Filippi's Pizza Grotto

4.0 star rating
600 reviews Rating Details

Categories: Italian, Pizza  [Edit]

1747 India St
(between Date St & Fir St)
San Diego, CA 92101
Neighborhood: Little Italy
(619) 232-5094
Hours:

Mon, Sun 11 am - 10 pm

Tue-Thu 11 am - 10:30 pm

Fri-Sat 11 am - 11:30 pm

Good for Kids:
Yes
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Street
Attire:
Casual
Good for Groups:
Yes
Price Range:
$$
Takes Reservations:
No
Delivery:
No
Take-out:
Yes
Waiter Service:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
No
Wi-Fi:
No
Good For:
Dinner
Alcohol:
Beer & Wine Only
Noise Level:
Average
Ambience:
Casual
Has TV:
No
Caters:
No
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes

Review Highlights   

user photo
"Also try the Antipasto salad as a starter." (in 42 reviews)
user photo
"My husband loves the lasagna and I love the pizza." (in 112 reviews)
user photo
"dont forget to try the garlic bread." (in 28 reviews)
  Loading...
Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites' | Facebook Friends'

600 reviews in English

  • Review from Danna C.

    Las Vegas, NV

    4.0 star rating
    2/4/2012 1 Check-in Here

    I asked some co-workers for advice on where to go in Little Italy. One person told me Filippi's was one of his favorites. Another told me to avoid Filippi's. It looked like it got good Yelp reviews, so I decided to give it a try and find out for myself if it was a hit or miss.

    It was a hit. We got the small antipasto salad for starters which was yummy and filled with lots of goodies. We got The Works pizza with anchovies. I think it was the first time I'd ever gotten anchovies on my pizza. The crust was thick. I'm usually much more of a thin or medium crust pizza kind of girl. However, the pizza was surprisingly good. We also tried Landini's pizza. Both were quite good. Landini's was my favorite but my wife preferred Filippi's. But we both agreed both places are winners.

  • Review from Mare C.

    •  
    • 4 friends
    • 7 reviews

    Laguna Niguel, CA

    5.0 star rating
    1/30/2012

    We live in South OC and personally, this place is definitely worth the drive...just another one of countless reasons why we enjoy visiting SD!  :))

    This is my favorite place to satisfy that pizza and antipasto craving!  You know the part where your Yelp profile asks, "My last meal on earth?"...well their pizza would be mine, lol!  

    I've also had their lasagna, ravioli, and spaghetti, which were all wonderful (don't forget the garlic cheese bread too!).  Their portions are huge, and we always end up with "to go" boxes (leftovers always taste even better the next day).  This place is pretty cool...walk into a little grocery store, and you'll find it in the back.

    5-stars even though parking sucks and most of the time you have to wait in line and just stare at the salami...definitely worth it!  

    Can't wait to come back!! :))

  • Review from Chel R.

    Los Angeles, CA

    5.0 star rating
    1/24/2012 1 photo 1 Check-in Here

    I have been here quite a few times...whenever I am in Little Italy visiting my second home in La Jolla !  :D

    So our trip this weekend brought us to hang out for a few hours in Little Italy.  It was long overdue.

    We always come here for their pizza.  As I have said, I like my dough soft, my sauce light, and my cheese cheesy!  

    I am so easy to please, its not even funny!

    I love the vibe in here.  Very homey and very friendly.  You can grocery shop as you walk in and the sit down eating area way inside.  And this spot I really dont mind the long lines:)

  • Review from Ashley E.

    •  
    • 1 friend
    • 3 reviews

    San Diego, CA

    5.0 star rating
    2/3/2012

    My family has been going here as long as I can remember.  Even though a lot of my family has moved away this is the Italian restaurant they always want to come to when they come back home.  
    They have the best pizza and the best antipasto salad.  I've only  had one or two waiters that have been less than perfect.  I always leave happy and awaiting my next visit to Filippi's.

  • Review from Stella C.

    •  
    • 1 friend
    • 5 reviews

    Ventura, CA

    1.0 star rating
    2/8/2012

    A group of 5 of us were here during a weekend visit to San Diego/Little Italy. This place was just a minute walk from our hotel and came highly recommended by the concierge. Italian food in Little Italy! Too bad Filippi's turned out to be a huge disappointment...

    At first glance the place is hoppin' on a Saturday night with the line out the door and down the street. There were even some kids that tried to use that whole "Excuse me excuse me, my party is up there!!" tactic, all holding hands and trying to squeeze their way to the front. I'm sorry I didn't know this was Six Flags...git yur ass to the back! 40 minutes later and we're still packed in shoulder to shoulder in the tiny walkway through the deli. Can we say FIRE HAZARD. My 5'2" frame would get trampled if there was a panic but I digress... At this point we are thinking 'OK this place has to be good, and anyway we've waited this long its too late to turn back now!'.

    We're finally seated at a long table in the back. It's really dark and the decor is super tacky and cheap (for me) but I can see the appeal to some. It reminds me of an old fashioned family style Italian place. After the wait we were all ravenous but our server takes forever to come back and take our order: Eggplant parmigiana for me, cheese pizza with garlic, meatball sub, lasagna and some pasta specials for the rest. Food was really slow to come out... they're just building up our hunger and anticipation for the food right?

    Too bad... very underwhelming =[

    While the portions were big the food was borderline disgusting. I tried to find the eggplant buried in the pound of cheese (no seriously, I scraped off the cheese and it was a greasy blob 2 inches thick). The consensus was that the only thing that was decent was the meatball sub and the garlic bread. This place just loads you up on carbs and cheese. Even though I was in vacation mode I couldn't bring myself to stomach it; I left hungry.

    When we went to pay the cashier nonchalantly inquired about the quality of our meal. She looked surprised when I said it was terrible. Really??

    Maybe a bit too much information, but everyone except me (probably because I didn't have the cheese!) promptly scattered in search of bathrooms as soon as we got back to the hotel lobby. Avoid this place for your dignity first and your health second.

  • Review from louie b.

    Torrance, CA

    5.0 star rating
    1/27/2012

    Yummm!! Love me some Filippi's!! Great pizza!! One of my favorites for sure!! The pizza is hard to beat. They load the toppings on, and thee crust is crisp yet soft.. Love their crushed pepper flakes. I put it on everything, it's finely crushed and adds loads of flavor to anything you put it on, that is if you like a little spice!
    I use to live in north county and would drive down here just for their pizza, believe me, it's well worth it!

  • Review from Riley'sMama s.

    •  
    • 4 friends
    • 53 reviews

    Aurora, IL

    4.0 star rating
    1/19/2012

    First of all, I am a TRUE pizza fan.  I could eat it almost every day.  I generally won't eat garbage pizza (i.e. Domino's, etc.) and as a Chicagoan, I take it VERY seriously.  :)  Now, onto my review.

    This place is so cool.  It reminds me a lot of old Chicago Italian charm.  There were quite a few chubby Italian guys eating there, which I saw as a good sign.  The red checkered tableclothes really added to the ambiance for me.

    We had the antipasto.  It was terrific.  A lot of people Yelp about it and I can see why.  It tasted very fresh and like Italian antipasto should taste.  

    The pizza was delicious.  The crust had flavor all throughout, which I do not think I have EVER found in a thicker crust pizza.  The topping I chose was meatball, and these were GOOD meatballs.  Again, they tasted very "old school" and it seems like this is a very old and time tested recipe.  The only unusual thing is that they only have one size of pizza.  This doesn't bother me, but it might bother some people.

    The only reason that I gave this place 4 out of 5 stars was due to the service.  I was not impressed.  Our waitress was just nice enough to not be called rude.  She did the bare minimum and was SLOW.  

    Anyway, so-so service will not keep a true pizza fan away from here.  I will be back, and can't wait to try other pizza toppings.  I have a feeling that their spaghetti would probably be good too.

  • Review from Keesy S.

    San Pedro, CA

    4.0 star rating
    1/19/2012 1 Check-in Here

    Is it the best I've ever had? No, I can't say that it is. BUT there is something about this place that keeps me coming back! Maybe it's the combo of meat, sauce, and cheese. If you like those 3 things you will not be disappointed. They make sure your meals are meaty, saucy, and oh so cheesy.

    The pizza is such a heavy concoction!!! My, oh my!!! I swear if I were to weigh it, it would be 5-7 lbs EASY. You get so much for what you pay. After one slice I was ready to throw in the towel. Yes, it's slightly doughy but they add so much MEAT, CHEESE, and SAUCE!

    Every time I've been here the line has been out the door. LITERALLY! But we are usually seated in a timely manner considering how long the line is.

    If you're feeling bold try their house wine. I'm not a wine connoisseur but I enjoyed it. Plus, for the price you really can't go wrong.

    Will I be back? Of course!

  • Review from Hailey W.

    •  
    • 3 friends
    • 16 reviews

    Oceanside, CA

    4.0 star rating
    2/4/2012 1 Check-in Here

    Crowded as heck sometimes but I can see why because of the pizza. They are VERY generous on amounts of cheese the put on their cheese pizza and the dough the use is excellent to the point where I actually ate the entire slice instead of just leaving the crust behind. However I would highly suggest ordering it to go since it gets pretty crowded.

  • Review from Pauline L.

    San Diego, CA

    3.0 star rating
    1/13/2012

    The first time I stopped by here, it was because I was craving garlic--a deep, toasty kind of garlic flavor. I asked the hostesses what would be best to satisfy that craving, and they said they could add extra garlic to any dish. Briefly looking over the menu, I got the seafood linguine (actually forget the name of the dish). Got it to go, picked up some garlic paste in a tube in the store up front, just in case it was still lacking.

    When I got home, the food was still super hot, which was good. The bread? Unimpressive, and rather dry. The quality of linguine was good, al dente and had good "bite" but the flavor wasn't what I expected. Adding insult to injury, it lacked "oomph", and was paired with small salad shrimp instead of shrimp you actually bite into. Shouldn't expect too much from a place named a "Grotto", right? I think the pastas are kind of meh to be honest, they don't seem to hold the sauces well.

    I'll give credit where it's due. I like that this place is open really late. The second time, my GF and I shared a combo meal as the portions are HUGE. We got spaghetti with a giant meatball and sausage. That meatball saved this review, as it was the best meatball I've ever had in my life! Moist and really well-seasoned. It was almost the size of a baseball. The garlic bread was pretty good, too.

    Service was satisfactory, prices are reasonable. That's all she wrote. I guess I should try the pizza sometime, since it IS Filippi's PIZZA Grotto, right? Hopefully, I'll add on more stars when that time comes :)

  • Review from Danny W.

    San Diego, CA

    5.0 star rating
    12/21/2011 2 Check-ins Here

    They should add a slogan that says, "So good...families will fight ya for it!" as witnessed from my last visit. Two groups of kin damn near came to blows over who was in line first and let me tell ya, you haven't laughed until you've seen "the Smiths" verbally take on the "the Johnsons." Hilarious? Yes, but it should give you an idea as to how awesome the place is for an affordable family meal.

    For the price their pizza, pastas, and total package are hands down the best value in Little Italy. (Maybe even all of SD) Service can be hit or miss, but when they go through as many obnoxious tourists as I'm sure they do it's warranted to be a little curt from time to time.

    The line does get hella long, but it's totally worth it. Just bring your boxing gloves in case another brawl breaks out.

  • Review from Joseph B.

    •  
    • 20 friends
    • 55 reviews

    San Diego, CA

    3.0 star rating
    1/1/2012

    I have never eaten in the restaurant, I always call in my order and pick it up as the restaurant is very close to my home.

    Never had their pizza... because I get the lasagna every time. The full dinner lasagna is very good, I get the meatball and sausage added to it. They drop a big meatball in it and a whole Italian sausage.

    Makes for a good pickup meal and the full dinner plate is HUGE.

  • Review from Robin J.

    •  
    • 16 friends
    • 46 reviews

    San Diego, CA

    4.0 star rating
    12/14/2011 1 Check-in Here

    My sentimental San Diego Italian place! This is a Family Restaurant.

    Firstly, I would like to add that I'm not much of a fan of Italian food. Shocking but true. I will eat it but would usually prefer Thai, Sushi, Chinese, Mexican or Indian. So this review is based off a Non-Italian Food Lovers perspective.

    I like the decor - very mom and pop and not at all pretentious. There's a grocery store upon entering the building which gives it an authentic flair. I love looking at foods from other countries!

    The menu is simple. Not too over the top and not too pricey either. This is a family place. I wouldn't necessary use it for a business lunch or a date. All the times I've gone have been with my own family (as a child and now with my children - this place has been around for a while!) and friends with kids.

    Food: They have most Italian dishes I recognize. Is the food better or worse than other Italian places? I don't know - I am Italian-food-color-blind.

  • Review from Sandra L.

    •  
    • 18 friends
    • 11 reviews

    San Francisco, CA

    4.0 star rating
    12/26/2011

    YUM YUM YUM, Very good antipasta salad .. and very good pizza.

    We started off with some garlic bread and antipasta salad. I highly recommend this salad, it's topped with some slices of salami type of meat and underneath the bed of lettuce and an assortment of vegetables, there's salami slices.
    it's so yummy--the salad dressing is typical italian dressing. It serves a decent 6 people.

    Then came our pizza. We ordered the special -- there's only 6 slices (our waitress said they only cut 6 slices). The sauce is not very "tomato-y" but it was very cheesy, crunchy crust and overall, very satisfying delicious pizza. Yummy toppings -- but I prefer sausage over the meatballs they had on the pizza.

    Thinking that it wasn't enough food, we also ordered a combo, they have a plate where you can chose 2 out of 3, spaghetti, lasagna and ravioli. We ordered the spaghetti and cheese ravioli with meat sauce. I didn't really eat much of that because I was already full from the salad and one slice of pizza but it looked pretty yummy.

    Overall, definitely focus on the pizza and the salad!

    The majority of the seats in this restaurant is in EXTREMELY low light cramped spaces, and for me, it's kind of irritating to be sitting in the dark with very cramped spaces when I'm enjoying a slice of good pizza. For parties of more than 5, I would recommend you venture off into the seating near the bathrooms (don't worry you are not sitting where the bathrooms are located) and it's much more lighted up area with spacious seating.

  • Review from Jana C.

    •  
    • 0 friends
    • 5 reviews

    San Diego, CA

    5.0 star rating
    1/5/2012

    Been here all my life and it's still #1 on my list. Love "the works".
    Generally don't get pasta so can't review it. This not houty touty fancy downtown Italian. It's simple, family style.
    Not fancy. Not over priced. Don't let the line scare you, it moves quick.

  • Review from Amy H.

    •  
    • 0 friends
    • 1 review

    San Diego, CA

    5.0 star rating
    1/17/2012

    SO GOOD!!!!

    I went practically 4 years ago and remembered the lasagna being delicious, and it did not disappoint this time!! The portions are large, so for 5 girls, we ordered 3 pastas (lasagna, fettuccine alfredo, and the ravioli) and a pizza, and we still ended up taking food home!  The fettuccine alfredo (something I normally refuse to order because it's not usually that good) was one of the best I've ever had and all 5 of us could not stop talking about the pizza!  

    The service was a bit slow, but considering A. how busy it was and B. it's a more traditional southern italian restaurant, service isnt normally good (i've spent some time in Italy, not what americans are used to), our server was really helpful and even allowed us to get half meat and half cheese ravioli so we could try them both.

    On top of all of that, it was affordable! All 5 of us are college students and including drinks, tax, and tip, it came out to $12 a person.  Not too shabby!

  • Review from cherie c.

    Palm Desert, CA

    4.0 star rating
    Updated - 1/17/2012 1 Check-in Here

    I returned and shopped the deli. Their meats are reasonable and are good quality. The prosciutto was a hit with my bf.

    Was this review …?

    1 Previous Review: Show all »

    • 3.0 star rating
      12/7/2011

      I was excited to have some good pizza while staying in Little Italy, so I followed the Yelp reviews… Read more »

  • Review from Serge L.

    •  
    • 24 friends
    • 11 reviews

    San Diego, CA

    1.0 star rating
    12/21/2011

    If there were not 500 great reviews I would have given this place a 3 star.  It's average at best.   With such great reviews you have to expect more than what I got.

    Average food: I ordered the only size of pizza they offered.  One topping. They put tons of cheese. To much in my opinion, kinda didn't sit very well with me.

    Unimpressive service. Outdated menu.  The grocery store you have to walk through is cool.

    Basically if you love food from the 70's that has not changed on bit. This is your place. I have been to amazing pizza restaurants. So this place is not for me and if you have been to a really good pizzeria you probably won't like this place either.

  • Review from SHAWN C.

    •  
    • 21 friends
    • 15 reviews

    Anaheim, CA

    4.0 star rating
    1/23/2012

    Came here with my girlfriend and cousin. Very yummy food. The ravioli with lasagne combo that I got was awesome. I love the cheese and tomato sauce they used. Definitely add on the sausage. Sausage was awesome too. My girlfriend enjoyed her spaghetti with meatballs and sausage. I love how they add parmesan cheese into the meatball. It tasted hand made too. Pizza was very cheesy. Make sure you chew it, otherwise you might choke. It's that thick. Make some room for dessert too. The cheesecake looked great, but we were literally too stuffed for dessert. Prices are great too.

  • Review from Alex M.

    •  
    • 3 friends
    • 17 reviews

    Hayward, CA

    4.0 star rating
    12/13/2011

    The wife and I were visiting San Diego and decided to give this place a try based on the Yelp rating.

    Initially, it was a confusing to find the entrance because all you see is a deli. You have to wait in line inside the deli to get seated in the restaurant, no biggie. Also while we were in line, a massive drunk was in line behind us which was annoying, but not the restaurant's fault.

    Anyway, the interior looks like any other mom and pop Italian restaurant, gaudy, but it works. The menu is the classic menu of pastas and pizza. We settle on the basic peperoni pizza and it was the right choice. The ingredients tasted fresh and the crust was excellent. I would eat here again.

  • Review from Vanessa M.

    Miami, FL

    4.0 star rating
    12/4/2011 2 Check-ins Here

    I've come here a few times now, so I decided it was time to right a review.  The lines are usually long for dinner, but it seems that for lunch you can get a table rather quickly.

    It's cute decor even if its not "authentic Italian."  The pizza is good, lots of cheese and fresh ingredients.  I haven't had the pasta, but I went with coworkers who ordered it and their plates were enough to feed them for two days.

    You can also purchase wine by half bottles instead of ordering a whole one which I think is cool.  If you're looking for a sit down service pizza spot, this is it!

  • Review from Charley S.

    •  
    • 5 friends
    • 1 review

    North Side, Pittsburgh, PA

    5.0 star rating
    1/22/2012 1 Check-in Here

    There was about 30 people in line and I can see why. Great homemade taste. I usually prefer a thin crust but I loved this thick crust.

  • Review from Ray S.

    •  
    • 4 friends
    • 6 reviews

    San Diego, CA

    4.0 star rating
    1/22/2012

    If you like a ton of cheese on your pizza (like me) Filippi's is for you.  I had the sausage pizza which was exceptional.  There's usually a line out the door, but even if it doesn't move for 10 min don't get discouraged; it usually ends up shorter than it seems (plan for 20-40 min).  It's worth the wait for cheese lovers.

  • Review from kesha s.

    •  
    • 0 friends
    • 15 reviews

    Burbank, CA

    2.0 star rating
    1/18/2012

    I saw the long line and decided to try it out.  The food is mediocre (pizza included...sorry), the service is mediocre and really not worth the half hour wait. I suppose this is a neighborhood gem and everyone in line was raving about how great it was.  We got a pizza, antipasto salad and the 1/2 lasagna 1/2 ravioli.  Eh.. eh... and eh...

    Will try other places in the area next time.

  • Review from Gerry H.

    San Diego, CA

    1.0 star rating
    1/1/2012

    I've eaten here four times now, and each time I am perplexed as to how Filippi's is still in business.  Somehow (a good publicist? cheap prices?), they manage to always have a line out the door.  Unfortunately, I'd rather eat a Lean Cuisine than get pasta here.  Never again!

  • Review from Alexandra H.

    •  
    • 3 friends
    • 7 reviews

    El Cajon, CA

    1.0 star rating
    1/2/2012

    Don't get me wrong. thiis place, as far as italian restaurants is concerned, filippi's packs all the charm that an italian restaurant should. Food is deliciously tasty and tastes SUPER authentic! But if you like being treated like the food bits on the ground then by all means quit reading this review and forget about it.

    Last night, my boyfriend and i(who i hadnt seen in about a week straight), and few couples that were friends with all FINALLY got together to have dinner together. It was REALLY nice to see everyone. Food was fantastic as always!

    Here's my issue

    The whole night we were laughing and enjoying each others company, but like all fun evenings, it was coming to an end and we had to all pitch in our portion of the bill. I pick up my purse from the ground and place it in my lap, pull out my portion.. as we wait for the waitor to come bring the actual bill im still catching up and laughin with my friends. we get up to leave and i smell mint and my purse is stuck to my dress. Thats right!! GUM all over the place!!!

    This purse was BRAND new I had just got from my mother for christmas and JUST bought the dress too. I was DEVISTATED!!!!! Not only for my practically ruined purse and dress but that gum was NOT from anyone of us... Nobody was chewing gum when we sat down. My boyfriend flagged down the waitor and tried to tell him what was going, and he just plained didnt seem to care. started walking away while he was talking to him, my bf (well call him jerry), raised his voice and said "hey I was talking to you" so he comes back and "jerry" was explaining what had happened. The waitor told us that there was nothing he could do, and that if we wanted to speak to the manager that WE would have to flag him down OURSELVES at the front desk!!

    So JERRY and I we frustrated and a little POed at this guys total lack of concern for his table. I mean i thought he wanted a tip? JERRY went up to the front desk to find the manager, and he was showing the same lack of concern as the waitor. Saying oh well i dont sell gum here and he couldnt control everybody who came in with gum. THAT was NOT the point. the housekeeping efforts were clearly not accounted for. The table next to us had lettuce carrots cheese under their table and they had just sat down. its not that we were asking for them to replace the purse of dress, but at least show some kind of concern and like discount us or take something off the menu, offer a drink or dessert.. NOTHINGGG!!! FILIPPI'S DOES NOT GIVE A RATS ASS ABOUT ITS CUSTOMERS!!! AND FOR SUCH A LEGENDARY RESTAURANT YOU WOULD THINK THATD BE THEIR PRIORITY!!! I WILL NOT BE COMING BACK TO THIS FILIPPI'S PIZZA GROTTO!!!! EVER!!!!!!!!

  • Review from Leanna J.

    •  
    • 3 friends
    • 29 reviews

    Portland, OR

    5.0 star rating
    1/12/2012

    Everytime my family has a gathering it is at this place. The place feels like you got stuck right in the middle of Italy. It's crammed every night and that is for obvious reasons. My parents have been coming here every Thursday night for a couple of years now. Everyone knows them and they are really friendly. I don't think we have ever had a problem with any of the waiters and the owners are really sweet Italians. What I like best is the portion sizes, I always share with someone else and you get a large amount of food for only eight dollars. This place fits all occasions.

  • Review from Jeff K.

    Cerritos, CA

    4.0 star rating
    10/26/2011 1 Check-in Here

    Dear Filippi's,

    You make me feel like I'm in Italy. Good job!

    Came at 11:30pm right before closing and the people there were nice enough to give us a table. So upon walking in, I was already impressed by the service. We stayed extra late even though we told them we were going to leave early... and they didn't even bother giving me and my friend the boot till about 1:30am. lol

    This place is completely covered in traditional old-school Italian decor so I was expecting some deliciousness. Unfortunately it's nothing special if you've had NYC style pizza. It's pretty much the same thing. I ordered the chicken parm with pasta and it didn't amaze me although it was still pretty good.

    I would give this place 3 stars but I'll add a bonus star for our server, who had a striking resemblance to Sarah Palin. Anyway, she was super friendly and attentive for someone working closing shift on a Saturday night.

    Final note: I wouldn't come here and order take-out. There are plenty of restaurants around that cook the same exact stuff, perhaps even better than Filippi's. I believe the only reason to come here at all is to experience the traditional decor and feel like your in Italy.

    And then you walk outside and realize it's just LIttle Italy, San Diego. *sigh

  • Review from Brian F.

    •  
    • 2 friends
    • 23 reviews

    San Diego, CA

    1.0 star rating
    11/11/2011

    Tried MANY times to give benefit of doubt.
    Kept hopes high again n' again. Really wanted to like this place.
    Grew up n SD and went to most all of their locations through the years, but FINALLY...

    Have to admit this place SUCKS on many levels!

    Rude management & inept  and untrained staff. (many instances)!!

    Food is just "OK", but how hard is it to make spaghetti?? REALLY
    -Bland and sauce could be vastly improved.  Menu is limited and the offerings need to be updated. Not to mention NOT cheap for what you get.

    Think the place is so entrenched and established, that they don't have to maintain quality.  Customers I see there are the undiscerning type, and prob head over to MC Donald's for breakfast & lunch, thus keeping Flippi's in business.  

    If you have to go, at least go to the Little Italy location.  they have some competition, and seem to try to compete on service & atmosphere. Avoid POWAY & MIRAMESA locations.

  • Review from Jen Y.

    •  
    • 56 friends
    • 72 reviews

    Los Angeles, CA

    3.0 star rating
    10/31/2011 5 photos 1 Check-in Here

    CONCEPT: 3 Stars
    Walk through the deli/mini mart to get to the restaurant in the back.  The ceilings are filled with hanging glass bottles and indoor seating is quite dark.  Seating in the sunlight filled indoor patio gives off a more lively ambiance.

    FOOD: 4 Stars
    - Small salad (shared between 3 people and we finished it) 4.5
    - Small pizza, half pepperoni and sausage the the other half cheese 4.5/5
    - Cheese ravioli (huge portions) 3.5 stars
    - Eggplant parmigiana with your choice of lasagna, ravioli or pasta a la carte 4.5 stars (thanks to the eggplant parmigiana)

    SERVICE: 2.5 Stars

    PARKING: 5 Stars
    FREE at the private lot manned by security adjacent to Filippi's.

    In short, I don't care to come back.  Service was not stellar, the food was a-ok nor was it terrible.  I think this place is mostly known for its large portions and that's really about it.

  • Review from Cherlyn E.

    •  
    • 4 friends
    • 17 reviews

    Surprise, AZ

    3.0 star rating
    1/7/2012 1 Check-in Here

    We had a good time here. Pizza was great. Not anything special but very good. I am a thin crust pizza person.

  • Review from Anthony V.

    •  
    • 7 friends
    • 10 reviews

    San Diego, CA

    2.0 star rating
    1/8/2012

    When a lot of Former San Diegan friends come back to visit, they often humbly request a dinner at Filippi's. The food is decent but I've always felt it falls a little under what I'm expecting from their rave reviews and the lengthy line through the door. Would give it 3 stars but they often sell various open air fish items that cause the area you're waiting to get a table to reek. Things are okay once you're seated but while waiting in that line the stench can become unbearable.

  • Review from Randy P.

    •  
    • 0 friends
    • 4 reviews

    Orange, CA

    5.0 star rating
    1/9/2012

    What can I say?? Filippi's Pizza Grotto has never disappointed us! Great food, great atmosphere, great service (thanks Irene!) and great prices. On Friday we drove down from Orange County to be there. The line was out the door when we got there, but were seated within 10-15 minutes. Irene, our server whom we've had before, was just as fun as we remembered. We had the green salad, spaghetti and sausage and a pepperoni pizza .... way too much food for two people, but delicious none the less. Yes we will be back!

  • Review from Rick E.

    San Diego, CA

    3.0 star rating
    10/24/2011 1 Check-in Here

    Pizza slices are dense! I was full after two slices.  All the toppings go under the cheese here.  And they put a lot of cheese! Great stuff!  They need to start making more pizzas like this place.

    If I were to go again, I would try the antipastas.  They looked pretty good!

    This place has their own parking lot!

  • Review from Mazda A.

    •  
    • 3 friends
    • 7 reviews

    San Diego, CA

    5.0 star rating
    12/31/2011

    One of the best pizza I've had. The antipasta salad is also pretty good. Don't let the long line discourage you, it moves fairly quick.

  • Review from Hector G.

    Burlingame, CA

    3.0 star rating
    10/18/2011 1 Check-in Here

    A friend of ours said this was the place to eat while in San Diego, so we gave it a shot. Because this friend has a bit of a wait problem, as in he can't wait to eat! We assumed that waiting an hour for a table meant we were going to be wowed. Not so much.

    Caprese salad was edible. I mean, on the heels of eating at Bix in downtown San Francisco, where they pull their own mozzarella cheese daily and served up an heirloom tomato caprese salad to kill for, this left a lot to be desired. Tomatoes were tasteless, cheese was store bought in bulk and it lacked flavor.

    On to the star of the show, or so we thought. The pizza. It's tough to screw up pizza, you know? They make it right there, but the ingredients are straight out of a Domino's pizza box that has been in the freezer for a month or two. It was flavorless, greasy and I would definitely not come back for more.

    The scene is cool. It's like 1970's New York and you kinda feel like a mafioso as you walk in the place, which is an Italian store, where you can buy all the goods to go home and cook your own meal. That part of it was enjoyable, but the food was not very good at all. But waiting an hour for a table usually means you are in for a real nice treat. Not so much.

    It's located in Little Italy, which leads me to believe that you could find a much better, much more authentic Italian meal any other place than here.

  • Review from K. J.

    •  
    • 5 friends
    • 1 review

    San Diego, CA

    5.0 star rating
    12/28/2011

    I normally don't crave for any type of food until I had Spaghetti+Lasagna combination in here. YUM YUM YUMMM ! Tomato Basil Pizza was also amazing !

  • Review from G.B. M.

    •  
    • 3 friends
    • 11 reviews

    Encinitas, CA

    4.0 star rating
    12/26/2011

    Fairly standard Italian-American fare.  Don't pass up the cookies behind the store counter...amazing!

  • Review from Aggie A.

    •  
    • 4 friends
    • 70 reviews

    Hercules, CA

    4.0 star rating
    12/29/2011

    Nothing fancy, just good pizza and pasta.

    I ordered the pasta even though a friend highly recommended the Pizza.  I had the chicken parmigianna with lasagna.  The portions were huge and the sauce was spectacular.  Ended up doggy-bagging the remainder, which I ate cold that night (hotel room did not have a microwave).  The amazing thing was the lasagna and the chicken parmigianna still tasted good.

    Would definitely go there again!  The amazing thing was the cost of the meal didn't break the bank....

  • Review from Adrianna K.

    •  
    • 0 friends
    • 8 reviews

    San Diego, CA

    5.0 star rating
    11/10/2011 1 Check-in Here

    Love this place!!! Pizza is so delicious!! My favorite is the Hawaiian pizza with extra cheese. I am a cheese lover so I love the fact they  put tons of cheese on the pizza. My boyfriend and I frequent the place and everytime we've been there the food has been so good and service has also been good. Love the garlic bread!!!
    This is my favorite pizza place in san diego. We even made one of those wine bottles that hang from ceilings.
    Price is pretty cheap. About $10 -15 per person.

1 to 40 of 600 (81 Filtered) |  
Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 ...
Write a Review

Deals Nearby

More »

People Who Viewed This Also Viewed...