50 Best Italian Restaurants near Santee

“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.“

“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.“

“Our group of 9 experienced outstanding service from start to finish. Even thought OG doesn't take reservations, they encouraged me to call a few hours ahead so they could prepare for us. Sure enough, they had a lovely almost private table set and ready when we arrived. Everyone - from the greeters to our server were very prompt and attentive. The manager even checked in to make sure we were well take care of.“

“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.“

“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 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 !!!!!“

“cordialità,buon cibo e ambiente raffinato“

“Spending my evening at a new restaurant in South Park called Il Posto. So far everything I’ve tried is spectacular.“

“2nd visit and again food and service were great. only complaint was they cleared my dessert when I wasn't finished without asking. took that as hint to leave.“

“This place is absolutely amazing. The service was exceptional and we felt so welcomed. The handmade pasta and dishes are to die for. My husband has the special and I had the pescatore dish followed with dessert. We will definitely be back!“

“good pizza, sandwiches 🥪 at won't hurt ur pockets. nom noms“

“This place food, ambience, decor, patio, services, etc, etc, etc gas not competition around san diego,“

“I had the arancini, pistacchiosa on my first visit. Both were excellent choices. The arancini were well crusted on a delicious ragu bed. I decided not to add any extra parmesian or red pepper in order to enjoy the original flavor of the pistacchiosa. I look forward to returning and trying other items like the risotto and tiramisu. Grazie Trattoria da Sofia for a pleasant experience!“

“nice place and very good and taste“

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

“The food the service is amazing. VERY bad experience that little Roma restaurant I should’ve known better that there’s no place like Nonna’s.“

“To sit and enjoy The entire staff is friendly and the owner and his son are amazing!! They have the best atmosphere, food freshly made! Lasagna is so good - pizza is seasoned well and the dough is good“

“3/5 for a first timer during restaurant week… the special menu was $50 per person…. we never got any bread with our dinner (and didn’t realize we were left out until we were on dessert)… and, portions were small, so the bread would have been nice, especially for $50… also, the server made us make our food order at the same time as our drinks… personally, i like to have a drink or two before i order my food… so, the service was rushed in that sense… and no one asked me if i wanted a second glass of wine i had the veal and my friend had the lobster ravioli… both tasted decently but, again, small portions… the burrata was amazing and the desserts (tiramisu and lava cake) were pleasant i think i’d like to try again on a night that isn’t as busy, and order off of the actual menu“

“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!“

“Enjoy the atmosphere and great food.“

“Best cannoli of my life. This is an absolute must stop in Little Italy.“

“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“

“Outstanding waitress . She was by herself and still managed to keep her cool. Definitely liking this place one thing, the. Chicago beef gravy is way too salty and you guys need to roast the green peppers . pizza was outstanding. Thank you.“

“had takeout spinach lasagna tonight. Outstanding meal! I definitely recommend 😍😍💯💯👌👌“

“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👏“

“The food is so good! 100% recommend the vodka sauce! Stuffed mushrooms are fantastic. Ambiance is fabulous and service is so good. Alex was our server, he’s a keeper. This is our new go to Italian restaurant.“

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

“Incredible Italian food, perhaps a bit higher priced than the location and decor begets. Regardless, I have been a many, many time repeat customer for decades. I have never had a Chicken Caesar salad anywhere else that approached how good theirs is. The Sicilians White, BBQ chicken, and their marinara sauce are all on point.“

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

“Pleasantly surprised by this restaurant. So much delicious food! Chicken plate was fabulous, moist, and seasoned well. The lamb was tender and flavorful. Will be returning.“

“Excellent pizza! Great food & love the atmosphere!“

“Of all the Filippi's around San Diego I believe this location has the best pizza. I also like getting their family combo which comes with soup, salad, bread, garlic bread, ravioli, lasagna and spaghetti. The fettuccine and sandwiches are also quite good. The staff is always friendly and accommodating. There's also plenty of parking. You couldn't ask for anything more.“

“Excellent service, friendly atmosphere..food very satisfying“

“Thee perfect fold with the perfect crunch! You can taste the true perfection in that the family takes pride in making pizza! Fresh ingredients. Perfect crunch! Not overcooked or undercooked. I have to say that this pizza dough was made to perfection! Airy dough paired with great sauce and fresh toppings. You have to give this place a try if you been looking at it or thinking about it. You will not be disappointed. Supporting small businesses.“

“.......this is the best deli in san diego county period !!........2 of my favorites are the meatball (of course !) and the muffaletta.......that meatball sammie has some of the best meatballs i've had on this planet.........and boy, does this deli have delicious bread which we all know can make or break the sammie, irregardless of what's stuffed inside.......a bit crusty on the outside but pillowy soft wonderness on the inside.......drenched in tasty marinara, some goood melted provolone and them tasty meatballs.............my soul ascends somewhere while i eat this tasty treat, every time..........and that muffaletta is a nice, lighter surprise than the one in the big easy.......the olive spread is nice and brawny like a good olive spread should be..........i've had a few others as well but wanted to highlight my faves...........you can't go wrong here and your tastebuds will say grazie grazie grazie.........“

“The pizza is great! It's perfect California style pizza with a medium crust and quality classic toppings. The staff is friendly and those places is really casual. I highly recommended this neighborhood pizza place.“

“It's great thin crust pizza! You can't beat the prices either.“

“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.“

“Awesome family owned business. Great food. Been around for decades.“

“4/4/2022 My first time getting a pizza from here, and it was amazing! I look forward to trying other items as well.“

“tha best place to eat italy food“

“Pizza was really delicious. We had a margarita, pepperoni, Hawaiian and the special. We ordered antipasta salad. It normally comes with dressing on the side but it had no dressing this time. I did appreciate being offered something to drink while I waited for my order. All and all we had a good experience.“

“I went as a solo traveler and sat at the bar. The staff was so sweet and friendly. They cleared extra space for me so I could order food (it is a pretty small bar area and I get the feeling food is not often served there) the house wine and eggplant parm were so good and again the staff were so mind and warm. Will definitely go again ❤️“

“Testo Pepesto Italian Restaurant is centrally located on Main Street in downtown El Cajon. It is a great family-owned restaurant with delicious food and friendly service. Best pizza and pasta in El Cajon! They also bake their own tasty bread. Everything is absolutely YUMMY!!!“

“I came to this place for lunch and it was a great decision. I liked the chicken soup and the pasta. I would especially like to mention that we had a wonderful waitress. She is really great, she paid us enough attention and I am very satisfied with the service and communication with the girl. She made our lunch even more enjoyable. The food is delicious, the service is great. I definitely recommend visiting this place“

“Wonderful! Excellent service delicious food and great atmosphere .“

“The food is excellent. Fresh delicious dishes. Too bad the service isn't better and the room is too loud. This food deserves better.“

“Our dining experience at the Italian Cucina in Barona Casino was nothing short of exceptional. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with warm and friendly service that set the tone for a relaxing evening.
I started with the Braised Beef Short Ribs, which were simply outstanding. The meat was tender, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. It was truly one of the best dishes I’ve ever had. My wife had the Baked Penne Pasta, and it was equally delicious. The pasta was perfectly al dente, and the sauce was rich and savory.
The ambiance of the restaurant added to the overall experience, making it a perfect spot for a special night out.
Overall, the food was excellent, and the service was top-notch. I highly recommend the Italian Cucina at Barona Casino for anyone looking for a memorable dining experience.“

“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.“

“The pizza is excellent. Lots of cheese, and you can taste the freshness and feel the crispness of the vegetable toppings. I've not yet tried the other pasta dishes. Where Filippi's went wrong for us was with the service.
We waited, standing, for approximately 20-25 minutes for a table on a Wednesday evening. Apparently they were extremely short staffed. Once we were seated, we promptly gave our order to the gentlemen who seated us. He brought drinks, then maybe 10-15 minutes later brought us the incorrect pizza and left before we could tell him it wasn't what we ordered. We waited another 10 minutes or so for him to come back around and take the pizza away and put in our correct order. I will say that the correct order came up quickly, but by that time we were pretty disappointed with our visit to say the least. I do need to add that the server was extremely apologetic, and brought us antipasto at no charge, however we didn't want it and didn't eat it.
Overall our experience dining in was extremely poor. We're of the opinion that if they were that short staffed they should have closed the dining room for the evening and just concentrated on take out and delivery orders. As such, we will no longer dine in here. If we do order Filippi's again, it will strictly be take out only.“