Literally wanting to eat here again as I'm writing this! Just wow! Another little Italy place that is SO GOOD! So so good! Truthfully it's probably a good thing I don't live in SD because the food scene slaps so hard! Went on Saturday night with a 8pm reservation! Our table wasn't ready when we arrived but they were very nice about it! When I tell you this place was packed... it was packed. So it was for sure worth the wait! Our server was very nice! I got an extra extra dirty Tito's martini with extra olives. Which they got right so that's major points in my book! I then got the seafood pasta recommend by my server. She said if I liked spicy things I would love this! It was no joke a 10/10 seasoned so well.. shrimp and crab and the perfect spice! We also had garlic bread tor the table but not your normal garlic bread! The bread was deff homemade and seasoned more than just a basic piece of bread! The ambiance of this place is setting the scene for a New York night- classy, mood lighting.. good decor. Everything! My only complaint was we got seated at a high top and those are my least favorite tables. If you are looking to try the hottest new spot in town... please come here. When I say you can search this place on TikTok and a million videos come up... it's for a reason!!! read more

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Worth every single hype review that there is! After a relaxing day at the spa, all we wanted was carbs and this place did not disappoint. We kinda went here on a whim after looking through reviews and settled on Barbusa. We were able to snag 5pm reservations just 2 hours before so I'm glad too because by the time we were leaving, there was a bit of a wait for walk ups. We started with the burrata caprese and the waitress recommended the Fiori di Zuca, which are these stuffed fried squash blossoms and HOLY MOLY, those were absolutely delicious. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a delicious quick appetizer l! The burrata was fresh and the tomatoes were so good. I ordered the pesto gnocchi and added salmon and my friend had the carbonara and added chicken. We both had to add a dash of salt to our dishes but seasoning is subjective so can't fault anyone there. Overall the portions were hearty enough to enjoy at the table and not too much that you were packing up a whole meal at the end of the night to go. The servers were so friendly and welcoming! Such a pleasant first experience! read more

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Made a reservation over a month out for the friday after thanksgiving... thank goodness we did because it booked up FAST! Definitely need reservations to come here at peak times. Ordered the meatballs and garlic bread for apps. They were good! I really liked my carbonara. My FIL didn't love that the chicken parm came with gnocchi for the pasta... so just read the menu before you order that if you want to make a swap! Service was great. Only downside was that it was super loud in the restaurant. Almost yelling across the table. Food was awesome though! read more

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Came here in November with my cousin & fiancé! It was already decorated for Christmas and looked so beautiful inside. We ordered the espresso martinis, which were so good I actually ended up getting two. Afterwards for my meal I ordered the chicken parm gnocchi. The chicken was really good but I found myself tired of the gnocchi after a while. It was delicious but I think I prefer spaghetti noodles with chicken parm instead. Staff were wonderful and attentive. Overall it was a great experience for my first time, this spot is actually my cousins favorite restaurant. I'd love to come here again :) read more

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We tried this place for the first time and it did not disappoint. The vibes are immaculate in this restaurant. It's very pretty inside. The food was also good. I'm not the biggest fan of Italian food but I'm not picky. I tried their Pesto Gnocchi and it was good but I felt like I got tired of the taste as I kept eating my gnocchis. My fiancée tried their Chicken Parm with Gnocchi and that was also very delicious. Our servers were very kind. We were celebrating our cousins getting married and they gave them a free sweet treat! Which was awesome. The restaurant is located in Little Italy so parking will be a bit difficult. Although, we did come on a weekday so it was easy to find parking. read more

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Great quality Italian food in little Italy! The ambiance was fun and lively. They have a cute little martini espresso cart outside, a unique touch. Great music playing. Had such a good time here with my friends, it's a vibe! The service was outstanding as well. -Calamari: some of the best I've ever had!! -Meatballs: flavorful and fluffy -Squash blossoms: a must try! Delicious -Burrata pizza: some of the best pizza I've had! The crust was fluffy and the sauce wasn't overly tangy. -Ravioli: the pasta tasted so fresh and again the red sauce was super flavorful -Pesto gnocchi: fluffy little balls of heaven. Great portion too for sharing No complaints here. I can't wait to return when I'm in San Diego! read more

Barbusa - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

So I've been coming here for years and I absolutely love all of the food I've always had a great experience whether it be for two people 20 people doesn't matter it's always been consistent always been perfect drinks are excellent The Vibes are proper and I have to say that my last dining experience with Johnny from Jersey was probably the best from someone who has worked in the restaurant industry for over a decade I can recognize so many things and he was beyond five stars with everything he did and I really appreciate him making my close friends first time dining absolutely incredible super memorable and as always I'll be back and continue to bring more and more people read more

Came in on Sunday, April 26 at 12:45. The hostess was rude and sad us in a table outside, completely hidden by a bush. Our waiter did not even come at all. We waited 20 minutes for service. Nobody came. When I got up and left to tell the hostess that we were leaving she didn't really care. Horrible service. They don't even care about their customers. Don't eat here. read more

Rigatoni and meatballs were delicious which is why I'm rating 4/5. But the pizza is a 1/5, it tastes like you could have got it from the freezer of a grocery store. Definitely not authentic Italian pizza. read more

Barbusa - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Fantastic meal for my birthday friend tonight!!! We tried so much food. The mussels were Soo Good, the lampchop pops were good. For dinner i tasted the gnocchi and funghi pasta and both were incredible, i honestly cant decide which i liked more. The banana espresso martini was amazing too. Service from Ryan was incredible, the whole staff was amazing but he really made the night for us. 10/10 experience all around read more

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Such a lively Italian restaurant in the heart of Little Italy! Be sure to make a reservation ahead of time as this place is always booked up! While it is very well known, I love the home-y mom and pop vibe of the inside. This place would be great for a family dinner, group celebration, or date. The servers are also very efficient and friendly. The star of the show were the apps (and the food came out super fast!). We got the squash blossoms and bruschetta di malazane. Both were incredible and super flavorful. Would get it again. Ravioli Norma (8/10): When I read fried eggplant, I thought there would be little crunchies on top but it looks like it was more like a stir fried eggplant garnish. Nonetheless, the ravioli was al denta and they loaded the plate with pasta sauce. The sauce had the perfect amount of sweetness and acidity. read more

Barbusa - pasta! - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Little Italy has a ton of Italian spots that never disappoint. You can never pick a bad Italian spot. The vibes were energetic at Barbusa and the service was fast. However, it was hard to converse with my friend and we were pretty much yelling at each other across our table. We split the calamari and I the Funghi e tartufo. Both were delicious. Parking wise, there is valet specifically for Barbusa for $12, but they only take cash. read more

Barbusa - Calamari - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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I want to give them 3.5 stars..but that's not an option. Had dinner here the other night and it was just OK. The atmosphere is nice..a bit loud but vibrant. Our server was nice and attentive for the most part and she gets 4.5 stars. The let down was the food... My pasta al forno was very reminiscent of the kid ravioli'os from back in the 90s. My husband's cabonara was mid. Maybe it's because I just came back from spending 2 weeks in Italy and I now know what this stuff is supposed to taste like, but definitely a let down. THE MEATBALLS and garlic bread were great! All in all a nice place to try. With so many good restaurants in Little Italy I can't say that id choose to run back here anytime soon. 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

Went here twice in one vacation. Absolutely love the drinks and food... but that's nothing compared to the service!!! Marcello and Giuseppe are out of this world. They take care of you and check on you any chance they get. We had the Donnarosa (favorite), Gostosa and Fuoco over our two visits. For food definitely get one of their appetizers we tried two and the main dishes I highly recommend the Carbonara the egg yolk on top was define. We will be going back any trip to San Diego we get!! read more

Barbusa - Fuoco - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

I had a wonderful lunch here! The vibe is great, the staff is friendly, and they have such fun personalities. We sat outside because it was a beautiful day. There was a steady stream of patrons coming into the restaurant, while we were there. That's always a great sign. The restaurant offers a variety of dishes from starters, salads, pastas, and protein dishes. We started with the stuffed squash blossoms and the bruschetta. The squash blossoms were great! I loved the lightly fried blossom and the soft cheese. The bruschetta was also great. It was a different twist with eggplant instead of just the regular tomato topping. For main dishes we got the pasta bolognese, the lobster pasta, the ahi tuna, and the ravioli. The dishes were of the right serving. We were all able to finish our dishes without being overly stuffed. The pasta was cooked well. My friend felt like the ahi could have done without the sweet sauce on top, but everything else was great. read more

As soon as we got to the restaurant, we were greeted by Tiffany who sat us immediately on a surprisingly busy Thursday night. She was so kind. Katie was extremely knowledgeable on the menu and even helped me pick which wine to get. The food was incredible! Love that they have dairy free cheese as an option. Very nice restaurant, can't wait to come back! read more

amazing food that is so fresh and tasty. garlic bread was one of the best I have ever tried. Waiter Jesus Canelo was amazing and provided excellent service. read more

Service by Gianni was top notch! Nice guy. Parking was ok--street parking but you have to get lucky. Otherwise valet which idk how much it was. Had high expectations. Seemed like it would be something between authentic Italian and Italian places that are kind of trying to be Italian but are just for show. The funghi pasta was good but really rich. The lamb lollipops were good. Squash blossoms--like nothing I've tasted before! Yum. But the bolognese..... was like a can of chef boyardee. ??? Sad to waste carb intake on this. Also the place was so loud we couldn't even think or talk. Probably won't be coming back. read more

Barbusa - "Bolognese" - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Food is always delicious here there is not much on their menu I don't like I would some change maybe change out one or two entrees just for a variety service today was sloooow with restaurants half emptied we have gotten better service when the place is packed to the gills !! The pasta came out first then my riccola very disappointing I was introducing this place to a friend and now she thinks is so disorganized read more

Barbusa - Carbonara Con Piselli - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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The food was very typical southern Italian American cuisine. The portion sizes were also very American sized. I wouldn't recommend the pizza the dough was like Dominos cardboard like. The service was efficient The ambiance was pleasant except for the extremely loud music which made it impossible to carry on a conversation. I think I need a hearing aid now. ‍ Good luck! read more

Food tastes good and service is OK. They don't refill water for a while and their recommendation of ordering the gnocchi was not on point. The gnocchi that the wife ordered is a bit soft for my taste and makes her feel bloated afterwards. The price is also up there. We ended up spending almost $40/person and this without ordering any alcohols. Not sure if I'll be coming back. Not bad but I expected more. read more

Barbusa - Squid ink pasta - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Barbusa in Little Italy is definitely worth the visit. Parking was honestly a nightmare though, so plan ahead or expect a bit of a walk. Valet is available for twenty-something, I say just do it. That said, everything else made up for it. The food was incredible across the board, easily some of the best Italian I've had in San Diego. The service was top-notch, waiter was fun and lively making it fun for us as well as attentive, and on point the entire time. The atmosphere is stylish and lively, but it does get pretty loud, so not the best spot if you're looking for something quiet. Overall, great experience and I'd absolutely go back. read more

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We came to this restaurant without a reservation and were seated very quickly, which we truly appreciated. The table wasn't the most comfortable one, but considering we didn't have a booking, we were grateful to be accommodated. The hostess introduced herself as Ella. Unfortunately, her behavior stood out in a negative way. She was constantly chewing gum and came across as rather arrogant. In my opinion, this kind of appearance and attitude feels unprofessional and doesn't create a welcoming first impression. Our server, Michael, was friendly and happy to give recommendations from the menu. At the same time, I constantly felt a sense of rush during the service. The restaurant was very busy that evening, so we completely understand that he had many tables to take care of, and we don't hold that against him. However, there was a small moment worth mentioning. When clearing our dirty plates and replacing them, some food remnants from the previous plates dripped onto our table and onto the clean napkins. He simply turned around and walked away. I attached a photo. It wasn't something critical - I just wiped the table myself - but the situation was a bit surprising in the moment. The absolute highlight of our evening was Billy - the gentleman who brings out and presents the dishes. He truly felt like the heart and soul of the place. His energy, warmth, and genuine connection with guests created a wonderful atmosphere. A big thank you to him - he made the experience better. We ordered gnocchi, burrata Caprese, arancini, and tomato bruschetta. Unfortunately, we were disappointed with the food overall. It felt rushed - as if it had been prepared in a hurry or without much care. The tomatoes were cut into huge, uneven chunks - some pieces wider than my finger - as if they had been chopped in wild haste without even looking at the plate. It genuinely gave the impression that no attention was paid to presentation or basic kitchen standards. The pasta was overcooked. The arancini were the most disappointing dish - soft and soggy instead of crispy, with an unclear and unpleasant flavor. I would absolutely not recommend them. The most enjoyable dish turned out to be the tomato bruschetta. Simple bread with tomato and parmesan ended up being the most satisfying item on the table. Our total bill was around 150 dollars. For that amount of money, there are many restaurants offering significantly better quality food, more attention to detail, and a much higher level of service overall. I also want to give credit to the Aperol - it was excellent. Honestly, the Aperol and Billy are the reason I'm giving three stars instead of one. Overall, the experience was very disappointing. In my opinion, this restaurant does not live up to its 4.4 Google rating. I wouldn't recommend it, and I won't be returning. read more

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My husband made a reservation here for my birthday. We opted to sit outside since inside is pretty loud, and the tables are very close together, which I personally would want to hear our conversation. I ordered a rigatoni pasta with spicy sausage and a red sauce which was good. I guess I expected it to have more spice. My husband ordered the short rib lasagna, which I tried, and it was pretty good. The pasta doesn't leave you feeling heavy like some other places. Our waiter made the evening even more special by giving us each a glass of rosé on the house and brought Sicilian donuts to our table to celebrate. read more

Came to Barbusa for an early dinner and was immediately greeted by the sweetest host. The moment I walked in, I was in awe of their modern and beautiful decor. They instantly came to fill up our glass with water and left us a beautiful glass bottle of water to use as a refill when needed. Our waitress was super attentive...offering her opinion of wine choice. We ordered the calamari as an appetizer which was a nice start to our meal. We then ordered the gnocchi, bolognese al forno, and their homemade pepperoni pizza. Everything was absolutely delicious but the gnocchi was my favorite. After dinner we splurged on some homemade donuts and a glass of their espresso martini. The martini was so good that I ended up buying a bottle to enjoy at home. Overall, wonderful experience. Will definitely be back. read more

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I dream of this restaurant every night because of how much I miss it. I went on a tuesday night and it wasn't too busy so the food came out pretty quick! My server was fast and so sweet. The decor really brought the whole place together and DANG that lobster pasta was delicious. I had a concert to go to right after so unfortunately I was in a rush but if I could've stayed there for the whole night I totally would've. read more

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

Barbusa was on our list of places to try for the longest time, and so when we found ourselves downtown looking for a dinner spot, we finally grabbed a reservation to try it out. I would definitely recommend making a reservation as it does get quite busy - OpenTable is super easy to use, so there's no excuse! - PARKING - Little Italy parking will always be a challenge, but if you're early enough before peak meal hours, or if you're just plain lucky, you can find a street spot not too far away. Everything is fairly walkable! - SERVICE/ENVIRONMENT - There are tables inside and outside - seems like reservations are mainly placed indoors, while walk-ins opt for outdoors. They do have heating lamps outside though, so it's not terrible if you happen to get seated there. Ambiance is lively and moderately loud. Waitress was very attentive and prompt, we got seated and ordered within 10 minutes of going in. The food came out quick as well, about 10-15 minutes after ordering. - FOOD - Calamari Fritti ($23): I actually really enjoyed the light breading on their calamari, as most places overdo it. The flavor is nice, calamari is fresh, and the dipping sauce had a nice tang. I do think for the price, the portion size is a bit lacking, which is a common theme throughout our meal. Granchio ($29): Although it smelled delicious when it arrived, immediately I felt the same way about this dish as I did for the calamari. The portion size wasn't what I expected, but I was excited to see how it tasted. They did give a decent amount of crab meat, but overall I felt like they skimped out. Some of the pasta was also slightly undercooked. The sauce was delicious, although on the sweeter side, so if you're not a fan of savory sweet things, this may not be for you. Short Rib Lasagna ($29): Portion size to price again slightly disappointing. Even more so as my fiance dug into it, and found mostly cheese that took up the dish, rather than pasta or Short Rib. The flavors are good, but not good enough to make up for the lack of substance. - OVERALL - Quality of food is good, but didn't wow me the way other places have. The prices here are definitely on the higher end given the portion sizes of dishes. Still glad we tried it at least once! read more

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I've been to Barbusa a couple times in the past, but this time we just got some appetizers to share. We got the bone marrow, salad with beets, carpaccio, and lamb lollipops. For drinks I got the classic margarita. Everything was really good and was the perfect food to snack on. I've come on the weekends and it's pretty busy but if you come on a weeknight, it's not too loud and has a nice atmosphere. read more

Wonderful, creative, and fresh take on traditional Sicilian Italian. Where the list of entries is not pages deep the focus on quality and flavor speaks for itself. Service was prompt and friendly and the crowd trendy. Outdoor seating is great for people watching but like most of India street is ... on the edge of a street read more

Went on a Thursday night and it was pretty busy! We had a reservation so no issues getting a table and the service was great. Our waitress was really friendly and gave great recommendations. It was pretty loud because of how many people were in the restaurant. I think if it were nicer weather outside I would've preferred the patio so it was easier to have a conversation. The food was delicious! We had the bruschetta and polenta as starters, both were really good but the polenta was a standout for us. Very simple and yummy sauce. We had the gnocchi and granchio. Gnocchi was pillowy and soft, loved the pesto sauce. Granchio was interesting! The sauce is a little spicy, but for some reason tasted just ast like franks hot sauce lol it wasn't bad! Just very chili forward maybe? Had a good amount of crab but was a bit overpowered by the sauce flavor. Cocktails were delicious. Had the banana oatmilk espresso martini which is definitely worth trying! Not strong banana flavor but you do get some. This was our second time trying, we went sometime in 2020 and just came back. Would definitely recommend this place if you're looking for Italian that's maybe a little less traditional. 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

We didn't have a reservation and the place was packed on a Monday night however the hostess was so kind to find us a high top in bar area. From the moment we sat down, we started off with a bang! Our server was amazing,the food was delicious and the cocktails were great! The restaurant was full of life and we couldn't have had a better time! We only have one issue, we didn't know who the people were on the paintings..I need to know!! Highly recommend! Sorry no photos, we were so in the moment! read more

One of my favorite Italian restaurants in all of San Diego. They specialize in Sicilian cuisine and they are located in the busiest part of the Little Italy right on India Street. This area is extremely lively so it can be quite fun to sit outside and watch all the people walking by, which is where we sat for our Saturday dinner. Inside is also quite large and well done and it can get quite noisy and very lively. The dress code is casual, but I would go more with a business casual. The crowd here tends to skew on the younger side, and I would classify it as a hip and trendy spot. Parking is probably the most difficult part of dining here, they have a valet in front, but sometimes that can get full. There are paid garages and paid street parking in the area, but we were actually able to find a space right on the street a block away in front of Mona Lisa so we got very lucky. Just plan to come early and circle the block and if you can't find anything after two trips, then just do valet or a pay lot. Our server was very polite however it took quite some time for him to come over and get our drink order when we first sat down. Aside from that everything that we ordered came out very fast. We were a party of four so we ordered many different things for the table. One of the starters that we chose was the Polenta which was very good. The ragu with it really added to the flavors and was a light and tasty start to the meal. My second favorite was the Beef Carpaccio, which was very light and refreshing and perfectly thin like I like it. My favorite appetizer was the Roasted Bone Marrow and thought it was great with the peppers that they put on the bread that came with it. For my dinner I chose the Bolognese Al Forno and thought it was wonderful. It's a very dense pasta with heavy meat flavors and you certainly won't be hungry after finishing it. I wish there would've been a lighter component with it as it kind of started tasting the same once I got halfway through it, but still enjoyed it. We also ordered the Gnocchi for the table and it was a real hit. They were perfectly soft and the pesto flavor was wonderful with it. Overall, a fantastic Sicilian option in San Diego in one of the most fun parts of the city. I would definitely recommend to anyone in the area or to anyone visiting San Diego. I have already been a few times and plan to be back many more in the future. read more

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Every dish our table ordered was delicious. For appetizers, we got the squash blossom, bone marrow, and eggplant bruschetta. The calamari was the only one that wasn't so popular. The carbonara was tasty. We enjoyed one of each dessert with the deconstructed cannoli being my personal favorite. The passion of etna cocktail was alright - I realize I am not a huge fan of mezcal's smoky flavor. The service was great - one worker even brought a water bowl for our dog and we were able to use the patio seating. read more

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Service: I walked in by myself and checked in with a host but she just told me come to the bar and even not take me to there or show me where I can sit. That is a reason to take 1 star off for customer service, not really professional with a popular restaurant. I feel like they are not really care or welcome a person who just come alone, that what they treat and make me feel like that way. Even just by myself but I spent $100 at here for my lunch! However, my waiter did very well his job and he deserve to get $25 tip from me. Food: I ordered clamari, meatball, and pasta. All taste is very good. Calamari is crispy and the sauce serve with so delicious. That is large size I even cannot finish them. Pasta with beef and pork sauce is regular taste in a Italian restaurant but meatball is better than a lot of restanrant I tried before. Ambiance: clean, nice, warm, chilling bar, a lot of table for group party. I will come back to give another try on dinner menu. read more

Barbusa - Meatball - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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On August 18, I had dinner at Barbusa. The food was good, but the waiter charged me $12 for garlic bread when all I wanted was a side of bread for $5. I was on my way to the airport and therefore in a rush to pay the bill and didn't notice that I'd been charged a 38% tip. I would've left a tip of 15% at the most. I phoned the restaurant four times about this issue and was told they would get back to me which they never did. Now I have to dispute the charge with my credit card company. I feel like the waiter manipulated the amount of tip I left on the bill. This should've been dealt with the first time I phoned the restaurant and spoke with the manager. If you dine at Barbusa at 1917 India St in San Diego, make sure to check your bill very carefully. read more

Barbusa is a great, clean restaurant at the northern end of India street. The service is really fun and friendly, and they give you 5 hours of valet parking for $12. We got the bolognese pasta which was absolutely delicious. The noodles are, yes, shaped like spaghetti Os but they taste great. The sauce is excellent with a generous amount of cheese and meat. The dolce e piccante pizza was also great. The crust was perfectly cooked and it had a generous amount of meat and cheese. I enjoyed the experience and I highly recommend this little Italy gem. read more

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8 years later and Barbusa is still a vibe! This time we stopped by on a Friday around 8:00 at night to a packed, lively, and fun atmosphere. For a group of 4, we shared 2 bottles of wine, 2 platters of the carpaccio di tonno, 2 platters of the ricciola, the burrata pizza, and the fiori di zucca. Everything was fresh and delicious, but my favorite dish, hands down was the carpaccio di tonno. I so wanted dessert, but we were all too stuffed. I guess I will have to visit again and write another glowing review! read more

Came here for a date night celebration and for a weekday it was still quite busy. Luckily we had reservations so we were seated immediately. We ordered the lollipop lamb chops which were tiny and exquisite, and the prosciutto. My honey found the balsamic glaze on the prosciutto divine and asked if we can do that always from now on. For the main course, I ordered the clams and pasta, and my honey ordered the lasagna with the beef in a shredded style which left it finger licking good. We will totally be back for another date night, great Italian spot! read more

Barbusa - Bottom: vongolle rosso Top: short rib lasagna - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California