Spirito’s Italian Diner

This is our goto pizza place. It’s consistently outstanding pizza! Thin crispy crust, fresh tasty pepperoni, fresh mozzarella, fresh Parmesan, tangy, but sweet and acidic sauce. You can definitely tell they take great pride in their craft! John, even gave me tips on making my own pizza at home. He also asked how my newborn was doing! Someone who remembers your face and always gives you the time of day is very hard to find. I will always recommend Spiritos to anyone who loves pizza! Our little local wonder! Thanks Spiritos!
Oh and I’m so grateful that you listen to our order and never get pepperoni on the cheese side (half pepperoni, half cheese) wife still hasn’t become a pork eater, more for me

Seriously the best Italian food I’ve ever had. It was super busy on a Saturday but they still had amazing customer service! Julian and cat were asking us how we enjoyed the food and if we needed anything. They were so on it! Mike the owner was just as amazing as he was passing out slices of pizza while we were waiting for our food. With how busy they were you would’ve never guessed because they had smiles on their face the whole time! I got the manicotti and garlic bread with cheese and it was to die for! The husband got the calzone and man are they huge and delicious!!! I highly recommend this place and will probably never go to any other Italian diner then spiritos!!!

Ever since my coworker mentioned this place was on Diners, Drive-​ins, and Dives, it’s been on my radar to try. Also, I eat at Hooked on Sushi next door all the time and always walk by this place! So last night, I finally got to try it and it was amazing! It’s an order at the counter type place, nothing fancy.
We ordered:
— lasagne
— veal with spaghetti
— ravioli with meat sauce
— caprese salad
— Stella beer in bottles
— apple juice
OMG the pasta was so delicious! The ravioli only had 3 pieces of ravioli on it, meaning they were giant! The sauce was amazing as well. Each order came with a small chunk of bread, just enough to mop up the leftover sauce on your plate. I was thinking about ordering garlic bread, but glad we didn’t because little pieces of bread came with the dishes, and the portions were huge so we would’ve been stuff with garlic bread.
If you are ever in the area you have to try this place! It’s so so so good!

Came here for dinner with some friends. I ordered the soup and salad and a pizza to take home for my husband. Food was amazing and service was great. I definitely will be back soon.

Pre half-​marathon longing for pasta. Been here a couple times but couldn’t remember what I thought of the food. I am now reminded. I do not come here for Italian food because it simply not good.
Spiritos is popular and the line was out the door. People standing everywhere, employees trying to deal with the chaos. We ordered and then sat at the high top so we wouldn’t have to stand. We asked the waitress for a table and she said «the next one is yours.» Well I saw others say themselves who definitely ordered well after us. I asked the waitress if she could ask them to get up since she has assured us a table. She said «there’s nothing I can do about it. You’re technically sitting.» I said «you said the next table is ours. Is that not happening now?» She said «no sorry.» I watched her in her busy ways and when I was young and a waiter I always remembered one thing. The customer is always right and if you mess up. Fix it. She does not follow the same principles.
Screams from the open kitchen of «food’s gonna take 45min at least guys» kept coming as the line and people in grew more uncomfortable. Just how it is, I get it. But to wait for the penne and Ragu I had was a mistake. The pasta was soft but the meat Ragu was overloaded and the bowl’s bottom half was a soup. The meat was cooked well. The dish itself was incredibly bland. We didn’t stay much longer and are glad we didn’t recommend to our friends in town for the race to go here.
We boxed up our own flavorless to bring home and add our own Classico pasta sauce too. Really disappointed with the whole experience and will certainly not be back.

It’s aiiiiight. I’m not a huge fan of Italian food, so I’m a bit biased, but I enjoyed my meal here. Haha to be honest though, I don’t even remember what I ordered…

The price is reasonable but doesn’t include a salad.
But unless u plan on bring home leftovers, there is no need for one because the portion size is adequate…
Good, fresh & tasty

We came here upon recommendation from a local who is a regular. It’s a pretty small place, with limited seating, but our group of 7 was able to grab a table during rush hour. Most of their customers order togo.
My fiancé and I shared the house salad, which was so refreshing! I decided to try their spaghetti and meatballs. They asked me what kind of meatball and how many I’d like to order. I ordered one, which is what the worker suggested. I’m glad I took her advice. The meatball is pretty big, and it was very filling. I ordered the standard meatball, but they also serve their house meatball, which is also supposed to be really good. Btw, their meat sauce is actually called meat gravy. I really enjoyed my bowl of spaghetti! My fiancé loved his chicken parmigiana. They sandwich two pieces of breaded chicken with cheese. He loved it.
My friends who recommended this place to us raves about their ravioli (size of my hand) and veal parmigiana. They say that everything here is good, so you can’t go wrong!

Recently moved here. Seeking the spot that will be my go to place. So far this gets top billing. A sweet crunchy crust, with fresh basil is my type of pie.
Sone hi end sodas along with a good sized high quality of ingredients in the Antipasto salad. I will be returning for my «pie» fix

Amazing Italian food. I can’t get enough of their food. There bread AMAZING! I can see that they take pride in their food and it is shown in their quality of food.

Diner’s Drive-​in and Dives got it right… a true gem in Carlsbad.
Food is always fresh, delicious…
We take out here and its part of our regular haunts for just great food
Mike is a crack up… down to earth and always willing to please

Yum yum yummm
Super cute family owned authentic italian food! Owner Mike is really friendly and great personal customer service!
So similar to food when we were in Italy…
We ordered caprese salad (garlic dressing is to do for), garlic bread (greasy cheesy delicious), eggplant parmesan yummm, margarita pizza yummm, bean vegetarian soup yummmmm
Will definitely come back to feed my pregnancy cravings!!!

Spiritos Italian Restaurant always a delicious meal. There raviolis are made fresh every Monday and they are generally sold out by Friday or Saturday so get there early and make sure you try and order of their magnificent raviolis with your choice of sauce. If you would like a tip you may want to order a meatball on the side with your raviolis it does complete your Italian meal. Desert of course you’re going to order a cannoli don’t forget they have vanilla and chocolate you may find the chocolate a bit different but it is delicious although I do prefer the vanilla. I generally do not like to give 5 stars to a restaurant but it would be a shame to give Spiritos anything less than 5 stars because they do such a wonderful job of preparing true Italian food

Italian worth driving for!
Located along El Camino, in the shopping center next to CVS, Baskin Robbins and Coffee Bean you might blink and miss it.
From what I read online the restaurant has been featured on network television with very favorable reviews. The layout is really simple and easy with group style table seating with 4 and 6 sizing
Ordering up the meatballs and pasta for myself and chicken manicotti, the food came out really fast and a really hot. All was top notch quality Italian and they didn’t skip on the sizing.
If your thirsty that serve up all the regular soft drinks and also beer/​wine to go with a great meal.
Good service, great food and a casual family friendly atmosphere makes for a really rewarding dinner.
Overall
Food: 5 – 5
Drink: 3 – 5
Service: 4 – 5
Coming back: yes

This place is awesome!!! Saw it on DDD last night so the gf and I decided to take a trip up to Carlsbad to check it out.
I got the spaghetti with meat gravy and 3 meatballs, cuz I love my Italian food. My girlfriend got the ravioli with meat gravy and that was also amazing. The whole meal cost me about $ 34 which was reasonable for the amount and quality of the food.
I highly recommend checking this place out! I can’t wait to go back!

LOVE this place! And not because they were on diners drive-​ins and dives… their sauces are on point and their hand-​made pasta is amazeballs. Expect a bit of a rushed atmosphere… it comes with the territory-they’re popular. And order ahead of time, they tend to be about 30 – 45 minute out from when you order. And get an order with the vodka crème sauce, it’s to die for. And so is the meat sauce. K, I’m done.

I ventured to this unassuming Italian establishment to celebrate Father’s Day with my parents and grandparents. They first heard about Spirito’s from Diners, Drive-​Ins, and Dives and had high expectations for the meal.
As this was a special day, we went big with our order: garlic bread & cheese bread, salad (with delicious mozzarella chunks), spaghetti with meat sauce, shrimp parmesan, veal parmesan, and sausage lasagna. I tried a little of everything and each dish was mouthwatering. Easily the best Italian food I’ve had outside of Italy. I really loved the spicy sausage sauce (perfect amount of kick) and will definitely opt for that if I get the lasagna or spaghetti next time around. No meal is complete without dessert so we ordered 3 cannolis for the table. They were the best version of the pastry I’ve ever come across.
The service was friendly and prompt. We came in hungry and were given our appetizers within minutes. This may look like your normal pizzeria but don’t be fooled, the servers here will give you a full restaurant treatment.
At this time, I must thank Guy Fieri and his Food Network show for introducing me to another hidden gem of a restaurant in San Diego. I’ll definitely be back to Spirito’s and hope to give their pizza a try. The table next to us went with that as their entrée and it looked delicious.

Tried Spirito’s Italiian Diner recently after catching it on DDD. The wonders that that show does I tell you. Anyhow, I stopped in since it’s about a 10 minute drive from my work. I’ve eaten next door at the Wingstop many times but stopped by to try it out and see what everyone has been talking about.
I went with the ravioli with meat gravy. It was one of the specials of the day. I posted a few photos of it so that you can see what I am talking about. The food didn’t take too long to make. I think I waited less than 10 minutes to get the whole order.
The portion is pretty big. For $ 12 I thought the plate was going to be a bit smaller. I’m a bit embarrassed that I actually finished it seeing how big it was! The ravioli was filled with great ricotta cheese and the meat gravy topped it off perfectly. It came out hot and gooey and tasted amazing.
I don’t get Italian food too often but it tastes really great. The quality of the food is what sets it apart from other places. I can see why Guy chose this place to eat.

gotta bump ‘em a star to five after our last two visits. they’ve always been on the cusp and wednesday night pushed SPIRITO’s over the top for me.
the wife and i shared an EGGPLANT PARM with RAVIOLI (and barely finished) and it was most excellent, as always. their PARM’s dense and saucy. reminds me of the southern ITALIAN i had growing up in BROOKLYN.
WYATT had a sub with PROSCIUTTO and fresh MOZZARELLA. the bread had a nice chew — hate the spongy, hostess hot dog style buns you get with most ITALIAN sandwiches.
JULIANA had a CALZONE with pepperoni and sausage. it was big enough for dinner and two lunches. and, in case you can’t tell from the oversized smile in the photo, she really liked it.

I’m pretty bummed I never came to the place sooner. This is seriously my new favorite restaurant! Their pasta and pizza are so fresh and delicious! Spirito’s was featured on Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives (I haven’t seen it) and I totally know why! Its in the little strip mall near Chuze Fitness but it definitely is not divey. Its a cute little place where you order at the counter and hope there’s a table available. CLOSED ON MONDAYS.
It was really hard not ordering the same thing over and over again, because its just soo good! In my case, this dish was the Penne & tomato cream sauce with sausage. Just to die for! They have more to offer than just what’s on their specials board and menu. Ask to see their «secret» menu! They offer made to order alfredos, chicken limon, and so much more!
I also love the Chicken Parmesan & raviolis! Everything has large portions and is even better the next day as leftovers. I look forward to working my way through the rest of the menu!