Filippi’s Pizza Grotto

I’ve been to many different Filippis around town and this one by far has the best customer service. If you ever go, ask for Christina. She is amazing!

Environment was way too dark. Ordered a pizza and eggplant parm sandwich. Pizza had way too much cheese and was extra greasy. Sandwich was the same all cheese and NO flavor. Id skip this place unless you have some kind of weird cheese fetish and dont mind eating ten pounds of it.

Outstanding service and pizza. Wait for seating can be upwards to 45 minutes at times but well worth it. The portions are generous and the food always prepared well. Lasagna, spaghetti and pizza is outstanding. Several different locations to visit I would recommend any of them and certainly this one if in the area.

Pizza was delicious and so filling. We took most of the food to go. Their prices are great for the amount of food they serve. We had a good server as well. Highly recommend!

Awesome Pizza. Probably some of the best I’ve ever had. Each slice is loaded with cheese, sauce, and whatever else you asked for. Warning. this place is always packed!

This place never disappoints. They always have great service and the food is always great! Some places are hit and misses with pizza. Not this place! The quality and quantity is amazing!

I mean the pizza is good the only thing is there is soooo much cheese. I know that’s their thing and they own it but just for me personally its a little much. Their lasagna and ravioli are good so if your looking for Italian and you like cheese then this is the place for you.

Best pizza like always. Waiters are always on top of everything. Havent had a bad experience at this place!

Maria was are waitress today and she was fantastic. She was quick to bring refills whenever we needed them and checked constantly to see if we need anything. The food was great like always made for a very pleasant dinner.
Came in today and had fantastic service from Diana pizza was good she was on the ball she brought drinks before we needed them and everything couldn’t ask for better service. I would have to say that’s one of the best service I’ve ever had
4÷26÷2016

If you want some good Italian style pizza this is your place! Very authentic Italian style restaurant. I loved it. The place was very dim. so switching from a dark place to walking out in the bright daylight gave me a headache! So this place is preferably best for dinner. Based on the reviews I was prepared for the lack of customer service. My party of 3 arrived at the front entrance (where you could also place orders to go) and stood there to be seated. The lady behind the register kindly said take any seat and someone will be with us. We sat and our server helped us right away. She was very nice and accommodating. We ordered the large salad which was pretty bland. The ranch dressing was too watered down and had no flavor. The greens was what looked like iceberg lettuce with about 4 slices of tomatoes, olives, and pepperoncini peppers. For the 8 dollars paid I didn’t think the salad was worth it. We were giving complementary bread sticks which were soo good and baked fresh. I tried so hard not to eat so many lol, and last but not least the pizza arrived. I was amazed how much cheese there was! We ordered a large half was the Vegetarian Special and the other half was the Fit for a King for about $ 20. The pizza was soo flavorful and filling. We only had about one or two slices each and was happy to take some home!

The food is great at this location. Very fresh and was delicious. However my roommates and I did not have the happiest waitress. We also did not «get the memo» that we are to pay in the front of the restaurant. our waitress did not communicate with us. she dropped the bill on the table and left. if she said have a great night or something I would then ask excuse me where do I pay. The general manger has great customer service with attending to my problem that’s why it’s a 3.

To start off the pizza here is the best in SD. The downfall of this particular location is the service of the girls who work up front. They tend to be either clueless or rude. Nobody greeted me or asked to help me. 5 people stood around as 8 customers wondered what to do. I can’t find it in my heart to rate below a 3 but if the pizza matches the service I would have.

The food is the same meaning ok ++ so a B-​The service went way downhill the last two times we came here since February 16. we now we consider it a place for take out only.

Pizza is difficult to review. There are so many types and everyone has different preferences on the style, but for me, this is hands down the best cheese pizza on earth. The sauce is very unique and not real sweet, has a very good tomato flavor. The crust is not that real thick airy crust, and also not super thin.
We always do one large cheese pie and one lasagne /​meatball dinner for me, my wife and three kids. The dinner comes with a bowl of soup, a decent sized salad and plenty of bread and garlic bread. The Italian dressing is amazing.
Everything has always been very consistent (service, food, atmosphere).
Greg J made a perfect comment on the décor. I too would be a little scared to see the place lit up. Im sure those chianti bottles have got to be major dust collectors, but you know what, we will keep going back until they give us a good reason not to. :)

Recently stopped by to pick-​up a cold sub on my lunch break, while I was waiting, roughly 30 minutes for a cold sandwich. The cooks were blasting mariachi music, all I could think was, «Isn’t this supposed to be an Italian joint’? It didn’t bother me at all, I just thought it was kinda funny, and at some point me and the only other customer in the place were chuckling about the places authenticity. As my 30 minute wait came to an end, I received a big fluffy role with a boat load of oily lettuce, and hardly any meat or cheese on it. Seeing as I didn’t have another 30 minutes to wait, I took my sandwich and left.
By the time I’d gotten back to work the oil they’d put on my lettuce sandwich had soaked straight through the bread, through the white paper wrapper, and even started seeping into the bag. Upon first bite it wasn’t bad, best lettuce sandwich I’d ever had, the oil dressing they put on the shredded lettuce was actually quite good. Only problem was their was entirely too much of it.
I’d had a slice of pizza from here in the past, it’s not a bad place to get a pie, especially if you are into Chicago style. But overall; the prices, the speed at which your food is prepared, and appearance of the place leaves a lot to be desired. The people at the front counter could be a little more friendly as well, but hey; what do you want for Escondido?

The décor is about what you would expect for a place that has been in this location for 60 years. Red checked vinyl table clothes and a dingy interior. I’m not sure I’d want to see it in full light.
We shared a medium pepperoni and sausage pizza. Based on other reviews we asked for light cheese. I think I’ve never had a pizza with that much meat on it. It was almost too much! I didn’t think I’d ever say that. Someone had suggested that we ask for the toppings on top of the cheese. We didn’t do that but I wish we had. By the way light cheese was perfect for us.
It was so filling that we could only eat a piece and a half each. I liked the crust very much. Thought the sauce was ok.

I have always loved this place since I was a kid. But last July I got a large pizza with everything on it, mostly vegetables and pepperoni and extra thick crust because I love thick bread. And it was soggy and Uncooked in the middle of the pizza. I called the next day to let them know and The manager Maria said to come back in and she would refund me.
I have not been able to make it in since today because of life being so busy but The manager Maria does not remember and says she cannot refund me because she doesn’t have «some ticket» to prove it bought it. I offered to bring in my bank statement but she needs this magical ticket to refund me.

I’ve been a Fillipi’s fan for years and only recently began patronizing the Escondido location. I don’t know if it’s nostalgia from my childhood or what, but the Fillipi’s dining experience just gives me a warm feeling.
It’s your basic Italian menu, nothing fancy at all. When you order sodas they bring it in pitchers and you drink it out of those red plastic cups. When I was a kid, going out to an Italian restaurant with cheesy pizza and soda in a pitcher was a fun night out.
We use them for take-​out pizzas and it couldn’t be more convenient. It’s always ready in about 15 – 20 minutes and there is always parking conveniently out front so getting in and out is simple. I think they have parking out back as well but I’ve never parked back there. The employees are all friendly and make you feel at home. This is just your basic Italian restaurant no frills… exactly what I’m looking for.

Filippi’s Pizza Grotto Italian food always hits the spot.
This local chain is an oldie and a goodie. I’ve been to the ones throughout SD: Imperial Beach, Kearny Mesa, Little Italy, Pacific Beach, Mira Mesa, and of course Esco.
This place never fails, service is always fab and the food is always fresh!
–nice dim setting and décor
–generous portions
–tasty dishes
–best lasagna, ravioli, spaghetti, and pizza!
–garlic bread and marinara sauce is addicting :)
–server here was super sweet, she was helpful and gave a good impression
–located in downtown Esco on Grand Ave

When we come to the Escondido Filippi’s they just leave a pitcher of soda and extra bread on the table. We usually order a bubbly cheese pizza with pepperoni or mushroom and a Antipasto salad. Usually ends up being too much.
In the end Filippi’s is a great casual place that keeps bringing you back when you’re starving. The pizza here is loaded with gooey cheese so bring scissors or maybe even gardening sheers. Dinners come with soup, garlic bread and a HUGE pile of food.
— It’s great for large groups as many of the tables are long.
— They do a brisk togo business.
— Very busy during special events like cruising grand.