SAN DIEGO, Calif. — June 2026 — Trattoria Don Pietro, the highly rated Italian dining destination in the heart of Old Town San Diego, celebrated its grand reopening on Thursday, July 9, unveiling a newly renovated space, refreshed menu and elevated guest experience designed to bring new energy to one of San Diego’s most historic neighborhoods. The restaurant is now open to the public.
The restaurant is now welcoming guests at 2415 San Diego Ave for dinner, cocktails and late-night service.
The Evening Included
Cocktail Hour
Guests were welcomed with their choice of a complimentary welcome cocktail or glass of champagne.
Dinner Service
Seated reservations were offered for guests dining through the evening, with complimentary passed appetizers circulating throughout.
Walk-In Celebration
Guests were welcome to walk in throughout the evening to mingle and enjoy cocktails at the bar.
DJ + Late-Night Social
A DJ set carried the room into a late-night celebration that ran until midnight.
More than a reopening, the celebration marked a new chapter for Don Pietro and a continued investment in Old Town as a vibrant dining destination. Don Pietro is part of the Busalacchi family’s long-running tradition of building standout Italian restaurants in San Diego. After helping shape Little Italy’s dining scene, the family has turned its attention to Old Town, bringing Sicilian roots, coastal Italian flavors, handmade pastas, craft cocktails and late-night energy to Old Town.
Rooted in San Diego’s earliest history, Old Town has long been a destination for culture, hospitality and family-owned restaurants. Don Pietro’s grand reopening builds on that legacy while pointing toward the neighborhood’s next chapter: a more modern, elevated and experience-driven dining scene.
“No detail was left untouched. This renovation was a labor of love for our family and our team. The Busalacchi family has always believed in creating restaurants that bring people together, and Don Pietro is our way of bringing that spirit of familia, Sicilian flavor and celebration to Old Town. We believe deeply in this neighborhood and are proud to be part of its next chapter as a more vibrant, elevated dining destination.”
Don Pietro’s family legacy has also drawn broader attention in San Diego’s dining community. San Diego Magazine recently described Pietro Busalacchi as part of one of the city’s iconic restaurant families, noting his role in bringing fresh energy to Old Town through Trattoria Don Pietro, El Sueño, Doc Holliday’s and TAKO.
The grand reopening also debuted Don Pietro’s new menu, including a collection of tableside, highly visual and share-worthy items designed to appeal to longtime guests as well as a new generation of diners. Signature highlights include the Parmigiana di Pollo alla Lava, a crispy chicken dish served with linguini aglio e olio, mozzarella and red sauce poured tableside; the Moka Espressotini, an indulgent espresso cocktail served in Nonna’s coffee pot; and the One Scoop Tiramisu, a playful dessert experience of “one scoop, as much as you can keep,” finished with chocolate pistachio sauce.
“Old Town has always been one of San Diego’s most historic and culturally important neighborhoods, and its restaurants play a major role in welcoming both locals and visitors. Investments like Don Pietro’s grand reopening help strengthen the district, support local business and add to the energy that continues to move Old Town forward.”
Don Pietro is now open to the public. Reservations are encouraged, and walk-ins are welcome throughout the evening for cocktails at the bar and late-night dining.
About Trattoria Don Pietro
Located in the heart of Old Town San Diego, Trattoria Don Pietro is a Sicilian-inspired Italian restaurant from the Busalacchi family, one of San Diego’s most recognizable hospitality families. Known for building restaurants rooted in Italian tradition, family recipes and a lively sense of gathering, the Busalacchi family helped define the city’s Italian dining culture before turning its attention to Old Town.
Don Pietro carries that legacy forward on San Diego Avenue with coastal Italian flavors, handmade pastas, seafood, signature cocktails, late-night energy and the family’s signature sense of hospitality. The restaurant’s motto, “sutta l’alberu ra vita,” meaning “under the tree of life” in Sicilian, reflects its role as a place to gather, celebrate and stay awhile. With its refreshed space, new menu and tableside dining moments, Don Pietro represents the next chapter in the family’s continued investment in Old Town.