Sonny’s Pizza — Restaurant in San Diego

Sonnys: Where Catania Kisses Brooklyn and the Bronx Meets Sicily Over Dough and Drink

By Sidd Captures

Let’s get this out of the way: I wasn’t expecting to be transported. I came to Sonny’s, nestled in the pulse of University Heights, expecting pizza. Maybe a drink. Something casual. What I got was a whole damn passport stamp.

The first thing that hits you isn’t the pizza. It’s the room. A riot of color, the graffiti-splashed walls scream with the swagger of Wynwood in Miami, with the soul of Five Points before the whitewash. This ain’t just decoration. It’s homage. It’s memory. It’s culture served up on concrete and aerosol.

Then the dough. My God, the dough.

Pure Catania-style fermented just long enough to get that whisper of sour, tender on the bite but with a Sicilian heft that anchors every topping like a steel backbone. This isn’t the fast-rising fluff you get from someone who just bought a stand mixer. No. This is the kind of dough that’s been argued over by nonnas and perfected in alleyway ovens. It’s the soul of Sicily with a New York accent. Think Bensonhurst in July. Think Via Etnea in spring.

I ordered the Pineapple Express a pie that had no business being as balanced and glorious as it was. Sweet, spicy, and defiantly Italian-American in all the right ways. Then came the "No Sleep Till Brooklyn", and if you don’t think that name tells a story, you haven’t been up past 2 a.m. chasing ghosts and slices in the five boroughs.

The drinks? Let’s talk about those drinks. The Age of Aquarius came to me like a glass of cosmic poetry fresh, ethereal, and strong enough to make me question reality. My wife ordered the Brass Monkey, and with one sip, I realized: this wasn’t mixology. This was alchemy. These bartenders didn’t just make drinks. They composed symphonies.

Service? Michelin-star worthy, without the starch. Warm, informed, funny. The kind of people who treat your table like your grandmother’s kitchen not just a seat, but a seat at the family table.

My only gripe one that must be aired, if only to keep the world honest is the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame homage. No Babe Ruth? A crime in pinstripes. But I digress.

Sonny’s didn’t just serve me dinner. They gave me a memory, a moment. One that started in University Heights and ended somewhere between Sicily, the Lower East Side, and a rooftop in Miami.

To the owners, the staff, the bartenders, and the dough whisperers thank you. You made me feel like family. And that, more than the pizza (almost), is what makes Sonny’s unforgettable.

I’ll be back. Probably before the...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ (4.5 stars) We visited Sonny’s Pizza for the first time and had a really enjoyable experience. We ordered the No Sleep Till Brooklyn pizza, the zucchini fritters, and a glass of Cabernet each. Starting with the drinks—while the wine itself was smooth and paired well with the food, it ended up being more expensive than expected. It was the only item on the menu without a listed price, which we probably should have taken as a hint. Live and learn—but a little pricing transparency would be nice.

That said, everything else really hit the mark. The zucchini fritters were outstanding—hot, crispy, and not overly greasy. They came with a mildly spicy marinara sauce that was flavorful and had just the right amount of kick without overpowering the zucchini. Easily some of the best zucchini fries we've had in a long time.

The pizza, No Sleep Till Brooklyn, was also a standout. Topped with white oregano, mozzarella, mushrooms, speck, and red onions, it had a well-balanced flavor profile. The dough itself was a little bland on its own, but in a way that allowed the toppings to take center stage—and they absolutely did. The speck added a smoky, savory richness, the mushrooms brought an earthy depth, and the red onions added just the right bite. It’s a creative pie done right.

We chose to dine on the back patio, which turned out to be absolutely delightful. It’s a cozy, relaxed space that feels tucked away from the street noise, and the fact that they allow dogs back there is a big plus for pet lovers. It made for a comfortable, unpretentious setting to enjoy our meal.

As for the service, the vibe is laid-back with a staff that gives off classic Bro energy—but in a surprisingly great way. They were friendly, attentive, and clearly knew the menu. It’s always a bonus when the team genuinely seems to care about what they’re serving.

In short, Sonny’s delivers on flavor, atmosphere, and hospitality. A couple of small notes—like the wine pricing and dough seasoning—but overall, we had a great time.

See you soon, Sonny’s. We’re already looking forward to our next...

Wow, we were really looking forward to trying this place…and it was fun! Was had a good time.

We sat outside in the patio area was excellent. We loved it out there. It has huge fans and they have the fly spinners so they’ve pretty much thought of everything. We love the block that it’s on and we love the outside trough looking yellow exterior. This is a great place, but I feel like it’s also in more of an infant and emerging stage. I have a feeling that they’re gonna go through some growing pains and I’ll tell you why…

Pizza-lacking on tomato sauce for sure! NY style might be that way, but we missed it. We got 3 different pizzas, and a salad. The pizza was freshly made, hot, and super thin. But it could be much improved, and we really liked this spot, so we hope it is.

Sonny’s is something like a START to what could become an outrageously good spot, but we’d say to the owners, get your pizza right before you go further. The crust is fine-I wish it was crispy outside with more of a chew (10X flour) and the toppings need to be as polished as you can get them to be. Go check out Superior Pizza and come back and taste your own.

Drinks are very very good!! You could just go for the cocktails and be in good shape! Hats off to those.

Salad was sort of not really there yet either. It’s not bad, just not jumping up to flavor me out.

To be fair, Sonny’s opened in May, 2025 and with costs so super high, surely they opened as fast as they could…we get it…but you’ve got that amazing giant pizza oven, and you could be killin it on the pizza with some extra work. So, please rework the dough, the ingredients, toppings, cheese, make this a place that people will want to go for years and years.

The servers are gorgeous ladies, super sweet, friendly, and fast! We loved them! Made me think of myself in my younger years! The staff was very nice

We will come back to see if you’ve elevated the food…NOT THAT WE THOUGHT IS WAS BAD - WE LIKED IT. We’d like to...