knoxville?? Hmmm...

East Coast View Point: Moved from East Coast 10 years ago to Mid-West, which to me has poor pizza. On a visit to San Diego, I was told to go to Fillipi's and I was very, very happy I did. Absolutely wonderful!!

Excellent. One of the great dining experiences in a very, very long time.: Excellent. Filippi's Pizza Grotto is located in the heart of Little Italy in San Diego. The minute we opened the front door to the restaurant, we were greated by the tantalizing aroma of the cheeses, and the other great smells of the Italian Market/Deli and Restaurant. The family style dining, delicious food, very generous portions and wonderful service. My wife and I found the dining experience well worth the day trip from Los Angeles. We will definitely come back on many an occassion. Too bad the family does not have one of their locations here in the L.A. area.

Filippi's, Little Italy: Ok folks I saw someone here didn't like the pizza at the Mira Mesa location. And they ARE all different. The India St. location is the original and still the best. The pizza, pastas, salads and everything else really are amazing. The deli even sells fresh mozarella and salami. Delicious! I only eat the pizza there and the Kearny Mesa location. They're a little different but both good. Ok India St's the best. Also it should be noted when they have new cooks ( only experienced this at Kearny Mesa ) the pizza is a little different. Still good but not quite right. This isn't very often though. Last thing, at the downtown location we had a party of 15 and we all ate to bursting level for about $150. AMAZING. I highly recommend them. I lowered the ambiance a little because it's not really a fancy restaurant. It has a more family home style feel.

My favorite in 72 years: Even spagetti, which I don't care for, was very tasty. There was no AC but I just ordered a picture of ice with my picture of beer. This is the best and tastiest food I have ever had in a restaurant. And I don't care much for eating in a restaurant. This is the best experience for eating out that I have ever had. And I did it 6 times when I was in San Diego.

We go whenever we're in town: My husband is 100% Italian and according to him that Filippi's Pizza is the BEST. But only the resturant on India St. The others are good, but have strayed from the original family receipes and just aren't as good as the original on India St. We live in Yuma, AZ and visit family in Chula Vista often and on our way home on Sundays we always call and get a pepperoni to go (we have a dog and don't want to leave her in the car) and eat it in the car on the way home. They really are the best. You can't go wrong getting a pizza at this location

Worth the wait!: my wife and I have been eating here since we were teenagers. 40 years later...and we're still going there...she refuses to go anywhere else ! Authentic pizza...and they'll make it any way you like it ! Great sauce..the ambience is just what you'd expect...down home and friendly. If the line is out to the sidewalk..the wait is only about 30 minutes... not to worry! The other locations do not hold a candle to the Original !

Fillipi's a staple in San Diego: value Italian dinning excellent salads and pizza!

Excelent food: And also excelent in the service! It`s great!

Great!: I love everything about this place. My wife grew up in and around San Diego and this is one of our favorite places to eat!

After reading a review in the Orange County Register on what a great Italian restaurant Filippi's is, my wife and I decided to drive down to San Diego for lunch. Filippi's is a very busy restaurant with little nooks and crannies everywhere. It reminded me of the hole-in-the wall, little Italian restaurants back in Rhode Island where I grew up as a kid. The drive was well worth it, the food was absolutely great!!! The portions are outrageous, the prices are truly reasonable, and more than you can eat in one sitting. There are many other dishes besides Pizza that you can enjoy. The diffrent types of pasta with meat balls and/or sauge generous and very satisfying. I'm definitely hooked on Filippi's. They have a customer for life.

Great place: Great food, sevice and value.

I have been going to Fillipi's since the I was a kid in the 70's and I still love it! I just wish they wouldn't have shut down the Lemon Grove location all those years ago. Though there is nothing like the Downtown location. It's very busy, but worth the wait. I love the pizza, the lasagna, and the ravioli. And the meatballs and sausage you can order with the lasagna is huge. I agree with one of the other writers that most orders there are huge for the price. If you're in Downtown and just want a good pizza or lasagna and don't want to pay an arm and a leg for it, I would definitely recommend Fillipis.

no better pizza in San Diego!: Filippi's has been a family favorite since before I was born! The quality of dough, cheeses, and sauce on the pizzas and sandwiches is unsurpassed. The atmosphere is casual, the wait staff fun, and everything comes to the table quickly and hot. The only drawback is that the owner can sometimes be hear shouting in the background (he's a peach), but don't let that deter you, the food is great!

Best pie in San Diego: This is the best pie this side of the Mississippi....

best for pasta: Pizza is great, pasta dishes are excelany

This Filippi's location can be the best or the WORST. I have quit eating there because the consistiency and service are INCONSISTIENT. In reading the reviews I have had some great pizza's there but have also had sloppy greasy messes. The service is very much the same. The establishement is always busy. If the staff cannot handle the environment then they should look for employment elsewhere.

worst meatball sub in the world unless you like them with no sauce

Am a veal scaloppni freak. I'm from San Francisco (1973) and hadn't had a good scaloppini in years. Ordered thiers and was supprised to recieve a specialty of thiers, a breaded veal cuttlet covered with meat sauce. The meal was the worst that I ever had. And was informed by the waitress that it was one of the HOUSE SPECIALTYS. I have not returned and I never will.

Filippi's Leaves Bad Taste in Mouth: Filippi's used to be one of my favorite eating spots, but now even thinking about Filippi's leaves a bad taste in my mouth. On May 31, 2004, I did a to-go order -- my usual half order of spaghetti with a meatball -- around 6pm at the Mira Mesa/Scripps Ranch Filippi's. It was the day after my birthday, and I was looking forward to this treat dinner. I got home with my order, and there was no meatball. I immediately called Filippi's and spoke with one of their young, male helpers, who confirmed with a cook that the cook had forgotten the meatball. The helper on the phone said he'd look for my credit slip, and said he was taking down my name and phone number. I later realized I had paid CASH, and awaited his phone call, not calling back myself, since I wanted to see if he in fact was looking up the credit card receipt and would therefore fail to find it and correctly call me back. No return call. I decided I'd simply ask for no charge for the meatball the next time I got my usual order. Did that today, and was met with a brick wall. The girl at the desk asked if I "got a credit," went to her box of apparent credit records -- odd that it needs a box to hold them all -- and failed to find my name, even though the guy had said he'd take down my name and phone number, though for another reason (the reason being to credit the credit card I later remembered I hadn't paid with). It's really hard to believe that a simple $1.40 meatball would mean so much to Filippi's that they'd prefer to slight a customer rather than part with it. Now, if I ever go to Filippi's again, I know I'll always remember this episode. And I'll always know, from the box of names of customers with credit due, that I'm just one of many customers who Filippi's has already forgotten.

It's pretty good: It used to be the best Italian in San Diego, but nowadays it's decent. It's not bad, but not necessarily great. Try it out.

i thought it was okay it was nice and warm inside the resturant and everyone was close together kinda like a family the crust on the pizza was really good and i liked how they really added cheese to there pizza, they are not skimpy IN THE LEAST it was a little messy but overall it was nice and it had a wonderful atmosphere and was very romantic

Yummy salads!: I dream about their antipasto salad. Yum!

Hummy: This place has the best pizza. When every we have a craving for pizza this is the best place. we always order a large or medium pizza. and a small antipasta salad. (it's big enough for two people!)

Best Italian Food In America: This food is absoutely amazing! The deep dish pizza wa $8.95 with one topping, so we thought it would be small, but it was HUGE! It is impossible to eat more than 1 piece. We had also ordered chicken fettecini alfredo for $8.95. The service isn't first class, no the ambiance, but for amazing food, this is the best food on earth.

Best Pizza in San Diego: Flippi's is the Best Pizza in San Diego bar none! This is the original store of the several that are now scattered around the county and for being in the heart of Little Italy it is the best. As a matter of fact my friend who moved to Florida always makes Flippi's Pizza Grotto in Little Italy his first stop when he comes to visit. Great Food, Great People, Great Memories!!!

FANTASTIC, AUTHENTIC!: BEING ITALIAN IT WAS SUCH A TREAT TO FIND SUCH A SPECIAL PLACE IN SAN DIEGO. WONDERFUL FOOD, IMPORTS THAT BROUGHT BACK CHILDHOOD MEMORIES. CANT WAIT TO GO BACK!! L. CIMMINO CALIFORNIA

We loved it!!: WOW... That is all I have to say. The food was great the service was wonderful. Everything was great and the value for your buck is excellent!! You gotta try them!!

mmm... good stuff. all u have to know. come eat here and be happy.

Best Pizza EVER!! I went there in September of 06' and I'm from Memphis...I ate there several times while on my trip to San Diego..Not just a pizzeria but also an Italian grocery...It's great.

Excellent pizza!: One of the best pizza in town! For a calorie overload, try The Works or The Special (you will not regret it, diet be gone!). For a flavor delight, try the Sausage and Mushroom. They also have great cold cuts to take home... I am looking forward to trying their pasta.

Flippin' for Filippi's: Mama' mia - walk into Filippi's and get an eyeful of cheese, wine, sausage...as you walk further back you'll enter the actual restaurant but the aroma permeates your dizzied senses as if intoxicating. A little Italy, a little vino ... so keen-o.

Don't buy into the hype...the food is not very good and the pizza is always undercooked (dough), and I've given them three chances on different occasions to make a descent pizza. The last pizza I ordered left a foul taste, in which my wife discovered that the sauce was bad and possibly spoiled...she spent the evening kneeling at the toilet.

Really the best in San Diego: I make it a point to get to Filippi's every time I get the chance to go to San Diego. I really cannot find anything "bad" to say about this restaurant. Everything on the menu is excellent, and I have never had bad service. Mike Seattle, WA

the best pizza in town and family own retsaurant love it I had been going to eat pizza since I was 12 years old still the same great taste service and fun place to take your kids and the chesse is great

Totally enjoyed.: I would recommend Filippi's Pizza to everyone. Being a visitor from Montana, we were not familiar with the Little Italy district and happened upon Filippi's. The service was terrific, lunch was superb, and had a friendly Italian atmosphere. If you have the chance... you shouldn't miss stopping in. Just wish we would have had a couple more days in SD so we could again. You won't be sorry you did.

I can't get you out of my mind!: I haven't had a Filippi's pizza since the 1970s. I've lived in the Southwest and on the East Coast. I've had every kind of pizza you can imagine, but nothing compares to a Filippi's pizza. I now live in northern California. PLEASE CONSIDER opening up a Filippi's Pizza in the Sacramento area. PLEASE! It's been 30 years and I still have dreams about this pizza.

Filippi's Pizzas are the closest thing to the great pizzas we used to get in Brooklyn. Nothing else in San Diego even comes close. The half and half lasagne and beef ravioli is fantastic.

Best Meatball Subs: If you want the best meatball subs you have ever eaten I can only think of one place.........Filppi's. Not all the Filippi's are the same. Make sure you go to the Filippis on India Street in "Little Italy" of San Diego. The ambiance reminds me of the Italian deli's/stores of New York City. If you are a tourist its a must see. If you are a San Diegan, get down there for dinner this weekend! BPM San Diego, CA

This my favorite place to eat. I go at least once a week. Trust me I would not choose any other Italian resturaunt over this one. You can get a combination plate for just ten dollars. By The way I am going there for dinner tonight.

I have been going to Filippi's on India St., for as long as I can remember. My parents and all my siblings would go there on a regular basis. I have been to New York, and Italy, and I still think the food at Filippi's is great. Love the pizza, the meatball subs and the torpedo's. In fact I just called them to see if I could have my ten year wedding anniversary dinner there. Sadly, they said it couldn't be done. (if anyone has suggestions please let me know, I need some place that will take a reservation for about thirty people and won't force me to sell a kidney to pay.)

Delicious pizza: It's one of the best pizza's i had ever tried.

GREAT PLACE, HANDS DOWN :] and if you dont like itthen better for me.one thing is theres very few parking places !!

Best Italian Food this side of the Alantic Ocean.

Hit the Spot!: This was an absolute treasure to find. Not only was the atmosphere great, the food and price was incredible. We ordered a pizza and 3 Peroni beers and our bill was under $30! I highly recommend!

Easily the BEST Pizza in San Diego: I've been hooked on Filippi's pizza since 1979, wow, that's more than 25 years now. Because the Filippi's in Little Italy is so close to the San Diego airport, we have been known to get a pizza "to go" and carry it onto a plane to snack on during the flight. Passengers around us always want some - Filippi's is widely-known as the best pizza in San Diego - awesome crust and ingredients!

We drive about 100 miles to the Temecula Filippis on a somewhat regular basis. I ate there for the first time at age 12 (I am now 40) at the Escondido location. They have the most delicious pizza, by far, that we have ever eaten. Hopefully one day they build one closer to us, but until then, we will happily enjoy many day trips to Filippis. Thank you!

This is my favorite pizza place anywhere! I used to think Round Table Pizza was the bomb but this place is so much better. The pizza is absolutely covered with cheese I mean a lot of cheese. The crust is perfect and when you add the toppings you can't go wrong. I would give this place 5 stars but it is really dated. The place is loud but still a great time. I usually prefer to eat in since the pizza always tastes the best right out of the oven.

I have been going to Fillipi's since I was a teenager now my daughter is a teenager and she loves it even more so. Atmosphere is beautiful and the employees are outstanding! Little Italy has grown soooo much!

Sitting boldly midway down India Street Filippi's Pizza Grotto is the perfect spot for a casual and cultural dining experience any night of the week. Don't be scared away by the line out the front door; with two large dining rooms of red...

Eggplant parmisian was great as well as the canolli. Prices are very reasonable. Its worth the wait.

For longtime locals when we think

Not the best not the worst.... i personally prefer Italian Style pizza thin crust not a lot of sauce... Fillipis is actually pretty good. Gave it 3 starts because there seems to ALWAYS be a line out the door. LIke the Chianti bottle decor... good for families.

Pizza is the specialty here but the spaghetti is really a treat. If like the idea of dining at a

3. Filippi's Pizza Grotto ($): This family-owned restaurant has been an institution in the Little Italy section of downtown since the 1950s. Walk through the picturesque Italian deli to reach the traditional dining room adorned with red...

The small antipasta (~$9). A bed of iceberg lettuce with mortadella salami cubed parmesan and provolone beans pickled vegetables and topped with the house (Italian) dressing.

If you feel like shopping after you eat take a stroll through the store on your way out (you have to walk through it anyway to get to the restaurant area).

Taste: Sea Skins: Petite baby red potato skins filled with poached seafood salad vanilla bean emulsion and topped with Tobiko Caviar.

Located on India Street choose from a variety of pizzas including salami sausage and bell peppers black olive and vegetarian. A selection of soups salads and subs are also available. Open seven days a week.

They always treat you like your a member of the family from the time you get here until the time you leave. That includes staff and customers! The food is all homemade but I'm just not impressed. I must admit it's tough to impress a Chicago girl when it comes to Italian. - chicagogal - Jun-25-2010

Filippi's Santee the best pizza by far. - chrisplein - Jul-15-2010

If you are looking for quantity and not quality this is the place. the food was salty and just piled with cheese. not authentic. we went there since the waiting line was long and figured it must be good. well this was not a good choice. - danb1301 - Dec-21-2010

over charged 2 toppings pizza for 21 dollars and manager said ( that is how the owner want's us to charge). - xentro - Aug-30-2009