The front dest server( Mia?) is the WORST server I ever met in the 100+ restaurants in SD!!Despite we arrived to the restaurant 5 minutes prior to "the reservation time", we've requested to be patiently waiting outside for 15 more mins until the table was ready, After a long wait, MIA took us to a tiny corner table(for 2-3ppl the most) and asked my 2 teen girls to squeeze into one person seating spot!! When I requested to change to any regular 4 ppl seating table , Mia just threw us an impossible & very unfriendly face to ignore our request. I had to call the manager to raise our concerns then able to change to the regular 4ppl table. This is definitely NOT the service to welcome the guests. I really miss the original restaurant, Whiskndale, at the same location years ago.... read more

The décor of the place was really beautiful, the service from the waiters and their team was excellent, and the food was delicious. One thing I recommend is ordering dishes to share instead of individual plates. The cocktails they offer are highly recommended as well. read more

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We went for dinner last night it was delicious. We had 6:30 dinner reservations but they were able to get us in at 5 as we got there early. We started with the olives and beet and little gem salad which was big . We also ordered the loaf of bread sorry no picture. Rory was our server and he did great! Then came our pasta dishes. We decided to try the ice cream for desert. It was a good thing we parked around the corner as we needed to walk! read more

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Marisi- this review is hard to write because I wanted so badly to love you! I found this place on TikTok and the atmosphere and food looked like a dream! My GF and I booked it for Saturday night as my birthday dinner. When we arrived after giving the information for the reservation we were seated and asked what we wanted to drink. My friend wasn't drinking and neither was I so we both just ordered water to start. I can tell this annoyed the server his attitude towards us changed after this. Soon after I ordered a Diet Coke. It took almost an hour to be able to order because our sever was intentionally ignoring us. It was so bad that I had to ask a buss boy that we wanted to order. A different sever took our order. We got the Focaccia bread to split and both ordered pastas. The food took awhile which was fine! Homemade pasta does. Mine was great she said some of her noodles weren't cooked. While we were having dinner my friend got a call about a family emergency and had to be on the phone. Our server was walking by and glaring at us. You could feel the disrespect. We didn't get dessert because at this point we both wanted to leave! I did get a sparkler thrown down and told happy birthday. In the most insincere way possible. I'm not sure why we were treated so poorly but my goodness. It was a terrible experience. The restaurant is beautiful but no one should be treated like this!! Please reach out! read more

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I called months in advance to ask about making a reservation for a bachelorette dinner and was told that reservations were not accepted, and that we should come in the day of. When we arrived as instructed, the host immediately asked if we had a reservation. After explaining the prior conversation from months ago, we were met with, "I don't know who you talked to," which was both dismissive and frustrating. This experience was really disappointing, especially for a special occasion that required planning. I hope the restaurant can improve communication among staff so future guests receive consistent and accurate information. read more

so pretty here! Went to to celebrate a few friends birthdays and was super fun! Food was decent but i'm not big on italian food. What is really awesome about Marisi is the ambience. The service was very good too! Def recommend! read more

We came here on a Saturday night and the food and vibes were solid. It is located in the heart of downtown la jolla so parking can be tough, but the streets around it are lively and cute. Crudo (5/5): I've never had yuzu in a crudo but I loved this dish. It was very refreshing. Rigatoni (5/5): I've never had homemade rigatoni but this was a wonderful dish. The pasta was perfectly cooked and the sauce was simple but flavorful. One of the better tomato pastas I've had. Carbonara (3.5/5): This dish had good flavor and the pasta itself was delicious but it was extremely salty. My biggest complaints are that the prices are pretty steep for the portion sizes and that the service/pacing of the dishes was off. The gap between small plate and entree, and waiting for the check was long. read more

Restaurant was great! Food was amazing and our waitress jenisse was awesome! She was very sweet and answered any questions we had about the food! Would recommend this place!!! read more

Such a cute spot and nice ambiance- food was good! Its a great place to try out! The service was great as well!

The carpaccio was so unique ! Yummy drinks, tricky parking, beautiful ambiance, and kind service.

Bourbon!!! If you enjoy bourbon, they have a the actual Barrel in the restaurant!!! I thought it was just another form of strategic marketing but no the barrel has been here a year and a half, smooth as silk. The bartenders Max, Abraham, & Jack are amazing and the GM Carly is an incredible host. read more

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My best friend and I chose this restaurant to celebrate our engagement, and it exceeded my expectations! With the rise of social media, I always have to be wary of food venues prioritizing looks/photogenics over the quality of the food. It's safe to say that you don't have to worry about that with Marisi. With such a beautiful atmosphere, delicious bites AND equally wonderful staff, I'd love to come back to Marisi and recommend it to my friends for their special occasions! Denise, our waitress for the evening, made it extra special, so ask for her if you get the chance!! read more

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Friend and I came here for the girl dinner for the 1st time, food was good but the service was disappointing. Felt unwanted during our entire night. Also, noticed from watching videos of the girl dinner experience beforehand, we were not served the complete bread portion we paid for, as we were given only a quarter of the amount. It was advertised online / shown in videos by other customers that they received the full bread portion. Would not return due to the poor service provided. read more

Marisi - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

Very unpleasant experience, went there for a special occasion and drove around 1 hr to get there, place was very nice however service was not good. Server made us feel very uncomfortable additionally took forever on taking our order, a family that got there after us left (after eating) before we got our order taken. Was very disappointed. Server was Denise. read more

This review is for the food and ambiance! Loved the outside patio seating area. Ordered the cinnamon pistachio rolls which were the main reason I came. 5 stars! I mean just look at the picture and no need for words. The carbonara was creamy and garlicky! Yum! No picture, sorry. read more

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Food was amazing. My girlfriend and I went to celebrate our college graduation and they were so kinda they gave us a cake on the house. Our waitress was fantastic as well! read more

Had such a wonderful experience here and just had to share my appreciation. From the moment we arrived, the service was truly impeccable. The entire wait staff team, with Justin being the waiter (about five people) was friendly, professional, and incredibly welcoming. Even though the restaurant was busy, we never once felt unattended. At the same time, they struck the perfect balance of being attentive without ever making us feel interrupted or rushed. The attention to detail throughout the experience was remarkable. There were so many thoughtful little touches that elevated the evening and made it feel special. And the food--honestly, unexpectedly delicious. Every dish felt carefully prepared and beautifully presented. We enjoyed the Little gem Short Rib Pappardelle,.Chicken and mushrooms plate. For cocktails the Marisi Spritz and the Rossini. The décor is absolutely gorgeous and creates such a warm, inviting atmosphere. It ended up being the perfect setting for a mother-daughter date, but what I loved most was seeing how many different groups were enjoying the space. There were couples on date nights, families having dinner together, and groups of friends clearly having a great girls' night out. The space truly works beautifully for everyone. It's rare to find a place where the service, food, and ambiance all come together so effortlessly. Grateful for such a thoughtful and memorable experience. We will definitely be back! Reservations are recommended. read more

Dakota was our server and he was great! He recommend the fococcia and it was delicious. I would definitely recommend the spicy rigatoni. It's so cute inside - such a cute place for a date. We will definitely be back!!! read more

One of my favorite restaurants we've been to in a while. Our server Christina was a delight - knew the menu back to back, gave us a perfect red wine recommendation and was just all around lovely. The ambiance is romantic and the food is exceptional. read more

Marisi - Oro Blanco Margarita - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

I had such a great time celebrating our anniversary here! Maiah was a great service and so attentive. She made our night feel incredibly special! read more

Marisi - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

Celebrated our anniversary at Marisi and it was lovely! They wrote us a sweet anniversary card and offered us Champagne. It was a wonderful way to celebrate and made the night even more special. The space is adorable without trying too hard. This is a place where you'd feel right at home whether you were dressed up for a fancy night out or dressed more casual to fit the laid back La Jolla vibes. Everyone working was very attentive and you can tell this is intentional in the way they want to provide service. As vegetarians it's always a bit hit or miss as to what restaurants will offer but here we had lots of options (aside from the main entrees, which were all meat). There were plenty of appetizers that were veggie as well as multiple homemade pastas that were veggie. We opted for the house made focaccia bread which came with an interesting olive oil based dip. For our pasta we each got the Campanelle with pesto. It was so delicious and fresh and you could taste the quality. It was subtle and perfect! This is a wonderful place that we highly recommend. read more

Marisi - Homemade focaccia - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Just exceptional. We return from out of state every year to celebrate our anniversary and each time Marisi exceeds the last. They have the absolute BEST espresso martini. The food is top notch. Fresh, deeply balanced plates where you can taste the love and craft the chef and team put in. The pastas are INSANE. They had this newer tomato carpaccio appetizer that was literally out of this world. The vibes are upbeat yet still very romantic. Best of all, the service was personable, professional, and very attentive. Absolute standout. Thank you Michael and Karley for an amazing evening and anniversary! Only negative: that it takes us a plane ride to visit (worth it). See you again very soon! read more

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This was an unbelievably delicious meal. Here's why Marisi stands apart: We called & said due to traffic, we'll be 15min late. Chloe (hostess ) said no problem, pushed our res back, gave us grace & hospitality. Every member of the waitstaff was cheerful, helpful & knowledgeable. Our server Justin was top notch. The cocktails were delicious & the food punched above its weight class. Huge kudos to the bar & kitchen staff. The restaurant itself is gorgeous. Very well decorated & has a good noise volume. 6/5 stars. read more

Food: 10/10 but small portions Service: 7/10 Ambiance: 10/10 Super cute place to go on for a date or just to celebrate with your girls/guys! But the portions are really small especially considering their price. But your taste buds will leave truly happy. read more

Marisi - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

Marisi is hands down my favorite Italian restaurant in San Diego. Whether you're seated indoors or out, the ambiance is absolutely beautiful--especially at night. The warm, dim lighting paired with lush plants, floral decor, and stunning Italian-style tiles creates a whimsical, romantic vibe that feels like a little escape to Italy. We started with the fried zucchini blossoms and beef carpaccio, then had the duck linguine and squid ink pasta for our mains. Every dish was packed with flavor, but the duck linguine really stood out--so rich and satisfying. The staff were incredibly friendly and attentive, always checking in to make sure everything was perfect. A truly special spot that never disappoints. read more

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Booked Marisi for our Valentine's dinner weekend in La Jolla. From a social media perspective, this place definitely looks the part, but sadly, the food fell short--we really wanted to love this spot. For appetizers, we ordered the focaccia, boquerones, and beef carpaccio. The carpaccio was overwhelmingly covered in arugula, which masked the delicate flavors of the beef. Surprisingly, for a place advertised as Italian, many reviews mentioned the pasta as a miss. Despite that, we decided to split the rigatoni, and while the flavor didn't wow us, I did appreciate the texture. The menu had a decent selection of protein options, but honestly, none looked that appealing. On the plus side, the drinks were good and service was excellent. I had the pornstar martini while my husband went for the margarita. Ambiance-wise, the vibe was nice, and I appreciated how well the heaters were positioned--it was comfortably warm even outside. read more

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I went on a date yesterday at Marisi which is a restaurant I visit frequently. I booked our reservation on OpenTable and when we arrived, they stated that I booked on the roadside patio. I scanned the restaurant and noticed that they had a few two tops open, but they insisted that we can only sit on the there or forfeit our reservation. My date and I were hot, so I asked the server if we would be able to move and the hostess rolled her eyes. Once we went inside our experience changed. We started by ordering a French bottle of Sauvignon Blanc which we were so happy with. We started off with the boquerones and pesce marinato. The boquerones were so different compared to something I've eaten before. It was a flower filled with cheese and lemon-garlic deep fried which is something that sounds freaky, but ended out being so savory. We ate the whole flower and stem. Recommend! The Pesce Marinato was tuna belly mixed with a habanero broth and onion. I am one that loves tuna and spice, so this dish hit. My date isn't a big tuna lover, but she was really surprised with it. For entrees we ordered the bolognese, ravioli, and focaccia. The bolognese was really tasty and savory, but it wasn't the best bolognese I've ever had. The freshness of the pasta they make homemade is what makes the dish savory. My date had the squash ravioli which she said was delightful. The sauce that is was smothered in was savory as she said. The focaccia was the absolute highlight of our night. It was served with a Calabrian chili sauce and balsamic brown butter. When you mix the two of them together, it was so bomb. We consumed the whole thing and laughed as we finished it. The ambiance of this restaurant is beautiful and perfect for date night. I would recommend this spot to anyone. The only reason I knocked my score is because how we were treated by the hostesses at the beginning of our experience. I'm honestly never one to complain, but we shouldn't have been treated in that manner. My rating is a 8.5/10. read more

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So delicious, excellent staff (hostess, server, bussers, start to finish so good). Detail oriented group, making sure sun wasn't blaring at our faces with the use of umbrellas, brought out the heaters when the sun started to dip. The food was 10/10. Denise was our server, and her recommendations and vibe were on point. Definitely will be back. read more

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The hostess was a gem (Chloe) - so sweet and personable. Wonderful start to our experience. Our server was lovely (Liz) - attentive and professional. The food was AMAZING. The ambience is perfection. read more

Marisi is a beautiful Italian restaurant in La Jolla CA. Our good friends recommended it and it was fantastic. @marisilajolla From the moment you walk in, you realize what a beautiful space it is. The first thing that caught my eye was the shelf of Amaros displayed above the bar. I knew we were in for a treat when I saw that lineup of goodness. Marisi is known for their handmade pastas. Everything we tried was excellent. The cocktails are well crafted with some thoughtful spins on the classics. I started with their Espresso Martini which was quite good. You can tell their espresso and coffee is excellent because the coffee flavor was amazing. It had the right blend of coffee and sweetness. The glass they served it in was gorgeous. The Apricot Old Fashioned was delicious (2nd photo). It's a simple recipe with bourbon, apricot and bitters. I assume they used apricot liqueur, but I forgot to ask. I was impressed with how well-balanced and smooth it was. It was served with a crystal clear large cube that included their own brand stamped on it. That was a nice touch. The bar is the stunning centerpiece of the restaurant. It has a 360 degree view of the beautiful room. The chandelier above the bar is an eye catching piece of art. The owners did an excellent job with their attention to detail when designing this space and it shows. I would definitely check out Marisi when you're in La Jolla. It's an exceptional experience. Salute read more

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100% five stars . Really enjoyed my dinner at Marisi . The food was super tasty and the passionfruit cocktail was my favorite !!! definitely worth trying . Our waitress was awesome super attentive and kept checking in to make sure everything was great . overall just a solid experience. Just a heads up, make sure to book a few days in advance . It gets busy ! I'll definitely be back. read more

Marisi - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Kristina was amazing!!! Service was 10/10 and Celeste was SO kind she was absolutely the BEST and made all of us laugh!! We WILL be coming back ASAP!!! Thank you Marisi!!!! read more

We visited Marisi for our Easter brunch today and as always came away very pleased. Our server Zoe helped us have a great time, very attentive with a smile, knowledgeable about the dishes and offered great suggestions. All the staff was very attentive and the dishes are delicious. We had the tasty Eggs in Purgatory, creamy and delicious Carbonara, crispy and nice Dip Sandwich, and shared a Cinnamon Roll for dessert. Beautiful ambience as always. read more

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Almost 5 stars but super long lulls between courses! Ambiance, food, cocktails were all outstanding but there was def long waits between getting our salad and starter and the mains. The wait staff were all extremely polite and outgoing, at least. Drinks: Hugo Spritz-delightfully light elderflower spritz Apricot Old-Fashioned-every so slight apricot flavor and def a boozy punch Espresso Martini-pretty standard Espresso Martini Cantaloupe Margarita- not bad but didn't taste too mellony Faves would probs be the Hugo Spritz and the Apricot Old- Fashioned since we appreciated their flavors a tad bit more than the others. Food: Foccaccia: A must-order. Crisp exterior, hot, fluffy interior. Delicious herby/cheesy dipping sauce Tonarreli with Prawns: Big prawns but overall a smaller portion; awesome for Pesto lovers and the pasta was Bucatini-like. Prawns were a little on the drier side than I would've liked and may have been a tad bit overcooked. Little Gem: Standard little gem salad with grated parm and radishes; pretty good Roasted Chicken and Market Veggies: Roasted chicken was cooked well; crispy skin, juicy meat, and a really flavorful sauce. I would have preferred roasted veggies or potatoes on the side because the veggies it came with was like a warm salad. Happy to have the greens, but a bit odd due to temp and texture. Overall a good experience. We skipped dessert (which we never do) but we were scared we'd be trapped and never be able to leave because the service was so slow. Overall really enjoyed the ambiance, the food and service for the most part, but we really can't stop thinking about the bad flow. A bunch of other tables appeared bored too. Would visit again, though. read more

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I went to Marisi for the first time to celebrate a friend's birthday at the end of November. We had an outdoor table on the patio area near the street. Upon my arrival, I noticed that the restaurant was beautifully decorated for the holidays, with lights everywhere. There was a wedding reception on the patio that connects to the building, which wasn't bothersome at all, and actually really lovely to see. My friends had arrived just before me and were already sipping their cocktails. It was comfortable on the patio area (sort of the makeshift type that is on the sidewalk) as the heat lamps were plenty warm. I think the downfalls were that we didn't have any of the holiday decor, nor was there much lighting which impacted the photos, as well as our views of the menus and food. I was served quickly, and I chose the hazelnut Manhattan. A Manhattan is not a usual drink for me, but I love hazelnut. The taste was delicious, but it was on the sweet side for me. When it came to my next drink, I requested the same, but less sweet. The second was much better. Our meal started with he foccacia, which came salted (pure genius). I believe it was on the house, but I was not present when it came out so I am unsure. It was served with a sort of caramel butter that was not really sweet, but just melted beautifully into the bread. I would go to Marisi just for the focaccia. For my entree I chose the butternut squash ravioli which were served in sort of a brown butter. They were delicious. The portion wasn't too big or too small. I also ordered the giardinaro, or pickled veggies. Normally, I absolutely love these, but, these just didn't have a great flavor or texture. They offered the birthday girl a choice of dessert to end the evening, and we ordered various coffees and digestifs. All in all, it was a very lovely evening. I would have preferred to enjoy the meal in the restaurant with the decorations and proper lighting. I would ask for the Manhattan to be less sweet, and I would skip the giardinaro. However, the service was great, the foccacia and my meal were definitely memorable. read more

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Italy, we have a problem. Marisi Restaurant, which I've been told by at least three people, is a visit worth making. So I made it. My bestie and I headed over there a few weeks ago to see what all the fuss was about and I'm here to report that the fuss is not only expensive, but familiar. The menu is a rehash of everything Italian everywhere. Not that that's necessarily bad, just disappointing given how high the bar was set for us. But, I wanted to give them a chance so I threw out the Judge Judy in me and willed myself to enjoy the evening. (Besides, hanging out with my BFF always overshadows anything unfortunate, misguided, etc.) We started with Marisi's version of an Italian staple, focaccia bread ; we had it served with a not-free pesto dipping sauce which was surprisingly salty but played nicely with the fluffy, warm focaccia slices I cut up. We ordered the Proscuitto and Pineapple next. It was a riff on the more traditional Proscuitto e Melone, but it actually worked a LOT better. Whereas the cantaloupe and the melon from the more traditional plate tend to be hit or miss in the appropriately ripe department, pineapple is consistently sweet and chewy and the sour candy-tartness adds a welcome dimension to the dish. Well-done, Marisi. But the presentation had all the subtlety of death; it was this hunk of a thing on a plate without respect to space, volume, or size. For our third and final course, I ordered the Short Rib Casarecce, a $34 side dish of one of their "little known pastas" dusted with an essence of short ribs. I'm OK with the price and even the size. I'm just not OK with the way it hit how small the dish was. In fairness, the server might have said something but I shut down around him, he with the good looks and the stuffiness and who only spoke in the third person and clasped his hands behind his back like Columbo, the TV detective, investigating the murder of a wealthy scion. The pasta was excellent - so, again, kudos Marisi - but at the end of the day, it couldn't overcome the feeling that I had been here before, being seated and served by the same people, and eating the same food I've eaten at dozens of other Italian restaurants. And, lastly, there was this on the 'About' page of the Marisi website: "Dry aged fish, whole animal butchery, little known pasta shapes and homemade Limoncello are just a few things that make Marisi memorable, combined with a passionate team and service from the heart." Wait. Whole animal butchery? That's what you want to be remembered for? In 2024? Do we get complimentary bronzed organs from inside the meat we're eating? Does that come with a swag bag of methane that these animals generate? Yikes. And Ew. Or, as my bestie mentioned later in a text: "Ewwww." At the end of the day, Marisi will thrive with or without me and my opinions and I'm glad. Hard work deserves to be rewarded. It's just that I won't be doing the rewarding. read more

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Adorable ambiance with lights and attentive staff. We sat in the parklet outside but would aim to sit in the California room next time. The bolognese was my favorite pasta of the night read more

Marisi - Chopped salad - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

Marisi's was a La Jolla favorite on our food tour. Our waitress Denisse was not only a sweetheart, but provided the best suggestions and incredible service. The whole menu was incredible. We would easily order every dish again. The Limoncello Tiramisu will be in my dreams forever. read more

Marisi - Focaccia - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

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I went to Marisi to celebrate a birthday brunch with friends - it did not disappoint. The ambiance of the restaurant is so nice, open, green with fresh pops of color. Our service was impeccable- we had a group of 5 ordering plenty of drinks & dishes, and service was top notch. From a brunch perspective, everyone really enjoyed their food! We loved every bite & I would love to come back to try their dinner option. Really loved the style of Marisi & the food made it even better. read more

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One of the better Italian places that I've tried in San Diego. Delicious food and cool atmosphere. Highly recommended. read more

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