Founded in 1946 by Vennero and Maria Pernicano, Pernicano’s Delicatessen was originally located at 548 University Avenue, across the street from Caesar’s Hillcrest. The Pernicanos had ten sons and one daughter, many helped as his restaurant empire expanded. By 1959, the family had seven locations.
They moved to a larger location half a block south on Sixth, establishing the eatery as Pernicano’s Pizza House. Pernicano’s was the first pizza house in San Diego, and reportedly, on the west coast. In the beginning, George Pernicano gave away free slices to passersby to introduce “pizza” to San Diegans!
One of Vennero’s sons, George Pernicano sported a 16-inch handlebar moustache, always waxed, his trademark since 1936. He took over the pizza house and re-opened an adjacent fine-dining restaurant in 1960 as Pernicano’s Casa di Baffi (“House of the Handlebar”).
Gregarious, excitable, and seen by some as a ‘hot head,’ George did have a temper. Any time a health inspector came to the restaurant, he invariably would harass the poor chap. Once even, an argument came to blows.
Robert ‘Bob’ Pastore, who ran Caesar’s Hillcrest, just next door, relates this story. “When the health inspector came around to our place,” chuckled Bob, “I’d have a busboy run through the kitchen, out the back door, across the alley into Pernicano’s kitchen to warn George. Then his manager would send him off in a taxi to avoid any fist fights!”
As spirited as his brother, John Pernicano opened a location in Bay Pointe, now Pacific Beach, on the border of La Jolla. At the time there were only seven restaurants in the entire area, and he loved playing the accordion and piano for his customers. When an ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) official told him he was required to pay a copyright licensing fee for all the music he was playing, you can imagine what he told the guy…
Pernicano’s is still operated by the family — the last location in El Cajon is still open! Chicken Francesca or a la Baffi.
Pernicano’s Casa di Baffi as many remember it, in the Hillcrest neighborhood of San Diego.
Vintage placemat for Pernicano’s restaurants, c1978.
Hillcrest
Pernicano’s Delicatessen (1946, Vennero and Maria Pernicano)
548 University Avenue
San Diego, CA 92103
Pacific Beach
Pernicano’s Pizza House, La Jolla (1947 – 2019, John Pernicano Sr, John Pernicano Jr)
711 Turquoise Street
San Diego, CA 92109
Hillcrest
Pernicano’s Pizza House (1950-1985, Vennero, George and Belle Pernicano)
3818-3840 Sixth Avenue
Casa di Baffi (1960-1985, George Pernicano)
3833 Fifth Avenue
San Diego, CA 92103
El Cajon
Pernicano’s Pizza House (1953, Angelo and Jennie Pernicano, James and Catherine Pernicano)
890 Highway 80
El Cajon, CA
National City
Pernicano’s Pizza House (1958 – 1972, Albert Pernicano, Tommie Pernicano)
1125 National Avenue
National City, CA 91950
Chula Vista
Pernicano’s Pizza House (1958 – 1979, Joe and Frances Pernicano)
560 Broadway
Chula Vista, CA 91910
El Cajon
Pernicano’s Ristorante (1960s – ✔, Gary Pernicano)
1588 East Main Street
El Cajon, CA 92021
Scripps Ranch
Pernicano’s Ristorante (1977 – 2025, Larry Pernicano)
9932 Mercy Road #109
San Diego, CA 92129
Lakeside
Pernicano’s Italian Ristorante (Closed, Frank Pernicano)
12381 Mapleview Street
Lakeside, CA 92040
