Originally San Diego’s Italian and Portuguese immigrant fishing neighborhood, Little Italy has developed into one of the top tourist destinations for visitors to San Diego. Once a modest immigrant neighborhood of small houses with residents that worked in San Diego’s booming Tuna industry Littl Italy has grown to become one of the major attractions of San Diego. After the Tuna industry died out the neighborhood became somewhat bedraggled until revitalization programs within the last couple of decades renovated much of India Street, Little Italy’s main street. It is now the largest Little Italy in the United States. With restaurants and that Old World feel, Little Italy is definitely worth a visit day or night. A recent favorable development in the neighborhood is the drastic change in the dining experience. Its no longer the typical American Italian mom and pop, red and white checkered table cloth, chianti wine bottles hanging from the ceiling joint, now it’s a trendy upscale dining environment making this the date spot of many residents. One favorable change is the trend to serve fresh hand made pasta made on site at many of the restaurants. Having lived two years in Italy, I can tell you the dishes served here are not American Italian but truly like what you would be served in Italy. Little Italy now boast new condominiums that are in high demand and from one single block of attractions, Little Italy now extends onto adjacent streets that along with new condos includes some of San Diego’s top American restaurants along with top art galleries.
Little Italy is a place you can visit year round. San Diego’s moderate weather make it possible to ignore the seasons and enjoy all of the many restaurants and shops in the area. Favorites are Mimmos, which indoor, décor and architecture replicate an Italian village, complete with a town square with overhanging balconies that Romeo and Juliet would have used centuries ago to pledge their love. Filippis Pizza Grotto is still running and is a local favorite though you wont find any of the trendy décor changes that have completely taken over the rest of Little Italy. Here you’ll still find the red and white checkered tablecloth and the Chiante bottles hanging from the ceiling are still there. There Pizza and lasagna pure deliciousness means their patrons are happy as it is. The restaurant has a very Italian style mini grocery store in the front and fortunately because parking can be a trial in Little Italy, has it’s own parking lot.
Landini’s Pizza another newcomer to Little Italy may argubably be San Diego’s best italian style pizza place. They sell whole pies but are better known for their yummy slices.