Etna Pizza & Italian Grill

There was a time when this was my “go to”place for Italian food. Unfortunately after the first owners sold (back in the 80’s or 90’s I think) they went to a “conveyor oven” for cooking pizza. The people who bought Etna’s owned several other Italian restaurants around town and seemed to be successful. Unfortunately they took out a couple of “deck ovens” to streamline the kitchen, like their other restaurants, and quit cooking pizza in those ovens. What they didn’t understand was the pizza bread used to make Etna’s unique pizza was formulated to be cooked in a deck oven. It’s like the difference between a grilled cheese sandwich and a toasted cheese sandwich… it’s just not the same. The caramelization of the sugars in the dough enhanced the overall texture and taste of the pizza when cooked in a deck oven. I’ve lived in San Diego my whole life and have been going to Etna’s since 1976. Etna’s Pizza dough seemed to be the same when the new owners took over and when they changed the way they cooked it ruined the original flavor. I quit going as often as I used to and eventually after several owners later and never going back to using deck ovens the writing was on the wall. The last owners and employees were rude and unattentive. I was hoping they would return to using deck ovens for their pizza but they did not. I tried to explain the reasoning but was rebuffed. So now another San Diego institution has passed into history. The late night (open til 3:00am) seven days a week only Italian restaurant way back when is gone. It’s a shame this new generation will never know the flavors and history of some of these old and iconic family owned and operated businesses.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 1

Some of the best local Italian food I've had, hope they open up soon because this restaurant is severely underrated and deserves

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Etnas pizza has always been the best in San Diego...#handsdown.. service was awesome

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Thankfully the food as always has kept it’s stunning Italian resemblance. Unfortunately the customer service the establishment presents does not align with the quality of its food. When I made a visit a few days ago for my birthday it just seemed as if they wanted my party to vacate the restaurant as soon as possible. I felt extremely uncomfortable and was not presented with the friendly attitude I had become accustomed to with this restaurant. Maybe it was a management change?

Fast delivery and great food!I've had their specialty pizza with all of the toppings, antipasto salad is big enough to share. My second order was the parmesan chicken and steamed veggies. I suggest ordering extra sauce because they barely give you any. Their cheesy garlic bread is the bomb!!

I ORDERED TWO LARGE PIZZAS FOR DELIVERY AND WHEN IT CAME IT WAS SOGGY PIZZA THE DOUGH SEEMED UNDER COOKED I CALLED AND SPOKE TO A SUPERVISOR (CHRISTIAN) WHO SAID HE WOULD GIVE ME A REFUND NEVER DID PAID $54.51 +$10 TIP JUST BAD SERVICE BRWARE OF NASTY FOOD AND BAD SERVICE?

Amazing meal! I had beef ravioli and my love had Shrimp scampi. Thank you for the excellent service.

Pizza was heavy when I carried it out... got home and it was one of the best pizzas I have eaten

Everyone needs to go there the pizza is the best I've had so far and I've had many I've lived in San Diego for 35 years thank you etna by the way Monday is buy one pizza get one free just a hidden secret go and get one people I promise you you won't be disappointed

Etna has been hit hard by the pandemic, but has managed to keep the food as good as always, and maybe even better. I ate here tonight. Meatball sandwich was excellent and huge. Greek salad was crisp and the ingredients were garden fresh. I got takeout and had a 15 minute drive home. When I finally sat down to eat, the sandwich and fries were still hot and the salad was cold and crisp, with extra dressing included. This is my go-to place for pizza and eggplant. I come from an Italian family. The food here is really good. I do not know how they have managed to do it, but the prices have stayed the same despite inflation.

I ordered the baked manicotti and what I got was three small stuffed manicotti on a massive bed of spaghetti noodles. The menu didn’t say anything about spaghetti noodles, and out of the several dozen Italian restaurants I’ve eaten at I’ve never seen manicotti served this way. The manicotti was old, dry, and the cheese stuffing was pasty and dry. My wife says they probably only had three left and and didn’t feel like cooking more so they just threw those in there and then added the spaghetti to make up for it. Worst $50 I’ve ever spent. Honestly, I’ve had Stouffers freezer lasagna from Walmart that tasted better than this.

Friendly service. Reminded us about their special bogo deal on pasta. Food was very good. Sports bar atmosphere.

First of all, no one was wearing a mask behind the counter. I ordered a Sicilian pizza. Was nothing like a Sicilian pizza. The toppings weren’t the ones I ordered. Was my first time there and probably my last.

Best pizza ever. Been coming here over 30 years. Love this place

Food was very very good and serves was good to. The floor needs a little clean but I will go again.