Legit Italian restaurant right in the heart of little Italy in San Diego. We came on a weekday night but it was already bustling around early on. We were fortunate to be seated within a few minutes at their outside patio. Overall plenty of seating and good ambiance inside and outside the restaurant. Excellent service. We ordered the garlic bread, pollo parmigiana, and frutti di mare. All were exquisite! He garlic bread was perfect. The parmigiana was a good blend of chicken and pasta. The frutti di mare had a generous portion of seafood. Would definitely come again! read more

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Someone told me they once cried (of happiness) after eating here so I had to go check it out for myself. We got the: - Lollipop chops: lamb was good, sauce was AMAZING - Dolce e piccante pizza: crust was well baked and loved the sweet, spicy, and salty mixture, very heavy though. - Frutti di mare: seafood wasn't fresh unfortunately Overall came to a conclusion that this is an okay spot, not my first choice in Little Italy. Maybe if I try the pesto gnocchi i'll change my mind since that looked pretty good. read more

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I love the owners. Food is solid. Ambiance amazing. Service at 3pm on a Friday sucks!!! No customer service at all. You ask for something servers look busy and act as if burdened by requests. Probably last time I go in afternoon. read more

It was a really cute place. We got lucky and got outside seating. I really liked the two appetizers, but I did not like my main dish. It felt like Chef Boyardee, but trying to be a little fancier. It was supposed to be a Bolognese but the noodles were circles that were a little hard. It just was not what I was expecting for Italian. I wanted like home, cooking mother Italian, and this was a place that was trying to be too fancy. The food definitely was more expensive than it should've been. Good for a date night, but maybe not anytime more than once. read more

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Ambiance is good, clean and well kept, Their crab pasta was unique and flavourful . You dont see many crab pasta in other restaurants usually. Beet salad was great too. The food came on time. It wasnt crowded for an afternoon read more

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Came here after little Italy farmers market shopping. Everything in little Italy is walkable but parking is horrible. My friend and I walk in without a reservation and got seated right away. Drinks : Bianca sangria -very light and refreshing, just the right hint of sweetness. Unsweetened ice tea with lemon Food : bolognese pasta - horrible, don't get it. My friend was the one who ordered it and only took two bites. We pack to go and my boyfriend ate it and he didn't even like it as well. It was dry and pasta is like spaghetti -Os . Even the serving bowl seems like it's a kids meal Frutti di Mare pasta - this pasta was so much better. Light sauce, flavors of the seafood was perfect with a hint of tart and not overly fishy. The pasta cooked perfect à la dente. Burrata pizza 1000/10 - amazing pizza I have ever tried in CA. Thin slice, they make it perfect amount of dough and crust. The Red sauce is what made the pizza so amazing. This pizza was so light not a hint of oiliness which two girls finish the whole pizza! It was that good! Overall I would definitely come back for the pizza again!! And I would definitely try their other dishes but Avoid the Bolognese. Total price was about $120 price is definitely steep but their pizza was so worth it. Service was good at the beginning but towards the end when it was time to pack up food and get the bill it took forever. read more

Barbusa - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Last day in San Diego and we decide to head to Little Italy before heading to the airport. We were not sure exactly where to go as we were a little short on time before our flight but just happened to pass Barbusa and decided to give it a go! Turned out to be a great decision We sat on the outside patio enjoying that San Diego weather and when we asked if everything could be ordered together and served as it was ready due to a flight, they absolutely accommodated and the dishes arrived lightening fast! Enjoyed a spectacular super Hazy local IPA and we shared the beet and arugula salad which was amazing and the burrata pizza which was cooked to perfection. My daughter enjoyed the Carbonara which was spectacular. Loved everything about this restaurant! Great service, food , drinks, ambience and location! Will definitely be back ! read more

Located in the center of Little Italy, Barbusa is a restaurant that offers modern Sicilian cuisine. Since my partner and I were planning to explore the surrounding area, we decided to book a dinner reservation here. When we arrived, the restaurant was extremely packed. Even though we had a reservation, we still had to wait 20 minutes until we were seated. Not cool! Because this restaurant was so full, it was extremely loud and noisy. I could barely hear what my partner was saying when we tried to talk. In addition, the seating layout felt very tight. We were way too close to the table next to us. Food-wise, everything was satisfactory, but nothing amazing. I've definitely had much better Italian food before. We ordered the following: Funghi E Tartufo: handmade pappardelle pasta with mushrooms, panna, mascarpone, and white truffle oil - very rich and buttery. Gnocchi: handmade gnocchi pasta with pistachio pesto, panna, and oven roasted tomato - the nutty pistachio pesto sauce pairs really nicely with the soft gnocchi Burrata Pizza: artisan pizza with tomatoes, burrata, and basil - fresh, simple pizza with a thin crust that is great for sharing Other than the food, I did not really enjoy anything else about this place. Service was lacking as well. Parking was difficult because of how congested Little Italy is at night and the fact that there is no designated lot. read more

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Beautiful atmosphere, both indoor and outdoor seating, right in the heart of little Italy Unique menu of varied items, including vegetarian options Good, attentive, friendly service Had the Bietole (beet) salad and an appetizer of fried zucchini. Very good! read more

Barbusa - Fiori Di Zucca - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Great pasta spot to try in Little Italy! We came right when they opened on a Saturday, and the service was amazing. Everyone was so warm and welcoming. We ordered the Funghi e Tartufo, Prosciutto e Tartufo, and the Palermitana. Everything was delicious, but the standout for me was the Funghi e Tartufo. The sauce was rich and flavorful, and the pasta had the perfect chewy texture that paired so well with the creamy dish. I was also celebrating my birthday, and they surprised me with a small sweet treat, which was such a thoughtful touch! read more

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We started my birthday evening at Barbusa with appetizers and drinks, and everything was delicious! The cocktails were refreshing -- my favorite was the Lemon Drop -- and the appetizers were packed with flavor. We sat outside, and the atmosphere was the perfect way to kick off our night! Everyone was very friendly on staff, which is always a plus! read more

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My partner and I took a visit to Barbusa (With reservation) on a busy weekend and I have to say, parking here is a absolute nightmare. We arrived to Little Italy an hour early and it took us almost an hour to find suitable parking. Sure, you're able to find paid parking lots but most that are outdoors seem pretty unsafe and street parking (metered) were pretty nonexistent as well due to the amount of traffic and congestion there is. Quite frankly, it's worse than DTLA. My partner and I parked about a 20 minute walk away which made the experience a bit unpleasant. Onto the restaurant itself, the ambiance is quite romantic I'd say. The dimmed interior is very fitting to the style of restaurant and this occasion overall. There's outdoor seating with heat lamps but I find it quite congested when servers are walking in between crowds from the street to the outdoor section of the restaurant, a bit of a mess but can't really complain about the layout. My partner and I had to wait around 20 minutes to get seated after arriving with our reservation which is not ideal but the restaurant was very busy overall. Service was decent at best, our orders were taken a bit slow but it's understandable as it was quite busy. Not very attentive but other servers/staff accommodated with table cleaning and plates. We ordered the Gnocchi pasta, Funghi E Tartufo pasta, and Burrata pizza to share and they came out in a timely manner. Pretty impressed with the presentation with all three dishes which is a huge plus. Taste overall, it didn't really blow me away. It was tasty but nothing over the top in my opinion. Portions are decent and certainly fulfilling with a side dish. I'd have to say though, the Burrata Pizza is pretty sizeable, decent size to share and a decent pizza overall with a crunchy crust. Overall, a average experience as the parking and service wasn't adequate. Felt a bit rushed but food was decent. Interested in revisiting just to try the other pastas and Italian food, just a disappointing visit and didn't impress me enough. read more

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Had dinner here. For appetizers we ordered the garlic bread which was very good, the bruschetta, and the burrata caprese. For entrees we ordered the gnocchi and short rib lasagna. The gnocchi was good with a doughy consistency. My husband loved the short rib lasagna. For dessert we got the donuts which I enjoyed very much. Our server was friendly and provided me with a sour mocktail even though mocktails are not on the menu. The outdoor seating gives a nice feel of an outdoor Italy ambiance. Inside in nice and dim with good music. read more

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I came here with a girlfriend for a quick dinner around 6pm. There was not wait to sit out on the patio and we were served promptly. Our server was so kind and efficient. It was a nice evening and the heaters were turned on as the sun began to set so it was comfortable even outdoors. The food was amazing, we got the carbonara and the pepperoni pizza and I am still dreaming of it today. read more

Barbusa - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Writing this review now after two visits about a year apart. **Note that as of current, the seafood bar and pizza are only served after 4PM. Service: 5/5 Very attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable servers. Most seemed of Italian decent which added to the authenticity. Ambiance: 5/5 Modern yet cozy. Love the atmosphere. Drinks All of there drinks seem thoughtful and very well crafted. They were all amazing. The banana espresso martini was a 1000/10! Food - Calamari: 4/5 Large portion and great flavor but it could be more crispy overall. - Lollipop Chops: 5/5 I never would have thought to order this dish. It was recommended by the server and it did not disappoint. Came out piping hot, cheese pull, and tons of flavor. - Ricciola: 5/5 I was presently surprised with this dish. Didn't know how I'd feel having fish with potatoes but since the potatoes were cooked perfectly, it meshed so well. - Dolce e Piccante Pizza: 4/5 All of the toppings complimented the pizza very well. My only complaint was that the pizza wasn't toasted/baked enough. It need a little more char and it crunch to it. - Lobster Fusiili: 3.5/5 - Carbonara: 4/5 Delicious but very rich. This dish is good to share family style. - Funghi e Tarfuto: 5/5 My favorite dish! They don't skimp out on the truffle also. Noodles are perfectly al dente. - Gnocchi: 5/5 Also a top contender. read more

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Visited Barbusa for dinner with my friends on Saturday, and we loved our time here! We each ordered our own dishes and loved every single one -- I got the braised short rib lasagna that was amazing!! The meat was so tender and the lasagna was baked perfectly. I tried a bite of my friend's mushroom pasta which was so delicious and creamy. We shared an espresso martini that was also so yummy, creamy, and strong! Honestly I have no complaints with our meal, our dishes were brought to us pretty quickly, and the staff were all so friendly! Highly recommend this spot in Little Italy! read more

Barbusa - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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I had dinner here on Feb 13 and sadly was limited to their Valentine's menu. I was very surprised when I saw a $28 filet, and then as we compared our menus we noticed that the prices on mine were not correct. Our server was super kind and let us know that there were a few faulty ones. Anyway - we ordered the appetizer bread which was so fresh and garlicky and buttery. Great way to start it off. I ordered the crab pasta and had actual crab legs placed on it which was a great surprise. The crab meat plus the pasta created an amazing tasty dish with a great portion for. My partner got the chicken parm with gnocchi, and it tasted good but the pasta was pretty much room temp. Overall, it was a great experience and I really want to come back to try their full menu. Definitely not a traditional Italian restaurant vibe you get at the other spots in little Italy. It's more of a going out vibe and loud but it was fun! We got sat at the high top bench and by the end of our dinner there were a handful of people standing close to us since the bar was full. read more

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Came on Valentine's Day. Not sure I'd ever come back. They had a limited menu and also had the highest priced items only available to order. We were a large party with reservations. The restaurant wasn't too busy around 12:30 on a Saturday though. Got to try the garlic bread, lobster fusilli and halibut. The garlic bread was decent. No cheese but good amount of garlic flavor. The lobster presentation was nice but EXTREMELY overcooked. I've never had a lobster that chewy and tough before. That was the theme for almost everyone's dishes. Others in my group got the lamb (very well done and tough), crab was overcooked. Someone ordered the lasagna and said it was something they could just make at home. For the price point of all these dishes I expected more. My partner enjoyed his halibut, especially the red pepper sauce underneath. Service was friendly and quick. Since we were celebrating they did bring over a small treat for them which was a nice touch. read more

Barbusa - Lobster fusilli - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

*Want to preface that we went during Valentine day and they didnt have the whole menu available. We went as a group of 12 for lunch on Valentine's day. I loved the vibe of the place and the service was very friendly as well! Lucky for me the entree I order was the Halibut Scottata and that was perfectly cooked and quite tasty! However, I could not say the same for everyone at my table. Alot of them got the lobster or the lamb. They were all over cooked. The lamb was cooked well done. The waiter never asked us how you wanted to the lamb to be cooked. So if you do go maybe ask to make sure. The Lobster Fusilli presentation was very good, being served half a lobster on top. But that was extremely over cooked. Overall, for the price your paying I expected better quality. I could of been because its Valentines day. But it wasnt that busy when we went. read more

Barbusa - Lobster Fusilli - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Barbusa has to be one of the most sexiest restaurants in San Diego. The dim lighting, the modern aesthetic and the food presentation makes this restaurant ambience very sexy. The vibe here is very chic and it gives a magical feeling . The wait can be a little long and they require you to wait at the bar which isn't a problem because the bartenders here are amazing . I really enjoy their martinis and they have a great draft beer selection. Now let's talk about the food . Barbusa serves a Sicilian version of Italian food, and I personally like the Sicilian version the best. My favorite dish is the short rib lasagna with an order of garlic bread. Absolute perfection . Another thing I'd like to mention is the customer service is top tier . Our server went above and beyond to make sure we were satisfied with our experience. read more

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Overall such an amazing amazing experience at Barbusa! The service was excellent from the start, and our server was so kind and enthusiastic which made our meal so much better! Super spacious inside and we were a bit surprised we were the only group there, but it was pretty early on in the day. We ordered two pastas and a pizza and the portion sizes were very large, and we were very filled by the end of the meal. My all time favorite item on their menu was the Funghi E Tartufo, and I still can't stop thinking about how good and flavorful it was! It was also our friend's birthday and they were so kind to give her a birthday card and some donuts with some sparklers to end the meal off on a high note. Would definitely recommend this place in Little Italy, and I look forward to returning. read more

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Food: 3 Service: 3 Ambiance: 4 We had a reservation for 12, and one thing to note right away is that they will not seat your party until everyone has arrived. We were waiting on the last two people in our group, so just be aware that your full party needs to be present before you can be seated. The restaurant itself is very lively with lots of people, noise, and activity. It has a fun, energetic vibe and is great for groups. Our waitress was good, fast, and efficient, though nothing particularly memorable. The food looked very pretty, but to be honest, it didn't blow me away. A lot of the dishes were just okay. We ordered calamari, garlic bread, pizza, lasagna, carbonara, ravioli, and I ordered the carne con sugo, which was also just okay. Drinks were fine and tasted good, but again, nothing standout. One thing that did bother us was how rushed we felt. About an hour into dinner, they were already bringing boxes to start clearing our plates even though we were still eating and chatting. It made the experience feel a bit hurried. Overall, we had a good time because of the lively atmosphere and being with friends, but the food didn't impress enough for me to want to rush back. Between feeling rushed and the dishes being just average, Barbusa lands at three stars for me. read more

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This place was delicious. Excellent service and delicious food. Planning our next visit already. I took pictures but can not for the life of me I can't find them the restaurant itself is tastefully understaffed in decor nice but not so elevated that a casual lunch would be uncomfortable read more

Italian food in Little Italy. My family loves this place with good reason. The service is great and the food is even better. It's been a few months and I still remember my beautiful shrimp dish. I don't think my family ever had a bad dish and we love coming during a Sunday lunch especially since parking is free. read more

Highly recommend if you're looking for a good Italian restaurant in San Diego! The food is delicious! I've tried a few different pastas and pizzas and have never been disappointed in the taste and flavors. The Gnocchi might be my new favorite, it was delicious! Tried the roasted bone marrow for the first time and it was amazing! Having it with the bread and chili jam was a perfect combo. We finished our bread, but still had more bone marrow, so our server kindly brought out more bread! The ambiance is also a plus. It's a cute date night spot, it's very nice inside and there's also outdoor seating available! Parking is always a pain in Little Italy, but at least the food is worth it! read more

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Worst experience ever, my husband pasta had a piece of plastic bag in it that he almost swallowed. The owner said that was ok??? No Mr., it's not ok to serve food with trash on it. read more

What a lovely spot in the heart of little Italy. We were sat at an outdoor table immediately around 4pm on a Sunday. Our server was really lovely, I think he had overheard us talking about having no where to put our purses (chairs are round-backed), and he brought us a standing purse hook! Soooo sweet. The beef carpaccio was my favorite-- with fresh, delicious sauce and a pleasing amount of capers, and freshly tossed arugula (yum). The pizza was 7/10, I think it was just missing some flavor despite looking delicious. Wasn't sure if there was sauce on it and I could've actually used some more saltiness. Overall, would love to come try other menu items! read more

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Bruschetta was a great mixture of flavors, and the bread was thick but still crispy. However, the bolognese SLAYED!! Quite possibly what I'll miss the most about San Diego... read more

This is not what it used to be. So if someone told you how great it was and you should try it. maybe not anymore... super loud music food was ok but experience and ambiance is gone. read more

Hanging around Little Italy and stopped to have a little snack. Inside decorated cute for Christmas. Had a Banana espresso martini and a cannoli. Martini was delicious. Cannoli was just okay. Not super busy at 3:00pm. read more

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Nine years later and I came back to Barbusa. After visiting Italy I was curious to compare what we ate there to our local Italian restaurants. We decided to venture out to Little Italy. Started off with some wines. Their Nebbiolo was great. Next, we tried their zucchini flowers. They were just ok. Slightly over fried and the sauce didn't go well with the flowers (too much cream). Next came the main dishes. Barbusa sauce w parpadelle and Italian sausage. And, Tortelli filled with butter but squash. Both dishes were delicious. The tortelli was rich, sweet and filling. 3/4 of the way through I ended up switching plates with my husband. His dish was also delicious and savory. The staff was excellent. And, the ambiance was nice. Happy to have great Italian food in SD. Definitely spoiled in that regard. read more

We weren't too hungry so we only got an appetizer and a pasta entree. Thought the food was pretty standard. I like al dente pasta but I think this one was a little overcooked for my liking. I liked the appetizers we ordered much more. It was very flavorful. Service was really great and dinning outdoor on a warm night was enjoyable. Overall pretty solid but for me, nothing really that memorable read more

Barbusa - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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When in San Diego, Little Italy is a must and right in the heart of it sits Barbusa, an Italian spot that absolutely delivers. We kicked things off with a unique experience. The chef walked us through how they make their homemade gnocchi. Naturally, we had to try both the traditional and the stuffed cheese versions. It was a tight race as they were both incredible, but the sauce on the traditional gnocchi gave it a slight edge for me. For mains, we went all in. First up, the vegetarian burrata pizza: perfectly balanced with fresh basil, creamy cheese, and just the right amount of sauce. Then came my personal favorite, the Prosciutto e Tartufo pizza. It had just the right kick without setting your mouth on fire, and the mozzarella and sauce tied everything together beautifully. The "famous" Busalacchi Caesar salad lived up to the hype (and honestly, that's rare.) The scratch-made dressing was easily one of the best I've had, and the crumbled garlic croutons brought everything together in the best way. Not to be overshadowed, the Bietole salad held its own. The house-made basil thyme vinaigrette was so good you'll wish you could take a bottle home. The goat cheese was smooth and balanced (no overpowering tang here,) and the caramelized pecans added a perfect touch of sweetness and texture. Then came the standout dish of the day, the Funghi e Tartufo pasta. This was hands-down my favorite. Fair warning, this dish leans all the way into truffle, so you've got to be a fan. But if you are, you're in for a treat. The creamy mascarpone, earthy mushrooms, and generous white truffle oil made this dish unforgettable. On top of all that, the service was fantastic. We were a group of 10 (never an easy task) but the staff was attentive, friendly, and made it feel like we were the only table there. The ambiance is casual yet elevated. If you're looking for a top-tier Italian spot in San Diego, Barbusa should absolutely be on your list. Just come hungry and maybe emotionally prepare yourself to fall in love with their food.. read more

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Years later, still one of my favorite restaurants! Prices have risen everywhere so dining out is a treat, gotta go where it's actually worth eating out...this place has been consistently good with great service. Unfortunately, that means it's harder to get a table on busier nights so plan ahead. As fun as it is dining at night with the boisterous crowd and loud music, it's equally enjoyable sitting outdoors under the sun. If you feel like Italian, with fresh pasta and everything cooked to perfection, look no further! This is the place PERIOD My faves... Polenta with ragu Lamb lollies Calamari Bone Marrow Meatballs Carbonara Any fish Ribeye Dolce e Piccante Pizza For dessert...go for a walk and grab an ice cream or gelato in Little Italy read more

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A Friday night made better by exceptional service Mr. and Mrs. visited Barbusa on a busy Friday night with friends, and what truly elevated the entire experience was the service. From the moment we sat down, the team operated like a well‑oiled machine -- professional, attentive, and consistently on point. Drink orders, food orders, clearing plates... everything flowed seamlessly without ever feeling rushed. Their hospitality made us enjoy the evening even more. The food was solid, with the standout being the beets salad with arugula -- fresh, bright, and surprisingly memorable. We shared a variety of dishes: * Bruschetta with eggplant * Chilean sea bass * Fungi truffle pappardelle * Bell peppers and sausage * Yellowtail crudo By the time we finished all of that, there was absolutely no room left for dessert, though the menu was tempting. If there's one thing that held the experience back from being perfect, it's the noise level. Between the music and the general volume of the restaurant, it was louder than expected, making conversation a bit of a challenge. Still, Barbusa delivered a lively Little Italy experience with standout service that made the night feel special. We left full, happy, and grateful for a team that clearly takes pride in what they do. read more

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Loved the ambiance inside even though we sat outside they sat us right away on a Friday evening. The waiter was attentive as well as joking around with us which made it a pleasant experience. The food was delicious we enjoyed the meatballs and the sauce was very flavorful. The flower blossoms I absolutely enjoyed. As far as the lasagna I thought it had a lot of flavor but the other dish I felt didn't have any flavor coming through. So that was disappointing. As far as the dessert I thought I was getting stuffed cannoli but it ended up being cannoli chips and dip but it was absolutely delicious and would recommend. read more

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Had lunch with my bf on Valentine's Day. Our reservations were at 11:30 and that's when they opened. Place was cute and open, we opted for indoor seating and sat right away with the friendly host. Our server Stefano was so kind, making sure everything was good from start to finish. We also met Filiberto and Soco, they brought over some of our dishes. Customer service here was superb! This dining experience was very pleasant and loving on Valentine's Day! They also had a cute custom menu for today as well. read more

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We've eaten here a couple times but haven't eaten here in awhile. We had a reservation and we were seated right away. Started with the squash blossoms which had 4 per order although the waiter said it only came with 3. Not sure if they gave us an extra one or he just didn't know. Soooo good, crunchy and filled with a good amount of ricotta. We ordered the PROSCIUTTO E STRACCHINO as another appetizer so we are off to a great start. The prosciutto, balsamic combination with the pillowy bread was delicious. For our entrees, the granchio was good, carbonara was ok, pasta was a bit overbooked, POLIPO PUTTANESCA was tasty lots of octopus but sauce is very olive forward. Unfortunately our server was very inattentive and rarely checked in with us. The restaurant was busy but not busy enough that he only checked in one time after getting our entrees and then we had to flag him down to ask him for our check. They do have valet for $12 with validation right in front of the restaurant. Restaurant is very loud, music playing so there's a great vibe but if you want to have a conversation you are having to talk really loud. read more

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I didn't get to eat there but I definitely will not be back. The hostess at the front was very rude and dismissive. I hate to bring up race but it did make us feel that was the reason why we weren't seated. We were a group of 5 who did not look like everyone else sitting, specially the hostess. read more

Major disappointment dining at Barbusa. Oysters were not shucked properly and the muscle was still attached to the shell which made it hard to eat. Properly shucked oysters are shown that the knife runs along the inside shell to detach the muscle before serving. They didn't even have an oyster pick and we had such a hard time getting it out. If Barbusa menu says they serve oysters, please teach the kitchen staff how to shuck. We reported this to the server however he attempted to go back to the kitchen, came back with a few new oysters and said it was fixed but we showed him there, turned the oyster upside down, muscle attached and it again was not right. Third and final time they try to fix, it still was not right. Ambiance was fine. Server was non attentive after serving the oysters. He did not come back to check on us and we kept having to get his attention. Disappointing because he was just not into customers having the best experience. Variety of wine and beer selection domestic and international. For the record, I did enjoy my Lobster Fusilli. The Carne con Sugo was heavy and dense. read more

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