Mona Lisa Italian Foods

About

Stefano Brunetto brought Sicily to San Diego when he opened the first Mona Lisa Restaurant in 1956, pooling resources with his brothers and cousins to buy the Little Italy location in 1973. Walk past shelves stocked with imported olive oils, balsamic vinegars, and house-made sausages in the bustling Italian deli, and you'll find a cozy restaurant where vintage black-and-white photos transport you back decades. Three generations later, the Brunetto family still runs both sides—deli counter cranking out what locals call "the best Italian sub sandwiches in this town, or possibly any town," while the restaurant serves 13-inch pizzas made with fresh daily dough, house-made sauce, and whole milk mozzarella. Choose your crust: standard, thin, or double. The Four Cheese pizza showcases Romano, ricotta, mozzarella, and provolone, while their tiramisu—coffee-soaked ladyfingers layered with mascarpone—keeps regulars coming back for over 50 years.

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