Little Italy, which has become the undisputed go-to destination for dining, will be getting its first food hall as part of a soon to debut piazza in the heart of the downtown San Diego neighborhood. Little Italy Food Hall, as it's being called, is conceived as a mini version of the foodie-friendly public markets that have mushroomed in popularity across the U.S. It will have six vendors in all, from Milan-inspired pizza and roasted meat sandwiches to New England seafood, along with a bar featuring craft cocktails, beer and wine.

It is one of several food and beverage concepts that will populate the 10,000-square-foot, European-style Piazza della Famiglia on West Date Street between Columbia and India streets, which will open in stages beginning in March. The overall project is being developed by H.G. Fenton and will include 125 apartments over 16,000 square feet of retail and restaurants.The food hall is not expected to open until early to mid-summer.