Sunday evening in Little Italy, and Nonna was PACKED. Somehow, we managed to snag a table outside right next to the Little Italy sign, and honestly, it couldn't have been a better spot. After a long day at the beach, we ordered a bottle of wine, and I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't ridiculously overpriced. Sitting outside, enjoying a glass of wine and watching Little Italy come alive was exactly what we needed. Our server was exceptional. The service was friendly, attentive, and made the whole experience even better. But let's talk about the food... The food was AMAZING. We ordered several different things, and everything we tried was delicious, but the pappardelle with short ribs was the standout. The pasta was absolutely fantastic--rich, comforting, and exactly the kind of Italian comfort food you want at the end of a long day. And then there was the dessert case... Oh. My. Goodness. Everything in that case looked like it was personally designed to make you regret saying, "No, we're too full for dessert." Nonna was exactly what we were hoping for that evening: great food, great service, a beautiful Little Italy setting, and a relaxed atmosphere where we could sit outside and enjoy ourselves. I can't wait to go back and eat some more Italian comfort food--and next time, I'm getting the tiramisu. read more

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Food: It was flavorful and enjoyed by the four of us as we shared dishes, but the temperature of the dishes were inconsistent. My rigatoni came out nuke warm at best with other dishes coming out hot. Service: Hostesses need to understand there roles of being pleasant and welcoming upon arrival. They were young and felt like they owned the place with attitude. Then again our waiter was older and very hospitable and accommodating. It wasn't a busy night so it really wasn't chaotic for them. read more

Linguine with clams was fantastic! Cocktails were strong and well crafted! Service was solid! read more

Street parking only. They have indoor and outdoor seating available. We ordered the Rigatoni Palermitana and In Bianco Pizza. The Rigatoni Palermitana was pretty good and flavorful with the sauce they use. The In Bianco Pizza was good too, but my favorite is the pasta! Recommendation(s): - Rigatoni Palermitana Service: 4/5 Tip(s): - Restrooms available - Indoor and outdoor seating - Street parking read more

Nonna - In Bianco - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

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Went to Little Italy after Padres game, and this was one of two restaurants full of people. Here are my thoughts: -Service was very good. Ambiance was nice, has a casual authentic Italian feel to it. -We ordered bruschetta and it was one of the best I've ever had! Bread was warm. Pretty strong garlic. -Wife and I shared spaghetti and meatballs--very, very good sauce! Meatballs were good : ) -For dessert we tried the pistachio cannoli--and it was a fitting end to a satisfying meal. Highly recommended!! read more

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Excellent service at this spot right in the center of little Italy. They have a large outdoor/indoor patio in the back and we were seated there. It was a bit warm, but nice. Our server was amazing- he was so friendly. He made some recommendations - and we ordered appetizers and mains. The food was all fine. Classic basic Italian food. The lasagna was extremely bland and lacked flavor, but everything else was good. read more

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Food: another wonderful visit to this delicious establishment. Focaccia, linguine vongole, bruschetta. This time we saved room for dessert. Chocolate lava cake, tiramisu and strawberry napoleon. The lava cake is very good but very rich to eat one all by yourself. I didn't care for the napoleon as it was very pudding like. The most balanced dessert that I could eat the whole thing was the tiramisu. It was perfection. Ambiance: I enjoy sitting outside more than inside. Service: excellent service. The food comes out super fast too! Parking: always a challenge to find street parking so give extra time and expect to walk a few blocks. read more

Nonna - Strawberry Napoleon, chocolate lava cake, tiramisu (tiramisu is the best!!!) - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

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Nonna is one of those places that's consistently good for Italian food. I've been here several times, and the quality of the food and service has always been reliable. The location in Little Italy is beautiful, with both inviting indoor and outdoor dining. The only thing I've noticed recently is that the portions seem a bit smaller than they used to be. That said, the food is still delicious, the atmosphere is wonderful, and the service is consistently friendly. It's still a spot I enjoy coming back to whenever I'm craving Italian. read more

Nonna - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

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Great food. Awesome service Romantic ambiance. Love all of India street food extravaganza read more

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Nonna exceeded my expectations. We were sat quickly on a Friday night (in the far back) and greeted with a smile at the hostess stand. Our server came within a couple minutes to speak to us. He was kind and informative. He did not rush us , but was there when we needed anything. The area we sat in had nice lighting and was a calm environment. For food, all 4 of our meals came out quickly. They all tasted fresh and made in house. My salmon was wonderful with a cream caper sauce. For dessert the tiramisu was delicious. It was creamy and a hint of sweetness. read more

Nonna - Salmon - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

Brought my out of town friends here for an early lunch. They ordered the pesto gnocchi and some other pasta but I can't remember the name (featured in the photos below) I ordered a Hugo spritz and the short rib parpadelle. The Hugo spritz was refreshing, it had a good ratio of Prosecco to club soda, which is generally really hard to get perfectly. The pasta was also super yummy. The short rib was very very soft and the pasta was fresh. Overall, highly recommend. 8/10 read more

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Back again last night. Haven't been here in a year and thought about trying a new spot. I'm glad I didn't. The food is incredibly good! My family and I were sat immediately. It was a warm day and there's no AC so it was slightly uncomfortable. There are fans so when I felt a breeze it was appreciated. The waiters were so nice and polite. They were on top of everything. We shared the focaccia bread. It was incredibly good. We dipped it in the marinara sauce that came with my husband's calamari. I also started with a cesar salad which was perfect. My daughter and I shared the fusilli alla vodka. I ate every bite and used the focaccia for the leftover sauce. Every bite was delicious. My son had pasta with Alfredo sauce and chicken. In both our dishes, the chicken was tender and flavorful. My husband had their gamberi fra diavolo and enjoyed it. Will always come here when in San Diego. read more

Nonna - Outside - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

Out of many restaurants on Indiana St, Nonna's doesn't actually have happy hour. (Initially, which is what we were looking for) Despite that, the food looked so tempting online that we decided to give it a try for dinner. It was a wonderful choice. My partner got the shrimp diavolo, and I went with the mushroom ravioli, both dishes were absolutely fantastic. The service was good, and they have plenty of space, including a nice back patio. For dessert, we had the Cartoccio, like a fried doughnut, a sugared long John with sweetened ricotta and chocolate chips. Everything was delightful! read more

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This place is a vibe. It's moody but the indoor/outdoor patio makes you feel like you're in a cute little Italian courtyard but in San Diego's Little Italy. Service was prompt, friendly, and very knowledgeable about gluten. Which is a great segue into... this is one of the most phenomenal gluten free pizzas that I've ever had. I'm not typically an olive oil sauce enthusiast but this absolutely changed my mind. Doughy, chewy, fluffy, and gluten free?! Ordered with a glass of Unshackled Cabernet. Perfection. Finished the night with three scoops of gelato. Heaven. Can't wait to go back! read more

Nonna - Gluten free pizza! - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

Stopped by for a quick bite while in between a tour. Had 2 plates of the amazing calamari and one order of the bruschetta. Both were very flavorful and fresh. The staff was very attentive and kind and made great recommendations. read more

This spot was walking distance from me and my friend's hotel which was super convenient! We also made a reservation. I ordered the Bolognese Nonna (added meatballs) and then also got one of their mini fruit tarts from the bakery as a dessert. I thought the Bolognese Nonna was very good, and the meatballs were juicy. My only critique was that the noodles were heavily sauced, which I wasn't the biggest fan of. I typically like a good ratio of noodle to sauce. For my dessert, I loved all the fresh fruit on the tart and overall, the dessert was very good. My critique would be, it wasn't those tarts you can cut into and eat, as the crust was hard, so you had to bite into it. Overall, the service was good, and food came out in a timely manner. The ambiance was also very homey. read more

Nonna - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

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Stopped by Nonna in Little Italy while checking out a pop-up matcha spot and ended up having a great light lunch. We ordered the bruschetta and mushroom tortellini--both were delicious. The bruschetta was fresh and flavorful with soft bread, while the tortellini was rich, creamy, and super satisfying. If you like mushrooms, it's a must-try. There was a bit of a wait, but nothing too bad and definitely worth it. They also have a deli-style counter for gelato and quick bites, which is a nice option. Casual but cozy vibe overall. I'd come back! read more

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A must visit, if for none other than the gnocchi. They're perfect little spheres in the creamiest pesto. Ravioli is also great. Service is friendly and both patios are nice. read more

Our group went to Nonna's on a Saturday night, which is always quite busy in Little Italy. Parking was a little bit rough, but we managed to find something a few streets away. We did wait about 15 minutes until a table opened up. If you get hungry, come early! I'd say that it was worth the wait. We got quite a few starters, and I have to say... skip the prosciutto and burrata, the foccia was the true star! It was like if foccia and garlic bread had a baby: fluffy bread full of all that garlicky, cheesy flavor! I also quite liked the bright and fresh flavors of the Rucola salad. It was so delicious! The pizza choices were a little underwhelming, and I thought the Caprese pizza we ordered tasted okay. The pasta, however, was incredible! The tortelloni funghi was the best main dish we had. If you like mushrooms, this is for you. It was rich and decadent and full of mushroom flavor. While there was a small issue with the short rib pappardelle, the restaurant helped us fix it right away. It turned out quite delicious. It was meaty and hearty. They also have a nice wine and dessert selection. We shared a bottle of Lambrusco that was quite good and finished the night off with a selection of sweets including cannoli's, a lemon tart, and their tiramisu. You can't go wrong with their sweets. All were fabulous! read more

Nonna - Rucola salad - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

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Came here last Saturday with a party of 12 and unfortunately did not have a good experience, first of the whole place is like a furnace and they set us down in an area with no ac and no fans it felt like the room was 100 degrees. however what really stained the night was the poor service we received from our server and everyone of the staff, no refills ever came, had to ask multiple time to get things we have ordered at the beginning and never got to us only when we were about to pay. and the bouncing around from server to server saying they would get our server, I believe our servers name was Lucca but I wouldn't know he barely made himself known. the food was not bad but the service ruined the experience entirely. read more

We came here recently on a Sunday night after we decided on a last minute trip to San Diego for Sea World. On our only night here we stayed just outside Little Italy and within walking distance from our hotel was Nonna. We were in the mood for some Italian food and I think we made a great choice with Nonna. We waited about 10 mins which wasn't too bad. When you come in here, you feel like you're in a comfort place because of the ambiance here with pictures of Nonnas around the restaurant. Especially after having watched Nonnas on Netflix, it definitely had that feel being inside here. From the front host to our table, the service was great. We ordered their Bruschetta as a starter with nicely made baguettes filled with tomatoes and the fix. We also ordered their Busalachhi Caesar salad, Lasagna and Carbona pasta. All were very flavorful. The lasagna I wanted more while the pasta the kids ordered but after a few taste, we wanted more also. We don't usually order dessert but glad we did here. Their tiramisu wasn't very sweet which is good. The cannoli on the other hand was a bit sweet but not complaining since it was pretty good. So many options here to try meaning I will definitely have to to come back when I'm in town. read more

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Great Italian food and awesome location. This place is just like eating Italian food in Italy! I only took photos of the appetizers because I was so excited for the mains. The pesto gnocchi is so good and the lasagna was amazing! read more

Nonna - Calamari - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

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While walking around Little Italy, we decided to try out Nonna. The place is cozy and inviting. They have dining inside, outside on the sidewalk, and back patio. They also have a U shaped bar right when you walk in, and a dessert case on the side. We had their calamari as an appetizer, which was a good portion 7/10. For our entrees, we had their salsiccia pizza (7/10) and gnocchi al pesto 8/10. A great little date night no-frills spot. read more

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Got a place right on the sidewalk. Host was kind enough to put a heater near our table. It really wasn't that bad as there was enough room for people to walk by and great people watching. Our waiter was extremely nice and helpful with recommendations. We had to have of course pasta, bread and parmigiana. All extremely DELICIOUS. Lot of choices needless to say in Little Italy but this should be at or near the top of your list! read more

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Cute little Italian restaurant in Little Italy.. I've passed this place many times but finally stopped in while walking around on a Sunday spending time with my BFF. Smaller restaurant, but plenty of outside seating too. It's a bit dark inside, but was still a good ambiance. Decor was simple and very inviting. We ordered the bruschetta and the bread was very good... light, but crispy and had the perfect amount of garlic (which was a lot.. exactly how I like it) and olive oil. We both love mushrooms so we ordered the tortellini fungi and it was delicious. If you love mushrooms, this is a definite must try! Very good size portion, we shared and barely finished it. The sauce was flavorful and creamy. We didn't get to try the focaccia, but it looked like a lot of others people ordered it and it looked really good. Our waitress was friendly and so were the other servers walking by. Will definitely be back to try other items on the menu. If you are ever in Little Italy, stop by and give it a try. read more

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The front of the restaurant was quite big and every table was full. We were brought through a narrow, dark corridor to the patio. We were seated on the back patio. It was a pleasant day and a nice place to sit. We had a light lunch. My friends had a caprese pizza that they said was very good. I had the titrata salad that was very refreshing.. it was the perfect size. This is a good place to try other dishes. read more

Everything about Nonna is simply wonderful. The restaurant is low-key, very relaxing. Nice bar and the outdoor space is terrific. The food is delicious. Seriously, everything on the menu is fabulous. Great appetizers and the pasta dishes are soooo good, notably their spaghetti and meatballs which is very traditional, and very, very good. Reasonably priced compared to other Little Italy restaurants. Best Pappardelle I have ever had IN MY LIFE. Try the carrot cake (you'll get a very generous sized piece). THE SERVICE IS SUPERB. Lucky for me, I live a block away so it's easy to just drop in and have a big meal, a smaller, lighter meal, or just go for happy hour and appetizers. The menu has something for everyone, including kids. read more

Nonna - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

Great tasting food, quick service and nice ambiance leading out onto the sidewalk. It can get a bit noisy but a good place to eat and family friendly. read more

Nonna - Salad with garbanzo beans and black olives topped with grilled chicken. - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

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We made a reservation in advance and even called ahead when we were running a few minutes late--the hostess was incredibly accommodating and welcoming. From the moment we sat down, the service was fantastic. Our waiter was attentive, friendly, and the food came out unbelievably fast! I was especially excited to see they offer great gluten-free options. Their gluten-free pizza was hands-down the best I've ever had--I ordered the margherita and absolutely loved it. The cocktails were just as impressive, especially the vanilla Italian soda (they have other flavors too!). The ambiance was warm, lively, and even a little romantic. You can really tell the staff works hard to create a great experience. It can get a bit loud, so that's something to keep in mind if you're sensitive to noise. At the end of our meal, we were a little unsure about how dessert worked, but the staff handled it so kindly and made sure we were comfortable going back to our table to enjoy it. And I'm so glad we did--the crème brûlée was easily the best I've ever had! Overall, such a wonderful experience. I already can't wait to come back next time I'm in Little Italy! read more

I'll be honest--Nonna's was not our first choice for our anniversary dinner. The restaurant we originally wanted to go to had a long wait, so we decided to stroll around and see what else was nearby. We came across Nonna's, and since I had always wanted to try it, we decided to give it a chance. The hostess was very sweet and seated us quickly, which was a great start. We ordered the calamari and two pasta dishes--one with truffle mushroom sauce and the other with braised pork. The calamari was okay, but it mostly tasted like breading and didn't have much flavor beyond that. The truffle mushroom pasta had a good sauce, but the pasta itself was very bland. Honestly, the pasta tasted like something you could buy at a grocery store and heat up at home. My boyfriend's pasta was okay as well, but neither of us felt like the dishes had much flavor, and the portions were on the smaller side. Unfortunately, the service was probably the biggest disappointment of the night. Our waiter came over, dropped off the water, and shortly after came back to take our order. The restaurant wasn't particularly busy, so we were surprised by how unfriendly and rushed he seemed. There was no smile, no attempt at conversation, or even a general sense of warmth. What really stood out to me, though, was watching him interact with another couple who were seated outside on the patio. He was completely different with them--smiling, laughing, chatting, and being very personable. At one point, my boyfriend politely asked if he could order a whiskey sour. When the waiter brought the drink, he literally slammed it down on our table, which honestly caught both of us off guard. I then watched him bring the other couple two glasses of wine, gently place them on their table, and do so with a smile. After that, the only other time he came back to our table was to rush us to take our plates. I completely understand that everyone has bad days, and I'm not someone who expects over-the-top service but I have worked in the food industry myself for many years so I do expect at least basic friendliness and hospitality--especially when you can clearly see that the same server is capable of providing it to other guests. For reference, our waiter was bald and wore glasses. He never told us his name. Overall, I'm glad I finally got to try Nonna's, but unfortunately, neither the food nor the service left us wanting to come back. There are so many other restaurants with better food, portions, and hospitality that I would personally choose somewhere else for our next special occasion. read more

We went on a food tour of little Italy, and a local Italian recommended Nonna's! We had already eaten, so we came in for gelato, (they have sorbet too). We noticed 2 huge display cases of freshly made pastries, which beckoned The next day we came back and had dessert for lunch, we cannolis, chocolate mousse, tiramisu, and cookies They also have a fully stocked bar, so we drank our cares away!! read more

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Excellent food, excellent service, truly appreciate having such a good experience. I ordered the short ribs with the pasta and it was excellent. Good wine and an Aperol spritz as an after dinner drink. Highly recommend! read more

We wanted try a new Italian place while in the San Diego area and chose Nonna's. This place is located right at the Little Italy sign. The waiter was fantastic, and I'm sad I didn't remember his name. But he's a new dad and we talked about his baby, he offered recommendations and knows his food. He was funny and kind. He helped us learn how to properly pronounce some words too. We ate arancini, lasagne and carbonara, a nice Chianti and then an Iris Forno from the bakery case. They have so many fresh baked desserts including cannoli and gelato. The pastas and pizzas looked great, carbonara was ordered at 3 tables all around us. We love the sauces and fresh pasta and ate far too much. They had seafood pasta specials and halibut as well as Oso Boco. I'd recommend this authentic restaurant right in little Italy , you are in for a great Italian experience. read more

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I don't really go to many Italian places but my family was visiting and we were at the Farmer's Market and made reservations for Nonna since it was nearby. We had a later reservation but they were able to seat us with very little wait time when got there earlier! It was definitely a plus. The food was surprisingly good! They had a fun appetizer, fried gnocchi...but that dipping sauce was to die for!!! Their cannoli was ok and the rest of the food wasn't too bad. But it was fairly priced for an Italian place in Little Italy! I was quite surprised about that. They had lots of seating and back patio with lots of heaters and cute decorations. I wouldn't mind coming back! We had a pleasant experience and the food was decent enough. read more

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We love Nonna's Place! It's a very authentic Italian restaurant. The staff is great, and their pesto gnocchi is amazing. read more

Nonna - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

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Parking is an issue. They offer valet, which is the cheapest option, if you can't find street parking. Food was ok. I had the gluten free pizza with goat cheese. Yelpers definitely lead me astray; it was ok but not "the best" in San Diego. The server was ok, English was not his primary language and there was a barrier. Paying was challenging, they are not in the 21st Century and refused to split the check and we couldn't hand him a stack of cards; he had to run each card individually. The restaurant has 2 levels, we were in the back up the stairs. It was quite loud so conversations had to elevated to hear. Overall, I give it an ehh. They did have a large dessert case that looked interesting, so maybe next time I'll just try dessert. read more

I really wanted to love this place, but honestly, I left disappointed. We started with the calamari, and it did not taste fresh at all. It felt like it had been reheated and it was pretty bland overall. The biggest letdown was the chicken piccata. The chicken had a strange texture, almost like it had been boiled or steamed, and it was very rubbery. I've never had piccata served like that before. The vegetables were undercooked, tasting raw and hard to cut, and the whole plate wasn't even hot. The mashed potatoes were cool, like the dish had been sitting out before it got to us. That dish was a 1/5 for me. The pizza was definitely the highlight- hot, fresh, and flavorful. I'd give that a solid 4/5. We also tried the coconut and mango gelato, which was really good and a nice way to end the meal. As for the ambiance... just okay. It was very crowded, and even as a party of two, we were seated extremely close to other tables, basically shoulder-to-shoulder, hearing each other's conversations. The sidewalk seating also looked a bit awkward, so I'm glad we weren't placed there. I'm glad we tried it since we've heard so much about it, but unfortunately, I wouldn't return or recommend it. There are definitely better spots in Little Italy. read more

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It was my mother and I birthday (2.28) we were in San Diego for a few days. Decided to try Nonna and was soo glad we did. Our waiter Miguel was easy on the eyes, charming and very helpful. The food... 10/10 on everything and the portions were so large no one finished their meal. My short rib was so tender and full of flavor! Also it was so thoughtful of Miguel to present us with dessert and a candle to celebrate that truly made our visit so memorable. The next time we come to San Diego we are certainly making Nonna our first stop! read more

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It was a pleasant dining experience at Nonnas. Didn't have to make a reservation ahead of time but luckily we were able to be seated immediately on a busy Friday night. Our waiter wasn't pushy at all to have us choose what we wanted which I appreciate. The vibe overall was very laxxed. We ordered the Caprese, Crispy Calamari, Bruschetta for our appetizers and  Pollo Piccata, Tortelloni Funghi, and Gamberi Fra Diavolo. All these dishes were loaded with so much flavor, each bite felt like the first one, absolutely delicious. If you enjoy a good italian food, take a trip to Nonna's! read more

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Love Nonna! A very solid establishment. Their food is tasty and authentic. Service is great, always have people coming to check in on us multiple times throughout the experience. Opt for indoor seating for a more ambient, intimate experience our outdoor seating for people-watching and San Diego breeze. read more