The Don Pietro Story
How we took Old Town, San Diego by storm.
A family with a long legacy of pioneering exemplary restaurant concepts in Little Italy has hit Old Town, San Diego with a strike of tomato sauce and a dash of much needed Sicilian style.
During the COVID shutdown of 2020, brothers Pietro and Joseph Busalacchi took a leap of faith when they decided to open the doors to an all new al-fresco style Italian dining experience in the heart of San Diego’s cultural district, dominated by decades worth of Mexican culinary influence such as Cafe Coyote, Miguels, and The Old Town Tequila Co.
The Busalacchis have shown their fortitude and knack for conceptualizing new ideas. Pietro brings experience from TomTom - LA’s bustling West Hollywood go-to bar headed by the Vanderpump family, as well as experience from past sidewalk busting concepts like Little Italy’s Spaghetteria and Crudo.
With Trattoria Don Pietro at the forefront of a gastronomical overhaul that is pouring over the Presidio and Mission Hills neighborhoods, it gives new life to a neighborhood which has remained unchanged for nearly a decade.
Recently winning the award for Best New Restaurant by Modern Luxury Magazine, Trattoria Don Pietro has proven itself to be a staple in the San Diego Metropolitan Area.
Owner - Pietro Busalacchi
Photographer: Josue Castro
RECENT PRESS
San Diego Union Tribune
Feature
Modern Luxury - Power Players
Feature
San Diego Union Tribune
Best Patio Runner-Up
San Diego Union Tribune
Best Parklet Runner-Up
LEAD STAFF
Pietro Busalacchi
Owner
Joseph Busalacchi
Owner
“Before moving back to San Diego a few years ago, Pietro worked in Los Angeles at Lisa Vanderpump’s luxurious Tom Tom Restaurant & Bar. There, he said he learned a lot about creating the kind of service-forward vibe and atmosphere that he wants.”
— Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune
“There’s a new restaurant on the block, and it is definitely the most poppin’ restaurant in all of Old Town! Trattoria Don Pietro brings a combination of old world Sicilian flavors in a new, modern world setting. Their outdoor seating is incredibly aesthetic and is sure to grab anyone's attention with wisteria, photo-worthy spots in every corner, and fire pits to cozy up by when the sun goes down. Their interior is just as gorgeous, with low light bringing a more intimate and cozy ambiance.”
— Joy Sun, @littlejoybigworld for Newsbreak.com