Filippi's Pizza Grotto

(619) 232-5095

1747 India St
San Diego, CA 92101 32.7234 -117.1682

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Neighborhoods: Little Italy, Central, Central San Diego

REALCHEESEPIZZA.COM

Price:

$

Last updated 5.07.10

Category:

Restaurants, Catering

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, Discover, MasterCard

Ethnic Market Products:

Italian Food Products

Restaurant Special Features:

Local Favorite, Family-Friendly Dining, Historic Setting, Family Style Dining, Lunch Spot, Group Dining, Food Delivery

Cuisine:

Pizza, Italian

Other Locations:

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Filippi's Pizza Grotto

Featured Review

Erin Chambers

Contributor

In Short – From the red checkered table cloths to the hundreds of chianti bottles strung from the ceiling, this pizza grotto is a classic experince in Italian-American dining. After more than 50 years in business, people still come in droves to wait in line for a table and slice of what is routinely voted the best pie in the city. Also popular are the macaroni and spumoni.

Editor's Tips

Parking:
If you find a space in the tiny adjacent lot, go buy a lotto ticket. Otherwise, it's a battle for street meters.
Know Before You Go:
No fancy buzzers or pagers here. Average wait time (in line) for a table is at least 30 minutes.
The Extras:
The attached deli grocery is a hidden gem for gourmet Italian fixings. Olive oils, pastas, prosciutto -- all imported from the boot.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “thought the food was great the place does not have the fancy atmosphere that some places charge you for but the Food looked great, smelled.”
  2. “We have always enjoyed the quaint atmosphere and the wonderful Italian.”
  3. “love the atmosphere and the food.”
atmosphere
100.0% positive
  1. “i love the atmosphere and the food.”
  2. “we have always enjoyed the quaint atmosphere and the wonderful italian food.”
  3. “outstanding place”
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. “really good cheese sticks”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “the antipasto is great too.”
food quality
70.0% positive
  1. “i love their sauce”
  2. “i love the atmosphere and the food.”
  3. “my good friend chef boyardee could have pulled off better”
  4. “the pizza was not bad”
  5. “tp taste that beautiful sauce ever again”
  6. “love the atmosphere and the food.”
  7. “i recommend it for a good italian meal”
  8. “we have always enjoyed the quaint atmosphere and the wonderful italian food.”
  9. “thought that I would not be able tp taste that beautiful sauce ever again.”
  10. “fresh bread was brought to the table.”
  11. “They have several locations around downtown and Mission Valley and very convenient to our home, but, food is mediocre.”
  12. “Our server was really nice and the food was very tasty.”
  13. “an entire jar of oregano had been dumped on stale hamburger meat”
  14. “pizza is soooo good!”
  15. “the food was very tasty”
  16. “to san diego from phoenix just for the pizza and fly home the same day great `` road trip ''”
  17. “outstanding pizza and wonderful bread.”
  18. “it tasted as though an entire jar of oregano had been dumped on stale hamburger meat.”
  19. “There's definitely a family restaurant charm to this place, and I recommend it for a good Italian meal.”
  20. “food is mediocre”
  21. “thought the food was great the place does not have the fancy atmosphere that some places charge you for but the Food looked great, smelled.”
  22. “while the pizza wasn't bad.”
  23. “surprisingly, and the delicious smells definately got you an appetite by the time.”
  24. “Outstanding pizza and wonderful bread.”
  25. “the food is that good”
  26. “But, I still travel to Filippi's several times/year --- the food is that good!”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “filippis has been around for many years and is one of my favorite italian restaurants!”
  2. “the lack of mozzarella was disappointing.”
  3. “love this place”
  4. “i would classify this as a good family or friends restaurant.”
  5. “this was one of our favorite places.”
  6. “thought the food was great the place does not have the fancy atmosphere that some places charge you for but the Food looked great, smelled.”
  7. “Hi I found this great restaurant discount site with printable coupons.”
  8. “i had the pleasure of visiting and stumbled across-what many claim to be-the best italian joint in little italy.”
  9. “love this place.”
  10. “hi i found this great restaurant discount site with printable coupons.”
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. “i absolutely love filippis, and come back as often as i can talk other people into.”
  2. “i first walked by it and was allured in by its wonderful aromas in 1983”
  3. “absolutely love Filippis, and come back as often as I can talk other people into going with me.”
  4. “the meatball was decent.”
service
100.0% positive
  1. “absolutely love Filippis, and come back as often as I can talk other people into going with me.”
  2. “i absolutely love filippis, and come back as often as i can talk other people into.”
  3. “Our server was really nice and the food was very tasty.”
  4. “our server was really nice”
value
100.0% positive
  1. “and great prices too!”
  2. “My favorite is La Vache in Hillcrest the coupon is 25.00 dollars off.”
3 Star Rating: Average

12/21/11

Good food. Bad service.

by bspive13 at Citysearch

The food is awesome for the price. It is very secluded. gives a very italian feel. The service was absolutely horrible. The people are very rude. The older lady (with salt & pepper hair in a ponytail) that took my payment threw my receipt at me and another coworker had to apologize for her senseless rudeness. The waiter was very short and when he came around to "check on us" he was very quick and walked away before we could say anything. So rude! but i would definitely go back and order. it'll just be to go.

3 Star Rating: Average

06/01/11

My very first review!

by M Jean at Citysearch

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.

4 Star Rating: Recommended

01/07/11

It is what it is.

by Tough Critic , Citysearch Contributor at Citysearch

Walking "Little Italy", and boy is it little, we stumbled onto Fillippi's and was drawn in by the charm. A deli/grocer upfront and a restaurant in the rear. We had no problem with a wait on a Friday at noon. Loved the fresh "small"(enough to feed four) side salad with homemade Italian dressing and lotsa vinegar peppers. A larger salad with meats is also available if you have a crowd dining with you. We ordered the Veggie pizza, and though it is not my favorie style, a little doughie and heavy on the cheese, the ingredients were fresh and of good quality.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

10/05/10

Best Pizza In San Diego

by lajollarealtor at Citysearch

This is the place I take or send all out of town friends and clients that want Great Authentic Italian Pizza.

Order the Works Pizza and have it cooked well done. It comes out with crunchy crisp crust and the best toppings and pizza sauce you have ever eaten!

Make sure you get a Antipasti to share with your table.

Still hungry..no problem order a meatball its the size of a softball and really tasty!

Many locations but this is the best for Pizza maybe because the oven has been there for so long.

Enjoy! Gary

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

02/22/10

Will wait for this sause!

by ChrissyB at Citysearch

Love this place! Pizzas great and nice crowd.

  • Pros: Love the sause

The Details on Filippi's Pizza Grotto

Place Categories:

  • loved place
  • outstanding wonderful bread
  • wonderful italian food
  • good pizza
  • enjoyed quaint atmosphere
  • beautiful sauce
  • nice server
  • good cheese
  • disappointing mozzarella
  • great same day
  • good friend chef boyardee
  • delicious smells definately
  • good family
  • great antipasto
  • loved filippis
  • best italian joint
  • outstanding pizza
  • mediocre food
  • love place
  • always enjoyed quaint atmosphere
  • great pizza grotto
  • favorite italian restaurants
  • always enjoyed wonderful italian
  • great restaurant discount site
  • favorite la vache
  • good italian meal
  • really good cheese
  • wonderful aromas
  • stale hamburger meat
  • really nice server
  • wonderful bread
  • very good crust
  • not beautiful sauce
  • absolutely love filippis
  • favorite restaurant
  • great prices
  • best ita
  • decent meatball
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