Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible seating
oChef » Criscito Pizza – San Diego
Criscito Pizza - San Diego
Photo from Criscito Pizza
Criscito Pizza at a glance
San Diego Torrey Hills
- 🍕 Pizzeria
$$
Price per Person $21–$30
mentioned by 56 of the guests
#116 out of 755 places to eat in San Diego
#7 Pizzeria out of 68 in San Diego
Excellent
8.4 out of 10
Food
Service
Ambience
Value
466
Reviews
85.6%
Satisfaction
Often praised
- fresh pizza
- great service
- nice atmosphere
Frequently criticized
- price perception
- no deals
- service attitude
The restaurant Criscito Pizza in San Diego’s vibrant Torrey Hills neighborhood offers a delightful pizzeria experience. You can enjoy a casual yet trendy atmosphere, perfect for a quick bite or a relaxed meal.
With options for outdoor seating, dine-in, takeout, and delivery, it’s designed for your convenience. They also serve alcohol, including wine and beer, to complement your pizza.
Overview: Introducting Criscito Pizza
Criscito Pizza offers a delightful experience, largely praised for its exceptional food preparation and dedicated team. Guests frequently highlight the quality of their wood-fired creations and the professional approach of the staff, making for a pleasant visit.
The overall environment is often described as clean and inviting. While the culinary offerings and service shine, some patrons note that the perceived value could be more competitive.
Despite this, the restaurant maintains a generally positive reputation, with many appreciating the homemade dough and cozy atmosphere that contribute to a satisfying meal.
Excellent
8.4
out of 10
466
Reviews
85.6%
Satisfaction
50
negative
17
neutral
399
positive
Criscito Pizza earns a commendable 8.4 overall score, reflecting a strong dining experience, further supported by a good 85.6% customer satisfaction rate. This positive sentiment is drawn from 466 customer observations, with 399 positive remarks outweighing 50 negative ones.
The culinary offerings lead the way with Food (8.5), closely followed by outstanding Service (8.6). The inviting Ambience (8.3) also contributes significantly to the positive feedback, creating a pleasant setting for diners.
However, the Value (5.9) score indicates an area where some customers feel there’s room for improvement, suggesting that while quality is high, the pricing or promotional aspects could be more appealing.
What people like
- Delicious, fresh pizza
- Professional, friendly service
- Cozy, clean atmosphere
What people don't like
- Perceived high prices
- Lack of promotions
- Occasional service attitude
Criscito Pizza is a solid choice if you prioritize quality ingredients and attentive service over budget-friendly deals. With a strong recommendation score of 8.6, it’s clear that many find the experience worthwhile, particularly for its well-crafted pizzas and welcoming atmosphere.
If you’re seeking a reliable spot for delicious pizza and a pleasant dining environment, Criscito Pizza is certainly worth considering. Just be mindful that while the quality is evident, some may find the pricing a bit higher than expected, especially without frequent promotions.
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Verdict: Our expert take on Criscito Pizza
Food (8.5 out of 10)
mentioned by 100% of the guests
When it comes to the food, this spot truly shines, boasting a fantastic score of 8.5 and a solid customer satisfaction of 86.8%. Guests consistently rave about the delicious, fresh pizzas, praising everything from the Neapolitan dough and perfect crusts to the unique flavors like Honey Basil Garlic and Lasagna Pizza. The quality ingredients and variety truly impress across 262 positive experiences.
However, a few of the 27 negative comments point to some areas for improvement. Some experiences mentioned pizzas being undercooked or having bland sauce and skimpy toppings. There were also a couple of remarks about the presentation of the food not meeting expectations, suggesting occasional inconsistencies in execution.
Food
302
Reviews
86%
Satisfaction
27
negative
13
neutral
262
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Delicious fresh pizzas
- Excellent varied crusts
- Unique flavor combinations
What people don't like
- Pizza sometimes undercooked
- Bland sauce, skimpy toppings
- Inconsistent food presentation
Often praised
- pizzaThey were easy to work with, very professional, and even showed up early to get everything set up and ready to go. Our guests absolutely loved the pizza, especially watching it being wood-fired right in the parking lot — it was such a fun and unique touch to the evening. We kept getting so many compliments about the food throughout the night!
- foodOur guests absolutely loved the pizza, especially watching it being wood-fired right in the parking lot — it was such a fun and unique touch to the evening. We kept getting so many compliments about the food throughout the night! Highly recommend Criscito Pizza for any event, delicious pizza, great team, and top-notch service!
- pizzasWhat an amazing experience! All the pizzas were great. The service was incredible and very friendly.
- crustThe crust is buttery and there's the perfect balance of chew, and crunch.
- saladsThe people were good, the service was great, and the food was awesome. It's a very local and nice place to enjoy some fresh pizza, salads, and desserts, all made with a homemade touch. I highly recommend the Oreo dessert!
- gelatoWe had a fabulous dinner for all – it was quick, delicious, and the staff were accommodating even at closing time. The perfect gelato was a wonderful end to our meal. Thank you for the perfect final meal of our conference.
- doughHands down, the best pizza I've had in years, maybe ever. The ingredients were fresh and top-quality, with hand-stretched homemade dough. They offer inventive toppings like hot honey and carnitas, all cooked in a 500-800 degree oven.
- saladsalad and the Gelato makes me feel like im at home!!
- FoodFood:5
- Carbonara pizzaCarbonara and the Calabrian pizza, and happy to say they both were so fresh and flavorful
Frequently criticized
- pizzaHowever, the Neapolitan hot honey pepperoni pizza was quite underwhelming. It was brought out within minutes and tasted undercooked, being soft, slightly bland, and making it difficult to taste the hot honey. While I might consider trying the pizza again, I'm a bit hesitant given other solid options in the area.
- Italian seasoningMy experience at this restaurant was very disappointing. I ordered pizza, and the pizza sauce was bland with no Italian seasoning. While the crust was good, the overall pizza was terrible.
- Mori pizzathe $14 Mori pizza I ordered last night 1/30/19 was awful
- Neapolitan hot honey pepperoni pizzaI particularly enjoyed the caesar salad, which was excellent with some of the best dressing we’ve tried. However, the Neapolitan hot honey pepperoni pizza was quite underwhelming. It was brought out within minutes and tasted undercooked, being soft, slightly bland, and making it difficult to taste the hot honey.
- beetsthe beets weren't roasted
- crustThere were a few burnt small pieces of pepperoni (I think that is what it was), some small, barely cooked pieces of green peppers, and a few undercooked onions. The dough was the only good part, which is all I ate, so $14 for some crust isn’t worth it. I won’t order again and hope Irvine Company finds better Food Trucks in the future.
- green peppersThe service was quick, maybe too quick, and the guys were nice, but the pizza was awful. There were a few burnt small pieces of pepperoni (I think that is what it was), some small, barely cooked pieces of green peppers, and a few undercooked onions. The dough was the only good part, which is all I ate, so $14 for some crust isn’t worth it.
- hot honeyHowever, the Neapolitan hot honey pepperoni pizza was quite underwhelming. It was brought out within minutes and tasted undercooked, being soft, slightly bland, and making it difficult to taste the hot honey. While I might consider trying the pizza again, I'm a bit hesitant given other solid options in the area.
- onionsThe service was quick, maybe too quick, and the guys were nice, but the pizza was awful. There were a few burnt small pieces of pepperoni (I think that is what it was), some small, barely cooked pieces of green peppers, and a few undercooked onions. The dough was the only good part, which is all I ate, so $14 for some crust isn’t worth it.
- pepperoniThe service was quick, maybe too quick, and the guys were nice, but the pizza was awful. There were a few burnt small pieces of pepperoni (I think that is what it was), some small, barely cooked pieces of green peppers, and a few undercooked onions. The dough was the only good part, which is all I ate, so $14 for some crust isn’t worth it.
If youre craving delicious, high-quality pizza with unique flavors and excellent crusts, this place is definitely worth a try. While a few experiences mention minor inconsistencies with cooking or toppings, the overwhelming positive feedback suggests youre in for a treat, especially with their Neapolitan and New York styles.
Service (8.6 out of 10)
mentioned by 73% of the guests
When it comes to service, this place truly shines with an impressive score of 8.6 and a customer satisfaction rate of 85.5%. Based on 94 positive remarks, guests consistently praise the friendly service, amazing service, and how easy to work with the team is, often highlighting the responsive owner and dedicated staff who go above and beyond. However, out of 110 total opinions, there were 13 instances where the service wasnt quite perfect.
A few guests noted "staff unfriendliness" or an "attitude problem" from some employees, and in rare cases, described "workers rude. " While these are isolated incidents, they suggest theres always a little room for improvement.
Service
110
Reviews
85%
Satisfaction
13
negative
3
neutral
94
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Friendly, helpful staff
- Easy to work with
- Amazing service
What people don't like
- Unfriendly staff
- Attitude problems
- Workers rude
Often praised
- serviceWe had an amazing experience with Criscito Pizza at our wedding! They were easy to work with, very professional, and even showed up early to get everything set up and ready to go. Our guests absolutely loved the pizza, especially watching it being wood-fired right in the parking lot — it was such a fun and unique touch to the evening.
- stafftheir staff is really what makes this place stand out
- teamIt was a great decision! Phil was easy to work with when scheduling and planning, and the team that came on the day of the party was super communicative, very respectful, and efficient. Everyone was very impressed with the food.
- ServiceService:5
- PhilWe had 140 guests (including some GF and DF) and everyone really enjoyed every part of the meal. Phil was super easy to work with, even with a slightly complicated set up - they set up the pizza truck in the parking lot and ran the pizzas into our venue. We loved working with Criscito Pizza and are happy they recently opened up their own restaurant so we can eat more of their delicious pizza soon.
- customer serviceThe entire staff was inviting and helpful, maintaining a clean and welcoming environment. We are very excited for Criscito's Pizzas to cater our event and cannot recommend them highly enough for their quality of pizza and kind customer service. Thank you, Julio!
- ownerHad the opportunity to meet the owner, and he couldn't be nicer.
- peopleGreat people doing the cooking and serving
- wait timeWait time:No wait
- ServersServers are friendly
Frequently criticized
- servicethe service fell short. One of the employees seemed to have a bit of an attitude problem.
- acknowledgementI took my kids here to get some pizza; my daughter said she'd rather have Little Caesars, and my son spit his out. Let's not forget I wasn’t acknowledged when I walked in with my kids, but no surprise being in an all-white area and I’m a minority. Also, I can’t stand people needing to change stuff up; the pizza dough was terrible, sourdough is not for everything.
- dog policynot comfortable with us bringing our dog inside
- employeeOne of the employees seemed to have a bit of an attitude problem.
- finding the restaurantThe only issue is finding the restaurant
- grana padanomight not understand the term grana padano despite them offering it
- lead adultlead adult was less than pleasant to deal with
- managermanager that the beets weren't roasted he shrugged
- online ordering ETAThis restaurant is a solid choice for pizza and salads in the neighborhood. The only challenge to be aware of is that their online ordering ETA might be slower due to their volume. Thanks for keeping up the close-to-home convenience with quality pies, guys!
- phone ordersperson taking phone orders might not understand the term grana padano
Overall, the service here is a major plus, making it a great choice for a pleasant experience. You can generally expect friendly, efficient, and accommodating staff, though a rare off-day might occur. It's definitely worth trying for their highly-rated customer care.
Ambience (8.3 out of 10)
mentioned by 35% of the guests
When it comes to the vibe, this spot really shines! With a good score of 8.3 and an impressive good customer satisfaction of 89.5%, guests frequently rave about the great atmosphere and cleanliness. Many appreciate the ample seating options, including indoor, outdoor, and patio areas, making it a family-friendly neighborhood place, as noted in 34 positive remarks.
However, a few minor points came up in the 3 negative comments. Some found the pizza display lacking, while others mentioned concerns about the overall environment or a dirty floor. These isolated issues suggest theres a little room for improvement, but they dont overshadow the overwhelmingly positive feedback.
Ambience
38
Reviews
89%
Satisfaction
3
negative
1
neutral
34
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Great atmosphere
- Spotless cleanliness
- Diverse seating options
What people don't like
- Lacking pizza display
- Occasional dirty floor
Often praised
- atmospherethe atmosphere is cozy, authentic, and full of charm
- AtmosphereAtmosphere:4
- restaurantThis brand new restaurant in the Carmel Valley area completely knocked my socks off. The restaurant itself is super cute and very clean. The food, especially the pizzas, were all incredible.
- chill atmospherethe place has such a chill atmosphere
- cleanAlways clean
- cleanlinesswas super clean
- environmentThe manager, Julio, was incredibly kind and helpful, even offering us an extra pizza to try all the flavors. The entire staff was inviting and helpful, maintaining a clean and welcoming environment. We are very excited for Criscito's Pizzas to cater our event and cannot recommend them highly enough for their quality of pizza and kind customer service.
- family friendlyVery family friendly
- great atmospherea great atmosphere to enjoy them all in
- great set upa great set up
Frequently criticized
- environmentthis is not the environment for your family
- floorfloor dirty
- pizza displaypizza was put on a Costco fold out table with no decoration
If you're looking for a place with a fantastic vibe and clean surroundings, this restaurant is definitely worth checking out. While a couple of minor details might need a touch-up, the overall atmosphere is a huge draw, promising a pleasant experience for most.
Value (5.9 out of 10)
mentioned by 11% of the guests
When it comes to value, this spot presents a bit of a mixed bag, with a score of 5.9, placing it squarely in the average range. Many customers appreciate the prices, finding them good prices and noting the quality for price. With 9 positive remarks out of 16 total, theres a definite nod to reasonable offerings, including "slice and drink specials" at times.
However, customer satisfaction sits at 56.3%, which is a mixed result, suggesting theres room for improvement. Some patrons were disappointed by the lack of BOGO offers, deals, or specials, feeling that these were missed opportunities. There were 7 negative comments, indicating that while some find the pricing fair, others expected more promotional value.
Value
16
Reviews
56%
Satisfaction
7
negative
0
neutral
9
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Good prices
- Quality for price
- Great value
What people don't like
- No BOGO offers
- No deals
- No specials
Often praised
- Price per personPrice per person:$20–30
- good pricesI found the pizzas to be absolutely delicious, with a really good dough. The use of great ingredients and the great variety on the menu, all at good prices, made for a very satisfying meal. The service was also incredibly friendly.
- priceThere price is spot on and the best we could find!
- pricesIt's great that they offer gluten-free dough. I found their prices to be extremely reasonable considering the size and quality of the unique ingredients. This is a food truck, so the address listed by Google is not their actual business address; to find their location schedule, visit their website.
- pricingamazing job from communication to pricing
- pricing and menuimmediately responded to with pricing and a menu
- quality for priceQuality for price is a no-Brainer.
- slice and drink specialsThe pizzas are priced around $15-$20 for a 12-inch medium, and kids' pizzas are about $14 for a 10-inch, which seems quite a lot for a small size. I will continue to drive 5 minutes to Buonasera near Torrey Pines, as they sell pizza by the slice and have slice and drink specials. I wish Criscito good luck 👍.
- valueIt's a great value
Frequently criticized
- $14 Mori pizzathe $14 Mori pizza I ordered last night 1/30/19 was awful
- BOGO offersunhappy to find out no bogo
- dealsAs a neighbor, I was excited about having a pizza joint within walking distance. However, I was unhappy to discover there were no BOGO offers, no deals, no samples, and no specials. It's their first day, so I was surprised by the lack of grand opening promotions.
- kids pizzaskids pizzas are around $14
- pizzaspizza’s are around $15-$20
- specialsAs a neighbor, I was excited about having a pizza joint within walking distance. However, I was unhappy to discover there were no BOGO offers, no deals, no samples, and no specials. It's their first day, so I was surprised by the lack of grand opening promotions.
- time energy and moneydo not waste your time energy and money here
If youre looking for straightforward pricing and decent quality without expecting grand opening deals or constant promotions, this place might be a good fit. However, if youre a deal-seeker who relies on BOGO offers and specials, you might find the value proposition a bit underwhelming.
How are the prices at Criscito Pizza?
You’re looking at roughly 24 per person – reported by 56 diners. That puts it in the $21–$30 category. For a Pizzeria, it’s comfortably mid-range: not a steal, but not bank-breaking either.
Most guests find themselves spending in the 11 – 30 $ sweet spot, showing prices are pretty consistent around that average, with just a few venturing into higher price points.
This chart shows what people usually spend per person, using the 56 most recent reviews.
How this restaurant’s value stacks up against similar spots in San Diego.
Overall, we think the pricing feels quite fair for a Pizzeria of this type. Its a good spot if youre looking for quality without breaking the bank.
Customer Reviews: what people think about Criscito Pizza
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Special Occasion
Group Type
- Large Group
Group Size
- Large Group
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
10
Amazing Wedding Pizza Experience!
We had an amazing experience with Criscito Pizza at our wedding! They were easy to work with, very professional, and even showed up early to get everything set up and ready to go. Our guests absolutely loved the pizza, especially watching it being wood-fired right in the parking lot — it was such a fun and unique touch to the evening.
We kept getting so many compliments about the food throughout the night! Highly recommend Criscito Pizza for any event, delicious pizza, great team, and top-notch service!
- pizza10
- wood-fired9
- service10
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
Wait Time
- Immediate (0–5 min.)
9
Delicious Pizza and Great Atmosphere
My experience at this restaurant was very positive. We ordered the White pizza with chicken and the Lasagna pizza. Both were very good, but the Lasagna pizza was my favorite.
The restaurant itself is clean and neat, offering plenty of seating both inside and out. The staff was incredibly friendly and greeted us warmly upon arrival. It's a place where you order at the counter and they bring the food to you.
They serve Coke products in cans, not fountain drinks. I also noticed they have 5 gelato flavors that looked appealing, though I didn't try them this time. Overall, it's a great place and I would definitely recommend adding it to your list of places to visit.
- White pizza with chicken8
- Lasagna pizza9
- restaurant cleanliness9
Visit Type
- Special Occasion
Group Type
- Large Group
Group Size
- Large Group
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
Wait Time
- Short (6–15 min.)
10
Exceptional Wedding Catering by Criscito Pizza!
We chose Criscito Pizza to cater our wedding and had the best experience. Throughout the planning process, Phil was so responsive and helpful with every question and request, which made everything so easy. For cocktail hour, we opted for their charcuterie, which was a huge hit with our guests and offered a great variety.
And of course- the pizza! Their selection is incredible, and our guests could not stop talking about how delicious everything was. Service was efficient and well organized, so nobody waited long for food, and everyone left raving about both the quality and variety.
We couldn’t have been happier with our choice to work with Criscito Pizza and highly recommend to anyone considering catering.
- planning process10
- charcuterie9
- pizza selection10
Visit Type
- Special Occasion
Group Type
- Large Group
Group Size
- Large Group
Service Type
- Dine-in
10
Absolutely Spectacular Client Appreciation Party!
My experience with Criscito for our client appreciation party was nothing short of WOW. They truly over delivered on all fronts. The service was amazing, and the pizza itself was spectacular.
So many of our guests commented that they ate like 20 slices 😂! I personally enjoyed the Carbonara, Margherita, and Lasagne pizza slices, and they were all amazing. Criscito was super prepared and ensured the pizzas kept flowing throughout the entire event.
I would hire them again in a heartbeat!
- service10
- pizza10
- Carbonara pizza9
Price per Person
- $21–$30
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Lunch
9
Delicious Pizza, Will Return!
My experience at this neighborhood pizza place was fantastic! I tried both the mushroom truffle NY style pizza and the Neapolitan style pizza, and both were incredibly good. I particularly enjoyed the Neapolitan style more because it was so chewy and light.
I highly recommend this place and I will definitely be back to try other flavors.
- mushroom truffle NY style pizza9
- Neapolitan style pizza10
- chewy and light10
What Criscito Pizza offers
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
Children
- Kids' menu
- Good for kids
Popular for
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Solo dining
Amenities
- Gender-neutral restroom
- Restroom
Offerings
- Alcohol
- Wine
- Beer
- Quick bite
Dining options
- Catering
- Dessert
- Dinner
- Seating
- Lunch
Service Options
- Onsite services
- Takeout
- Outdoor seating
- Dine-in
- Delivery
Pets
- Dogs allowed outside
- Dogs allowed
Parking
- Free street parking
- Free parking lot
- Usually plenty of parking
Atmosphere
- Casual
- Trendy
FAQs
What kind of dining experience can you expect at Criscito Pizza?
Criscito Pizza in San Diego offers a casual and trendy atmosphere, perfect for various dining options like lunch, dinner, or just a quick bite. You can choose between comfortable indoor seating or enjoy the fresh air with their outdoor seating. They also provide catering services for your events.
Is Criscito Pizza family-friendly and accessible?
Yes, Criscito Pizza is good for kids, offering a dedicated kids’ menu. For accessibility, you’ll find a wheelchair-accessible entrance, parking lot, and seating. Plus, they welcome dogs outside, and parking is usually plentiful with free street and lot options.
How does Criscito Pizza generally rate?
Criscito Pizza holds a strong overall score of **8.4**, with high marks for **Service** (8.6), **Food** (8.5), and **Ambience** (8.3). **Value** (5.9) is noted as average.
What do customers particularly enjoy about Criscito Pizza?
Many appreciate the delicious, wood-fired pizzas with homemade dough and fresh ingredients. The professional and friendly staff also receive frequent praise, alongside the cozy atmosphere .
Are there any common concerns or areas for improvement at Criscito Pizza?
Some customers perceive the prices as a bit high, noting a lack of deals or specials . There are also occasional mentions of specific pizza items being undercooked or bland , and isolated instances of service issues.