There are 11 days till FESTA!, the 17th Annual Italian American Festival on India Street in Little Italy. From 10am-6pm on October 9th, India will become a pedestrian way and there will be food, music, cooking demonstrations, a pizza tossing contest, bocci ball, a beer garden and, my favorite, chalk art painting.
To get into the FESTA! spirit, here are 11 things to do in Little Italy before the big event:
- First things first, go get a meatball sub at Mona Lisa. Of course you can also buy specialty foods imported from Italy or get a nice deli sandwich. I would go for a meatball sub.
- Next, espresso from Cafe Italia.
- Or maybe gelato from Pappalecco.
- Not really Italian, but I do love a nice flight of beers from Bottlecraft.
- San Diego’s not well known for pizza, but if you’ve got a pizza tooth, I like eating a slice or two on the patio at Landini's.
- Sometimes people eat at their houses instead of restaurants. If you like to do that, head to Assenti’s Pasta. They sell fresh pasta wholesale and retail from their store on India.
- For everything else you need to cook, The Little Italy Mercato (farmer’s market) has a pretty good spread. But, technically the only think I have ever bought there is an almond flavored Italian soda.
- Does thinking about cooking a big Italian dinner make you anxious? Ok. Go have a huge dinner at DaVanti Enoteca, Bencotto, Buon Appetito, or Anthology!
- Best date in Little Italy? Split a craft cocktail or two and an order of bone marrow at Craft & Commerce.
- Followed by wine and a cannoli from Café Zucchero
- Last but not least, the place I frequent most often in Little Italy is Yogurtland. Please don’t judge me.
