Mona Lisa Italian Foods Reviews

Mona Lisa was recommended by a local. Great Italian food at a good price. Sauce is the best. Right on the India Street, the main drag of Little Italy. Also recommend the meatballs and the ravioli.

Out for drinks with friends. Wanted to go someplace down to earth. And this was it. The place was old school, the food was really good and the service was friendly. The house wine was enjoyable and extremely reasonable - which is hard to find today. Highly recommend.

We greatly enjoyed this restaurant, located in the Little Italy neighborhood. The wait staff were friendly and efficient. The food was tasty. The minestrone soup and veal parmigiana has the flavor as it is served in Italy. Prices were moderate. We highly recommend.

Nice cozy old looking restaurant, not very happy with food quality. I could be much nicer than it was. Price was normal though. Not high not low.

We didn't eat here but thoroughly enjoyed looking around the grocery area with its extensive offerings of all things Italian. There was a line outside just before Christmas. Reasonable prices and obviously very popular.

I have been working in San Diego for the past few months intermittently. Last week my wife flew out to spend a few days here. She loves Italian food and I had scouted out Little Italy on previous trips. Last Friday was a beautiful day and as we were passing Mona Lisa in bumper to bumper traffic a parking spot opened up. We decided to try our luck. Fantastic. We went through the Express Lunch and were blown away by the quality of the food. Washed down with a Chardonnay for her and a Ballast Point Sculpin for me. We went to the zoo on Friday and were undecided for lunch. It was divine intervention that another parking spot opened up! Nate was our waiter and his recommendations were spot on! Again food was great!

I must say, not only is the food amazing, best antipasto I ever had out of all the places I've been, and I've been to a lot of States a lot of countries, but the price, for quality is a gift. The staff is overwhelming with open arms. They take time for talk, help you get acclimated with the area. You can tell they are sincerely true, individuals. Served without asking for what you need more of. They are on it. Not pushy. The wine list is incredible, for such a casual place. The Manager is busy, yet takes the time for questions. I can truly state you will be pleased here.

I have visited Mona Lisa in the past for their excellent sandwiches and well-stocked market. I recently had dinner there and it was superb! My family had Pasta Genovese-lots of garlic!-Eggplant Parmigiana, and Chicken Parmigiana. Salads and garlic bread came with all the meals. Additionally, pasta and vegetables came with the Parmigiana meals. So much food! The flavors were all spot on. When you go, better be hungry!

This was our first time eating here. We went on a Saturday, finding parking in this area during lunchtime was difficult. Give yourself some time to find a spot. Restaurant has been there for a long time and is similar to a luncheon counter. Basic interior with tables and booths. Plenty of food with your order and tasty. Worth the stop and the money. Located in the Little Italy section of downtown San Diego.

Four of us were visiting San Diego and walked into Mona Lisa without checking reviews. We were just hungry and this seemed like an appealing place! We Lucked out! Right away, we felt a comfortable vibe about the place. While waiting for a table, we looked at the family photographs on the wall - some of them going back over fifty years - photos of bright-faced children, hopeful young women and proud elders! We quickly realized that dining at Mona Lisa was like having the family invite you in for dinner! A young man named Josh greeted us warmly and showed us to a booth. He chatted with us and made us feel comfortable. He reinforced the "family invitation" feeling. Later, we met Naomi, our server, who reinforced the feeling. I had chicken marsala and it was VERY good! My wife had chicken parm and enjoyed it. Our companions enjoyed their meals as well! The portions were enormous - but I felt it would be insulting not to finish my whole meal :-). We shared a bottle of wine with our meal and were pleasantly surprised at how affordable it was. There is an Italian deli attached to the restaurant with a large selection of Italian wine, food, shirts, etc. If you have a chance, wander through it after your meal and bring something home!

Mona Lisa was recommended by a local. Great Italian food at a good price. Sauce is the best. Right on the India Street, the main drag of Little Italy. Also recommend the meatballs and the ravioli. One of my husband’s favorite places. For us, it is a must when in San Diego.

It was late at night and we still wanted to experience some authentic Italian food during our visit to San Diego. We were glad that this restaurant was available. We were hoping the reviews were wrong about the sauce flavor but unfortunately they were right. It was bland and too acidic? We had the 1/2 ravioli and spaghetti, spaghetti with sausage and garlic bread (which was on the hard side). Maybe that is how authentic Italian sauce is suppose to taste. We had to add the salt, Parmesan cheese and the container of spice to make it better. We were hungry, we love Italian food so we ate it. But there was nothing remarkable so disappointed from that end.

Our sunset cruise captain recommended Mona Lisa, and we were very pleasantly surprised with the food and the service. We were able to get a table immediately. We had the chicken parm and the linguine with clam sauce. Both were excellent. Had a very nice bottle of Chianti. Good service. Very good prices. Exactly the Italian meal were looking for in Little Italy.

Came here for dinner after a long flight into San Diego. The portions and food were wonderful. Some of the best eggplant Parmesan I have had in a long time. I would come back though just for the garlic bread.

We went on a Saturday early afternoon and there was a queue at the deli display case for the sandwiches and other offerings, even with 5 or 6 counter people making the takeouts. Those in the know ordered by sandwich number and also indicated their choice of the three types of sandwich roll. The Salami and Prosciutto sandwiches were far and away the best we had ever had and we’ve have more than a few!

Good Italian restaurant situated in Little Italy restaurant strip of San Diego. We ordered a pizza and some pastas. The pizza was good. Pasta was so so. Compared to some other very expensive restaurants on the strip, this restaurant has a family vibe and the prices are reasonable as well.

Recommend to me as the best Italian food in San Diego. My wife and I could agree. Our dinner was the best Italian meal we have had when visiting the west coast. Started with minestrone soup. It is easy to make a decent bowl but often you find it a bit too bland or salty or…. But this was perfect - flavorful but nicely balanced. The manicotti was excellent; the blend of cheeses was great and the tomato sauce was thick and rich. Cannoli for desert were best I have since 20 years ago in Boston. Server (Oscar) was there when needed and away when not. All in all we had a great dinner. 75$ for two dinners including wine and desert (before tip) . (Then spent some time and money in their attached Italian grocery store.)

4 trips to San Diego and we had not found Little Italy. This restautant is quiet with fabulous homemade Italian food. It has a food market connected that took us back to Italy with the cheese counter, pastas, meats and dried fish. For kicks we tried the $4.99 bottle of Domino merlot and it was very good.

We were there today for lunch, Monday, December 2, 2024. Excellent pizza very generous in the heart of Little Italy, and very welcome. We recommend and will be back. Very nice Italian grocery also. We are French.

What a gem. While visiting San Diego friends took me to Mona Lisa for a late lunch. Loved this place. Feels like you’re stepping back in time. There are vintage black and white framed photos on the walls. There’s an Italian market attached to the restaurant with the coolest imported food and drinks. One friend ordered the Hawaiian pizza and she said it was really good. My other friend ordered the daily pasta special and a bowl of soup. I had the Half and Half - meat ravioli and spaghetti with meatballs. Delicious. Hearty portions so you won’t walk away hungry.

You can’t go wrong going to Mona Lisa’s. The food is more than decent and the service is always good. Nice and relaxing place to sit and eat. Good house Chianti and old style Italian food. The pizza is loved by some, but I am up and down on it. Not my favorite but OK. I am not a pizza lover so go by that. I always enjoy it here and have never been let down. It is a good place. Spaghetti and other pastas are quite good. Salads are just above average. I give it four stars. Fun, pleasant, good food and drinks.

We were looking forward to dinner on our last evening in San Diego. The restaurant is poorly laid out and there is very limited space while waiting for a table. We were told the wait was 40 minutes however it was 80 minutes although there were at least 10 tables empty waiting to be cleared. I am not sure where the bus staff were or if the kitchen staff were overwhelmed. The food was good, the Hostess and our Server were lovely but they weren’t able to salvage the experience for us

Excellent lasagna and salad. Made a mistake with my wife’s order and they quickly corrected it. Large portions, you could share.

I have been going here for over 10 years. The #8 and #11 are the recommended ones. If you like marinated artichoke, octopus, or calamari, you can't go wrong. Beer, wine, soft drinks and the best bread;all can be found here at the deli. Seating outside or go next door for the hot lunch buffet.

Excellent food, good service, very reasonable prices. Looks as if this place has been around a long time. Not as trendy as other restaurants on India Street, but very busy nonetheless.

Got here really late, before closing, sorry Mona Lisa staff. But, the staff and food was excellent. I would definitely come here again. Our server was great. I highly recommend this spot for some great pizza.

eaten here many many times.classic italian ...great pizza.we all love it....good beers and salads.....and deli is great as well

This may the best Italian food I've ever had. I had the manicotti. My wife had the combo spaghetti and ravioli. Our friends had lasagna and chicken parmesan. All excellent. Amazing garlic bread and salad too. A tiramisu shared by four people topped it off. It's not often I come out of restaurant anymore with the thought of how amazing it is, but did this time. If I only had one night in San Diego, I'd eat here!

Chicken Cacciatore unforgettable. Minestrone super savory. Tiramisu of extraordinary moistness and flavor. This is a hole-in-the-wall spot for those who prefer affordable authentic to upscale. A place to come back to regularly

Wow! Stopped in for a sandwich on the deli side, and, wasn't disappointed! Delicious deli meats; wonderful, fresh rolls that made the perfect sandwich! Their Italian groceries made my mouth water and think of my grandmother's cooking! There's also a restaurant that I wish we had time to try, but I've heard it's fantastic!

We had a great meal and the server recommended a great wine. The service was excellent. Everyone loved the food! We had everything from pizza to chicken piccata at our table. Service was timely and friendly. We will come back when in town.

We were walking around Little Italy looking for an awesome lunch spot and ran into a local who told us about this place. They have a self serve lunch line which was a little confusing at first. We wanted to order of the menu and eventually learned that you order everything from the express lunch line. This mom and pop restaurant are known for their lasagna - it was amazing! Hands down the best I have ever had. Salad and bread also came with our meal. The price was very resonable. It is self serve though - that took us off guard a little bit but wasn't a problem once we understood how it was set up. There were also several people getting sandwiches from the market that is attached to the restaurant. They also looked amazing. This place is definitely a local favorite.

Not sure about all the reviews that say the food is 'authentic'; I've spent lots of time in Italy and I wouldn't say it was that. It is tasty however and the quantities are generous fir reaonable prices, so that's good enough for me!

Pro's * Pretty much all the food is OUTSTANDING! * Good downtown location close to hotels * Casual dining with no wait (weekday dinner) * The sauces / flavors * The gnocchi is amazing! * Prices reasonable (for downtown San Diego) - entree + an alcoholic drink were $29 (plus tip) * Nice Italian music (not live) playing Con's * None!

We ordered delivery via GrubHub to our hotel room in Coronado island. We ordered the spaghetti entree, cheese bread and antipasto salad. The salad was good. The bread was burned and not great. The amount of cheese was good but seasoning was generic to me. I have never been to a true italian restaurant that breaks their pasta!?! Red flag! Sauce was non descript. Hubby did enjoy the meatballs. As we were in a hotel I made sure to order utensils. NONE came. How ya supposed to eat spaghetti or salad otherwise?

Had not been back to Mona Lisa in 15 years. Has not changed at all which was refreshing. Same great meals for reasonable price and the deli next door is great to browes while waiting. They dont take reservations but tables become available frequently. If you get wine in the deli you can enjoy at dinner. They waived the corkage fee.

Mona Lisa is a casual, Italian restaurant good for family dining. It was hopping on a Saturday evening with a number of families with small children using highchairs. Good food, friendly service, reasonably priced. My husband and I ordered eggplant parm, lasagne and two non-alcoholic beverages. Total came to $43 before a tip. We both liked our entrees, salad, bread and veggies and even took home some leftovers to enjoy later on. Nothing fancy here. Just good old fashioned Italian food. We also checked out the adjoining Italian deli where we will order sandwiches in the morning for our plane ride home to New York.

we had the veal scallopini, the lasagna with marinara sauce and lasagna with meatsauce and the canneloni. all tasted great. also the complimentary minestrone soup and garlic bread are very good. lso half a litre of chianti. as desert we tried the tiramisu which was the bwst we ever ate. we recommend this restaurant. do stop there if you are visiting little italy.

My family ate at Mona Lisa in Little Italy recently. We absolutely loved the food! Generous portions, authentic and fast and friendly service. Yes, the atmosphere was outdated, but it reminded us of a Mom & Pop place, like my wife's Nana's home. If you want fancy, urban, trendy, then don't go here. If you want good comfort food, reasonably priced and authentic, then go here. The caprese appetizer was the largest portion I've ever had at an Italian restaurant. Lasagne was hearty and served hot. Especially liked the chicken and prosciutto stuffed tortellini in pesto. Portion was huge - couldn't finish it but wanted to. Minestrone soup was excellent as well. It was a pleasant surprise...we will definitely be back.

I personally went to the side that was a deli and shop. I ordered the spicy sandwich special. It was loaded with all kinds of good meats on classic Italian bread. Only complaint was that it took quite awhile cause it seemed they forgot about my order is the bussle of the shop

Sooo good! We ordered deli sandwiches and there so fresh and delicious! The place was buzzing with locals picking up items for the weekend or a Friday night dinner. The cases were filled with fresh ingredients and so many things to choose from! The best staff ever. One customer told us he has been coming for years and comes in for special dinner items! He said we made a good decision by stopping in. He was right! The sandwiches were delicious! We walked down to the open table area and ate outside in the beautiful weather. Give it a try! You won’t be sorry.

I been couple times at the deli on Mona Lisa Restaurant and i love it, you can find a huge variety of Italian and European products. But I neve ate at the restaurant because i got the feeling it was bad and indeed is Really Bad.. Food is Horrendous nothing close to Italian food I feel like I was eating at at 4.99 casino buffet in downtown Vegas, the quality of the food and products nothing to do with the shop .. is a shame a Lot people goes with the vibe of the look of the shop and what a surprise and disappointed experience... is big boooooohh for this place . ( service and employees are great )

If you like real, fresh, Italian home cooking then this is your place!! Not fancy. Not pretentious. Good friendly people serving awesome authentic Italian food at a fair price!! You won’t be disappointed!!

Very informal place for lunch. Their Eggplant sandwich is outstanding. Their Torpedo sandwich was fair. But you can buy a superior sandwich in the Deli store and eat it in their dinning area. Prices are reasonable.

I grow up on the surroundings of Mona Lisa in the late 60s my Father was a fisherman on the tuna boats and in those days they use to bring torpedos and pizzas and they were delicious, when I married and we have our kids we started bringing them to Mona Lisa and every time that we go always is very good. Pizzas,lasagna, frutti di mare and the antipasto alla mona lisa is very good o and the garlic bread. I absolutely recommend this place and also is one of the originals of little italy.

Loved the food. There was a wait, but not too long and it was worth it. Good service. Good atmosphere

The pizza was OK . But the Tiramisu is worth going back for.We went for dinner . It is a family friendly restaurant. We went on a Thursday night around 5:00 p.m. it didn't take long to get a table at all.

We were in SD for a cruise and the night before we left we headed out for dinner. We were looking for something close to the hotel and not to expensive. This restaurant came up. We took a chance and were very happy we did. The food was really good. The atmosphere is very casual, low key--like the neighborhood Italian place. Prices were decent. Overall, we were happy with our choice and would recommend it.

Excellent Italian cuisine. Simple interior - nothing fancy - great service and all the authentic dishes you'd expect. I ordered the lasagne and it did not disappoint. Parking in front. Fast service. Well priced.

My husband and I decided to eat here through convenience as we were staying nearby. The restaurant was busy for early Saturday evening but we were seated promptly and greeted warmly. Food here is authentic in both taste and size for all things Italian- so come hungry or order the half portion! We enjoyed lasagne and spaghetti and meatballs- both were excellent. We dined a la carte, but for a couple $more you get the choice of a soup or salad to accompany the meal, as well as the garlic bread - you’d need to be super hungry though as portions are huge! We found mona Lisa’s to be great value and they have a fabulous deli next door too

Wonderful Italian deli, market and wine store attached to their restaurant. Great prices and quality on bread, salads, wine, pesto, meats, cheeses. Makings for a fun dinner picnic

We had an excellent meal here. I recommend this restaurant. We had chicken parmesan with added garlic and it was superb. The service was excellent.

Tasty, old school Italian-American dishes. If you are looking for piles of pasta, red sauce, meatballs, and Parmesan, this is the place. Nothing fancy but solid. Reasonable prices, good service, salads served with the venerable sesame seed bread stick, homemade Italian sausage... good stuff!

Been visiting either the retail store or restaurant almost every day. Never was disappointed with the quality or service. Purchased at least 2 cases of different wines using the guidance labels. All were on point. Appetizers and Entrees fit the price point perfectly. Its not Le Cirque, but there not trying to be. Just Great home town Italian Food. Grazie. Vito

We came here for a late lunch. The food was average, the service excellent, and the prices a little high but not unreasonable. The real problem came after the meal when we went to the attached deli and found some excellent Sicilian wines that we wanted to buy but had no easy means to trans port back the ferry we had to take back to Coronado island. I inquired at the check out stand if they had any six bottle carriers or boxes we might use. They indicated they only had paper bags. I then saw some fabric bags and asked if they might provide one of those since I planned to purchase six bottles that would cost at least $200. The lady said no and I suggested she might ask the manager. She made a call and said no but as we were leaving he arrived and proceeded to tell me that people come here to buy cases of wine and that I shouldn’t expect any special treatment. While young, his level of arrogance and rudeness was notable. It’s clear this deli/restaurant has little concern for its customers. I recommend it be avoided.

Great little mom-and-pop restaurant for some real homemade Italian food. Catered to both my vegetarian and my meat-eater husband's diet. Service was fast and efficient.

Went for an early dinner with my kids and husband and had the most amazing Margherita pizza! Truly delicious. Nothing fancy and very kid friendly. Would definitely be back for pizza with the kids again.

Went here for lunch while walking through Little Italy. I saw the Trip Advisor sticker on their front door, so I knew we were in good hands! Their restaurant is cafeteria-style. Order your food and they let you know when it is ready if it is not scooped out right in front of you. The half-order of pasta was enough to feed a family of four plus it came with a salad. Bread was also brought out to our table as well. Service isn't really friendly, but the mounds of food makes up for it. We ordered lasagna, pene pasta with sauce, and I ordered a sandwich. All were incredibly good but WAY too much in terms of quantity.

Nice down to earth and cheap Italian food. Lots of tomato sauce with meat for their half and half spaghetti and cheese ravioli! Their cheese ravioli is tasty and huge! Could be better with their service but their food is value for money!

I have been to Mona Lisa many times. I love the smell of provolone and salamis when you walk in. There are yummy sub sandwiches made to order using yummy Italian ingredients. The market is filled with pasta options, canned items from Italy, wines, toronis, and what else you would expect in an Italian market.

There was a 25 minute wait to be seated but very much worth the wait. The only downside is that parking is scarce. Parked 2 blocks away and paid $15. Went into the attached Italian market while we waited. Cool to see different pastas and beverages from Italy. Once seated, service was quick and friendly. The food was excellent. The sauces had very good flavor. Would definitely recommend this place.

I'm not a fan of heavy sauces, but you can't beat Mona Lisa for value for money. They serve hefty portions of pasta with marinara, bolognese or white creamy sauces like Alfredo. They have daily specials and you get soup or salad, bread and butter and you can't beat the price. My husband is a fan and he is a big eater, but cannot finish his lunch, usually keeps some for dinner. They also make good traditional pizza, no pear and arugula here. It's all good, but not for delicate stomachs.

Nothing is like Italian food, while in Italy but while in Little Italy, we tried Mona Lisa's, a third generation business. The small parking lot was packed. Most people were I'm and out of the market area. We decided to dine in. We ordered the meat ravioli, spaghetti, a ceaser salad and house salad. The portions were HUGE but the taste was lacking something. Overall we left stuffed and could have split a salad and entree.

Mona Lisa is a local favorite in Little Italy. It has Italian comfort food and is always bustling since it has a corner location with an Italian grocery store next to it. We order the chicken parm, spaghetti, and the tornado sandwich - all were decent size portions and tasty. Price was normal for the area. Service was pretty good. Always good to have a fall back restaurant in the neighborhood when you need it. Worth a visit!

OmG found the authentic flavors of old school Italian restaurants like I grew up with in Chicago. The wait to get a table crazy! The waiter was great though and the food was top notch! Tiramisu and spumoni save room for!

If your on a budget, hungry, this is for you. We really liked Mona Lisa for the relaxed atmosphere. Food portions were huge. We had the chicken parm and 1/2 and 1/2. Two big guys left so full. Food was very good, great service. Makes good sense why its been here so long.

When I was brought here I was not optimistic. It's not terribly nice and the menu screamed "Olive Garden." The bread was unappealing and the minestrone not very good. But the entrees - excellent across the board. From my own spaghetti with sausage to others' lasagna and other pasta dishes, everyone was very happy with both the quality and the quantity of their dinner. I'd go back.

TravelBug Everywhere was in San Diego and noticed the restaurant while driving past in little Italy. Was able to walk there from our hotel. Very authentic looking inside, attractive, booths and tables. Adjacent was an Italian deli. Busy with takeaways from the restaurant and deli. We shared cheesy garlic bread (excellent) and enjoyed the salads and soup. Between us, we had ravioli, chicken Alfredo, pizza and lasagna. All tasted home made with real care and well presented. Plenty of food, great service and a reasonable price. Would highly recommend this restaurant for good honest Italian food.

Simple restaurant with very good service and and food tha tastes good as well. It might not be completely authentic Italian but overall the food and service make up for it. Would I go again yes.

My wife and I visit this place from time to time to stock up on the things we usually can only find when in Italy. I like the Vin Santo and she goes for the special cookies.

Looked for a decent restaurant within walking distance from our hotel in San Diego. We were close to San Diego's Little Italy, so Italian it was. The Mona Lisa is a family style eatery a short 5-10 minute walk from our hotel.. We were not disappointed. We were seated quickly and the service was excellent. The portions were large and tasty. Definitely go again when in San Diego. They have a wide selection of excellent wines.

We ate there twice once for dinner and then for lunch. The pizza is amazing. Being from New York area I can be a pizza snob but their pizza is delicious with many options. Really wish they were in my neighborhood.

We went for dinner with 7 other colleagues to Little Italy in San Diego during our visit to California the week of June 17th, 2019 and had dinner at Mona Lisa. We were quite surprised by the unusual combination of flavor, service and price. Additionally, the ambience and the soft background Italian music made out dinner a memorable evening. This restaurant must be one of the best kept secrets in San Diego!!!

We travel to San Diego once a year. Needing to get my Italian dinner. Mm good. If you are in the area please stop by. You will not be disappointed. I also stock up on my supplies when I cook some of my favorite dishes. The chicken comes with a side dish of pasta with red sauce. 😄🌵😄

Amazing service and very good food. We really enjoyed our salads and pastas (fettuccine alfredo with chicken and linguine with white clam sauce). The warm garlic bread was also delicious. Pasta portions were huge! We took home as much as we ate and were totally stuffed. The ambiance is not great, it feels pretty touristy but the food was quite good. Definitely pop into the market next door for unusual foods and great gifts. Added bonus: free parking in the lot in front of the restaurant.

Been hankering for some good Italian food. A lot of great restaurants in Little Italy, but when looking at the Internet choices, I found it calling my name. Ubered it from the Harbor Island Hilton to Mona Lisa early to beat the Friday night rush. Very quaint place, quiet, and quick. The dinner salad was perfect. I loved the homemade Italian dressing; so much so, that I went to the attached Italian deli and bought a pint of it to take home. I ordered spaghetti and meatballs, and it was delicious. The sauce was excellent. Honestly, it was one of the best I ever had. The portions are perfect. I left full, but not stuffed. This definitely is a "be back" place for me.

As we live in San Diego's Little Italy, we have made a point of visiting all the food options around our neighborhood. Mona Lisa may not have all the ambiance of some more modern places, but it does make up for it with great food at affordable prices. this is not the place to go if you want to spend a lot, leave hungry with little to show for it except for a Facebook Check-IN… because Little Italy has plenty of those!

Called in here at tea time. Absolutely wonderful from the food to the staff. The food was quick and very tasty. The staff couldn’t do enough for you. I would eat here again. A proper authentic Italian.

Has a great selection of Italian pastas and pizza. Entrees come with salad and garlic bread so you get a good amount of food. Waitresses were friendly as well.

We were a party of 5 and ordered different things , boy the small Cesar salad is huge! and so are the pizzas , you can easily share . Staff were very nice and it was a good experience. The place could do with a coat of paint on walls and ceilings , but that’s just detail .

I always loved the Mona Lisa when i lived in San Diego and when I went back for a visit proved it was still top notch. It both a Restaurant and a grocery store, which has many imported items from Italy. The quality of meals is delightfully with a taste of Italy right there. It is one of the older establishments in the area before Little Italy was built up and remains a mainstay which loyal customers are happy to have. I will definitely return on my next visit.

I have visited Mona Lisa 2x in the past month. The first time I was with a big group of people. Our lunch was fine and our waiter was attentive. I ordered the lasagna and a couple of glasses of zinfandel. The entire bill was a bit pricey, but the restaurant is in the heart of Little Italy in San Diego. Today, my husband and I stopped for lunch. It was a very disappointing visit. Unfortunately we came during the time they have a lunch buffet. The food at the buffet did not look appealing. I should have gone with my instinct and ask my husband if we could leave. But because parking was difficult to find, I decided to stay. We were able to order from the dinner menu. However, it was in my opinion quite tacky to be in line and order quickly ..I felt pressured to make a fast decision since other people were behind us. I believe that going out for lunch or dinner should be a pleasant and relaxing time..not feeling stressed that grumpy people are wanting one to order quickly..Anyhow....My husband ordered the chicken parmigiana and I ordered a half ravaoli dish..als we shared a bottle of wine. The entrees came with a salad and minestrone. Price of the meal was over 70.00 dollars. I asked for the salad to go..they forgot about my husband's soup...we got it at the end of the meal once we reminded a waitress about it. The wait staff were not efficient. Twice my husband had to look for a waitress to assist us. Sitting besides us were 2 gentlemen who we began to converse with. They too had to look for a waitress because of the lack of attention we were receiving. UNACCEPTABLE!!! If you are part of management and you are reading this..please train your wait staff to be friendlier and efficient. Sorry to say I will NEVER return to this restaurant. If you look at my other reviews, you will find that I am a fair person when I write reviews. There are other restaurants in Little Italy that are not as expensive and you will be treated better. CIAO Mona Lisa!

This restaurant is a must go to. Family run for years. Walking in is like walking into a family home. Servers are fabulous and eager to help and please. The prices are less than the other Italian restaurants on the streets and the food is very very good. It is worth walking to the end of Little Italy to get to this restaurant. Would highly recommend this restaurant. We had a martine, glass of wine, Caesar salad, and pasta. Unbelievable good at an unbelievable price. Try it.

We loved this authentic Italian restaurant in Little Italy! The lasagna was excellent and the Pesto alla Genovese (which I substituted angel hair pasta for the linguine) was very good too. Such nice people working there, we felt like we were a part of their family!

We are tourists and stopped in on a Friday around 4:00. It was not crowded at all and we were seated promptly. Our server was very personable and answered our questions about the menu and the downtown area. We ordered the torpedo sandwich and the mushroom pepperoni pizza. The sandwich was very good; I especially like the sesame seed roll it came on which was toasted and slightly warm. The pizza was very cheesy and the pepperoni was very flavorful. I could not taste the mushrooms because the pepperoni overpowered it, but I enjoyed the pizza very much. We drank water and our bill was 26 and change plus tip. Notably the sandwich was big enough that we each got half and I still brought a few bites home since I wanted to eat pizza as well. The pizza is advertised as 13 inches, but when it came it we both thought it was bigger than expected.

Great portions, not expensive, tasty food, very friendly service. We went as a table of 6 including 2 children and everyone left very happy.

This is not just a place to eat it is an experience! In the heart of little Italy , downtown San Diego, this is a must. Great food , big portions and a great atmosphere, almost no parking and always a line of people who want to eat, but dont be deterred its worth a visit.

This is for the restaurant...no bueno. The chicken pasta I had was so salty I could barely eat it. The sauce was just ok, not much flavor and it was served luke warm/cold in parts instead of hot, very disappointing. The bread was good, the service not so good. I wouldn't eat here again but I do hear the sandwiches from the deli/market side are really good so I do plan to give those a try.

First time here. Nice atmosphere, greeted promptly. We ordered drinks, the Chicken Parmigiana and the Veal Scallopini. The food was decent. The waiter checked on us a few times once our food came to us. When we were done they cleared some of the plates that were left on the table, after that I’m not sure what happened but we were abandoned. No one asked did we want another round of drinks, (we would’ve had several) dessert or coffee! Very disappointing.. the restaurant wasn’t busy mind you. After 10 minutes of sitting there FINALLY the bartender comes out and we had to tell him we would like the bill. Unfortunately this was our first and last time here.

Saturday night during Restaurant Week. Long waits at most restaurants in Little Italy. There was no line outside Mona Lisa so we went in. Service was very good and the food was good old school Italian. My wife had the Chicken Piccata and said it was good. I had Pesto Linguine with Chicken and it was good as well, but nothing special. I like my pesto very garlicky and this wasn't. Portion sizes were good and I had enough left over to take back to the hotel. Prices were about as expected, not too bad. All in all a decent meal!

I like to judge a Italian restaurant by either the spaghetti or lasagna. The go to staple of everyday cooking. My companion of the day had to send back her spaghetti as it was cold. I had the lasagna a pile of noodles was in the middle of a pond of cheese and sauce. The young man serving us was not attentive at all. He could have at any visit to our table taken something away but failed to do so. This establishment needs to step it up a few notches.

We thought the food was excellent. We went on a Monday thinking it wouldn't be crowded. We had to wait, but not long for our table. We ordered a few items and each was excellent. This is a place we will go back to on our next trip to San Diego. We all thought the food, service and staff were excellent. It also was the best value we had in our vacation. Great food at a low cost is hard to find. Atmosphere is family style casual. If you want great food go, if you seek a 5 star look you should look for another.

After waiting for 10 minutes, I was stopped from entering by a young kid that told me that he can't let me in. I asked why, he said his boss said so, I asked him, what did I do? The kid said he didn't know....I spent $50 a day there every day for the last 3 months..I emailed the management for an explanation, but they don't respond.

I lived in San Diego for about 25 years and the Mona Lisa was a regular stop. Since moving away, I only visit occasionally, but during our recent vacation made it a must do. It more than lived up to my expectations. The food was outstanding. I had the eggplant parmaggiana and my wife had Lasagna. The service was professional and efficient. We had to have spumoni for dessert. This is about as close to being back in Italy as you can get. The attached Italian grocery market is not to be missed for a fun browse. Just wish I could visit oftener

We went here as a last minute decision based on a friends recommendation, and I'm so glad we did! It was reasonably priced traditional Italian. My husband had the Chicken Parm, and I had the ravioli. Each came with a minestrone soup or house salad. His came with vegetables as well and spaghetti with marinara. And garlic bread came when the entrees did. We were not disappointed! The other restaurants in Little Italy had long lines and modern food, so I'm glad we stuck with our instincts and stopped into this little gem

Stopped in from a friends recommendation, so glad we did. The lasagna was very good. The sandwiches are outstanding. Great Italian store attached to the restaurant!

I stopped in to get a sandwich for lunch. There were about 10 people in front of me but the line went very quickly. I got the Mortadella and it was fantastic. Two people could share these sandwiches because they're huge. I enjoyed it at a table outside. I'll be back!

Service was a bit slow initially but improved after our order was taken. Food was good but not great, and was a bit pricey for what we got. Enjoyable but nothing about the meal left me longing to return.

Portions at this restaurant could serve 2 people so we opted to share a dinner and pay the $2.50 split fee. It was perfect. We had delicious chicken marsala with Spaghetti and a tasty tomato sauce, salad, grilled vegetables and garlic bread. We shared an excellent house made tiramisu. Our waitress, Mara was very sweet and helpful

Just another super positive review for this restaurant. Great service, great food in a family friendly atmosphere. Never had better Chicken Marsala, and the spaghetti sauce was perfect!

Just a little off the main Little Italy row of restaurants, the food is so good. I had Chicken Marsala and a mista salad. The chicken was tender and the mushroom sauce was delicious. The waiter was charming. We had a short wait but browsed the next-door Italian grocery for fun. The decor probably hasn't been changed for a while but it still evokes an Italian street feeling. I highly recommend you give Mona Lisa a visit.

This rather large restaurant and food store serves tasty Italian dishes. The service is excellent, not just friendly but also efficient and observant. Prices are moderate so all in all a pretty good choice.

Ordered the cold sandwiches with instructions to slice in quarters. They were ready for pickup exactly when requested. I also like dining in the restaurant but this order was for lotion with friends at home. Everyone loved the food. We also like eating at the restaurant.

An altogether bad experience. Food was extremely disappointing and took a long time to be delivered. I ordered linguine with clams, it smelt bad and the pasta had no taste, nothing like hundreds of other decent Italian restaurants I have visited, they have a real problem with their chef. Servers offered us free drinks and took two entrees off the bill to compensate.

Stopped by and had a glass of wine, minestrone soup and garlic bread. The garlic bread was the best but a good solid minestrone

I went for the Angel Hair al Pomodoro very bland and they killed it with to many tomatoes which looked more pink than red. Could not taste the basil, olive oil, onion, garlic and romano. only upside is the deli next door.

Genuinely confused as to what my meal was. Ordered chicken piccata and I don’t even know what was on the plate when it arrived!!! I’ll attach a photo below. Terrible warm chicken, too many mushrooms, no lemon, an orange peel (?) and a side dish of cold spaghetti with red sauce.....WHAT???? Definitely will never recommend or go again.

True ambiance and feel with delicious food to match! Caution to allow time for the challenges of minimal parking. Good selection of menu items and if you are a fan of wine they have a grand selection for you as well.

Great mom & pop Italian restaurant - not fancy but food was delicious! Our table had lasagna, pizza, 1/2 spaghetti & 1/2 cheese ravioli and did not disappoint. Starts with a nice salad and garlic bread. Good size portions and very flavorful. Try the Tiramisu - so good!! Service was efficient and we could hear one another talk which was great since we were there to visit my daughter. Also enjoyed having parking in front for my mom to be able to access easily. Would definitely go back!

I have not eaten at Mona Lisa in over 10 years. The food and service have not changed – excellent. I had the lasagna – a winner. My wife, son and daughter in-law had cannoli – a winner as well. My other son ordered a margarita pizza. I thought the pizza had way too much cheese and the crust were not crispy enough for me. We had a bottle of Sicilian wine for just $23 and it was wonderful. In the deli one can order take out sandwiches. We bought several pounds of black pasta which is not available in our town. It is worth walking through the store – a true Italian deli.

We were in Little Italy for the Christmas celebration and decided to have dinner at Mona Lisa. My kids started off with a Caesar salad which was covered in Romano cheese! They said their pasta dishes were disappointing. My older son had just returned from a trip to Italy, and we thought this would remind him of the delicious cuisine he had enjoyed there, but it did not.

If you want great old school, homemade Italian food with portions large enough to share and a delightful and affordable deli and market attached, do not miss this restaurant! We loved every bite of our Chicken Picatta and Cesar Salad (one order we shared at the recommendation of our fantastic server), and we then purchased two bottles of Sicilian wine at the market before calling it a night.

Went with friends who live in San Diego. First impressions not great, no queue, compared to other restaurants near by, dark inside and tables were not very clean. However we had great service and the food we ordered was very good. We had a pizza and 2 lasagnas between four of us and was more than enough. No doubt not the best Italian in San Diego but decent Value For Money

Found this restaurant while walking through little Italy in San Diego. Menu looked good so we went in. I felt like I was in Italy. The service was great and the food was wonderful. I had a dish with all kinds of fish and consider it number one out of all the other restaurants we went to. Highly recommend.

Our last night in San Diego my husband and I wanted a basic Italian dinner and went to Mona Lisa. The restaurant was exactly what we were looking for as far as dinner that evening! We had been to a nicer Italian Restaurant in Little Italy earlier in the week and wanted something basic! When you walk into the restaurant it is very dark and dated (the look they are going for) so keep that in mind. It isn't like the other restaurants in Little Italy. They have paper place mats and it is very simple! The food however, was very good! All meals come with either a salad or soup and amazing bread! My husband had the veal parm and I had the eggplant parm. Both were delicious and come with a side of veggies and a side of pasta... no need for an appetizer here! We saw some pizza come out to a table next to us and it looked wonderful! If we come back to San Diego, we would return here for pizza! Would definitely recommend if looking for simple italian or a family/kid friendly restaurant. Portions are a very good size so keep that in mind!

This is definitely an old school Italian restaurant; no trendy decor or “reimagined “recipes here. What you do get is an authentic Italian meal with homemade pasta and sauce in a relaxed setting. Our group of ten was promptly seated and treated to a relaxing Sunday dinner just like the Sundays of long ago at Grandmas house. Sandwiches from the deli side of the house are excellent as well; sit outside on the India street patio and enjoy!

Little Italy is always busy, so we found parking close to Mona Lisa and decided to eat there. They offer a quick meal off their buffet-style menu which was perfect. One of us had lasagna/salad while I had an eggplant sandwich. The food was good, inexpensive, and we were full when we left.

This quaint Italian resturant is amazing. Hot and delicious. We've had lunch and dinner here several times. The Chicken Piccaita is amazing, pasta dishes and pizza. Next do the resturant is their little local store - were I have purchased my pasta, wine and fine crackers - meats and cheese are outstanding. This is not one to pass up.

Have been here a couple of times before and wanted to split a pizza and salad. The service here is very good and it was not busy when we arrived for an early dinner. Would recommend for pizza, pasta or subs!

Just horrible. Hoping to enjoy an authentic Italian meal and the 5 couldn’t choke down any of it. Right from the dishwater flavourless minestrone, the lack lustre caprese salad to the main course of clam octopus and shrimp linguine dish. The sauce was like they had forgotten to drain the pasta (which appeared to be out of a box anyway) and the seafood was simply the medley you get in the freezer section of a discount grocery store. Not a lick of garlic or flavour in any of it. Another had gnocchi with what tasted like a can of tomato soup on top. Another had the shrimp dish. One would think that if you are near an ocean the least you could do is keep the freezer-burnt fish out of your kitchen. Not one thing to like about any of it. The rancid icing on the cake was the “fine-dining” price plus the 20% automatic gratuity! Do yourself a favour and by-pass this restaurant and choose the one a few doors down which served us a fantastic meal a week before.

Their Lasagna, and Veal Piccata, is the standard that all othwr Italian restaurants are judges by. Service fantastic. And the deli, such a good selection.

Excellent service and food. Went back a second time. Chicken Marsala was excellent! Highly recommend.

I have now been here five times. I discovered the garlic pizza on my first visit and it keeps me coming back when I visit San Diego. The ambience is simple, but nice. The staff have been very friendly on most visits. The attached Italian market/deli help make this a great destination.

My first time in the Little Italy area in downtown SD. It’s a really nice lively area. I stopped at Mona Lisa for a late lunch. I was very hungry after all the walking at the Zoo. They were still offering the lunch menu until 3 PM. The lasagna not only looked good but tasted great. I also tried their spaghetti and meatballs. Awesome taste. Served very hot and with good spices. The staff was great. Very friendly and helpful. The restaurant is clean n the people there are constantly making sure everything is clean n ready. I recommend you give them a try. Thank you.

Nothing fancy, but VERY delicious. Lunch prices are very reasonable--get there before 3:00. At lunch, you pass through a service line, pay, seat yourself, then get food delivered for the most part. After 3:00, it's full table-side service. I LOVE their sauce, their minestrone soup and their spinach/cheese lasagna that oozes, bublles, and cascades all over its serving plate!

it was worst experience of my american tour. my soue is splitting when is delivering. and veil smelled old food. i have to left food almost. 한국인들 절대 가지마세요. 백퍼 후회합니다. 스파게티 송아지고기 뭐 하나 제대로 된것 하나 없습니다. 스프는 진짜... 무슨 음쓰인줄 알았네요.

Fabulous food and atmosphere in Mona Lisa. So good we went two nights in a row. San Diego itself is a lovely city and we found everyone so helpful and friendly. It's a number of years since we've been. But would definitely recommend it for a visit

This is a great, traditional Italian family restaurant. No pretentious airs are put on here. Prices are reasonable and food portions are generous, and the food is great! I ordered the lasagna and received garlic bread and a salad as part of my order. The salad was freshly made and the garlic bread was to die for. When in Little Italy, walk a bit further north and bypass all the hip Italian joints that charge 50% more than they should, and head for Mona Lisa's

We ate at Mona Lisa and it was fabulous. The Last Lasagna is the best I've had so both of us ate it. This restaurant also has an Italian market that makes sandwichs but we didn't try it. If you like Lasagna then Mona Lisa is the place to visit.

We no longer live in San Diego and make sure to get sandwiches from the deli every time we are in town! You can't beat the Caprese (add avocado) and the Italian sub. We love Mona Lisa's sandwiches so much that we ordered them for our whole bridal party on our wedding day while we got ready!

Took a mini walking tour of Little Italy and I didn’t expect to find Mona Lisa Italian foods. Actually, I thought it was just a market which initially set the bar fairly low. To my surprise when I walked in, it was quite opposite. I absolutely fell in love with the shop; the variety of wines, produce, olives, pasta and the deli! Mona Lisa is also attached to a restaurant that we didn’t get to try but the deli counter made absolutely delicious sandos. Got the spicy special – spicy sopressata, pepperoni and capicollo. Of course, all the deluxe deli sandwiches came with all the fixin’s; lettuce, tomato, onions, Italian dressing, mustard, mayo, salt and pepper. * Extras: 1.25 each roasted red peppers, cheese, artichoke hearts, avocado, giardinara Definitely, looking forward to my next visit!! Outdoor seating, Dog friendly!

Wanted to get some authentic Italian food and decided on Mona Lisa. The minestrone was great like other reviewers said. We also got the veal parm and lasagna. The lasagna had huge chunks of ricotta cheese and was delicious. Has a small store within to get your grocery needs.

I had the opportunity of vising the store this last weekend. I was a treat just to be there. We got some salami and the little sandwiches on the counter. So good and fresh, we went back the next day before leaving town

Ordered deli sandwiches for super bowl, so asked for them "dry", no mustard, dressing on the side. We put them in the fridge until halftime, then found out they had both mustard plus dressing. Soggy bread, but still Tasty with quality meat and cheese. . They would have been wonderful if not so soggy, since Mona Lisa is known for crusty fresh bread. Lesson, check your orders.

This was one of the absolute best vacation date night dinners we had! We were already tired so we just did the spaghetti and the Alfredo, but they were both so good it was all gone in a flash

This is an unpretentious little place on the outside and inside as well. The atmosphere is casual. The decor could use a little sprucing. Some lighter carpet in the dining area would help. But that aside the food was delicious. We started with the antipasto salad. The small would be plenty for three people. It had a nice variety of cheese, meats, and lettuces with a very nice dressing. The minestrone soup was definitely homemade filled with lentils, beans and vegetables. I had the chicken Marsala and it was prepared perfectly with a light Marsala sauce. The chicken was tender enough to cut with a fork. There are many, many restaurants to choose from in Little Italy but we were happy with our choice of the Mona Lisa.

This has got to be the worst run restaurant I have ever been to. Long waits, but empty tables everywhere. Hostess bussing tables instead of managing the door. No real organization, ie skipping over smaller parties to accommodate larger parties. Wait times are really just a guess, ours was double what we were quoted. It’s too bad there is no option for a zero rating.

Very nice and fairly priced. Offers authentic Italian food.. and unfortunately..Italian service :-) But it's a great place to stop

This was amazing. Fast service, great value for money and the food was very very good. Cozy atmosphere. Really great place.

I feel as if this restaurant is badly in need of an update. It's really dark and depressing and just looks old. Carpet on the floor in a restaurant is a real turnoff for me. We had a simple meal of spaghetti with a meat sauce which was good. I did not care for the garlic bread. Service was fine but won't go back.

Not much to look at as far as the building, but food was great. I couldn't believe the ravioli was amazing!!!

Craving some good Italian food. Got some garlic bread to start, delicious!!! Order the shrimp Scampi and caesar salad for both of us. The garlic bread!!! Awesome! Recommend it!!

Save your hard earned money. We went into this place expecting to get top of the line Italian food. Boy, were we disappointed. I was expecting to get a delicious chicken piccata at this so called authentic Italian restaurant in Little Italy. None of my meal even closely resembled chicken piccata. No lemon, no capers, no buttery garlicky wine sauce, no chicken on a bed of angel hair pasta. Just a nasty looking butterflied breast with a ton of mushrooms piled on top, a chunk of carrot on the side and a slice of orange peel. On the died thick lady's with marinara sauce. That is not chicken piccata. My daughter got the same thing and was also majorly disappointed. Not worth the $18 price tag for the meal. My husband got a dish with seafood and it was cold and tasteless when he got it. He offered a suggestion of taking it to the kitchen and tossing it in some olive oil and garlic- did not happen! He just received the same tasteless dish at $21. The manager did come out and we expressed our disappointment and he did take the meals off our ticket, And offered to make us something else. Unfortunately I had lost my appetite because the food was so awful! Suggestion - Go a little further down India Street where you come to the Little Italy sign over the street to find excellent Italian restaurants.

After a day of shopping I stopped in to order a Meatball sandwich. A favorite of mine I rarely order. Hot foods are ordered from the restaurant. So I browsed the deli while I waited for my food. I was not disappointed, as I had heard the bread/rolls used were exceptional. It was the sandwich I was after and would recommend .

Had a simple mozzarella pizza, cannoli and drink. Best I've tasted in the US. Better than some in Italy. Service was great. The cannoli was ok but not the best I've had. Best part was it only cost 25 bucks for 2 people.

The restaurant is exactly how you would expect a family Italian restaurant in the east coast to look, the food was excellent I got the shrimp scampi and it was great, my kid got a pizza and it was so good I ended up eating all the leftovers. We also got a tiramisu and it was absolutely perfect

Unpretentious family style Italian restaurant. We ate here at supper, at lunch and also did take out Tiramisu. Supper was salads (mista and caesar) and Mona's special pizza. All was good and the generous liter of house rose wine made a nice accompaniment. The lunch was an Express lunch, with served generous portions of lasagna and salad. The takeout tiramisu was also fresh, delicious and generous. Would recommend this place to anyone visiting the area.

This is an example of if it's not broken don't fix it. Most of the Italians in little Italy are glass buildings and serve modern and contemporary Italian cuisine. This place is old school on look and had a a warm feeling to it. My wife and I wandered around little Italy and ended up in here after viewing the great array of foods that they have next door in their deli. I ordered the lasagna and it was the size of a house a brick. Lots of cheese, lots of meat and lots of flavour. If we have time we will try and visit here again.

The pasta servings are big! The garlic bread is amazing. The margherita pizza has a lot of gralic on it, which I love! I hear they’re known for their sandwiches at the deli! Will definitely go back for that!

We went with a group on a Sunday night. The place was very large and was able to seat us without reservations. The food was amazing and would highly recommend!

First time in San Diego, we were looking for a good Italian dinner. Found Mona Lisa - waited about 5 minutes for a table and restaurant was very busy. Our server Josh was outstanding! Food was fantastic! Garlic bread was delicious and comes with the meals. We had Fettuccine Alfredo - Veal Parmigiana - Gnocchi Alla Vodka! All fantastic! Decided to have Cappuccino - Cannoli - Tiramisu - we left satisfied and very full!

The food was incredible, the servings generous, and the prices reasonable. I felt like I was in an Italian grandmother's kitchen! The market attached to the restaurant is also delightful.

We had a great dinner here. So many item to choose from. If you are looking for authentic Italian this is the place. Highly recommend Mona Lisa. Very affordable and quaint.

A more family style Italian restaurant in the Little Italy district. Not much atmosphere and somewhat dumpy but great service and good food. The salads were nice and my friend had the pesto pasta she really liked. I had a cannelloni bake dish that was tasty. Both our portions were so big we couldn't finish them. If you want a good Italian meal in a casual setting, try it out.

The Caesar salad was very good as well as the pizza and the lasagna, these dishes were delicious and so good that we left feeling so stuffed, and happy!

Excellent entrees in and old style Italian restaurant in the little Italy part of San diego. The minestrone soup was average but the veal parm was excellent and a big serving!

We came here for supper after reading some of the reviews about Mona Lisa's and wanting some good Italian. I ordered the half and half..... spaghetti and ravioli with meat sauce. The sauce was delicious as was the ravioli, pretty sure they were both homemade . My husband had the lasagna and he said it was the best he ever had. The portions were good and the prices great. Service was good as well, friendly and attentive.

We ordered and picked up lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs to go to eat back at our hotel. The servings were huge and the food was terrific. Food was ready right when they said it would be.

Traditional family Italian featuring typical favorites - homemade minestrone soup was very good. Chicken Parmesan was tasty, pasta with shrimp and clams very good, veal piccata. Big portions of food. Friendly service.

Went here with four co-workers for lunch. I ordered fettuccini and was told it would take 10 minutes, no problem that was at 11:14 am - time on my receipt. Everyone else was served but me and at 11:35 we asked about my meal. At 11:44, 30 min after ordering, my food arrived. I asked about the delay and she said my order was given to another table. So, not very enjoyable to eat last when everyone else was done. I will say the food was excellent, but clearly they lost my order and did not realize it until we asked. This was NOT a busy day or huge lunch rush, just slow-steady customers in no hurry. So be aware this can happen even to the best places. I think this was a genuine mistake and would go again for lunch. The pasta was perfect, the sauce cheesy and garlic bread perfectly toasted! Worthy of your attention- try Mona Lisa on India Street, you will not be disappointed.

I visited Mona Lisa upon the front desk clerk’s recommendation. It was a nice family restaurant within walking distance of the hotel. I ordered the veal piccata that came with a side salad, pasta with sauce and a basket of garlic bread! It was delicious and the server was attentive and welcoming. I will definitely visit again when in town.

The dining room in the restaurant could use a good cleaning and a general refresh. The food itself was good though not the best Italian food I’ve ever had.

We started eating here almost 30 years ago, when my husband was at monthly Navy Reserve drills in San Diego. Before returning to AZ, we'd extend our stay using a couple days vacation and always include dinner here. This trip was to get out of the summer heat for a bit and after a day in Balboa Park, we stopped with fingers crossed it hadn't been impacted by Covid. Fortunately, we experienced the same smiling, friendly faces and conversation and savored great food! Bonus: their wine is very reasonably-priced and their 13" meatlovers pizza & side salad were so laden with toppings we took 3 slices to savor at home!

On a Sunday evening the wait was about 30 minutes for a table. We were greeted quickly and orders taken. The Cheesy Garlic Bread was delicious as an appetizer and their sauce was wonderful!!! After that we waited a very long time for the rest of our food. The Alfredo sauce was also incredible!! Get it! The pizza came out wrong and was just ok. They did take care of they issue for us. I would definitely go back. Get the garlic bread and something g with Alfredo sauce!!

We went here for dinner on a Friday night. Waitress was very nice, friendly. My wife had pasta with chicken and Alfredo sauce. It was a bit dry and had to ask for more space, which then gave it a better taste. My pizza was very good.