Petrini's San Diego Reviews

If you want great home style cooking, great variety and fantastic pizza - this is your place! Every time we are in San Diego we make sure we stop here for dinner. Don't forget to take some dressing home with you too!

My husband and I have eaten at Petrini's many times and have found it a good experience each time. Our son and daughter-in-law also had their wedding rehearsal dinner here and it was very good. My husband usually orders some kind of pasta and I have fish, and both are really good. Recently we stopped in for lunch and had a torpedo sandwich which was also very, very good. Really recommend this place!

We enjoyed our dinner that was served by a friendly waiter. Restaurant closed early so that their employees could enjoy their holiday party. Consequently, we received VERY personalized and fast, efficient service!

We go to Petrini's whenever we go to San Diego. The food is consistently excellent as is the service. On this visit we also tried their breakfast and were very happy with their offerings!

Eight of us had a happy dining experience at Petrini’s including our two grandchildren. We started with a large salad with greens, salami, olives, provolone and mozzarella and continued with various pasta dishes including baked ziti, lasagna, and gnocchi; the food was just OK and the service very good. Dining with small children is not always easy but Petrini’s was just what we needed.

Lovely friendly atmosphere from the minute you walk in. Great location as you enter Little Italy. The food was fresh, hot and delicious. Service with a smile. Very good value.

Different and better versions of the your favorite Italian dishes (e.g. lasagna). I had the chicken/pasta dish (can't remember name) - yummy. Good portions. Nice ambience. Decent service. Decent coke mix.

Went here because the line at Filippi’s was down the block and we were hungry. Wen went in after a few minutes waiting and then we sat for a half hour with only water on the table. My wife had to ask for bread. Turns out they got a group of folks that overwhelmed them. We complained and the owner came over to apologize and made everything right. He was more than cordial and bought our wines. Food turned out excellent. Good ending

An authentic italian retaurant just off the Little Italy main streets. At 7pm on a Sunday night it was not busy. Staff were attentive, friendly and efficient. Prices very reasonable. We choose chicken piccata on spaghetti, which included salad or minestrone soup. The spaghetti was perfectly cooked, the sauce was flavourful & the chicken breast thinly sliced & tender. A glass of sauvignon blanc complemented the meal. A 'proper' New Zealand wine (so much better - and less $ - than the one we had in little Italy the previous evening). We were persuaded to follow with a slice of excellent chocolate cake. Multi layered and heavy with chocolate. Delicious! All in all, thoroughly recommended!

Stopped there for some brunch. I had this poached egg dish with tomato sauce..I had never had anything like that before and it was so good!! This is coming from an Italian girl born and raised in New York City- go check this place out.

We stumbled upon Petrini's looking for a parking space downtown (parking structure is just around corner from restaurant). Quiet, eat inside or outside, menu totally a wide selection of Italian food. Excellent cook and servers. Hard to make choice due to wide variety, but we both had sandwiches for lunch; excellent. For a single, small group or large family, highly recommended, give 'em a try! We will be back on our recurring trips to San Diego.

This restaurant is always on our list when we visit San Diego. Hearty Italian fare served up with a smile. Don't hesitate to eat here; breakfast is also delicious!

I eat there at least once every two weeks. They have specials, along with a normal Italian menu which is extensive. You can get food to go if you don't feel like dining out, and the owners are lovely people.

A party of 6, eating outside in the patio on a summer evening, perfect. Wonderful food & service. Prices are reasonable.

The waitstaff is so friendly! The food was great! The Italian wedding soup was delicious! Pizza is a thin crisp pizza that was perfect! Did I say how friendly the waitstaff was - such great service with a smile! Would come here again next visit!

Our service was very fast and efficient. One special diet in the group of 4 had good recommendation from our server. Everyone enjoyed their dinner and found the prices reasonable.

Having travelled from England for a wedding and been in dire need of some great Italian cuisine that our hotel and their recommendations could not provide, my Dad and I stumbled into Petrinis. We have never been so well looked after, so well fed and there was some excellent red wine to enjoy as well. The wedding soup is a must as a starter, even the large portion isn’t enough. We would happily have had more. Puttanesca pasta was excellent, my Dad enjoyed his pasta too (was too busy enjoying my own food to notice what he ordered) and when we came back for lunch a couple of days later the pizzas were excellent too. Fully recommend, thank you for looking after two lost Brits.

I've been to eat a gluten free pizza. The pizza itself was half burnt and the place is extremely sad. Needs a renovation. Personnel doesn't speak a word in Italian and the home wine is awful. Do not go!

My husband and I had dinner here tonight as it was a block from our Best Western Hotel. It was around 5:30 so they were having Happy Hour specials. We ordered two glasses of house wine at $5. each. My husband had the shrimp and pasta entree for $19. He said it was excellent. It came with a nice salad and garlic bread. I ordered the lunch portion (an option they give you on a number of dishes) of pasta with roasted peppers and a house made sausage. (About $11) It also was excellent and was accompanied by garlic bread. Nice atmosphere with black tablecloths in the Little Italy area of San Diego. Highly recommend!

We were a bit pressed for time to take our daughter to San Diego airport and stopped in here for a take out. The caponata sandwich with cheese was very good. Service is friendly and quick.

Real Italian fine eatery. Large portions, and you will be charged appropriately. Great adult type restraunt.

Great food and excellent service. My sister and I ordered an antipasto salad and meatball sub. Delicious!!! The waitress was also great. She suggested some tourist sites and when we asked her for directions to a shop -she took out her phone and googled directions for us. Don’t remember her name but she was from Pennsylvania, dark haired with arm tattoos. A great Saturday lunch experience !

We were looking for an authentic Italian restaurant for lunch when we came across this quaint little place. The food was excellent and the staff was very friendly.

Visited on a weeknight with a reservation - didn’t need one as it was 10% full when we arrived. Were told to “sit anywhere”. Service was fine until restaurant got busier, and then our server was obviously being pulled in to other tables, and then we had to look for him. Ordered bruschetta (just okay - the Parmesan cheese was a granular cheese (like out of a can maybe?)), the tomatoes and basil were excellent. Friend has veal Marsala with penne, she loved it. I had veal parmigiana - it was okay - not the best I have had -give it a grade of B. Asked for vegetables, which came on same plate, had a huge amount of butter sauces which ran all over the veal - and frankly ruined the taste. I would suggest getting the vegetables on the side. Friend had the minestrone - she loved it. I ordered the side salad with Italian dressing - dressing VERY strong, salad was not anything special. Garlic bread comes with dinner - again, okay, not special. No bread served before meal - that was a disappointment. Portions were a very good size. We declined dessert. Would I go back - yes.

Delicious Italian food and yummy desserts (especially the cheesecake). We walked here for dinner after visiting the USS Midway. It was about a 15 minute walk.

We had a taste for some good Italian style pizza, and so settled on Petrini's which was near our hotel. At it turns out, a few minutes made the difference between average and good pizza. We ordered a pepperoni and mushroom pizza, our favorite. It came out promptly, but a little bit two promptly--the pizza could have benefited greatly from an additional minute or two in the oven. Instead of bubbling and browning cheese on top, we got ooey-gooey but mostly un-browned mozzarella. Instead of a nicely browned crust on the bottom, we had a bland, pale white crust, just not cooked quite long enough. I will say that the toppings were tasty, the cheese and pepperoni were good and the sauce was good as well. But as for the crust, it seemed a bit bland, but perhaps because it was just not cooked long enough. I really wanted to like this place in San Diego's Little Italy area, but they just did not hit the bullseye on our visit there.

Can’t go wrong with anything g on menu. Very happy - a true Italian eatery. Please give yourself time- enjoy the food and relax. Service isn’t super fast - but no one misses that as every bite is worth it.

I found this place in the idine program and also was able to make a reservation on Open Table. We went for a late lunch/early dinner so we could enjoy our hotel lounge later. I was just going to drink water, but Betty V, our server per the receipt, accidentally brought my other half a red wine instead of the white ordered so she asked me if I wanted it (at no charge) because it would have to be poured out so I had that glass (not sure which wine??) while my other half got his G-Fiano Antica Masseria. We both ordered meals that came with soup or salad and garlic bread (the dinner plates and the specials). We both had the salad with house dressing (olive oil) and shared the 4 pieces of garlic bread. I had the Veal Parmesan w/ Spaghetti while my other half had a Canneloni. Service was friendly and efficient (except for wine issue), the food was very tasty with good sized portions at fair prices (just over $20 for each entree compared to much more 2 blocks away at the harbor??). I have already recommended this place to a friend visiting San Diego in the fall and would definitely return here if back in San Diego. Their being in the idine program was just a big plus. We were too full and did not have dessert. Also, we sat on the outside terrace and watched the people stroll by, many with their dogs. The bathroom is inside and was very clean. In summary, a great find!!!

we enjoyed our lunch on the patio. The sandwiches were well done and presentation was nice. Staff was friendly and helpful. Would return.

Great find on recent trip to San Diego! Food is superb! The portions are huge! We ordered the 1/2 portions and they were large enough even for the men in our party. Our waitress was wonderful! I highly recommend this restaurant!

Fantastic restaurant. Awesome food and wonderful staff. Located in the city near little Italy but your u need go no further for pasta and pizza. Make this one a definite stop on your trip to San Diego

My second time here while traveling on business and it's a great find! An easy walk from the waterfront/ cruise boat terminal area. Excellent cuisine and friendly service. Fun place for appetizers and drinks as well as a full Italian meal. Italian sausage is made in-house and delicious- outstanding value for the price. Great atmosphere with bright and open concept. Definitely on my list of favorites in San Diego!

Petrini's has excellent Tuscan Italian food. I especially love their Shrimp Scampi dish. Their lasagna is also delicious. The portions are generous. While there, we had the privilege of meeting one of the owners. She is delightful and her whole team is top-notch and very attentive and accommodating.

We stayed in the hotel opposite and dined here on 2 occasions and both times the food and service was excellent. Large menu choice, happy hour and very close to home, what could be better?

This restaurant is on the south end of Little Italy, a block (or so) from the hubbub. So when other local restaurants are over-crowded and noisy, Petrini’s is more subdued. The food is delicious … perfectly prepared traditional Italian/American cuisine; Chicken parm (you taste so good), Italian sausage, pizza, etc. It is truly a locally owned proprietorship; chef David is often in the kitchen, while his wife runs the front. Family restaurants like this are dying off as the big-investment, formulaic, gimmicky corporate institutions take over. This place is a hidden gem!

Yet again went for dinner and had the best pizza and lasagne. I love the atmosphere and the friendly staff provide excellent service. Brought home some bottles of dressing.... It is the best!

This is a great place to eat. A good selection of Italian dishes in a good location. Easy to find right on the corner. The service was outstanding and so were the flavors. Fair prices and a good atmosphere. I'll be back.

We had a nice, tasty dinner of lasagna with meat sauce, a pizza and some canoli’s for dessert. All was good. We ate on the sidewalk dining area which was nice and quiet. Our servers were friendly, efficient and alert. Really a nice experience. Prices are correct.

First time visitors to San Diego. The front desk had recommended a different restaurant in Little Italy. As we were walking down the street say Petrini's. Read the menu and thought it looked nice. Very good food. Not too busy on the Thursday night we were there. Friendly service. Sat outside on the sidewalk - a very nice meal.

We had a great time over there with my family food was great the sangria was exactly how it should be , the minestrone soup and the lasagna was like in Italy , My children loved the pizza . I will be back soon for sure .

We enjoyed this restaurant so much we ate there twice. It was very close to our Best Western Plus hotel, which was a bonus. The pizza's are not greasy and bursting with flavour. The house salad was crisp. Great value. Best pizzas I have had in a long time.

We enjoyed our short walk to Little Italy, and found this restaurant immediately. It was not crowded for the late lunch, but would definitely be busy on an evening. The food was delicious. Thanks!

Petrini's is a quaint restaurant in Little Italy. We came here because of its recommendations and it was very close to our hotel. The wine selection was good and the service very good. The food flavors were excellent with many choices. The only complaint I had was some of my veal was tough. I didn't say anything to the server as some were very good and I ate it. My wife had no complaints.

We got cough in the rain at this place during one of San Diego’s few rain storms. The place has good food and a ok selection of beer and wine. Which we got to try out many of due to the bad weather. Super nice service.

We sat in the wine room... beautiful intimate atmosphere. The food here was amazing and the drinks had us feeling nice. The waitress was nice and very attentive. To top it all off the bar served the PERFECT Persephone:a drink mixed with Lunazul blanco tequila, PAMA pomegranate liqueur, lemon juice and ginger ale, and served over ice. Yummers ;) If you're in the Walnut Creek area give this place a try.

Went here on Monday night. Not at all crowded. We sat at the bar and chatted with a couple of regulars. I had canaloni and my wife had tortolini. Both dishes were really good. I would go back in a heartbeat.

The San Diego Tour Guide Association held their November members meeting at Petrini's Restaurant in Little Italy. Wow, fantastic food and great service. The dining area only sits about 40 people, so you feel like your are intimate setting. Quiet and contemporary ambiance. A great place to rest and enjoy a quiet glass of wine and great Italian food. They are using recipes from their grandmother and the same chef for the last 13 years. Be sure to try their lasagna. Melts in your mouth.

Although we read various reviews about this restaurant it was convenient for us to go there as we were exhausted and just needed something to eat. We were very pleasantly surprised to have a delicious pizza at a reasonable price.

Lovely restaurant with cozy ambience! Came here on a Tuesday night and it was quiet and not crowded. Waitress was friendly and attentive. Happy hour deals on drinks and apps, house red wine was great with good portions! The gnocchi seemed to be the table favorite, chicken parmigiana was tasty. Lunch and dinner sizes offered! Overall great experience and I’d go here again!

We were staying at a hotel across the street and have dined here previously, so decided to try it for Happy Hour. Some of the menu items have changed, but it is a pretty decent selection, along with wine and beer. They have seating outside as well as inside and our server was very engaging and friendly and helped us decide on our selections. He was just getting off shift, but we appreciated his assistance. Enjoyed our visit!

Great location in Little Italy and quieter and less hectic than many of the other Italian restaurants in the area. Ideal for up to 40 private lunch or happy hour get together. Lovely helpful owner. The salads were fresh and delicious. My favorites are the lasagna and shrimp scampi.

We hoped to get the real Italian pizza, but for each of the family members this was not even close. After 5 minutes waiting we had a table, but then we had to wait for almost an hour to get our pizzas. New people seemed to get their orders earlier and no sorry from the waiter that it took so much time. But okay, finally we got our pizzas. However, these were so disappointing: lots of cheese (no mozzarella) and the dough was not well heated in the oven, so the pizzas were hard to get through. It was very busy (which normally is a good sign), but I cannot understand why, or it must be that the other dishes are much better than the pizzas. I definitely do not recommend to eat a pizza at this restaurant.

Slightly south of the hustle and bustle of Little Italy is a true hidden gem called Petrinis. We stopped in for a quick lunch and we're delighted with the quality food, friendly service and great selection of local and Classic Italian favorites to choose from. Their house dressing is amazing. We'll be back for sure! Bonus: their patio is pet friendly.

We had an excellent experience at this restaurant. My wife and I split an amazing salad, and we both had small bowls of the made-from-scratch Italian Wedding soup. It was amazingly good, also. Our server deserves mentioning, too, because she was very serene and helpful to us due to the fact it was our first visit. We will definitely return!

Homemade sauces, great veal, mafia quality cheese, authentic cold cut appetizer plate and quality sausage and peppers. And with gluten free pasta and gluten free garlic bread that actually tastes great for those transplants that are supposed to avoid the “real” stuff. And a live singer that has a great voice and not at such a high volume that you can’t talk. A perfect Italian restaurant. But please Don’t Go! cause it will get too crowded.

Lisa is amazing!!! We live around the corner, and love coming here. The wine list is nice, and the food it wonderful! All the pastas are great and the wings are awesome.

The menu at Petrini's is a culinary delight. Their eats are spectacular and inexpensive considering the costs of restaurants around the corner. The best bargain is to order a half-order, it is the size of what you would get at places like Olive Garden and much better. The servers are pleasant and very attentive to their tables.

We had Canneloni and egg plant panini for lunch. Canneloni tasted great with tomato sauce and basel. The server was friendly and the place was cleean and neat.

I was walking around when I stumbled on this place. It was slow at night. The servers had a great personality and were friendly. The food was not heavy and was very flavorful. They also had a lot of dessert options which is uncommon for an Italian restaurant. I loved it all.

The food here is delicious! The lasagna was wonderful! The salad was fresh and the bread was really flavorful. There was no waiting for a table. Our server was very attentive. Great restaurant!

We got to our hotel but needed a little something to eat before our big dinner before the Stones concert at PETCO. We sat at the bar and had a very good Caprice salad with our drinks. Waitress was very attentive and the food was just what we needed. We actually were there for a couple of hours and would have had dinner there later if we hadn't been going to PETCO. The service and food was that good. I liked that it was much more casual than the white-table clothed restaurants further north in Little Italy.

Was staying at newish Marriott/Bayfront and didnt want to fall into the throng eateries on the water at 20 $ a head for mass producted high end? fish food, took pedi cab to edge of Little Italy, Petrini's is mostly a lunch place and we were two of maybe a dozen having diner at a rest that could hold 100+. The appt are great try the sliders, I had baked Zitti and enough for two. Its a little off beat/track, but wonder neighborhood feel like u have been visiting for years, won't break the bank like the waterfront ones will, and larger groups and kids most welcome.

Found this via Trip Adviser search. Near the hotel where we were staying. Warm welcome. Extensive menu covering pasta, pizzas and other Italian usuals. Would recommend the bruschetta to start followed by either the penne with mushrooms, garlic and olive oil or the penne with mushrooms and meat sauce. Portions are enormous so we opted for the half portions which were more than sufficient. The house white wine was very good quality at reasonable price. Great service. Overall - exceptional value compared to many similar places in San Diego. Will return.

Walking by and noticed the menu had several interesting options. Was seated immediately and the server was there with a menu in short order. Lunch came remarkably fast and was quite good - very affordable as well! Definitely stopping next time I'm in town.

This restaurant was very enjoyable. Nothing really special but good food. Five dollar parking in the same building complex. Can’t beat this combination.

So many choices in San Diego's "Little Italy" but Petrini's is a 'must' and a 'repeat'. Seeing the name on a tourist map of the area, we decided to try their 'happy hour' menu as the restaurant was relatively close to our hotel. What a find! The Cannelioni (stuffed with meats, spinach, onion garlic and spices) was scrumptious as was the Sausage and Peppers. Very generous serving of hot garlic bread accompanied the meal. Service people were exceptionally friendly. Food served promptly and hot from the oven. PETRINI'S is on our 'go back' list for San Diego!

I got an order to go recently. The staff were super sweet and helpful. I ordered a chicken sandwich with pesto and a side salad, it was delicious! I would definitely go back.

Been here 3 times this week and have yet to be disappointed. Chicken parmasean is incredible. Also had pizza, baked ziti, shrimp scampi, steak, soups and salad. All excellent. Service very good, very friendly. Absolutely recommend.

We had a pizza. The crust waas very thin and crispy. Great sauce. Good sausage and pepperoni. Large pizza was more than enough for two people. Very courteous staff.

I went here for dinner with three others. We all seemed to really like our food and the waiter was super nice. I had the cheese bread and chicken Marsala. Both were pretty great.

After a few hours walking around Little Italy,we stopped here for have a quite lunch in San Diego. We ate the pizza and was not bad. The appetiser was tasty. Price bit high. Unfortunately there is no wifi.And this is very disappoint. Waiter bit distracted. For sure in San Diego there are better restaurants.

We had a group of 14 and were seated at our reservation time. They decorated our long table and put large candles on it, something not done on the other tables. A special touch - they put brown paper over an end table and supplied crayons to amuse the youngest 3 of us. After a brief discussion and agreement about how to deal with the check, we ordered drinks , then entrees. When the main dishes were served and tasted, we were pleased to find that their marinara sauce was superb! I heartily recommend Petrini's.

We chose this place based on TA reviews. At 12:30 on a Friday afternoon it was not busy at all which was a little disconcerting. Our service was great and I enjoyed being able to get a half size portion for lunch. The meat sauce was good and I never could tell what the particular flavor I could taste was. Overall I would recommend this restaurant.

Food was OK, nothing special. Worst garlic bread ever had, rather toast no garlic, but chowder was nice. Main meals OK. Those are the good points. The service was very hit and miss. Pleasant enough but the impression I got was that because we were obviously an overseas visitor on holiday, we were unlikely to return and therefore could be served in an offhand manor. When the mains came out, I, yes me, had to move my starter bowl to the next table as the waiter had not bothered to take it away despite him coming over a few minutes earlier to tell us the food would be a couple of minutes. He then left it there for the rest of the duration of our meal. When we asked for a second glass of wine for my wife, he came over with a bottle and poured it out. it was a completely different wine from the one he had served first time. The first was a normal white (forget which one) the second one he poured was a sparkling white. Again we just got the impression he was trying to use up the bottle. I suggest if you are American, you may get on better, if you are not, you may not get the best service. The same guy was in there every night we walked past so suggest he is the owner and not a employee. To cap it all, the only place in a whole week in SD that automatically added the tip to the bill - hardly surprising when you get this kind of service.

Easy walk from the Westin downtown. Laid back atmosphere. We were not in a hurry and enjoyed just sitting and talking. Waitress was prompt and professional. I had the pasta with sausage and bell peppers. The bell peppers were perfectly roasted and the flavor combination was amazing. Not the biggest restaurant and don't go here if you are in a big hurry but the food is authentic and excellent.

We happened upon this place because it was close to our hotel and it was raining so we wanted someplace close. We were disappointed with our pizza considering it is an Italian restaurant in Little Italy. The toppings weren't too bad but the crust was like cardboard, similar to a frozen boxed pizza. The waitress was very friendly and flew around the restaurant to help people out. Pizza was the only food we tried here. Close to BW Bayside Inn.

My husband and I were in San Diego on a business trip for him and a vacation for me. We decided to try Petrini's. Boy am I glad we did. The food was some of the best I've had outside of Italy. I had veal piccata and my husband had chicken parmesan. Both were perfect. I was even able to get vegetables instead of pasta. I am eating very low carb, for my health and I had just assumed I'd just leave pasta. To have that option, clearly stated on the menu pleased me. The veggies were a mix of zucchini, broccoli and perhaps kale. Both meals came with large salads and lots of bread, which my husband loved. The prices were so reasonable, especially when you think it is close to the touristy area of the city. I even got a cannoli for dessert. It took me several days to dole it out carefully but it was fabulous.

Local spot for Italian. Great dishes that are made one at a time and nice and hot when they get to table. You can wait awhile for your dinner as this place is quite popular but the service is good and they have nice wine/soft drink selection. Worth a try for dinner while in Gaslamp district in downtown San Diego, CA

This place is very near the Santa Fe Station and we highly recommend it. Great staff, tasty food which is also good value. And it arrived fast, which was handy as we had a train to catch.

3 of us had breakfast there this morning and each got something different so we could try different dishes. Everything was delicious and the service was great!

Petrini's is located in Little Italy. NIce indoor and outdoor spaces. Traditional Italian food. Wings are plump and spicy. Very well prepared.Eggplant is very good, although portion could be larger. Service is excellent.

A well located and spacious restaurant. Not overly busy due to much local competition. Tries to be an Italian restaurant and partly succeeds. I had pork ribs - very meaty, tasty, spicy with meagre green salad. Wife's spaghetti was OK, tasty but not brilliant. Fair price, not expensive - good value. Air is filled with food smoke.... But good, friendly service.

A friend recommended and we were not disappointed. Parking was free after 6pm. Walked around afterwards and enjoyed a lovely evening.

Very nice dinner with my husband: Italian soup + pasta with meatballs and meat sauce and breaded chicken in tomato sauce and cheese with penne pasta. Friendly service, helped us with the wine matching the dish. Hadn't made a reservation, were only 2 more tables free at 19h. Lucky, then. Definitely recommended.

We were staying across the street from this hotel and I figured if we were staying in Little Italy, we had to get an Italian meal! The service and food here are suberb! The portions were large and it's a great price for the amount of food you get. Half sizes are available for the dishes and would probably be sufficient. I had the penne in meat sauce with meatballs and I really enjoyed it!

In San Diego just for a overnight, awaiting our cruise ship boarding, we wanted a place close to our hotel, and a fellow guest spoke highly of Petrini's, which is on Ash Street, just on the edge of San Diego's "Little Italy." So we gave it a try. Good decision. They have an extensive Italian menu, with every kind of comfort food you can imagine, a busy but friendly staff of servers, a pleasant setting, a good selection of beer and wine, and a nice ambience. It isn't fancy, but neither is it faux-rustic. It is on the ground floor of a fairly new office building, on a corner with good views of street life, and there is some outdoor seating street side. They make their own products -- pizza dough, sausages, sauces, etc. -- on site; this is a family business, one of a kind. My wife had baked ziti, I had sausages with red and green peppers and pasta, along with a bowl of wedding soup. Everything was excellent, well prepared, tasty, and well presented. If you're in San Diego, you ought to give this place a try.

I'm from New Jersey and this was not comparable to any Italian food I've ever had. We ordered the veal marsala and the veal was small pieces and didn't even taste like marsala wine. It was too sweet. What a disappointment coming to Little Italy in San diego. We will try some other restaurants and I hope they are better. The bread was day old stale bread. The salad was okay. You just want mediocre Italian food take a stab at it. I wouldn't recommend it. There's got to be better Italian food restaurants in Little Italy in San Diego.

Very nice place. There are better pizzas in this, the Little Italy area. Great location. Friendly staff. Nice sidewalk area and window views of the street.

The top top the pizza was average, the bottom was burnt and peeled away from the rest of the pizza. If not burnt, I suspect it would be average.

Petrini's has good Italian food at a reasonable price. Service was efficient and staff was very helpful. Would definitely return.

We ate lunch here during a 4-night stay in San Diego. It was mid afternoon in Little Italy and the Farmer’s Market was wrapping up. The location is slightly off the main thoroughfares and we were the only diners. The waitress was friendly and attentive and gave us tips for dinner venues. We split a Chicken Sandwich with Cheese and a Pork Tenderloin, both of which were good portions. Unsurprisingly they arrived quickly and were tasty.

While on vacation in San Diego, we stumbled upon this little gem within walking distance of our hotel. Very friendly and helpful employees. The atmosphere was warm and relaxing and the food was delicious!

Great family Italian restaurant. Denny is a great waitress and our food was terrific. Very inexpensive and the portions were great

We chose to sit outside, our server came out to light the candles right away as it was dusk. Our waitress was so friendly and seemed genuinely glad we came. The pizza is VERY good. The pasta had a hearty, homemade taste. It was a great experience and I would definitely go back when we are in San Diego.

I chose this place, not by any recommendations, but bc it was close to my hotel.. I liked that it was casual and not very loud. I can actually have a conversation with my guest. I liked that you can choose between a lunch or dinner portion (at night.). I like that you can see the kitchen.. The food was decent.. I would recommend if you want something quick and casual and quiet.

good food, odd setting, no one around at night. Probably daytime office crowd clientele. Off the tourist trap corridor, refreshing.

Saw tthis restaurant on a review and so glad we went there, the service was exceptional and the food really good cannot say anything bad about our experience here and would definitely recommended it.

We were on an America by Rail tour and chose to skip the zoo day. We ended up at Petrini's for a 3:00 p.m. dinner. It was WONDERFUL!. It was without a doubt the best meal we had in 2 weeks. Dad had the spaghetti with just what he wanted on it. Sister had the cannelloni with a host of flavors that melted in her mouth. I had the chicken piccata with capers that was so delicious that I literally sopped up the plate with a piece of Dad's garlic bread! The chef must be a wizard it was so good! We also had the most refreshing fruit tea that was light and flavorful at the same time. Our server was Anthony, wonderfully friendly young man with a Southern accent (Georgia). Then we each had a little cannoli for desert. If I am EVER back on the west coast I will going there again.

Easy parking with lots of parking garages nearby. Great Italian food with friendly service. We tried pasta primavera, eggplant parmesan and chicken parmesan. The only thing we didn't like was the garlic bread. Please don't put oregano on garlic bread because it makes it bitter!

We have a condo just down the street. We visit Petrinis often, and we’ve never been disappointed. We have never had to wait long for a table. We will order to go regularly and the seafood pasta and pizza is always good.

Excellent Italian food. Large flavorful salads. Eggplant parm is outstanding. Service is prompt and efficient. Large menu.

We were on a cruise that docked in San Diego & we decided to walk around the port area. We had stopped at Rite Aid & decided it was time for lunch as we walked out. We saw the umbrellas & decided to stop in & were very glad we did. We decided on the Italian Torpedo & Meatball sandwiches to share after the server suggested them when we were unsure of what to order. They were excellent & very large....we took half of the torpedo back to the ship for a "midnight snack"! It was just as good hours later. If ever in the area again we will definitely stop by again. The atmosphere of the place is very nice and the service was excellent.

Stopped here for dinner and the pasta dishes were amazing, service was friendly and quick and it was reaonable price wise. Would recommend..beware it closes at 9pm!!

I was given the choice of inside or outside seating. I chose outside so I could see the bay down the street and watch the sky change colors. I chose the Baked Tilapia and it was very good. What was disappointing was the lack of attention. I ended up going inside to get & pay my bill after finishing my dinner. It was busier inside but it seemed as if they had forgotten that another couple & I were eating outside.

I walked by it headed to a different restaurant when I decided to trust my intuition and doubled back. Am I glad that I did. The food, the ambiance - very cool hip chill music - the service...the prices? OMG, I don't know how they make a profit! Imported slicers and oven round out a vey authentic continental "feel" to the place. Their Sunday Sunday "happy hour" includes extensive app and dining options as well as some very good wines. If I lived in San Diego, this would be a regular stop for me.

This was a short walk from our hotel w/good reviews,so we made a reservation on a Sunday night to take our staff: We all were impressed w/the quality of our meals topping it off w/yummy gelato! Great find!

Every time we visit San Diego, this is our favourite place to eat Italian food. The thin crust pizza is the best, and I have mine without cheese and it tastes fantastic! Has a great, varied menu, there’s something for everyone! Buon Appettito!

Stopped for a small lunch and really enjoyed our dishes. Small pizza was great. Pleasant outdoor seating area. Nice staff. Reasonable prices. Not as touristy/busy as in the heart of Little Italy.

Big menu and prices reasonable compared to other Little Italy offerings, we had a couple of pastas which on their own are big enough but come as standard with garlic bread and soup. Food was nice but not top, top quality - pizzas a bit cheesy, pasta sauce not mixed in etc. Overall very happy and very full!

I was in town for business and had free time for lunch so I tried this Italian restaurant. The tables on the pavement were not available because of rain but inside is also good looking. the waiter is good with the service. I had a number 2 salad and parmigiani. The salad was rich with cheese and salami, very tasty. It was quick lunch but very good food, tasty. Would like to try a proper dinner next time.

Four of us went to Petrini's with high hopes. All four of us individually rated the food average or below average. Service was strong. The restaurant was not crowded on a Saturday night. What tips the balance to negative is the cost. For a not great meal it cost $155 with tip for four. We will not be back. There are other great choices in the area. If this review is helpful then please indicate so below.

We had just arrived in San Diego and were looking for a place for dinner. Petrini’s was near our hotel and not crowded, so we decided to try it. What a find, we were quickly seated and given great attention by the waiter. We all had something different and everything was excellent, from the chicken Caesar salad to the hamburger and th pasta dishes. The Spumoni Bomba for dessert was to die for. I am very thankful we didn’t live near Petrini’s or I’d be there every night for a bomba!:D. We definitely recommend you try Petrini’s when in San Siego!

I really enjoy chicken Marsala but it’s not often great! This was great. Lovely sauce, tender chicken. The Italian Wedding soup was delicious...looked and tasted like it came from mom’s kitchen.

We are Italian, both me and my wife love cooking ( my wife teaches Italian cooking classes) and we are pretty good at that. We arrived yesterday at 7.45pm and it was after driving 4 hours so we were looking for either a pasta or a pizza . We got Spaghetti bolognese for my younger kid , aged 8; pasta was over cooked significantly ( something you would never do in Italy) , tasteless ; Ragu was a mashup of almost raw sauce and meat. The dish was really horrible . We also got a large pizza to share between the remaining three of us: dough wasn't good, cheese was poor quality and it was worse than the frozen pizzas at Safeway . Moreover , they don't serve beer or wine at all. Bottom line: this restaurant has nothing to do with Italian cooking and we really advice NOT to go there if you are expecting Italian food

We ate at Petrini's twice on a short 4 night trip and we were not disappointed. It was only a block from our hotel so the first evening was for convenience, however we came back because of the quality of the food and service. I had the rib special (Thursdays) and they were the tastiest that I have in a long time (a great kick but not overpowering). My wife had the chicken parm. and loved it.... the sauces had great flavor and not an overpowering tomato taste. Two days later we were back for pasta (1/2 orders). I had spaghetti with mushrooms and meat sauce and my wife had the Fettucini Alfredo w/the pesto chicken breast, everything tasted great. Service was quick and friendly on both visits. Great homemade Italian eats!

I visited Little Italy in February 2019. I used the Yelp app to find best restaurants in that area of town and found Petrini's on the list. It was hard to find as I was walking from a busy strip of restaurants within Little Italy. I was glad to eventually find it, especially since it was somewhat isolated from the other restaurants. This one was worth the walk! I ordered the Smoked Salmon Alfredo over pasta. Amazing taste! I really liked the coziness of the restaurant. It wasn't crowded that day as it was rainy that weekend. I'll be sure to visit again.

I recently had the pleasure of dining at this family owned and operated restaurant and absolutely loved everything about it. I've been in the past, but it's been a few years. They fall off my radar since they are not in the heart of Little Italy, but really, the food is better and you can find parking, so I need to go more often. Service was great too. Thank you!

We came early on a Sunday night and practically had the restaurant to ourselves. Service was friendly and helpful. There were a lot of great options to choose from, and we both had the sausage and meat sauce spaghetti, hold the peppers, as neither of us care for them. The portions were generous, we ended up taking half of it home as leftovers. Very flavorful sausage, the meat sauce was a touch sweet for my tastes, but still very good.

They were short-staffed and there was a lot of running around when we first arrived. We were asked if we had reservations (we did; otherwise I think we may have actually been turned away). It took about 10 minutes to get seated and things went relatively smoothly from there. The entrees were a good size (we ordered lunch portions and this was more than adequate). The food was OK but nothing spectacular.

My wife and I stopped in for dinner. For the price, the food portions were average and the quality was also average. The restaurant appeared to be understaffed by at least three. The bar, waitstaff, and kitchen all appeared to be running behind and the restaurant was not full. Unless the place is near empty, I would recommend giving another one of the many restaurants nearby a chance before Petrini's.

Right across the road from the Best Western Bayside Ii where we stayed for 2 nights, and we ate here both evenings. We found the restaurant friendly with good food and very reasonable prices. Obviously popular with locals which is also a very good recommendation.

Our group of seven friends enjoyed breakfast at petrini’s on June 2, 2018 and had a wonderful breakfast served by a very gracious and efficient waitress, Lisa M. One of our group suggested this restaurant and we were all glad she did! The eggs Benedict was well prepared and presented with an unusual,very tasty twist. The waffles looked spectacular. Just as you enter the little Italy area and within walking distance of the harbor. Follow breakfast with a walk through the street market on a beautiful morning and it doesn’t get much better!

Waiter didn't refill drinks unless we asked multiple times, waited one hour for soups and/or bread to be brought to table, entrees were 1 hour 20 minutes from time ordered. Very slow. Food wasn't that good either.

I ate here twice this weekend, what brought me back a second time was a Cabernet on their wine list. Service is excellent, friendly, comfortably paced. My first night I had a half portion (still plenty big) of baked ziti that was quite good. $8, which is a great price. The second time I went for happy hour and got a 7" pizza which had an excellent crust, but could have used a little more flavor in the toppings, and a small salad.

A very average meal this evening. It always presses my buttons when there is a long wait for the starters and people who arrived after you get served first, but hey ho these things happen. Worst part of the meal was my son’s pizza. We ( a family of four including wife who lived in Italy) would swear this was a supermarket pizza that had been reheated or at the least a supermarket pizza base with toppings added. No way was this a rustic hand thrown pizza dough made in the restaurant. The seafood pasta lacked the proper flavour, instead the chef had tried to compensate by adding far too much salt. I am not sure if ‘less flavour more salt’ is catering for the American palate but it certainly isn’t authentic cooking. This restaurant may be located in Little Italy, but the fact the restaurant is over 6,300 miles from Italy shows. This is a restaurant with an Italian theme, it is not a bona fide Italian restaurant.

We went to Petrini’s after a lovely day spent in Little Italy. When we arrived, we were told that our booked table was no longer available, which was annoying but we agreed to an alternative location. Then we waited 45 minutes for our starter to arrive. No apologies from the staff and the restaurant simply was not that busy. Fortunately, the starter was tasty (diablos shrimp) and the main course arrived shortly thereafter; however, neither of us particularly enjoyed our meals and neither of us finished our plates. The glasses of tap water we requested with our wine arrived after we finished our dinner. Needless to say, we won’t be going back.

This restaurant was simply excellent all around. Excellent service, excellent food, and a big selection of beer, wine, and spirits. It was very family friendly. My family voted this restaurant the best meal we had in San Diego!

GREAT gluten- free pizza. Chef Jorge's crust is the best I've had in 7 years of eating GF. Be warned, it's a thin and crispy crust like you'd get in Naples. Matt the server took great care of our whole family. The host, whose name i forgot to get, was equally attentive. Kids loved the Italian fries and baked ziti. The guys took care to come back and tell me the sauce my kid wanted was thickened with flour so we didn't have a gluten incident.

Like a neighbor Italian, but with amazing food and wonderful service. Went two nights in a row because the food was that good. I had eggplant parmigiana first night and salmon second. My husband has steak first night and pasta ragu second. All four were outstanding. Perfectly cooked and huge portions. The waitperson was fun, informative and food came out perfect quickly.

We visited this restaurant whilst staying at the Bayside Inn opposite. We had bruschettas and pizzas. Really good convenient location for us, and a good meal, reasonable prices.

I have wanted to eat eggplant parmesan ever since reading about it in the Inspector Montalbano books by Andrea Camilleri. When I saw it on the menu at Petrini's, I was tempted. It was delicious! I would certainly recommend it! Petrini's has the advantage of being located within walking distance of the maritime exhibits. Friendly staff, good interiors.

Have to give them the benefit of the doubt since were were there for "happy hour" and mini meals. there is no full bar. the sliders were delicious and the mini pizza..very good. Fair prices. It is quite south of Little Italy. Not much atmosphere. Not romantic, if you were looking for that. Chairs were semi comfy, booths were comfy. Service was fine, however we were the only ones there on a Monday eve at 4pm.

WOW is all i can say about their main dishes. The sauce was absolutely delicious! I had veal and it was tender and had an excellent flavor. the portions are very large but they offer 1/ portions and the prices are great. Only 1 bad thing to say and that was the desserts were terrible! it was so surprising considering how great the food was. The canoli was lumpy, YUCK and the triamasu was dry. 0 points for dessert but would go back in a heart beat for the main course and also the salad was great.

Great place. Excellent food. Would definitely go back. Prices were good. Very attentive wait staff. Pink sauce was amazing!

First negative was the beer list. No tap beer and high priced bottles. So sad, but the menu looked good so we stayed. Too bad for us. The #1 pizza combo was delicious. Unfortunately the crust was as thin as a tortilla and burned around the edges. We also had a salad and the mushrooms were a day too old. I would not have served them in my home. What an embarrassment. No wonder the place was empty.

Ate here twice while staying at the Bayside Inn opposite. Did look at other places nearby, but was not impressed, so returned here. Good service, lovely food and a reasonable price. Only downside were the desserts; not a great choice and the Tiramisu was not very nice.

Fantastic food, great ambiance, reasonably priced. Nothing was too much trouble. I wanted my main course without one of the advertised ingredients and because everything was prepared freshly, it was no trouble. This is a place I would visit again and thoroughly recommend.

We went there for lunch on a Sunday, liked it so much we went back for dinner. We all enjoyed our food and the server was excellent. She helped make the dinner more enjoyable.

Thank you to the owners for hosting our San Diego Professional Tour Guide Association meeting. The food was fabulous, my favorite was the Lasagna. And the hospitality can't be beat. Please check out this fabulous restaurant right on the corner of India and Ash in Little Italy.

6 y/o is not only celiac but allergic to all nuts, egg, and soy protein. Enjoyed a nice family dinner that in my daughter's words was "awesomely good!" In talking in advance with manager and upon arrival, I learned they could prepare not only safe pizzas but also offer pastas (by cooking in dedicated pans preventing possible cross contact with gluten). I believe there were 3 choices of pasta and at least two sauces, if not 3. Had GF bread but not an option for us as our daughter is egg allergic. Although she could have eaten the pasta, being 6 she defaulted to her favorite item...pizza. She loved every bite. I tasted it and it was delicious! So were the meals ordered by the 4 other individuals with us! A smaller restaurant, not busy on a weeknight. A great find and would definitely recommend.

I was in the area of the restaurant because I was in the city for a conference. I saw that it had pretty good reviews on Yelp and it was close to my hotel, so I figured I would check it out. I should have know better.....I walked into the restaurant at 7:15 on a Saturday night and it was EMPTY - no customers except for some drunk guy at the bar trying to be relevant. The food was inedible-ended up throwing it out and going to Jack In The Box for dinner. I had ordered a simple meal of pasta and meatballs, but the sauce had so much cinnamon in it, that it truly was inedible. If you're Italian, who puts cinnamon in their gravey?! Where was the garlic? DEFINITELY pass on this place - you can find better.

The staff was nice and very helpful. The gluten free selections include penne pasta, 12' pizza crust and a burger bun. I had the mushroom olive oil pasta and added smoked salmon and my husband had a sandwich with the bun substituted.

First stop and I am so happy I did! Super good authentic food. Everything we ordered was amazing. Especially their Italian fries!! Very nice atmosphere and our waitress was just a doll!

This was so handy to our hotel and the food was very nice. The salad dressing is home made and is wonderful as is the sausages and sauces (a little peppery but not over the top). I wish they made their own pasta as well and then it would be 5/5 but the pasta was very nice and not from the local supermarket. Not too busy when we were there and very simple but good tasting food. If you want a reasonably quick but decent meal this is a good choice.

I love this place and eat here often. It is comfortable for a business lunch or dinner with friends. The food is always fresh and perfectly portioned. I particularly enjoy the pork medallions or ziti pasta. The service is always attentive and prompt. It is reasonably priced too! There is outdoor seating but it is next to a busy street but great for people watching.

We stopped here for a late lunch and enjoyed every aspect of it! Excellent wine and beer, the French fry appetizer recommended by our server were garlicky and amazing! Two thumbs up! Our lunch we just perfect. Elizabeth, our server was very friendly and attentive. We will go back!

Had lunch here since it was so near our hotel. Very good little side salad served with a delicious Italian dressing. I had the Fetucinni Alfredo which was very good and a generous portion. My wife wife had egg parmigiana and said it was good. Definitely will return.

We are visiting from out is state, and decided on this restaurant due to the proximity to our hotel and reviews. Definitely should make a reservation which thank goodness we did. We had bruschetta and cheesy garlic bread. The bruschetta had fresh tomatoes, basil. The Chesse bread also was enjoyed by the kids. I ordered the chicken piccata which was really good. Could have had a little more sauce and capers. They do not have a children's menu. But you can order a lunch size portion, they also have small pizza. Service was slow. There seemed to be just 2 people working the front. And they were turning people away.

Late lunch for 2 couples. The person who met us at the door made a big deal about the status of our reservations and the restaurant was empty! Service was good, food was bland and uninspired. Very disappointing experience.

I recommend this restaurant. Nice ambience, good service. I had a new item on the menu. Baked fish covered with tomatoes, capers and green olives, and finished with a buttery white wine sauce. I have a recommendation for the owners - to instantly bring the classiness of your restaurant up a notch, you need to offer fresh grated Parmesan and fresh ground black pepper at the table side. I would expect that at any great Italian restaurant. Otherwise, good work!

Nice place with good service. Food made fresh there and served hot. If you go on Saturdays you can park in their building for 5.00 dollars all day. Not far from Little Italy.The lunch sizes are just enough for one person. Would go back soon.

On a family vacation and tried Petrinis. What a great place. Food was excellent. The Italian Wedding Soup was excellent. Service was very good. I would recommend this place to anyone visiting downtown San Diego.

Diagonally across from the Bayside Inn, this place may be the jewel you been looking for as it has outside dining with a view of the bay and quiet inside dining. They have the absolute best house salad that we ever had and a great selection of individual pizzas if you want to go light on your meal. But one of the best things about this place is it seems to be a neighborhood hangout that caters to the condo owners up & down the street. This translates to real friendly service and good suggestions on what to order from the staff plus you have this feeling that they have known you for years and treat you very well. It has a great bar, soft music and a snug atmosphere about the place that makes you feel relaxed. We visited several times during our July 2012 and Christmas 2015 trips and we will certainly return on the next visit in June 2016. We don't think you can go wrong if you like Italian food and friendly comfort.

After a full day of walking and fast food at the seaport harbor, we wanted to have a good fresh dinner. Pietrini is very Close by to our hotel and we decided to take out. The restaurant ambiance seemed very nice and cozy and next go round, we’ll dine in. The takeout was perfect. I had eggplant parmigiana and my daughter had penne mushrooms with garlic, side of garlic bread. They offered 1/2 portions for less money for light eaters! Perfect for me. The portion was still generous and the eggplant was thicker than usual. It was light and nicely breaded. Sauce was very nice. My daughter loved her dish and eat the garlic bread which could serve 2 more people. We were both nicely satisfied and would go next time to dine in. The prices were a bit less than the other restaurants deeper into Little Italy yet food was satisfying!

The pasta was wonderful and the service was great. Prices are very good and the menu has lots of selections. Right in Little Italy just a short walk from nearby hotels.

This place is a delight! We were staying just across the road so popped in for a meal one night, we weren’t disappointed. The food was absolutely excellent and our waitress Denny was lovely, really friendly and made sure there would be no Parmesan on my dish! Lovely place and well worth a visit!

Took my daughter to this restaurant on a Tuesday night. The food was absolutely fantastic comparing equally with some of our favorite Italian restaurants in Chicago and elsewhere. The atmosphere is only above average(thus the very good rating) and certainly doesn't have that classic Italian feel but still it was very clean, very quaint and very nice. Our service was outstanding and attentive and the prices were very reasonable given the portions...my daughter took home 3 to-go boxes. If you are staying in downtown San Diego I would definitely recommend this restaurant.

I had the best gluten free pizza I can remember eating. They also do GF pasta dishes and prices were reasonable.

My wife and I were staying at the Best Western Plus on Ash street. After a long day of sightseeing around San Diego we just wanted a quick simple dinner at a restaurant near our hotel. We went to Petrini's strictly because of its convenient location and were glad we did. My wife and I ordered a medium pizza and it was one of the best pizzas we have ever had. Really good food, along with good service. This is a nice little local restaurant, with a warm inviting atmosphere. They have a small outside seating area as well. Not overly large so it could be crowded on a Friday or Saturday night. I would most definitely recommend this restaurant and would go back again when in town.

My wife and I had dinner at Petrinis. We both ordered pizza which was great. I had a beer and my wife a glass of champagne at a very reasonable cost. This upscale eatery is at the edge of little Italy. It is a family owned restaurant and is a good choice for dinner. Highly recommended. WR. Ontario

If you really like creamy pastas I definitely recommend it. My son has celiac and he ordered pizza GF was delicious and tomatoe GF pasta. My husband ordered Chicken Marsala he really enjoy it! They have Vegan options... We got nice dinner!!

Was really looking forward to this restaurant, however, were disappointed. Not very traditional Italian fare, meaning not heavy on sauces, perhaps more Northern Italian. But very skimpy on the sauces does not make for an appetizing meal. Prices were average for the area.

Came here for a working lunch during some meetings in the building above, and had a pretty reasonable bowl of pasta. The menu is pretty simple, a selection of pizzas and standard Italian classics, the decor is rough-n-ready with a few touches of quirkiness, staff were pleasant and helpful and the food was plentiful, hot and reasonably tasty - not somewhere I'd go for a special date, but would be fine as an everyday lunch place.

Relaxed atmosphere and friendly staff. Great outdoor nook for drinks and dinner. Easy walk from local hotels. I'll come back.

Really nice people! I have celiac & am really sensitive. We eat here all the time (only ever order pizza) & I haven't ever gotten sick. Good location, too. Usually street parking around somewhere, but inexpensive lot across the street, too.