Godfather Reviews

I love eating at the bar in this quaint in the Godfather restaurant. It is tiny and quaint with the feel of Italy. Run by a family and extremely friendly. Great selection of appetizers and drinks and good conversation with the staff. We did not have a problem parking in their little lot outside near the fountain. Pasta with white clam sauce was very good. It was a nice little find.

I've never been to Italy, so I can't comment on how "authentic" it is. It does feel like you might be sitting next to Don Corleone or Tony Soprano, though. I had the general impression that it was more Sicilian or Italian-American than actually Italian, though. The entire time we were there a guy playing piano (actually a keyboard) played and sang Dean Martin/Frank Sinatra songs. A few others too, but overall a very Dino-Ol' Blue Eyes experience. He was pretty good, and I like that kind of music so it was fine with me, but if you're not into that it could be off-putting. So, the food. First off they brought out a plate of fried ... eggplant, I think? Really good, especially with a dip into the balsamic vinegar/oil they had sitting out on the table. It wasn't cheap, but it wasn't terribly expensive (most entrees were on the order of $25), and the portions were large, so no complaints on that score. The place is stuffed into the corner of a strip mall, and parking is pretty limited, but there is parking behind the building as well. You'll have to walk around the building to get in, though, since there are only service entrances on the back side, so if you do park in back, park as far to the west or south as you can to minimize your walk.

Passed by this place several times and thought it was another pizza joint. What a surprised when my friends and I were looking for a authentic Italian restaurant. Great food and service. Very minimal parking. You may have to park along the street. There is however valet parking.

The only possibly negative thing I can say is that my meal, Portabella Stuffed Ravioli, could have had a few more ravioli for the price. Everyone else in our party of 8 had outstanding food, in an ample quantity, for a reasonable price. One in our party ordered the special of a 20 oz. Filet Mignon for $34.95, and reported it was the best they've ever had. My wife ordered Lamb, which she said was very flavorful and was cooked to perfection. A very talented pianist with a quite varied repertoire kept everyone entertained, though just a bit quieter would have been more conducive to dinner conversation. Service was impeccable despite it being a VERY busy Friday night. Our every dining need was met.

This restaurant is not easy to find but once you come into the restaurant and meet the waiters all dressed in black suites and either ties or bow ties you will understand the experience of what great Italian food is all about.

I walked in and was very impressed with how fancy and cozy the place was, waiters on bow tie and all. When I saw the prices, my expectations sky rocketed. After the waiter ID me and made a huge deal because I did not have my passport but just my costa rican ID and drivers license (I am 30, came with my husband, and I only ordered a glass of red wine) I kinda felt like leaving and started my meal a bit cranky. My lentile soup was amazing, the bread was really nice, my veal parmesan averaged, I personally liked it, my husband thought it was a 2 out of 5, he likes the very traditional italian receipies, and this veal had mushrooms. Overall its really over priced for what the food tastes like... But the server turned out good server and I brushed off the beiginning...

After receiving a recommendation to visit Godfather Restaurant, my husband and I decided to try it out. The restaurant is located in a strip mall, but on the inside the atmosphere was wonderful. To start our dinner, we chose the "antipasto della casa", it was huge and delicious. The house salads were top notch and extremely fresh. The fettuccini alfredo with shrimp had the best alfredo sauce on it that I have ever eaten. My husband ordered the tortellini al verde which was also extremely delicious. The waitstaff was extremely friendly, and did not rush us at all. Overall a great experience, and we will definitely be returning on our next trip to San Diego.

This restaurant was recommended by our tour guide from Safari Park. The decor was very tacky looking. We ordered a bottle of red wine. It arrived cold. I don't like cold red wine so I asked the waiter if all the red wine was cold. He told me in a very haughty manner that it was at the proper temperature - 57 degrees. I told him that might be the proper temperature for him but it wasn't for me. He was not happy with me and continued to act like he was superior to us. One of the worst waitems I have ever encountered. I might have been able to overlook his attitude if the food had been good. We ordered fried calamari as an appetizer and it was served with cocktail sauce. Never saw that in an Italian restaurant. There were 6 of us. We all had different pastas. Some were better than others but for the most part, they were just fair. And the prices were very high given the poor quality of the food. We were all very disappointed in the entire experience. It was a rip-off served by a condescending waiter in an unpleasant atmosphere. Enough said!

I sat at the bar for dinner. Charles took very good care of me, he helped me pick a glass of wine and desert to finish off my meal. All of which was delicious.

Godfather's Restaurant is the Best Italian food in S.D. county. The seabass and ribeye steak are amazing ! Fabulous overall dining experience !!

The Godfather Restaurant is always excellent for both food and service! The atmosphere is great for a special occasion with nice booths and quiet piano music. I love the shrimp in spices marinara and my husband's steak was outstanding. The service is attentive without being annoying. Grab your special someone and be delighted at The Godfather!

If you are an Italian food lover, this is the place to eat. The atmosphere is delightful. There is a piano player in the restaurant serenading you as you begin your meal. The food is authentic Italian, with wonderful flavor. The waiter is attentive, your water glass will never be empty. Do not ask for ketchup in this place, it is strictly marinara sauce. When you are totally full and ready to roll out the door, check out the Godfather memorabilia by the exit.

We loved this restaurant! The service, the food and the overall atmosphere were outstanding. Everyone treated us with the highest level of service possible. I loved my Filet and my Husband loved his Chicken dish. The atmosphere is very romantic and classic. This was our first time here and we will go back next time we are in San Diego.

We always have a grand time here; nice booths, quick service, hot delicious food (my favorite is the chicken livers), my wife's is the chicken parmigiana . We sit close to the front because we enjoy the piano music. Quiet noise level, tuxedoed waitors, definitely not a place for youngsters.

As an Italian I am usually very critical of Italian restaurants -- my wife says that I set the bar too high. Our hotel had recommended this restaurant as one that we should not miss and we were so glad we listened. I normally am leery of seafood in Italian restaurants but the salmon and sea bass dishes were outstanding - the eggplant parmigiana was out of this world, and the restaurants signature lasagna was suburb. The restaurants brings fried eggplant chips to each table and they are wonderful. I was surprised to see sourdough bread instead of Italian bread, but it seemed to work. No one could finish their food, so we wouldn't recommend taking advantage of the many appetizers. Our party raved about the margaritas and i enjoyed a craft beer. Our women were very pleased with their wine choices. Wonderful dining experience.

If you like Sicilian food this is the spot for you. Their red sauce dishes simply are the best; the service was good - and the prices for a fine-dining establishment more than reasonable. This is old-style food at its best - don't expect nouvelle Italian or chi chi food - but if you want to dine like a character in the Godfather movie - and don't mind seeing pictures of the actors in it on the wall - this is the place for you. we loved it.

Not the most authentic Italian - I lived in Italy for many years - but actually, the tastiest "Italian style" meal I ate in all of San Diego was here. And their wine selection was outstanding! Extremely wonderful atmosphere, super-knowledgeable staff (I love that as my date and I were discussing cannoli in Boston, out of nowhere, my waiter confirmed my guess that "Mike's Pastry" was the infamous place I had visited). I like the menu options of primi and secondi piatti at Acqua Al 2 downtown more, but I think I prefer the food as it's cooked at Godfather. Either way, neither of them are in Little Italy and I think it's sad that the best Little Italy can do is "third best" Italian in San Diego. Would definitely return and recommend highly.

This is an italian food restaurant, small in size - but large on portion and taste. The atmosphere is mildy dark, but gives you a feel of a true 'mobster' style restaurant. The staff dresses in the mobster restaurant attire, very courtesy, very friendly and excellent on service. The food was to die for (seariously) and well portioned. Was not spicey for italian, came out fresh and tastey. Prices very reasonable. Would highly recommend.

We have dined at more than a hundred Italian restaurants including some well-known restaurants in Italy over several years. This little gem is worth a visit. Superb service and genuine Italian cuisine. A lovely experience!

One of the best meals I have eaten any where in the world. A great dining experience. Friendly staff who were knowledgeable and put us at ease. Quality of food is amazing. We shared a starter and had the steak and lobster. The portions are generous so I wouldn't go crazy with starters. Also, the pasta served alongside our entrees was barely touched. A great dining experience.

Amazing amazing amazing food. Easily the best Italian I've ever had, went with two other people and we all tasted each other's entrees and they were each individually fantastic. So impressed by the quality of food and the portion sizes (could be 3 different meals) but I can't forget the amazing wait staff. Over all fantastic experience- I definitely recommend

One would never know by the exterior....a corner spot in a strip mall, that The Godfather is a sort of 1950's classic style Italian restaurant, with outstanding service and excellent food. The atmosphere is quiet and comfortable, with cozy booths for two and tables for large groups. The fried zucchini appetizer ( a signature offering before every meal ) is delicious, as is the rest of the food. We tried various pasta, veal and shrimp dishes , all of which were excellent ! The wine list provided good offerings, and the waiter was knowledgable about their cellar. Deserts were as good as the rest of the menu, and we look forward to returning . Come hungry and be prepared for doggie-bags to go home with you :-)

Ordered the five cheese pesto pasta dish. Very good dish. Bread was very good and we also got artichoke hearts which were good. We ordered red velvet cake for dessert and it was good. My kid got cheesecake and it was creamy and very good.

Four of us dined at the Godfather on Sunday, March 2, 2014. We've eaten there 6-8 times over the years and it never ceases to please. The food is always excellent as is the service and the ambiance. The graciousness of the wait staff and manager are exceptional. And all of this for approximately $30-40 per person including wine. My friend and I normally have the Frutti de Mare, which has lobster, scallops, clams, etc. and my wife normally has the Veal Scallopini. All are truly wonderful dishes and are enjoyed in a leisure atmosphere; you're never rushed in order to turn the table. I enthusiastically recommend this restaurant for that special night out or for just a great dinner during the week.

Best Italian restaurant around … Thank you to an amazing staff for welcoming us over the years, especially Said, Lucio, and Ricardo! Your martinis are simply amazing! And the food has always left us excited to vibe back again (and again and again)!

Godfather's is a great place for a reasonably priced, relaxed adult meal. No pizza on the menu here. It is a meat and pasta place. Many meat dishes come with a side of pasta, often sporting their delicious red sauce. The cannelloni is fantastic. What makes is special is that it isn’t a noodle it is more like a filled crepe. The flavors are subtle yet complex and the cannelloni is topped with a béchamel sauce. My favorite dish is the combination veal medallions and cannelloni. The veal medallions in the combination are always tender and delicious. Don’t like marsala wine sauce? Although not on the menu, you can ask for picatta sauce (lemon, butter and capers). They often have specials. Some I have tried are the Osso Bucco, fresh fish and the rib eye steak. All were excellent. Service is always attentive. On Friday and Saturday night there is a piano player adding to the ambiance. At some restaurants the food is good but the deserts are just ok. Not at Godfathers, even the deserts are heavenly. Beware the portions are generous so show up hungry and make a reservation ahead of time.

I was on a business trip to San Diego, and was wanting a break from the myriad Asian restaurants on Convoy Road. I decided on Italian, and this place came up in a TA search. I opened the heavy doors and stepped into the main dining hall, classy yet with Old Country touches. I'm glad I was still in my business casual attire; although there is no "dress code" here per se, I would have felt a bit awkward in a T-shirt and jeans. I looked over the menu, and my eyes zeroed in on Penne alla Puttanesca. I'm a fan of this style of sauce, so I ordered it, accompanied with a Negroni. A minute later, an associate waiter brought a complimentary serving of zucchini fried just right, with dipping sauce. This was followed by the Negroni, served on the rocks as per IBA standard, with the right combination of gentle sweetness and juniper bite to balance the bitterness. A bowl of fresh field greens tossed in a light red wine vinaigrette was then presented; it has been a long time since I've had a red wine vinaigrette, and it brought back good memories of my grandparents. Just as I was finishing the salad, my pasta arrived. Rather than using a regular red marinara with some olives and capers tossed in, the chef had created a more chunky combination that depended less on tomato sauce and let the other flavors shine through. The result was thoroughly enjoyable, and the fresh-baked bread that accompanied it tasted great dipped in the sauce. At the end of the meal, the server-- who had been pleasantly deferential and prompt with requests-- brought out perhaps the biggest surprise: the meal was under $30 before tip. Outstanding! Sure, the menu has much more expensive selections and an impressive wine list for the big spenders among us, but it's nice to know that there are still places like this that can provide an extraordinary, elegant dining experience without emptying a wallet or blowing a business expense account. Highly Recommended.

I have lived in San Diego for 35 years, and I had never been to The Godfather until last Saturday night! I had a hankering for Penne alla Puttanesca, and this was the ONLY restaurant, after an exhaustive Internet search, that had it on the menu! I was not disappointed - it was fabulous, and the entire meal, from wine to dessert, was delicious. My friend's Penne alla Carbonara was also very good. The wait staff was gracious and polished, and the pianist played all the lovely classics. All in all, a delightful evening .... if you love Italian food and haven't been, you need to go!!

Absolutely Godfather!! Men in suits greet you at the door! You forget for a minute where you are!! Then you hear the music, smell the deliciousness and get seated in a booth with pictures from the movies in a dark Mafioso fashion!!! Spectacular!! Good wine, cold martinis, chilled salads and piping hot food! Scampi tender and yummy but the Ciapinno was over the top! Lobster was perfect, shellfish divine and the tomato marinara with which this was floating in was just over the top.. To end the meal, Profiteroles filled with vanilla bean cream smothered in dark chocolate ganache sitting on a bed of mild chocolate mousse!! Absolutely a meal that was to die for!!

Business meal. Complimentary fried zucchini a nice touch. Every entree prepared deliciously. Each server attentive, courteous and quick. Ambiance felt as if we walked into Old Italy and the music made you wonder if Don Corleone would walk through the door ;) (ie nicely decorated). Such a treat! Will return.

My wife and I have eaten at Godfather's many times over the past 20 years. For my money, it is the best Italian restaurant in San Diego, with Volare being a close second. I had the Veal Florentine on Aug. 25th and it was absolutely delicious. The service was excellent and the ambiance of the restaurant is dressy, relaxing and cozy. A solid 4+ star restaurant and highly recommended.

Terrible! Terrible part of town for a dinner. Terrible parking in a cramped strip mall lot. Terrible service. Terrible small booths. Terribly loud and raucous. Food was terribly disappointing. We were terrible cramped for dinner. Save your money, just drive past. This is NOT Italian food!!!

Phenomenal! My family and I went to celebrate a birthday that we will never forget.. we were amazed by how beautiful and unique The God Father. Restaurant looks. Food was great!

Feels like a time warp from the 1960s, a NYC Neopolitan restaurant. Ambience is fine, the booths (which seat 4) are cozy. The decor features old photos and some typical tacky decor, like wine bottles attached to the wall, which I'd also typical of NYC in the 1960s. The wait staff are men who also look like they're from the 1960s. The portions are generous, the range of items on the menu large. The broiled veal chop (probably the most expensive entrée on the menu) is great. Gotta come here at least a couple of times a year for a traditional, somewhat heavy handed, hearty Neopolitan dinner.

A great restaurant for a couple, a family, or even a group. We booked on OpenTable, prior to our trip to San Diego so we would have a nice dinner to bring in the New Year. They texted us a day prior to confirm our reservation, simple "reply 1 to confirm, rely 2 to cancel" text. We confirmed our reservation and were set to enjoy a nice Italian Dinner. The restaurant was about a 15-minute drive from our hotel near downtown San Diego. The restaurant is in the back of a small shopping center. It was night and New Year's Eve so all the businesses were closed and most of the parking lot was full of The Godfather's patrons. They offered valet parking as well. Not sure of the price, we found a spot prior to the valet booth. There seemed to be street parking too. We arrived right on time and were greeted by a sweet elderly couple that seated us promptly. We were then greeted shortly by Ricardo (who was amazing). He came over to ask for drink orders while we looked over the menu. Once he returned with our drinks and complimentary fried zucchini. He explained the menu/ specials to us and let us decide while he checked on his other tables. When Ricardo returned, we ordered the Shrimp cocktail as an appetizer. They were large shrimp with some amazing cocktail sauce. For dinner, I ordered the Ravioli with a cream sauce and honey had one of the specials with fish, shrimp, and a side of pasta. The food was amazing. It was seasoned and cooked to perfection and didn't need anything more than the cheese they offer you when you order pasta. This place was filled with families and couples having dinner before the New Year. There was a group of middle ages people behind us who were buying bottles of wine, one of the ladies went to the restroom and got lost returning to the table. Ricardo had to walk her back to the table as her friends ridiculed her for getting lost in this medium-sized restaurant. The highlight of the night. 10/10 would recommend, and will return if I'm in the San Deigo area again.

Sunday 4 pm reservation on a warm day. Ahh, Good A/C, attentive professional service by Lucille. I had the special, sea bass and shrimp scampi combo, with salad (Ital. dressing), came w spaghetti/marinara & perfectly prepared broccoli, designer carrot, and artichokes. All VERY delicious. Hub had Bolognese Spag. Since this is a Sicilian family establishment, chances are it was lovingly seasoned with Marsala as it was on the sweet side. Many folks love this... we’ve been to Bologna IT (far from Sicily)... we prefer savory. Had a bottle of Col D’Orcia 2011 Brunello di Montalcino. Perfecto. Wine list categorized by the usual whites, and reds, THEN by wine styles (light, medium, deep ...) you get the picture. I liked this wine presentation. Decor: Beautiful ceilings, handsome wine displays, traditional light fixtures, classic grape-adorned lattice, and pleasantly clean. Although Sunday’s, the piano player has the night off, the music (played at a desired background volume) adds to the experience! Classic Italian in Sunny “Sandy Eggo”. We are already planning our return.

This is a friend of mine’s favorite restaurant so we brought the whole department with us. Service was excellent! I wanted to like the food so badly. I had the lasagna with meat sauce and it really lacked flavor. Tiramisu for dessert was redeeming and really good. I only recommend the desserts!

I have dined at The Godfather twice in the past two weeks. The food, service and atmosphere are still the best! I have been a customer for 38 years- this place is great. The Management is superb and treats every customer as a valued guest. Restaurants this consistently good are hard to find these days! If you want to try a great authentic Italian cocktail-try a Negroni-made with Compari, Gin and Sweet Vermouth. Like their food their drinks are done right with lots of care. Reservations are strongly recommended.

Went here for my son's 50th. birthday. Would never have found it if local bon viveur had not told me about it. Located in small shopping zone with tax accountant one side and dry cleaner on the other side. No windows to the front and only the restaurant name and a small fountain outside ! Inside is very old world with red tablecloths, bench booths and low lighting. Classic Italian dishes well-executed with pro. service .Ate very well and left well-filled. A real find. Burger eaters should go elsewhere.

This was our Christmas gift to our Dad. And we have been here before. To us, this is a real nice Italian Restaurant. Excellent service, wait staff was knowledgeable about the menu. Two of us had the Diablo Pasta. I had shrimp, Dad had Lobster. So hot, i had no idea pasta could be that hot. Wonderful. The Pork chop with a sauce was too smokey flavor for his date, but i would have liked it. The Eggplant Parm was overdone with the cheese and you had to look for the eggplant. Think stacked like a burger. But as a leftover, it was ok the next day. The Ceasar salad was very good. Parking is a little tight, they have a valet, and there is parking in the rear. A piano played all thru dinner, sometimes too loud. At times the volume of the patrons is so high you can't hear at your table. Maybe that is the italian way. I didn't think of it as a deal breaker. All in All, we really had a wonder time.

This is, without question, one of the best restaurants in the world! Anthony and his folks have great great service and the food is superb.. Filet al la Godfather, veal parmigiano -- unbeatable!

When ever I go to this part of town, I always see this sign. From the outside it looked old with double doors and windows that are hard to what's inside. We were looking for a good Italian restaurant and this one had 4 stars. We went inside and it looked like something from the old days in Italy. Food is excellent, huge portions. Come with an appetite because the servings can feed 3 people. Price is excellent. Make reservations because it is always full. They have valet parking which is free. Just tip the attendant or park along the road. You can go as casual or dressed up. No outside seating, definitely make a reservation and parking is limited.

I was the host of a party of six on 21 February. Unfortunately the calamari and octopus in my Ciopino were unchewable. Upon departing, mentioned this to the man at the door who berated me for not telling him this earlier. No apology whatsoever. The bill was over $300 . Lesson learned: complain immediately at the price of spoiling the dinner of the other people at the table. I am sure other Italian restaurants would have handled this differently.

Fun little Italian place. Great menu. I got a salmon pasta thing..the salmon was like butter. Super velvety. Everything was cooked "to perfection". Great selection, etc. The staff are all well dressed men, for that Godfather atmosphere. It's a little quirky, and the wine is a bit pricey, but all to be expected. We were just visiting from out of town. We won't go again, but it was worth it the once. Not really good for kids.

There were six of us who went to dinner tonight to celebrate our son's 29th birthday. We started off with artichokes & godfather bread for appetizers. Both were good. I ordered lasagna, my wife had ravioli, our son had carbonara. Our friends ordered salmon, puttanesca & veal scallopini. Not one of us was disappointed. The service was outstanding. The owner Anthony, came by our table to inquire how our food & service was. If you are in San Diego looking for a great Italian restaurant look no further then Godfather's.

My husband and I went to this restaurant for dinner, after an absence of about a year. We live in North County, and don't always get down to San Diego, so we were looking forward to a meal at one of our favorite restaurants. The dining room was as we remembered, the waiters still wear tuxes, and the service was attentive, quick, etc… My husband and I both ordered chicken dishes we have had many times before. The complementary fried zucchini was good, although not as freshly cooked as I remember. Next came the salads…OK, but something was missing..I don't know if they left something off, etc…it just didn't taste as good as it used to. Our mains followed and we were both very disappointed! Again, I don't know if they changed the recipe, left something off, etc…but not only did it not taste "like it used to", it didn't taste good or even particularly fresh. What happened? Because we have both had so many good meals there, I decided I would write an honest review on the comment card they gave us-rather than submit a poor review via Tripadvisor. I even wrote my name and email address, thinking someone would contact me about my poor experience, thinking they cared about a returning customer's satisfaction….What made me decide to finally write this review (on Tripadvisor) was the fact that I not only did not receive any follow-up from Godfather's, but they used my email address I had supplied (for them to contact me about my review) to market their specials, etc…!! I don't think we will be back.

Looking from the outside it is not that existing, but coming in through the doors there is a very nice Italian restaurant opening up, and it has been there for 44years. We got a plate with fried zuccinis as snack with the wine, and they were very nice. We took shrimp cocktail and fried artichokehearts as starters, and both was really good. The artichoke is fried and breaded and served with lemon, garlic, parmesan and capers. And thatnwas really, really good, dont miss it. We then had a choiche from soup or sallad. Both was very good. The sallad came with a nice blue cheese dressing, anf the minnestrine soup was very good as well. As main we had ordered Pasta Vongole, and also that one was very good and tasty. The service was very professional and attentative without being to much. I really like this restaurant and just make sure that you can eat the good food, i may actually recommend to share a starter if it is the Artichoke above... it is more then enough for two people. We had a pleasant evening, in a nice environment with a very good service.

I love this place for special occasions. It is very authentic. The waiters are in dark suits, and the decor is dark and leather. Veal dishes are outstanding, as is the pasta of course. Service is very attentive.

This was my second visit to this restaurant in about 2 years. I enjoyed it the first time when I was taken there and I went back, also on business. The waiters wear tuxedos, they have live piano music, dark paneling and a peaceful, classy approach to eating that you wouldn't expect to find in this area of San Diego. It is really populated largely by locals who love it. Now I know why. The menu is classic Italian with antipasto, salads, minestrone soup (what else?), pastas, meat, and fish entrees and dessert. One of us had fish and the other veal. It started with a lovely free appetizer which was fried and coated zuccini chips that were delicious. We each had a couple of glasses of chianti. Super breads and salads. We were so stuffed we couldn't have dessert. A special little place tucked away in a rectangual small strip mall.

My husband and I have loved The Godfather for more than 38 years! The food has always been wonderful! Many of the waiters have been working here for years. We moved away from San Diego 25 years ago and The Godfather is always on our must visit list when we are back in town. I always order Scampi A la Godfather and it is wonderful every single time. I actually was just trying to find a recipe online to try to duplicate the dish here in Michigan. I wish I could click my heels and magically appear back in this place! They have taken great care of us when we have been a party of two or when we have been a party of 15! Very traditional style. Yum! Makes me happy just thinking of the place!

My dinner was amazing. The staff were so professional. I had the veal chop. I have to say this was not a light dinner, but it was so good who cares I needed to run 5 miles the next day to burn it off. Outstanding!!

Been coming here for over 20 years, with family, friends, guests. Never a bad night. Food is classic, service old style, not stuffy. Sometimes a bit loud, but it's like dining with extended family. Anthony keeps it consistent!

First time eating there and the service and food was excellent This restaurant is very similar to a rnyestaurant which was our favorite Italian restaurant in San Diego which was called Old Triste. Anyone who gives this restaurant a bad is.rating certainly doesn't have any idea what wonderful Italian cuisine is. The food and service was top notch

Wonderful service, wonderful food and great selection of wine. Piano player not too loud and played all the favorites.

This place was fabulous! The food was fantastic, the service was superb. I will be telling people for days about my trip here.

This hotel was recommended to us from the hotel we were staying at. We showed up at about 8:30 on a Saturday night. We were greeted and seated immediately. The food was reasonable priced, large in portion size and tasted great. I'm italian and don't often give high grades to Italian restaurants, but this one was very good. I had the grilled basa with a light lemon butter sauce. It was excellent. It was served very hot, which is not always the case with fish. The flavor was light so the fish flavor came through. The pasta was al-dente, just the way it should be. You can be sure if you make the trip it will be worth it.

This is the one place I must stop at on every visit to San Diego. The food is so good. That along with a superior staff it is always an enjoyable event. The menu has a wide variety and everything looks and tastes great.

Went on a Saturday night, four of us, with reservations. Although the restaurant was packed we were seated on time. Everything went perfectly - service, food, taste, ambiance. Pastas with chicken, seafood, were delicious, as was my chicken livers (probably not enjoyed by all). Long wine list, and excellent chianti. Bill was in line for such a fine evening.

Wonderful food at reasonable prices and the Spinoni cake was amazing!!! A must stop when in San Diego.

After having recently returned to San Diego from living for a time in “Wine Country” in Northern California and dining at Italian restaurants in the area, my wife and I decided to give The Godfather Restaurant a visit to celebrate our adult son’s milestone birthday. There are many good restaurants in San Diego, so choosing The Godfather was not easy; our son’s only request was for a “good Italian dinner.” As The Godfather Restaurant is located in a nondescript strip mall on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, nowhere San Diego’s Little Italy, a very non-Italian part of San Diego, we really weren’t expecting that much. Were we ever wrong! It was extraordinary – as good as most of the restaurants we’ve been to in Italy, and better than many. My wife and I like nothing better than great Italian food and have traveled extensively in Italy (from south of Ragusa in Sicily to north of Milan in Lombardy), around much of France, and have eaten at many Michelin-starred restaurants; The Godfather Restaurant could hold its own with most of them. As we were there on a Friday night, a piano player was playing light, airy music. After being seated, they brought us a complimentary plate of delicious fried zucchini; it was crunchy, was not greasy at all, and was superb; the three of us almost inhaled it. Of course, we started with a bottle of a wonderful Italian wine, a Santi – “Solane” Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore, a 2015 DOC. The three of us enjoyed it so much that we ended up ordering a second bottle (part of which we took home). We ordered The Godfather’s “Antipasto della Casa,” a gigantic sampler of imported Italian meats and cheeses, green and black olives, marinated artichokes, marinated mushrooms, marinated peppers, and pepperoncini. They also brought a basket of excellent fresh warm bread. We all agreed that the Antipasto sampler was so good, so luscious, that we could have devoured all of it and cut back on our dinners; but since we’d already ordered our entrées, we decided to take part of the antipasto home. With each of our dinners, we had a choice of soup of the day or a house salad. From our experience, Italians don’t eat salads the way Americans do, so we’d looked forward to trying an Italian soup. But we were there on a Friday, and the soup of the day was a clam chowder – not very Italian. We each ordered a house salad; my wife and I each requested Italian dressing, and our son requested blue cheese dressing. Our waiter, David, suggested that The Godfather has a salad-dressing combination of Italian with blue cheese that we might enjoy; it sounded good, so we all requested that. The house salad was a terrific bowl of crisp mixed greens. David was right, The Godfather’s is wonderful. Each of our dinners also came with a small plate of perfectly-cooked thin spaghetti topped with a magnificent Bolognese sauce – much of that went home, too. My son ordered the ribeye steak special, I ordered the pork chop special, and my wife ordered veal saltimbocca. Typically, except in the Tuscany area around Florence, Italians do not eat much red meat (except in Bolognese sauce); and when they do eat red meat, it’s always VERY rare. Even if you order a beef or veal steak cooked medium or medium-well, when it’s served to you, it’s always on the rare side. That said, all of our entrées were fantastic. My son, who barbeques a mean steak, was very impressed with the ribeye steak special and wishes he could duplicate it at home. It was a gigantic cut of ribeye, was very tender, was perfectly seasoned, was exceptional, was cooked to perfection, and came with broccoli, carrots, and marinated artichokes. It was such a massive cut that he was able to take a large part of it home. My pork chop special was phenomenal; was like two pork chops fused together; it was enormous, was very tender, was cooked to perfection, was slathered in a first-class red-wine-based sauce, and also came with broccoli, carrots, and marinated artichokes. The pork chop was so big that I ended up taking half of it home. My wife thoroughly enjoyed her veal saltimbocca; veal saltimbocca is an Italian preparation where a thin slice of veal is sautéed in wine and then baked in a light tomato sauce with prosciutto, mozzarella, and sage. She’s eaten veal saltimbocca several times in Italy and believes that the veal saltimbocca at The Godfather is comparable to what she had in Rome the last time we were there. It was excellent. When we were deciding about desserts, our waiter, David, explained that the Godfather makes Tiramisù the old-fashioned way, the Italian way, and didn’t use any of the short-cuts commonly used in America today. My son couldn’t resist and ordered the Tiramisù; being Sicilian, I ordered cannoli. My wife was disappointed that they didn’t have any panna cotta that night and ordered Crème Brûlée instead. My son’s Tiramisù was colossal and was on a large plate on which they’d written “Happy Birthday” – a nice touch. The piano player even played “Happy Birthday” when David brought the Tiramisù to our table. The Tiramisù was heavenly – it was light, fluffy, and was so big that the three of us could have shared it and still had some left! I’ve eaten cannoli all over Sicily and wherever I could find it in the rest of Italy. The cannoli at The Godfather was filled with ricotta cheese with small chocolate chips in it; it compares favorably with those in Sicily and Italy. Only a couple cannoli I ate in Palermo and Taormina were better, but the ricotta cheese in both of them contained pistachios. My wife’s Crème Brûlée came with sliced strawberries and was sensational for Crème Brûlée, but Crème Brûlée just isn’t panna cotta. Our waiter, David, was a charming young man. His knowledge of the menu was considerable, his recommendations and suggestions were spot-on; and when we had a question to which he did not know the answer (the types of olives on the antipasto), he gladly made the effort to find out for us. We look forward returning soon and trying some other items on The Godfather’s extensive menu. GREAT FOOD!

I've spent all my life in San Diego, and during my almost 50 years here, I've seen my share of beloved restaurants come and go. Dining trends change. Restauranteurs retire or lose interest. Standards lower or fall completely. Rents get raised and drive places out of business.... ...and yet through all that, The Godfather still remains. It's still exactly the same. It's still excellent. It's still unabashedly and unapologetically "old school". The dark wood paneling. The dimly lit dining room. The waiters in tuxedos pushing around the dining carts. The complimentary fried zucchini, which is still the best friend zucchini I've ever had. The Godfather is a fun and charming throwback to a bygone era, but that isn't the real reason people are still eating here after all these years. The food really is *that* good. They may not be pushing any culinary boundaries, but there is no restaurant in town that executes the old-school Italian classics that everyone loves as flawlessly as The Godfather does. It doesn't matter that the restaurant is in a small strip-mall that you'll miss if you blink, or that it's in the heart of one of the least glamorous neighborhoods in San Diego. The Godfather is a destination restaurant. As soon as you walk in, you're transported to another place and another time. You half-expect to find Luca Brasi and Peter Clemenza inside dining on linguini and clams. It promises a unique experience and an exceptional meal.

I absolutely love this place. I have been coming here for years, first with my family when I was in high school and then on romantic dates. I have never had a bad experience with The Godfather. I suggest that you call ahead and reserve one of their booths. I love sitting in those partially private booths, it feels like you're in your own world in Italy. All of the servers I've ever had at The Godfather have been personable and funny. They offer great suggestions to people who have never been before and wonderful wine options as well. Their fried zucchini is fantastic, never greasy or heavy and I like to sprinkle a little parmesan cheese on top of it right when I get it hot from the kitchen. Their salads are wonderful with fresh vinaigrette dressing that I'm pretty sure is housemade. My favorite dishes to get are the lobster ravioli if they have it on special, if they don't, I always opt for the salmon with vodka sauce over penne pasta. It is divine! Of course, after my meal, I always have to get a cannoli because they are the best, but all of their desserts are good. I can't say enough about how great The Godfather is. Definitely stop by. Don't let the fact that it is in a strip mall fool you, once you open the doors and see inside you will be happy you decided to go!

The Godfather had a beautiful atmosphere, attentive service, and delicious Italian food. I loved the fried zucchini appetizer and had chicken parm for dinner. I upgraded my side of spaghetti to fettuccine alfredo and was glad I did! I'm not sure if I looked at the lunch menu online or not, but the food was $5-8 more per meal than expected. Overall, this restaurant was very nice and the food was delicious. It would be a very special date night place too if that's what you're looking for.

If you're into The Godfather or if you're simply into Italian, this is the place to be. Come with an appetite since they are quite generous with the servings. I could have shared my meal with two. The real kicker is the service. WOW! I have not experienced good service in some time now. I also enjoyed The Godfather theme song on the play list. I was sitting there smirking on my own thinking of Apolonia and Michael dancing at their wedding. LOL

The Ballistreri family owns and cooks for you here and they know their stuff! The menu is extensive. The food is plentiful. A relaxing and comfy restaurant to hang out. Perfect date place or hanging with friends. Good for families as well. All the food is awesome and save room for dessert.

I guess I don't think of San Diego for Italian food, but I was wrong. We were on vacation and our local friends took us there raving about how good it was. They understated. Excellent wine selection! Service was very personal. All 4 plates were brought out together, several waiters. Water and wine were topped off frequently. We couldn't have had better service. We had a Sea Bass appetizer which was perfectly prepared. The salads were also good. My wife and I split a veal saltiboca (sp), which was quite tasty. Deserts were excellent too, lighter than I am used to (good thing). Hard to go wrong here.

Just stopped in without a reservation and wearing jeans and T-Shirts. We felt a little underdressed, but that didn’t affect the level of service. We were greeted and felt very welcomed and escorted to a table right away. Our server; Sean was very personable, professional and attentive. We loved the ambience and all the staff seemed very Classy. The fried zucchini was a delicious start. The fettuccine Alfredo with large tiger shrimp was excellent. The Sea Bass was very juicy and fresh and was so mouthwatering that I’m craving it today. The maître d’ was very attentive to make sure we were taken care of throughout our entire dining experience. We have already recommended this restaurant to our friends.

My wife and I have been dining at TGR for more than 19 years. It is truly in a class by itself. Romantic, friendly, customer-oriented, and producing the finest dishes, it never ceases to please. Their seafood linguine and tiramisu are absolutely delicious! Can't recommend this restaurant highly enough; a solid 4+.

It's been around since 1974, but we only found it a few years ago. This is the classic Italian steak-house restaurant, dark leather booths, moderate lighting, with waiters in nice suits. Very good steaks and pasta dishes. Great for a nice evening out. They are fine with casual dress, but the ambience makes you want to dress up at least a little bit. Prices are quite reasonable, especially for the service and ambience. Most main courses are in the $18-$24 range, and you need to go with a Filet Mignon to get up in the upper $30's. Service is friendly and professional. You get a complementary plate of sauteed breaded squash slices to start and get your taste buds waking. It will be hard to do, but try to save room for dessert. We keep coming back, and will drive down from Rancho Santa Fe to come to dinner here.

We are regulars at Godfather and have never been disappointed in any way! The restaurant is a bit of a throw back to another time. With very private seating lining the main dining area it’s cozy and private. There is definitely not the ear drum rupturing noise that so many places have today. The Mattie D warmly greets us every time and it adds a nice personal touch. We rarely have to wait for our table. The servers, most of whom have an Italian accent (can we assume they’re Italian?) are dressed in suits. The pianist plays nicely in the background—all elements setting the stage for the wonderful ambiance of this restaurant. The food is to die for with complimentary appetizers of friend zucchini smothered in cheese. This is definitely a wonderful dining experience in a restaurant that doesn’t follow the “herd.”

Went to another appreciation dinner there and it was awesome. Service is great, food is over the top. Last night they served calamari, fried zucchini, and choices of cioppino, Ribeye or veal chop. The prime rib was delicious and cooked to perfection. You can't go wrong with this place. Management gets it and the restaurant is a must for those seeking great italian food.

This is always a favorite for lunch or dinner. Starting off with the zucchini appetizer - wow crunchy outside, great flavor and juicy inside.- freshly made Ahi salad that could not been done better anywhere. Excellent Tuna - melt in your mouth. So many great dishes to choose from and always perfect.

I'm visiting a good friend who has lived in San Diego for 10 years, so I trusted she would bring us to a good restaurant. My husband was really craving some Italian. My local friend eats out a lot and out of the many (dozens probably) options of Italian restaurants she said her favorite was the Godfather. There are many good Italian restaurants in Little Italy of course, but this place is in amongst the strip malls of Claremont, but with it's own parking lot. The exterior is nice and upscale with an Italian fountain out front and a big heavy door. The interior is very Sicilian with dark woods and red velvet. Photos of Italian Hollywood, the Rat Pack and celebrities who have eaten here adorn the walls. I didn't feel it was cheesy like a Buca Di Beppo. We were seated in a cozy corner nook with a photo of James Caan eating in the restaurant, and I felt kind of important like "I know a guy." It's Zagat rated as the best 25 Italian restaurants in the country, so I'm not surprised the rich and famous have dined here. It was busy with a mix of families and couples on dates. Even without a reservation we were seated within 15 minutes. We felt a little underdressed, but were never treated as such. The service here was excellent, like the old school excellent service. He was so attentive without being the least bit pretentious. With his heavy Italian accent he seemed like maybe he was family. The wine list had a pretty typical mix of old world Italian and new world Californian. I Chose a Tuscan Chianti and it was just perfect! Immediately we were brought not only warm bread, but a complimentary appetizer of fried zucchini rounds. Yum and yet again I felt like " I know a guy." The menu is extensive with all of the Itallian dishes you would expect particularly southern and Sicilian styles. Numerous pasta dishes, veal, chicken, and seafood. Nothing is too inventive here, but done too perfection and so fresh! I bet these recipes go back through many generations. Why mess with a good thing! The soup of the day was a hearty white bean soup. I could taste smoky ham, carrot and I think celery. I ordered linguini with clams with the red sauce. Mmm best I've ever had! Perfect balance of flavors! It came with a little silver bowl to discard shells and a steamed white linen napkin. Fancy! My friend had the linguini with clams in white sauce, which was good, but we both preffered red. My daughter had scampi with a wonderful amount of garlic and herbs. My husband always gets fettuccini alfredo with chicken and commented that the chicken was perfectly grilled, flavorful and tender. We shared tiramisu at the end and were not disappointed. Highly recommended this restaurant and would absolutely come back again even though there are so many restaurants to chose from. Maybe next time it could be just my husband and I.

Godfather is one of our favorite restaurants. Just walk in, and you are greeted like family. One of the reasons that the food is so good is Chef Isadoro is a master chef, but he is also the founder and along with son Anthony, co-owner of this family run establishment. Most of the staff have been there for years, so they are professionals doing a fine job. The quality of the food is very high as they seem to source fine produce. You can not leave hungry, as the portions are quite large. Fish such as Halibut is served very fresh with a wonderful lemon-butter sauce. The veal is always tender and well prepared. Simple dishes like Eggplant Parmesan are personal favorites. Everything, from either soup or salad to desert is well prepared.

We have been to The Godfather many times. A wonderful place for a very romantic evening. Food is wonderful, atmosphere is quiet and attentive.

We chose to eat here following a recommendation from a passenger on our flight from London to San Diego. It is his favorite Italian Restaurant in SD. However we were less impressed. The menu is large as are the quantities but the quality not as good as we hoped. The Tiramisu was the best part of the meal. The Pasta for me was overcooked I prefer mine on the firm side. I have enjoyed many better Italian Meals in both the USA and in Europe

The Godfather Restaurant provides a great experience from the service provided, starting at the door, to the ambiance of the decor, to the live piano in the background, to the friendliness of the staff and finally and foremost the food.....aaah the food. The complimentary zuchinni appetizer, I have mine with marinara, is simply one of the best things I have ever eaten, really no kidding, the best. Being a tomato sauce fan, the bolognese is awesome, tastes like it has been simmering and simmering and....you get the picture. Did I tell you I love this restaurant,. Even when I am alone, the bar is a terrfific place to sit and enjoy your meal. My favorite film of all time is The Godfather. The restaurant has film memorabilia and a tastefully executed film related ambiance that makes for an elegant and fun dining experience. Let me stop gushing and simply encourage you to check out this wonderful restaurant and food experience. I cannot be complimentary enough and you will not be disappointed.

What a fun place. It’s like walking back in time but so clean and well kept. The food is amazing. Top sirloin so tender you could cut it with a butter knife, creamy sauces, tasty pasta. The fried zucchini they brought to the table was a great bonus and a nice surprise. And the birthday dessert is so tasty and presented so pretty. I recommend this place wholeheartedly if you like Italian.

The Godfather is a great restaurant with delicious food and great service. The menu selection was good and the food even better.

You have to find the entrance. Inside it is old style Italian very cozy and with a lot of privacy. Service was great, food was excellent, prices were high but right for the quality provided. I recommend

We took a large family group here because we were able to make a last minute booking. The food was good, a bit salty and portions were way too big though. But the unfortunate thing with this place is they had a piano player blasting away, so what was meant to be a nice chat during dinner ended up being yelling where your throat is sore by the end of the night.

We went to the Godfather for dinner & were pleasantly surprised. It is a walk back into the 1970ies, I half expected the 'Rat Pack' walk up to the piano & break into a chorus of "When the moon...." The decor is outdated & a bit corny but the wait staff were super nice, the live piano music was a nice touch and the food was good. Not where you want to be going if you are watching calories....however if you can forget about the diet for an evening the lamb with porcini mushrooms was delish! We ordered several appetizers, pastas & desserts & they were all good. We had tons of food left over....enough for at least 2 more meals, no complaints :-)

Pretentious service, below average food, and over priced The waiter was a bit intimidating, the service lacking, and the atmosphere dull

Excellent food and service. I had the special swordfish and scampi. The service from Charles was outstanding. I will/have gone there again.

This place is -ring- perfect if you -ring- don't mind -ring- being ignored by -ring- your waiter -ring- while someone's -ring- cell phone alarm -ring- goes off for -ring- over 20 min -ring- I had to actually leave the restaurant halfway through dinner I couldn't take it anymore. We've gone there for years. They can be slow at service, and the booths are somewhere between cozy and claustrophobic but otherwise we usually had a decent time. Never again. They wouldn't even bother asking people to check their phones. To add insult to injury, the foods gone downhill too.

this is stunning italian food period. it is old school, rich and made with a lot of love. not for people on any kind of diet. eat with gusto with excellent wines and top off with a tasty dessert.

Wonderful atmosphere with dark wood, crisp white tablecloths, tables where you can see and be seen, booths for a more private dinner. Wait staff right out of the movie, impeccably dressed and very attentive. Food presentation was very appetizing, but taste? Not very good. I had the veal and it was undercooked with a gummy coating, then served with a sauce that had way too much lemon. My side of spaghetti with meat sauce was also undercooked. Just two more minutes and the pasta would have been perfect! Companion had traditional spaghetti with meat sauce and added meatballs. He pronounced it good but not great. House chianti, generously poured, was very good. We dined early, so try a later hour when the kitchen is in full swing--might be better.

When I lived in San Diego, I used to frequent The Godfather restaurant often. Now, when I visit San Diego, I make it a point to have dinner at The Godfather restaurant. They have wonderful food, the restaurant staff is friendly and very helpful. The decor makes you feel as tho' you're 'back in time' with all the conveniences of present day. My husband and I love The Godfather restaurant for the food, ambiance, friendly people and monthly specials!

We booked a 7pm table for two and arrived on time and were seated within 5 minutes I ordered wine which came fairly quickly along with water and a plate of fried zucchini which was very tasty. I ordered chicken parm and ribeye which came fairly quickly along with a pasta side dish. There was plenty of food and and we were quite full when the waiter brought a big plate of some appetizing sweets and we chose two chocolate which were very tasty. All in all the food was lovely, we had plenty to take home with us and we will make a return visit one day.

Thank goodness for the Godfather restaurant -- this particular area off Convoy Street is more known for diverse Asian offerings of various sorts, but tucked away off Clairmont Mesa blvd. is this outstanding, classy authentic fine dining restaurant. It's always a treat to dine at The Godfather!

Horrible inauthentic Italian food and amateurish service. I’m incredibly surprised by the high reviews. This seemed to be one step up from Olive Garden.

My husband and I went to The Godfather restaurant a couple of nights ago and what a pleasant surprise! It is in an odd location, kind of hard to find however when you walk in it has a very "Italian feel" to it. It is very intimate and the service of the staff is wonderful. We had mozzarella and the homemade meatballs for an appetizer, the Bolognese sauce on the meatballs was absolutely delicious! The chardonnay went very well with our main course selections. I had the linguine pesto dish and my husband had the tortellini with alfredo. I am very picky about pasta and pesto sauce and you could tell it was homemade. The tiramisu is truly amazing and fluffy and of course the cannoli filling was creamy and smooth. Overall it was a great experience and we will back. It did take quite a long time (2 hours) for the entire meal/bill but then again what would a true Italian meal be without it being over 1.5 long!

Amazing for a restaurant to be so good for so long. Italian themed with a good variety meat and seafood dishes to please almost everybody. Great veal is getting harder to find and is one of their specialties. I've enjoyed all the dishes I have tried. Reservations recommended for dinner.

Having grown up in a heavily populated Italian area where really good Italian food is easy to find, I am always hesitant to order Italian food when I am away from home. However, my family and I decided to give the Godfather's a try when it was highly recommended by the hotel staff. They didn't steer us wrong! We enjoyed a variety of entrees including linguine with clam sauce (the clams were fresh) as well as veal and chicken dishes. The gravy (red sauce) was delicious and had just a hint of sweetness that balanced the robust flavor. I had the Speciale Dello Chef Isidoro (veal) and it was wonderful! The service was great and the piano player just added the right touch to the evening. The prices were fair so indulge yourself and enjoy a most excellent meal!

My sister in law celebrated her birthday while on vacation with us in San Diego. She picked the Godfather. Turned out to be a good choice. Good variety OG Italian dishes. Pastas, chicken & veal choices. We had a good time eating, visiting. Bread with oil & balsamic along with fried zucchini to start.

Walking into Godfather from the little strip mall it's in, I felt like I had been transported to a different time and place! Lots of ambiance, romance, and the smell of wonderful food. Loved it. The breaded zucchini is a must to start the dining experience! I also ordered the house salad with blue cheese dressing which was excellent. My husband had the veal chop which was perfectly cooked and declared "delicious". I had chicken marsala which was anything but the ordinary dish this can be in some restaurants; fresh pasta and nice sauce with good balance of chicken. The menu was extensive, and it was hard to choose, but we were all pleased with our personal selections. Prices are exceptionally reasonable, and portions are almost too large (but allow for leftovers the next day!). Cannolis were very good but not the highlight of the meal. Only downside was the bar did not have one of the ingredients for a drink I ordered. Minor issue when all was said and done. We would definitely return to this restaurant when we are visiting the area again.

I recently had lunch at The Godfather, a San Diego restaurant that has been in operation for many years. It was my first time, and long overdue. The service was impeccable, and the menu extensive. It's located in a strip mall off Clairemont Mesa Blvd., miles from the trendy restaurants in LIttle Italy. But this is the real deal, with a wait staff attired in black jackets. The restaurant has many nooks and crannies and an inviting bar with booths. What made this memorable was that our lunch group was served while the staff also was attending to a large group birthday party. Normally, this might have put a strain on the kitchen, but not in the least was this a problem. They handled it with aplomb, not missing a beat. I had a special of sea bass, with just the right amount of a creamy, lemon sauce, served with a side of pasta. I was impressed, and will be back. Once you walk in the front door from the harsh sunlight outside, you'll think you were in New York or New Jersey. Attentive service, and a personal visit by the chef made for a memorable afternoon, heightened by a great staff wine selection. Put this place on your list. They had valet parking for lunch.

Old school Italian atmosphere, waiters in suits, cozy booths, a pianist on the weekends. Make reservations this place is always busy. They serve you fried zucchini when you sit down that is to die for. Meals come with either soup of the day or salad. Generous portions. Owner is usually at the front desk - always greets you with a smile. A San Diego gem!

Been a customer here for over 30 years, still the same family run business with the same good food! I just had the Fegatini Di Pollo (chiken livers) fancy name but I hadn't ordered them for awhile, still as good as ever. Chiken dishes are excellent, even the basic Lasgna and the raviolis all very good. Bottom line is I like it all here!

The food was excellent, the service (without being intrusive) was the most prompt and efficient we have ever had. The atmosphere was great - not at all touristy, with mostly locals, which is always a good sign.

Looking for that "special" restaurant for dinner? It can be found in Kearny Mesa. This traditional Italian cuisine comes complete with piano player, formal service and a romantic atmosphere. The moderate prices and old world menu, will make you feel like you have gone back in time. If your looking for that upscale italian restaurant with style, this is your destination.

You know how sometimes a good or bad dining experience sticks with you and can define a holiday? On our last night in San Diego at the end of a big US holiday my wife and I lucked out and ate at The Godfather. From the service of our wonderful waiter Paulo, to the fantastic food, to the reasonable prices and excellent decor, everything about this restaurant hits the mark. We were thoroughly impressed and would recommend it to anyone looking for tasty Italian food and a romantic or memorable night out. Fantastic.

The Godfather is classy and the food there is second to none. I think it has the best Italian food in San Diego. And the staff there is top-notch. I eat there regularly and have never had a bad experience there.

We were invited as part of a larger group and we were in the back banquet room. The service was great as well as the food. This is true Italian cooking and the pasta was cooked al dente the way it should be. The owners are very genuine and care about the experience that you have. I highly recommend this restaurant.

My husband and I have been dining at The Godfather for over 19 years. We love this restaurant for many reasons, but specifically, the warm welcome we always receive, the outstanding service and IMPECCABLY delicious meals. It is truly authentic from the fried zucchini to their Cannoli. They have a terrific wine list and the atmosphere is very nice. It is always busy on weekends, so reservations are critical. You will not be disappointed!

We've been coming for years and always come for special occasions. Like others state in reviews: if you're looking for fine Italian dining, reminiscent of NYC fine italian dining, then this is the place to come to. Pianist playing on Thurs - Sunday's; all veal dishes simply outstanding; good service and wait staff -- and Anthony (the owner) is there every single night. An owner that stays with his restaurant "loves" his restaurant, his food, and his customers. Nearly all the wait staff, bar tenders, etc have been there for 10 years or more -- that tells you something!

I was pleasantly surprised to find this place in a mini mall. Once inside, you are transported to Italy. The host welcomed us, seated us in a lovely booth near the bar and a talented piano player entertained guests. Within a few minutes of being seats a fabulous plate of fried zucchini was placed on the table and devoured in minutes. Seriously, I could not get enough! The salmon was tasty but a bit undercooked. All the pasta dishes were excellent. The service is perfect. Delicious salads were brought immediately after ordering and the entree came within 2 minutes of the salad dish being cleared. The service, attention, food, entertainment and ambiance were all outstanding. I gave 4 instead of 5 because the salmon was not cooked enough but a perfect rating would be given for service, atmosphere and the MOST DELICIOUS zucchini I've ever tasted.

Uncompromisingly Authentic Recipes from the Old Country. We felt welcomed like family by the owner and staff. Food prepared and served like few other Italian restaurants in Southern California. Not inexpensive but very much worth the price. We had a delightful and unforgettable dining experience.

My husband and I came here last weekend for our anniversary. We had been here once before but it was at least 10 years ago. The décor is old school Italian with the staff dressed in suits. The place is extremely clean and everyone is very friendly and professional. We sat in a nice roomy booth in the corner. Our waiter, Ricardo was very attentive and helpful with the menu. There was a pianist playing in the background. We started our meal with the complimentary fried zucchini, which was delicious. We also ordered the “Mozzarella in Carozza” , it’s a square piece of mozzarella seasoned, fried and baked in marinara sauce. It was so good!! I ordered the “Cannelloni Medaglione”, it’s a cannelloni and a good size filet mignon with a marsalla wine sauce and fresh mushrooms on top, it also came with a side of spaghetti. The filet was melt in your mouth good as was the cannelloni and spaghetti. My husband had the special, which was salmon, shrimp scampi, vegetables and a side of spaghetti. He loved it all. It was so much food that we ended up bringing home most of our spaghetti and half of my cannelloni. Although we were full, we had to try the Tiramisu. It was huge and the best I’ve ever had. This place is in the corner of a small strip mall in Kearny Mesa. Don’t be discouraged by the location. Parking can be tough but they do provide valet parking. We got there early enough that parking wasn’t an issue. I’m so glad we gave this place another try. We will definitely be back.

When you are in the San Diego area and want authentic Italian food, great service and atmosphere, you will never go wrong at The Godfather. The food is carefully prepared and every guest is treated as if they are special. This is one of the most well-managed restaurants I have ever dined in. Whether having lunch or dinner, you will be challenged to decide on what to order because everything on their menu sounds good! Some of my favorites are the Antipasti Della Casa-a superb antipasto that several people can share, and for an entree either the unique shrimp Scampi Alla Godfather or the New York (steak) Alla Sinatra. They have a full bar and the quality of their drinks is definitely above average. Conveniently located near the 805, 15, and 163 Freeways, once you experience The Godfather you will want to return soon! Reservations are highly recommended by calling (858) 560-1747.

Was highly recommended---And is STILL highly recommended! Sicilian style/Old world ambience and décor. Reception and table service was exquisite! Dining room is dark, rich, romantic. Excellent wine menu. We had to try the Godfather bread---very tasty. AND next--a true test of the Authenticity in an Italian kitchen-----Try the House BOLOGNESE!----It was Outstanding!! Polpetti (House Meatballs)---Amazing! Their white bean soup was gone , so the next offering was their chicken pasta soup-----Best ever! Ravioli alla Godfather---perfectly prepared, and smothered in the Bolognese sauce-----simply mouth-watering! Ricardo promised the tiramisu to be the best in town--without a doubt--the best! Overall--Yes! One of our best Italian experiences. Reservations for sure. Pricing---very reasonable considering the quality. Repeat! Repeat!

The food and service are always top rate at this restaurant. The owner and his staff take excellent care of you from start to finish. We have brought many people here over the years and the results are the same - great food and reasonably priced for what you get. We have also used their private banquet room on special occasions and again, excellent food and service. The attention to detail is superb and the daily specials will bring you back for more. Be sure and make reservations; even though this is a strip mall, it is always packed. You will be surprised once you enter the door and see the surroundings. Thank you Anthony!

The Godfather compares favorably to any Little Italy and downtown Italian restaurant. In my opinion it is the beat Italian restaurant in San Diego. The food is excellent. The service is excellent. The ambiance is elegant old school Italian. I’ve been quite a few times and every meal has been outstanding. Last night four of us had dinner to celebrate a birthday. My wife had her favorite, Chicken Fiorentia. It was perfect as always. My father in law had the veal bocconcini. He said it was the best he’s had and raved about it all evening. I like to mix it up a little - I usually go for the chicken Marsala or one of their dishes with their bolognese, which is the best in San Diego. Last night I had the sea bass. It had a lemon wine sauce with capers and came with three nice sized shrimp. It was excellent. We topped it off with some cappuccino and a cannoli. Cappuccino was very good and the cannoli is among the best I’ve ever had. If you’re looking for a great meal with great service The Godfather should definitely be on the short list. You won’t regret it.

Godfathers is a long standing classic and classy establishment. Many of the staff have been there for years. Tonight Carlos served us and he was wonderful. We each had a glass of wine (which they allowed us to sample first). House salad (which they chipped on request), capresse and Caesar were all great. The veal picatta and ciopino outstanding. And of course cannoli for dessert. The food is on the expensive side but worth it. We sat in a booth in the back so it was cozy, quiet and very private.

We were visiting friends and one of their regular restaurants had an anniversary special on while we were there. We all had three course dinner special with a complimentary bottle of wine per couple. A tasty chicken parmagen on a nice bed of pasta with a tomato sauce was preceded by salad and follow by terramisu. The service was great and the table staff were formally dressed. The restaurant had a pleasant intimate interior.

If you like Italian food, this is the place for you. If you like cheap Italian food it is not. But when it comes to good regional food restaurants, you get what you pay for. The entree menu is very expensive. $35 +, but the alternatives are wonderful. The pasta menu is amazing and most are in the $20 range. They also have 8 Veal dishes and 3 in our party had 3 different Veal and all were beautifully prepared and in the $25 range. Service was impeccable. My only negative about the night was the $18 corkage fee and the wine list prices are ridiculous.

Decided to try The Godfather after searching for a good Italian restaurant. Based on the reviews, this place was the best and it did not disappoint. Had the chicken Parmesan with a side of fettuccine Alfredo. Huge portions and very flavorful. The waiter was outstanding. Kept the glasses filled and ensured we had a good meal. Definitely will visit again.

I had just gotten into town and was looking for something good close to my hotel. A quick internet search and this popped up. The restaurant is filled with godfather memorabilia. The wait staff are more than accommodating and all food is brought on carts to the table. For what you get the prices are reasonable. I had the Filet Mignon Godfather style. It was wonderful and cooked to my liking. It came with a salad and side of pasta. The table also receives bread ad fired zucchini as part of eating there. It's true the parking lot is a little cramped. Took some maneuvering to get my ford fusion out of there but only something to be aware of and not to ding the business for. I would eat here again and recommend it to others.

We are new to San Diego and I wanted to treat my husband to a nice/cozy/delicious dinner. I'm so glad we found The Godfather, it was cozy and delicious, the plates were a great size for a good price. We will definitely come back.

Enjoyed another family style meal at the Godfather, who has a 40 plus year history with a great full menu, excellent items who stand the test of time...I love the veal dishes while is prepared to perfection in 10 different styles... But if you want pasta, seafood, great pollo / chicken, this is your place. Many local dishes , two gentlemen in our party had the sirloin steak and the rack of lamb.. All cooked to perfection. They need some mint jelly to go with the lamb however... Salad are fresh and crispy, homemade soups, fresh breads, and the appetizer of fried zucchini ( included in the meal ) are all delicious. Full bar, great wine list, piano player three nights a week, valet parking... All under the watchful eye of second generation owner Anthony ... Son of the founder. He is the real gentleman and runs a great business... Always looking at staff to insure excellent service....and desserts were wonderful ! Prices are moderate, a great value when you look at the meals are all inclusive of salad or soup, pasta and your entree ordered, parking is tight but complimentary valet solves that, and piano planner Scott has been their entertainer for two decades now... Another enjoyable meal, thanks to Anthony for a nice meal in your " home"....

I was expecting a pizza place with other items such as lasagna, spaghetti, etc. What we got far exceeded that. The ambience was fabulous, a little retro, booths with red banquets, dark wood, waiters in tuxedos and full Italian accents. The food was exceptional. My niece had lobster ravioli which she loved and I had one of the specials, a 18 ounce ribeye steak marinated in garlic and herbs and tender as can be. Also cooked as ordered. At first we thought we were underdressed since the restaurant was so beautiful but in looking around we saw some diners in shorts, flannel shirts, etc. so we felt that we fit in. They also had a piano player who was excellent. Everyone was so friendly. Such a pleasure to dine there. We will be back.

We were with a group for dinner and the food was not only great, but it just kept coming! We had a great experience and took enough pasta home for two more meals!

Excellent food. Free fried zucchini appetizer was delicious!! My pesto linguine was superb. The portions are big share a dish with someone. Decor is unique it has a godfather environment appeal about it. Ladies there's only one stall in the restroom.

Fantastic, as always! Anthony & Kelly made us feel right at home! Food was outstanding: veal saltimbocca & chicken parmigiana!!! It was a humble exchange! Love this place!

This may not be a fair review. I like Italian. A lot. But The Godfather isn't my kind of place. So, I don’t know if I liked the place or not. This is an Italian Restaurant set in the corner of a strip shopping center (parking is a bit at a premium). In front is a nice fountain. Inside it is rather posh with table cloths on all the tables, subtle lighting, fancy napkins. The servers (all men) are dressed in suits, white shirts and black ties. The menu is typically Italian. And a pretty expensive. Though a nice touch, they began with a courtesy appetizer of fried zucchini. Pretty good. And they provided some bread (rather bland). My wife and I shared a fettuccini with clams in a white sauce. Quite flavorful. But was greasy which left an after-taste. Our son had fettuccini Alfredo. He liked it. The service was not good. This server was an older man who seemed consistently confused and seemed to have a hard time taking our order. He was quite slow. It took forever for each item – to take our drink order, to take our food order, to bring the food, to refill our water glasses, to bring our check. He was an engaging fellow. But ran slow. Would we return. Nope. We'd look for another Italian restaurant that was more engaging and a better experience (and less expensive).

Very good Italian old school flair. Great prices for entrees that include a starter. Surprised by included zucchini appetizer too. We had the yummy cannoli too...

Everytime my best friend comes to town it is a tradition for us to go to Godfather's restaurant we always order the tornatore steak which is a filet mignon with a chili and pepper crust this is hands down one of the best steaks you can get in San Diego.. even if you visit a high-end Steak House you will not get a steak like this accompanied with a house salad and a tasty plate of fresh pasta with tomato sauce. Godfather's can't be beat great old school Mafia type ambience excellent service just an all-around great value for anybody looking for Top Notch quality Italian food without spending a fortune!!

I don't live in San Diego anymore but I came back and went to Godfather's for both lunch and dinner! It has not changed!! Same tremendous menu, friendly efficient people and wonderful atmosphere! For those of you on your first visit, ignore the location. Trust me!! Just go in and get one of the greatest meals of your life. And tell Anthony John Kern says Hi!!!!

Outside was very hot, sun shine strongly. Inside was very dark with many pictures of that movie. I ate seafood spaghetti. It was great. I have been eating so many pasta; Tokyo, Rome, etc... This is one of the best spaghetti which I ate. Cost performance was good as well. とてもお勧めできます。シーフードスパゲッティを食べましたがとてもとても美味しかったです。特にコストパフォーマンスがよくあれだけしっかりしたパスタが３０ドル未満だったことにも大変満足しています。室内は驚くほど暗く、これが西海岸のスタイルなのかなと。外に出た時の眩しさ、暑さが忘れられません。ウェイターさんはとても親切で、ことあることに良い雰囲気で状況確認に来てくれました。ダウンタウンから遠いことだけが難点ですが、店自体は自信を持ってすすめられるレストランでした。

The Godfather has been around for a long time. it is a spirited place that has a loyal following. The food is good, the service excellent, and the atmosphere is stimulating. Evert table gets a free appetizer of fried zucchini, which is delicious. The menu is extensive.

Met for business lunch with a regular. I was impressed with the staff, but not with the food or decor. Went for a business meeting with a client who frequents regularly. Booth was very small for a guy over 6'2" and was not comfortable. Since it was lunch, had a salad that was nothing special. Maybe I would try again for dinner but was not that all impressed. Sorry...

We visited recently and we found the food superb. The owner, Anthony, is a gentleman and on hand to advise. My only slight criticism is the service was a bit rushed, we like to take our time and have a breather between courses but I guess that’s personal preference. Overall this restaurant is outstanding. Highly recommended, especially the seafood pasta, it’s unbelievable.

Suggest making reservations as very busy during holidays. Highly recommend veal picatta and sea bass very tasty and complimentary zucchini delicious. Did not like their bread, very hard. Large portions so go there hungry.

I really enjoy the Godfather. The food is always top notch. Most of the staff is excellent. However, you will find some servers are only interested in truly great service if it's a big party or the party is having wine. My last visit was outstanding. Great food and service.

Let me begin by saying that the service is exceptional! The food...not so much. We started with a very tough and rubbery calamari appetizer. The salads were good, but not memorable. My husband had Veal Parmesan and it was nothing special. I had meat ravioli with meat sauce and the sauce tasted like it was burnt. We ended with a delicious piece of cheesecake and cannoli. The food at The Spaghetti Factory is better.

If you are looking for authentic Italian food this is the place. Comprehensive menu that runs the full gambit of Italian cuisine. Wonderful tasty pasta dishes. Extensive wine list. Six of us had two bottles of wine and dinner for under $250. Terrific place.

This place was excellent. Within walking distance of our hotel. This was a recommendation from our hotel and their praise was justifies. I had their Caesar salad one night and the taste was forest and excellent. A nice touch for complimentary appetizer was fried zucchini. Service was good. For being in a strip mall this place was such a nice surprise went went again a second nighT.

Wide selection of Italian food prepared like no place else I know. The staff is very friendly and helpful. The atnosphere leaves you thinking you are in Italy. So many appetizers to choose from. Everything coming out of the kitchen is superb. I have been coming here for years and it just keeps getting better and better. Don't let the outside fool you. It is in a small strip mall. Inside it is very warm and relaxing. Great place for an old fashion Italian meal.

We were regulars at The Godfather for many years when we lived in San Diego over 25 years ago. It's only gotten better over the years!

The great Italian dishes, Rat pack atmosphere, Anthony, the Balistreri family,and staff always make it a special occasion. We love everything about this long standing San Diego jewel. Great place for dinner or lunch. Also, join their G-Club and get some great savings invitations that will have you visiting more often. You can easily join on their web site. Wiseguys welcome...

I have not been to this restaurant in a few years so I was anxious to try it out again. I made an official "date" out of it and made a reservation for 7pm on a recent Saturday Night. As expected the place was crowded. It has a large local following and you can tell most of the customers were considered "friends". They have a real bar so we had a drink in there and moved to our table right on time at 7pm straight up. I hate it when I make a reservation and the host people don't seat me right away. I was happy from the start, nice table right in the middle with a friendly waiter. I prefer old school Italian compared to fancy Trattoria style Italian. I consider this "fancy or dress up" old school Italian. Best of both worlds! I ordered a Sicilian style New York Steak and my girlfriend ordered Cannelloni. My steak was truly great. Tender and delicious. Cannelloni was okay. I thought the sauce was a little too thick. After dinner we had a slice of crazy good lemon cake. I lover that cake. I am happy I gave this place another shot, give it a try. Chris

Cool looking restaurant inside, incredible food, great prices, great service!! We love the vibe here - looks like a flashback from the mafia days in the Godfather movie. The food is amazing - get the filet mignon steak and cannaloni - it's incredible and you'll get two meals out of it! The fried zucchini is so wonderful too - ask for some marinara to dip them in...YUM!!!!

Went for lunch this time with a co-worker and the meal was very good. I tried the chef's veal special and my co-worker had the shrimp linguine with vegetables and artichoke hearts. Her dish could have used more sauce but otherwise it was good. You can't go wrong with this place but my favorite dishes are the steak dishes such as the Sinatra.

I've had friends tell me great things about The Godfather restaurant in San Diego for several years. I just never tried it until last week. Wow, was I surprised! What a great dining experience. I guess Zagat knows what it's talking about when it rated The Godfather one of the 25 best Italian restaurants in the country. It's located in the back corner of a non-descript strip mall about 10 miles north of downtown San Diego in the middle of the Kearny Mesa business park area. But, don't let its location fool you. It's worth a visit. And, once you try it, you'll be hooked! When you enter The Godfather you'll think you've stepped back into the Godfather movie era with its old world dining area complete with red booths and tables, wood paneling and painting and posters from the movie. The Godfather has a small, separate bar area and the live piano music is delightful and not over-powering. We also enjoyed the piped-in classic Italian music. It's as if the Don was still alive and he preserved this place. Many of the wait staff are from Italy or Sicily which gives The Godfather a sense of authenticity and old world charm. The food is among the best Italian meals we ever enjoyed in San Diego. Interestingly, the chef is Mexican (I could tell when the clam chowder was sprinkled with green peppers!). But his team does a wonderful job of preparing authentic Italian dishes. I enjoyed the linguine & shrimp, with garlic & extra virgin olive oil. My guest had the cannelloni paired with seasoned & broiled veal stuffed with prosciutto, provolone & parmesan. Both dishes were excellent and presented on a silver rolling platter -- straight out of the '60s. I loved it! The desserts are made in-house and definitely worth trying. The value is very good. Cocktails and wine are fairly priced as are the entrees. Dinner for two including cocktails, wine and dessert costs about $60 per person plus gratuity. Very reasonable. If you like authentic Italian food and the old world ambience, you'll really enjoy The Godfather located at 7878 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.in San Diego.

I come here a few times a year, but always in December for an annual family holiday dinner. They were outstanding again, after over 40 years of great dining. It’s been three years since my prior review. Finest San Diego Italian dining experience for lunch or dinner. Make a reservation. Owner son - Anthony pays attention to every little details, orig owners Isidoro and Maria are still involved, a proud family. Waiters and busmen all in suits, perfect ambiance inside. Don’t let the exterior or strip mall fool you, it’s a diamond. Their attention to details, cloth table settings, chilled glasses for drinks, chilled salad bowls, full bar and extensive wine list. Memorable. Gifted Piano player Scott on peak nights. Fried zucchini appetizers, bread with oil and vinegar, salad or soup included with meal, not ala carte. Every entree cooked to perfection, pastas, seafoods, great veal, steak and lobster was phenomenal, grilled lamb chops with Demi glaze was over the top, lean, tender, tasty. You can’t go wrong with any dish here. Desserts? They don’t give you a flimsy dessert menu, they bring out a yummy tray of desserts as their presentation, you see what you get, tiramisu the old fashion way , many cakes and NY style cheesecake, canoles are a must. They even serve a Lemoncello drink after dinner, just like in Sorrento or Rome. The high ratings here reflect the great job they do every day, for over four decades now. Just go !

Excellent food, service and atmosphere/environment. One of my favorites! Used to have a piano player but not on our visit; really missed that.

We stopped in due to a recommendation from a friend. We showed up for our reservation and asked the host for a booth. We were promptly seated in a booth and quickly greeted by our server David. The service provided, suggestions, answers to our questions, and command of the menu offerings were fabulous. We weren't super hungry for dessert, and asked for a menu to "look". That's when David threw us for a loop and "got us" but bringing out the dessert tray. My goodness. We had a great time, with great service, and fantastic food. We will be back! I would stop in here if I were in the area.

This restaurant is the real deal when it comes to the Italian tradition. Being from Chicago and Having family in New York and Boston, My family has a pretty good taste when it comes to Italian food. Our table had a variety of dishes From the Veal to traditional pasta to the sea food, everyone was pleased with their food. My veal was fantastic. The appetizers were great as well. Fried Zucchini and the anti pasta plater were really good. I was so surprised of not only the Quality of the food but The taste As well that I had to compliment the owner Anthony and his staff. Being from Chicago , I was anticipating a let down but thank God I was wrong. My hats off too the GodFather restaurant in San Diego. PS. And it continued with the DESERT !!!!!

I have been dining here for over 20 years. It is always consistent, always great, and has never let us down. I guarantee you will have a wonderful meal here. The portions are very generous.

Adventure Godfather's many times and have never been disappointed usually I do the steak but this time I tried the vitello Alla Pizzaiola which was very tasty indeed of course the salad and pasta that comes with it is always delicious and my good friend Anthony was gracious enough to send over a couple of homemade cannolis to top off it was a great dinner will be back

The restaurant is a good size, two large rooms, great ambience, great food. Casual dressing, no running shoes. After we sat at outperform table, the waiter came by our table four times in about fifteen minutes to find out if we were ready to order. I felt a bit pressure—not relaxed. I have been to Italy numerous times and the customary practices in Italian restaurants is “take your time” approach. We finally ordered. I ordered Scaloppine al Marsala...good flavor. It comes with salad or soup of the day. I chose salad. There are three choices of salad dressings...I chose vinaigrette. It was romaine lettuce with the green leaves and hearts 50/50. I left the hearts of lettuce since it contains mainly water. We ordered super Tuscan wine recommended by our waiter Mr. Stefano...wine was excellent.. The waiter served about two ounces of wine in each bottle. And replenishes the serving as needed for a second time stating to me “you drink very fast”....when I had only drank about one ounce of wince...NOT NOT AN APPROPRIATE COMMENT. We could not finish the bottle of wine and left about one third of it after spending two hours in the restaurant. I enjoyed the company, the guy who clears the table was very pleasant, and the atmosphere with great decor/intimacy/dimmed lighting. Our waiter Stefano was great, except that he needs to smile a bit more, he was not very welcoming, and he needs to carefully choose the most appropriate statements. In all other respects, the night was fabulous!

They have a very interesting and comprehensive menu. When I read on their website that they were rated one of the top 25 Italian restaurants in the nation we decided to give it a try. It is a very romantic restaurant. It's dimly lit and the tables are set well apart from each other so there is plenty of privacy. We had a booth against the wall and it was very nice. My husband felt underdressed because the waiters all wear tuxedos. Service is very efficient but we found it somewhat impersonal. No real attempt was made to have a connection with the client. They started us off with a nice plate of breaded zucchini. It was very good and we polished off the whole plate. All orders come with pasta and either soup or salad. My husband opted for the salad and he said it was very good. I had the lentil soup. It was a huge bowl and while it was good I found it to be just a bit too heavy for my taste. As well as the extensive menu they also had 3 specials. I ordered the salmon with scampi, one of the specials that evening. The salmon and scampi were both well cooked but I found it to be just a bit too salty. My husband ordered the veal chop with wine demi glaze and it was magnificent. It was perfectly cooked and just loaded with flavor. The pasta that accompanied the dishes was really boring. The marinara sauce did not have much taste and the pasta itself was not al dente. Hot bread and soft butter came with the meal. That's nice, often butter is rock hard and rolls are cold. After dinner we shared a chocolate grande marnier dessert that was very good but very rich. I can see why Godfather is so popular - it's very romantic, prices are very reasonable for what you get, portions are huge and the food is very good. We go out for Italian food frequently as it is one of our favorite cuisines. We travel extensively. Would I classify Godfather as one of the top 25 Italian restaurants in the nation? I don't think for me it would make the top 25 but it was good and the value is there.

We visited The Godfather at 5:30 pm on a Wednesday. Thank goodness we did as the place was completely filled by 6:30 pm! It is no wonder why. ...the place was amazing. ...the service, the food, and the atmosphere! Two of us shared the Godfather Bread appetizer and the Spinach Tortellini. They were both delicious and very filling. ...we still had a fill meal to take home. This is amust-do if you are in the area!

The food was great the vongole bianca was amazing but the service was terrible we got a reservation at 6 and we got our food at 8 they prioritized the smaller group and it was very loud and crowded so if your going by yourself and have a reservation you'll have a good time but if you have a big group you'll wait for hours for your food

I do not know what has happened but what was our favorite restaurant has really gone downhill! The "welcome" was surly, the pasta side dish was terrible: the penne were overdone, not "al dente", which is unforgivable in an Italian restaurant. The famous Bolognese sauce which was their specialty was nowhere near as good as before, and prices have gone through the roof while the salad is no longer included with the main dish. I will not go back!

Very good restaurant. Agree completely with another review -- like an old time formal Italian restaurant. Not a casual place; more formal. I will come back for more.

great place, can get crowded on the weekends, so make reservations, but well worth the wait and the effort to find the place

We had dinner here last night for a group function and was pleasantly surprised. I've seen this place for many years, in a very commercial area of San Diego, but never had the opportunity to try their food until last night. Glad we did because it was really very good. When we walked in I thought I was back in the 50's with the old style seats, dark wallpaper, lots of beautiful wood trim. I expected to run into lots of old school Italian gentlemen with their lovely wives dressed to the nines; very cool. (Actually, there were a lot of very well attired people enjoying a wonderful meal.) I had the lasagna which had a very light pasta, a delicious meat sauce with just the right amount of ricotta and mozzarella inside, and a light sprinkling of parmesan over the top. And to top it off, the portion was huge. Service was very good. I liked it and will recommend this establishment in the future. Go. Enjoy. Manja.

We were near my son's home in the Clairement area of San Diego and decided we wanted to find a restaurant where we can have a nice dinner and relax. My son had heard of this restaurant, and friends of his have previously used their catering services. Anyway, we were NOT disappointed. The ambiance was quite comfortable, and the food was wonderful! Such flavor in the pasta and sauces!! A little gem in the neighborhood.

Don't be fooled by the exterior of this place, as it it located in a rather nondescript strip mall. This is the real deal, almost like a scene out of the movie! The fountain in front gurgles away, as you walk into the darkened interior of the restaurant to be greeted by your host Anthony, who has a warm way of making everyone feel like family. This was my first time to "The Godfather", however the place has been here for more than forty years. My family has always raved about it, and so this visit I had to give it a try. I was so pleased, the place is terrific. The bar is a nice intimate separate space, and they make great drinks. They serve complimentary zucchini chips in the main dining room with your drinks. Salads were fresh, crisp and I really liked the house Italian dressing. Almost everyone had veal or chicken pizzaiola, with one holdout going with the veal picatta. That doesn't tell the whole story though, specials (branzino, pastas, whole artichoke) sounded and looked great as they went by to other tables. Anthony personally takes a hand in preparing the marvelous tiramisu for dessert. All-in-all the food is really very good and the price is right. Theme appropriate, live piano music wafted unobtrusively through the main dining room on the night we were there. The overall atmosphere and atmosphere are really enjoyable. Highly recommended! Tips: Complimentary valet parking makes arrival and departure very easy. The place is very popular so reservations are a must.

What a hidden gem! Went there with my mom and sister on a last minute recommendation from a friend of my sister’s. It’s located in a small strip mall, so when we pulled up, I wasn’t expecting much. That changed the minute we walked through the door. The Godfather has everything you’d want in a high class restaurant. The maitre d’ and wait staff were all dressed in suits and all gave outstanding service. White cotton tablecloths and photos of the Rat Pack and others in that era, made for great ambiance. They started with a complimentary plate of fried zucchini. I don’t even like zucchini, but they looked so good, I had to try one. Then I had to push them away because I was eating so many and didn’t want to spoil my dinner. I wanted to eat a little on the lighter side, so I had the Pollo Alla Fiorentina (chicken sautéed in white wine and lemon sauce with capers), soooo good! Lots of good options for pasta, seafood, and steaks. We had the cannelloni and some lemon cake for dessert which was fantastic. We were so glad we found this place. I would highly recommend it for family, friends, and a romantic dinner.

Just a so-so high priced Italian joint. The best part of the meal was the free fried zucchini. The salad was good. I had pasta and sausage, no fresh taste to it. Rather boring and there is no reason to return. This review is about as bland as the food and service.

We visited Godfather's twice over 4 nights. The food and service is excellent. Fried zucchini is their free appetizer and is great. Since I am carb restricted I had the meatball appetizer. It was so good that when we returned the second time all of my companions had the meatballs..... The men added the minestrone soup. Whenever we are in San Diego this will always be out go to restaurant.

This place was a little different then the average chain restaurants that seemed to populate this area of San Diego. The food was ok and the salad fresh. The best part was the wait staff all of whom seemed to have stepped right out of the God Father movie! Atmosphere gets high marks too.

We love The Godfather restaurant! The food is delicious and service is superb. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The filet is so tender and flavorful. We begin with their standard zucchini appetizer and house salad. All main courses come with a side of pasta. Be sure to say hello to Izidoro and Anthony. You will indeed feel like you are dining with "The Godfather".