On the street corners of Little Italy, the occasional artist can be found sitting on a power box or outside a gallery smoking a cigarette. Couples can be seen on the patios intent on game of chess while bespectacled individuals share intellectual jokes while eating Italian pasta.

The setting described above isn’t typical of many San Diego neighborhoods. The city isn’t in the middle of some cultural revolution for artistic bohemians. However, in the heart of downtown, it is common to see such individuals in the Little Italy district.

Little Italy has a sea of restaurants and is a popular place for a temporary Italian getaway. However, sometimes it’s difficult to decide which restaurant is good or bad, cheap or expensive, or even authentic. This is a guide to some of the fine Italian eateries perfect for lunch, dinner and dessert.

Lunch
Filippi’s Pizza Grotto:
Any kid who has ever loved pizza knows the best are always the cheesiest. At Filippi’s, savory Italian food can be digested without breaking the bank. For about 60 years, Filippi’s has been serving San Diego with authentic Italian food and is still run by a family member of the original founders.

One must walk through a deli-stuffed shop with Italian specialties, cured meat, cheeses and wine to find the restaurant nestled behind. In addition to pizza, Filippi’s serves salads loaded with colorful veggies, spaghetti laden with marinara and typical Italian subs. However, the pizza is what mainly brings the crowds because it is served piping hot, full of fresh sauce and cheese bursting with flavor. However, vegetarians be warned, Filippi’s tends to hide meats such as pepperoni beneath the cheese, making it easy to mistake a pepperoni pizza for a cheese.

With the old, rustic ambiance, dim lighting and red-checkered tablecloth, it is reasonable to believe there just may be two dogs slurping up spaghetti in a romantic way similar to ‘Lady and the Tramp.’ If looking for some quick pizza for lunch, Filippi’s is a great option with quality food and cheap deals.

Assenti’s Pasta:
Although it may seem like a small, unnoticeable business from the outside, Assenti’s is an inviting and friendly deli that sells Italian favorites and goods. With shelves stocked with never-before-seen foods, an Italian man behind a counter and fresh sausages and salamis, it feels like a scene from a movie set in New York. Nonetheless, Assenti’s is one of the highest-ranked restaurants on www.Yelp.com.

It isn’t exactly a restaurant, but rather a deli to grab some goods on-the-go or to purchase freshly made pasta, raviolis and other delicious specialties. After cooking Assenti’s pasta, don’t expect to be able to go back to dry spaghetti.

Dinner
Buon Appetito
Rated one of the best restaurants of last year by San Diego Magazine, Buon Appetito is a popular destination for hand-holding romantics and those desiring a scrumptious Italian meal. Found in the heart of Little Italy, Buon Appetito’s most popular dish is the Caesar Spinach Ravioli, which is on its special menu. This dish is made of fresh risotto homemade pasta. In addition to the pasta, it has savory veal Osso Buco on the special menu, keeping customers crawling back for more. Like all fine Italian restaurants, Buon Appetito has an extensive wine list, perfectly complementing the foods. The meals are on the pricey side, but reviewers insist on the excellent service, perfect Italian food and mastery of cooking.

Dessert
Pappalecco
To send one’s taste palettes on a redefining revelation, try Pappalecco’s rich and creamy gelato. In comparison to typical gelato vendors, which have simple flavors tasting similar to ice cream, Pappalecco feels like the real deal from Italy.
From a nutty-flavored pistachio to a sweet and intoxicating chocolate, this little coffee shop has fresh quality gelato. The shop also serves gelato stuffed in a croissant, tasty Italian pastries, hot sandwiches packed with mozzarella and old-fashioned Tuscan coffee. Vibrant with culture and sophistication, Pappalecco is a cozy eatery to sit, enjoy the sweets and have a good evening in Little Italy.