While she worked part-time as a restaurant server or bartender, in addition to working as a high school literacy teacher, Emily Green Lake had a vision of opening her own business. She enjoyed working in the hospitality industry.
Then, tragedy struck her family. The vision came more into focus.
In 2016, she received shocking news that her sister Kate Green unexpectedly passed away.
“In the stark realization that life is so short, I decided to leave teaching and follow my dream of owning a restaurant,” Green Lake said. “I’ve always loved hospitality, so upon my sister’s passing, I was inspired to live the dream right now, not wait for the future, not knowing what tomorrow will bring.”
In 2019, she opened Sisters Pizza in Hillcrest. The business name honors the memory of Kate.
“That was my inspiration. That’s why it’s called Sisters Pizza because even though she’s not physically here, she was my partner and my inspiration every day,” Green Lake said.
The menu is inspired by the sisters’ love of pizza, with creations such as the OBecian (white sauce, mushrooms, pesto and goat cheese) because they used to live in Ocean Beach and the Chickie Chickie Parm Parm (red sauce, mozzarella, thinly sliced chicken parm and fresh basil), a tribute to one of their favorite television shows, “Parks and Recreation.”
“She and I together, that was kind of one of our hobbies,” Green Lake said. “We would try out different pizza places. I mean, we would even order dominoes … so we definitely didn’t discriminate. Although we always tried to find where the best pizza places were. So it just seemed like the obvious choice that a pizza shop was going to be the type of restaurant I would open.”
Customers at Sisters Pizza can also get appetizers like fried calamari and mozzarella sticks, salads, soups, sandwiches, pastas and a third-pound burger.
The menu and the energy of Sisters Pizza are influenced by Green Lake and her sister’s upbringing in New Jersey, including a diner they would frequent called Garden Pizza.
“My parents loved it because they could go and get an entree and a bottle of wine, and my sister and I would be satisfied just picking a slice of pizza and going to the cooler and grabbing a can of soda as a treat,” Green Lake remembered. “So with Sisters Pizza, I wanted to be able to provide other families with that opportunity where the parents could kind of like have a date night, even with the kids being there, and everyone would be happy.”
Sisters Pizza, which opened up its second location in North Park in February, hosts several events throughout the year and supports community efforts in Hillcrest.
“We’re staunch allies to the LGBTQ community,” Green Lake said. “We make it very well known that we want to be part of this inclusive community.”
Sisters Pizza hosts an annual neighborhood holiday party in Hillcrest, with drag queens and carolers and sponsors events benefitting HIV and AIDS prevention and education.
Green Lake said she wanted the first location of Sisters Pizza to be in Hillcrest because it’s a community that has been very welcoming to her friends, husband, employees and herself, since she moved to San Diego over 20 years ago.
“It was an obvious choice when I was looking to open my business that I wanted to have it in Hillcrest because I already knew a lot of the neighbors, and I’ve gotten to know so many more,” She said. “San Diego is a big city, but Hillcrest has a very small-town neighborhood feeling that I love.”
Here are Green Lake’s recommendations for dining and exploring in Hillcrest.
Emily Green Lake is the owner of Sisters Pizza, with locations in Hillcrest and North Park. (Gretchen Otero photography)
Q: Where is your favorite dining option?
A: Recently, I’ve been really into Dashi, a newly opened sushi place right near the iconic Hillcrest sign. The ambience is minimalist yet cozy, the service is phenomenal, and everything I’ve tried on the menu is super fresh and tasty. In addition to a wide variety of interesting seafood options, they offer plenty of tasty vegetarian and vegan options, too. For drinks, my go-to is The Loft. It’s an inclusive dive-y spot and serves as a home-away-from-home for many of its patrons. Word of caution: when having drinks in Hillcrest, don’t order a double until you try what a single tastes like.
Interior of BlueStocking Books along 5th Avenue in Hillcrest on Thursday, December 18, 2025, 2025 (Photo by Sandy Huffaker for The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Q: What is your favorite small retail business or pop-up vendor to support?
A: Bluestocking Books has been around since 1967, so its cool, vintage vibe is completely authentic. They have a huge collection of used books, in addition to current best sellers and newer titles, plus stationery and great gifts for bookworms like me.
Q: Where is your favorite open space?
A: The Seven Bridges urban hike is a fun way to take in much of Hillcrest, Balboa Park and the east side of Bankers Hill. There’s no start or finish. The goal is to cross the following seven bridges, taking whatever route you choose. My route goes like this: First Avenue Bridge, Spruce Street Suspension Bridge, Quince Street Wooden Bridge, Cabrillo Bridge, Balboa Park Rose Garden Bridge, Georgia Street Bridge and Vermont Street Bridge. It’s a fun way to explore Hillcrest and get your steps in. Plus, there are plenty of places along the way to stop for a snack and a cup of coffee.
Q: Where is the best piece of artwork?
A: Harper’s Topiary Garden, a short walk from Hillcrest in Mission Hills, is actually a passion project set in the front yard of a home on a residential street, where the owners have crafted over 50 topiaries inspired by world travels. It puts Edward Scissorhands to shame. It’s a fun spot to check out, pick out as many animals and figures as you can and snap some pics. There are some great galleries in Hillcrest where folks can check out work by local talent, too. My favorites are The Studio Door, which regularly features unique exhibits and events, and Revision, an amazing studio for neurodivergent artists.
Q: Where is your favorite entertainment attraction or historic landmark?
A: Drag shows at Urban MO’s are always outstanding, truly performance art. San Diego is fortunate to have some of the best drag artists in the world who perform there regularly. Don’t miss a performance by Mariam T, Paris Sukomi Max, Naomi Daniels or Nadya Simone, though honestly, you’ll be thoroughly entertained by whoever you watch perform there.