42 Best Italian Restaurants near Poway

“I think the food is very good. I would give it five stars excellent service, beautiful wine had a wonderful night. 🍷🍝“

“Service was great. Atmosphere is cozy. A few things about the food - the dinner bread would be better if it was a crisp buttered sourdough. The house Italian dressing might be yummier with not so many spices drenching the salad. The pizza is superb - perfection combo of crust and topping. Lasagne is a huge portion and makes delicious leftovers - mine was served cheesy and saucy, just the way I like.“

“From a New Yorker - this is the closest I’ve gotten to NY slice since moving out here 10 years ago. On top of it, the service is always so kind, the atmosphere is the perfect pizzeria vibe, and pricing is more than fair. If you haven’t tried this place yet I highly recommend - won’t disappoint and you get to support local!!“

“Absolutely awesome food . Never disappoints👌“

“Clean all around. We waited for a long time for our order and it somehow got handed out to someone else, but the manager gave us a free buffet card to come back to make up for this mistake. She was very nice. The food is always great too! They have a fun atmosphere with TVs around and a very unique beer bar.“

“Me, my husband and my service dog went to order two pizzas at 8:50 pm on 10/29/2025 and the young man that helped us was polite and friendly. We're from of town and our experience was a great one. Our pizzas were delicious and the prices were good. We'll be returning to this establishment on our next trip. Thank you.“

“Tonight I visited Vittorio's for the first time and everything about my experience was first rate! I could see that the hostess had a smile on her face, even before I entered the building. the wait staff was great and the food was wonderful! I've never had a better spaghetti alla carbonara. Thank you for a wonderful evening. I'll be back for sure!“

“The Margarita pizza was the best . Thus far from any pizzaria I’ve had“

“Rosinas is consistently excellent authentic Italian food. The only food downside ( which is why I gave Food a 4 out of 5 rating), is their Ceaser salad...it is consistently bland, really watery, and tasteless...such an unpleasant surprise given that ALL of the other salads are so delicious, and ALL of the other food is delicious. Rosina, PLEASE update the Ceaser salad..it is really awful.“

“I had a great experience at Filippi’s Pizza! The food was really good, everything came out hot, fresh, and full of flavor. Our server, Ashley, made the meal even better with her amazing service. She was friendly, attentive, and made sure we had everything we needed the whole time. The atmosphere was nice, though it’s a little on the darker side inside — but honestly, that didn’t take away from the experience at all. I’d definitely come back and recommend Filippi’s to anyone looking for great pizza, eggplant parm, and excellent service!“

“I really enjoy their lunch specials, order a penne pasta and it came with a side salad. Food was excellent and the staff was so friendly.“

“Never had a bad experience here. The staff are always super friendly and make you feel welcomed and take good care of us. This is our favorite no-frills, reliably good food, hole in the wall spot. Our son loves the food here too! Highly recommend“

“We had my birthday celebration at The Godfather and their private room is ideal for large parties. The food was delicious and the service superb! A huge thank you to Salvatore Ercolano, the new Godfather! He was the perfect host for our event and made sure that everything was perfect!“

“Mama Cella’s Italian restaurant feels like a treasure passed down through generations, offering authentic Italian flavours that truly shine. From the very first bite of the Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo, I was in love! The dish is creamy and rich in flavor, a perfect example of classic Italian cuisine.

However, I found the meatballs to be a tad salty when eaten on their own. On a positive note, the staff were incredibly friendly and helpful, eager to share their knowledge about the food and the restaurant. The cleanliness of the establishment was also impressive, which added to the overall dining experience.

Most importantly, the prices are very reasonable! I would definitely recommend Mama Cella’s, and it will be my go-to spot whenever I’m craving Italian food!

Parking: Yes, you can park in the front of restaurant Or find a spot along the avenue.

Wheelchair accessibility: It’s easy to access with wide doorways that accommodate wheelchairs.“

“Always a wonderful experience with great food and service! I have loved every thing I’ve tried on the menu. This is our go to place whenever we want tasty and excellent cuisine👏“

“Filippi's is a chain of Italian, 'Family-Style' restaurants in the San Diego & Southern CA area.
Everyone I talk to knows them for their delicious pizza - and I agree. Their pizza are cheesy. You don't need to order extra.
This visit was a first to the ElCajon restaurant. I sat in the bar and had great conversations with Norma. She made great drinks too.
I had an order of garlic cheese bread with a warm marinara sauce while I waited for my pizza. It was great! Again, cheesy with a good garlic taste. It was filling too. I could only eat one slice of pizza when it arrived & had to take the rest home.
Stop in and enjoy a great meal. Say HI to Norma for me.“

“very delicious pizza great amount of toppings and cheese , really enjoyed their cheesy bread😋😋“

“A good pasta place - simple, tasty, diverse and customisable. Will try calzones next time for sure.“

“ATTENTION YELPERS! I FOUND THE BEST ITALIAN FOOD IN SAN DIEGO!!!

Just Kidding...

Not Kidding...this gigantic national chain serving up unauthentic, sodium loaded and ultra processed Italian food isn't all that bad, and a great value! The unlimited soup and bread sticks is middle and lower class family's perfect dream, and my dream...I devoured 3 bowls of soup and 3 bread sticks before touching my entree!

$24.50 Tour of Italy...The Chicken Parmesan had a nice hot crispy breading engulfing the juicy tender white chicken breast. The lasagna was robust, flavorful, with great blend of sauce, cheese, and pasta. The fettuccine alfredo is exactly how you would imagine it. Great value overall considering the 3 bowls of soup I devoured.“

“The scenery is very beautiful“

“Great food, ambiance and staffs. Thank you!“

“We were served by Skaula (probably miss spelled her name).

But she did an amazing job, made the experience a lot more enjoyable!
Thank you!!

Food was delicious and free refills for drinks, salads, bread sticks, and soups!

Thank you again for the amazing service!“

“I moved to San Diego from NJ and have been looking for really good NY style pizza for a year now, this is the best freaking pizza Ive had here so far, it tastes just like how they make it on the east coast, everything was fresh and cooked perfectly, oh and my buffalo wings? My favorite wings EVER. Everyone who works there is sweet and welcoming, if you want good pizza go here“

“One of our very FAVORITE spots to drop in on our own, to bring by guests we want to take care of, or to have large gatherings - family and business. We have been coming here for many years, from just 2 of us to the largest being 45 of us for a business function with excellent catering and service. The food is always spot on, and they have one of the best stocked bars in the city - items you rarely find elsewhere. The staff is highly skilled and they flow very well as a team, you always feel taken care of here. Highly recommend Yanni's!“

“Great place. True European feel.“

“We picked up food yesterday during their grand opening in Santee. Best pesto I’ve ever had! Staff was great too. We will definitely be back.“

“Great pizza!! This location is very convenient, quick and the pizza is amazing!! Our whole family loved it. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a new place to order from! We will definitely be back!“

“I'm glad hubby, son and I finally gave Buca a try. Jean Pierre our server provided us with a phenomenal service. Went above and beyond! His energy and engagement was so infectious and that's what sets this place apart from any other restaurant we've ever been to. The huge portions of food are a plus. We can't wait to go back :)“

“Amazing STAFF and food. The General manager was super engaging and grit, staff was attentive even under busy and stressful situations- it’s obvious they have a positive working model. Nice work!“

“Pizza Perfection!

If you’re looking for incredible pizza, FOX’S GIANT PIZZA is the spot! From the moment you walk in, the warm, welcoming atmosphere sets the tone for a fantastic meal. The staff was super friendly, and the aroma of fresh pizza from the oven instantly had my mouth watering. Steven was so friendly and sweet!

We tried the Meat Lover, Veggie Supreme, and Margherita pizzas—and wow, every bite was pure bliss.

The Meat Lover was packed with perfectly cooked, flavorful toppings—pepperoni, sausage, ham, and bacon—layered over a rich, tangy sauce and gooey cheese. Each bite was hearty and satisfying.

The Veggie Supreme was a garden-fresh masterpiece! It had vibrant peppers, mushrooms, onions, olives, and the perfect hint of seasoning, all resting on a crispy-yet-fluffy crust. Even non-veggie lovers would enjoy this one!

And the Margherita? A classic done right. The simplicity of fresh basil, creamy mozzarella, and their signature tomato sauce made it stand out. It was light, fresh, and absolutely delicious.

This is hands-down one of the best pizza places I’ve ever been to. Whether you’re a meat lover, veggie enthusiast, or crave a classic Margherita, they’ve got something amazing for you. I can’t wait to come back!“

“I went with my aunt and grandma. My grandma ordered the veil eggplant it was very good. My aunt and I ordered the chicken Valentino and she loved it. I wasn’t so impressed. Her Alfredo sauce wasn’t thick enough or cheesy enough for my taste. The portions are very large and the service was good.“

“Pazzos is the best Italian in Scripps Ranch. Since 93 they have been serving up good pies and cold brews. The Eggplant Parma is all time. Insider tip....get the 12 inch.“

“Had a bridal shower for 25 ladies and Frank and the staff took good care of us ….. excellent food and wine and loved the Sangria. Perfect day on their patio to celebrate !!!“

“Good pizza and service I love it“

“Just ordered three different pizzas from Tikka Pizza and we immensely enjoyed all of them. Saag Paneer, Pav Bhani, and Butter Chicken were all tasty and faithful tributes to the dishes they’re based on, with the spice taken down a level. While they were excellent fresh, they were even better the day after reheated after the flavors melded a bit.

In addition to tasty pizza, I ordered online and the pizzas were fresh on pick up, and service from the pizza maker was great.

I’ve had Indian pizzas in the Bay Area, and in India, and I am so glad Tikka pizza is here in San Diego as a nice alternative to traditional pizza.“

“What a great restaurant at the Bernardo Winery. It's the perfect place to meet up with friends for lunch before walking around the cute winery and do some shopping in the boutiques on site.

There are lots of outdoor tables to choose from and most are shaded. It opens at 11am and it was busy soon after. We went on a weekday too.
You can get wines from the tasting room or delicious coffee from Manzanita next door.

You order from the counter and your food will be delivered to your table. Everything we had was delicious though the pizza was a little on the burnt side from the wood fired oven.

Parking: There are two small parking lots and plenty of street parking.“

“Love this place. Great food! Great atmosphere! A community restaurant where we go and see friends! We love the pizza, wings and my favs are Brussel sprouts but I tried the artichoke fritte today. LOVE THEM! High suggest trying them out.“

“I have been coming here since they opened and they are the best !!!! Everything I have ordered has been beyond delicious and the owner Zak is the best !!! It’s a must try !!!!!“

“Clean, grate service,Perfect location.“