Filippi's Pizza Grotto Kearny Mesa — Restaurant in San Diego

Worst restaurant experience ever! And that's saying something knowing that I used to be a server in a full-service restaurant, so I'm a very patient person when it comes to being waited on. My party of four and my baby (who slept the entire time) were immediately waited on, and our drink orders were taken. I went to the restroom to change the baby while waiting on the drinks to come out and to prevent him from crying. When I returned to the table, we waited 35 minutes for the waitress Soledad to take our order, which was one pizza that we were going to split. Another party of four that sat down when we did was next to our table and were finished eating by the time our order was taken. Even they were asking why it was taking so long for us to get any service. Soledad's excuse for not even serving us the bread that all tables get with their drinks, or even asking for our food order? And keep in mind that she is telling this to the table next to us where we can hear her, that she didn't come help us because I was in the bathroom changing the baby! 35 minutes after I finish changing him?! And she proceeds to tell this other table that we didn't get the bread because we're getting a 10% military discount (one in our party was in uniform). So she blamed her poor service on me, my baby, and a armed services member. We asked to talk with a manager, and gets the real kicker.... our waitress was the manager! She brought out round pasta takeout containers for our pizza that our pizza couldn't even fit inside of them. I have been to this pizza chain in Chula Vista, and it was amazing. Both the food and service. But I have never been so embarrassed and mad leaving a restaurant. Oh and I had to leave before finishing half of a piece of pizza because we were there so long that I had to go home to feed my baby. Keep in mind that I actually fed him while waiting for a table, so it hadn't been that long ago. 15 minutes for a table (not bad at all). 35 minutes for our food order (ridiculous). 30 minutes for the pizza to come out (understandable). Another 20 to cash out the check (also terrible). There almost 2 hours total. I would understand if it were busy, but this was a Wednesday evening. I will NEVER go back...

The food was great, but the service was unusually bad. We were there last night at around 6 pm, a party of three. We collectively ordered a small Antipasto Salad, some of the bread you can ask them for, a Diet Coke, a glass of Chianti wine, and another soda. Shrimp Fettucini Alfredo, Beef Ravioli with Marinara, and Spaghetti from where we sat, a member of our party had a clear view inside the kitchen.

The wine and Diet Coke came out after about five minutes, but then the other soda took an additional five, as our server was standing there talking to another member of staff right next to the fountain. I ordinarily wouldn't mind this but if you have just brought a table two of their three drinks and the third one is waiting on a drink that takes ten seconds at most, I would imagine you would ordinarily wait until after everyone at the table you are waiting on has their drinks to chat with your coworkers.

The Antipasto Salad and the entrees themselves arrived in VERY quick succession. Which isn't much of a complaint I had as opposed to my brother who had found it unusual.

It took ten to fifteen minutes after the last person finished their food for the server to check on us, during which time we debated getting dessert and concluded we weren't willing to wait the twenty minutes we suspected it would take for our server to get to it and bought dessert elsewhere.

We ordinarily leave tips any time we eat out but on this occasion, we opted not to. The service here is usually great, but on this occasion, we feel our server missed the mark.

Update 7-6-2024:

We returned to this location this afternoon as a party of two at around noon, the food was amazing and the concerns we had on our last visit were completely remedied on this one. Our waiter, a tan-skinned man with black curly hair whose name I forgot to ask was very attentive and checked in on how we were doing a couple of times throughout our visit. He was great, as was the man who seated us.

I recognize the restaurant commented on my review asking me to reach out via phone and regret that I never got around to it. But I do wholeheartedly appreciate it regardless and am glad to see things...

Yes, as a documented first responder meaning; the department of Justice investigated all the facts in my claim and had to give the department of treasury the o.k. to have the victims compensation fund issue me punitive damage funds for my role down at ground zero! I'was awarded $65,000.00 of which the city of sandiego unlawfully ticketed all 3 of my then vehicles in an effort to take my vehicles which were paid for with the punitive damage money I did recieve from the federal government. Over $48,000.00 was taken in vehicles from me .for parking in the handicap spaces they say without a placard. When I expressed the fact that my placards were clearly posted in the windshield and even if for some reason they could not be seen? They should practice due diligence and run the licence plate of the owner of the car in question and confirm or denie whether that had been issued a current valid placard. If he has a current placard then you should not issue a ticket. If the owner has no placards issued to them ? Then so be it they get the ticket. I was told that code enforcement officers have no ability to run people's plates to see if they have been issued a current valid placard.. but from my own personal experience they can run the plate number or your placard number as a senior code enforcement officer had me detained in mission bay for 2 and a half hours and ran the plates on all 3 of my then vehicles targeting my 3 vehicles in the handicap spaces of mission bay so my experience as a first responder in sandiego has been less than pleasant as they illegally took over $48,000.00 of my punitive damage money by taking all 3 of my vehicles leaving me in the street homeless. However I am eternally greatfull for filipis Italian food restuarant for their excellent food and friendly service for accommodating my needs. . Very casual atmosphere, very clean and well taken care of spot with great food, friendly service at great prices. Who could go wrong with that? So don't cheat yourself, treat yourself... and be sure you tell them that Johnny mustang / first responder recommended this place to you and you will be glad you did, hope to see...