I just ate here tonight (or the first and last time). Then a few hours later I went home and nothing stayed down. My stomach is so nauseous. I got sick from the food here and I do not get sick from food. Be careful when eating here. read more

Was so lucky to have found parking here - especially on a Sunday where you can park for as long as you want for free. I was pleasantly surprised that this restaurant gave a hand-made card for my birthday. The drink I had was the cantaloupe margarita and I honestly did not like it as much as I thought. I truly didn't taste anything cantaloupe flavored - it just tasted like a margarita to me without any salt or sugar rim. I really enjoyed some of the appetizers such as the focaccia bread (we added the brown butter for an additional charge), the crudo was delicious as well. We all kind of shared the appetizers - burrata was pretty good too but pretty small. Carbonara is my absolutely favorite pasta so i was glad to see they served it here. It was a great portion and I really enjoyed the al dente part of the pasta. For dessert, I had the milk chocolate. I was also a bit disappointed in this - the berry layer was way too tarte and I just feel like the mousse being the only description of this dessert, it just wasn't a hit for me. I think I would've gone for the nonna cake or the chocolate/hazelnut swirl ice cream next time. Waiters/host were all pleasant, they were very timely and attentive. I love the atmosphere inside, it's very pretty and intimate. Would definitely come again! read more

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I highly suggest making a reservation ahead of time as they can get quite busy. As soon as we arrived we were seated and given excellent service/attention from our server and various other servers. We had a great experience overall, but just certain food items were slightly lacking especially for the price. The patio seating is beautiful as well! We started out with the burrata and I was pleasantly surprised at how sweet the stone fruit was that paired well with the burrata. The house made Rosemary chips were a delectable addition. When we ran out of chips, our server did offer another plate so we could finish our burrata. I did start off with the pornstar martini as well. The martini was fantastic! It was on the sweeter side. It came with a small glass of brut champagne and half a passion fruit to eat. It really did all pair well together. Our entrees took a while to come out, but I had the rigatoni and my husband had the carbonara. We both agree the carbonara was the absolute best. Just so creamy and a rich yolk and pepper flavor. The rigatoni was very underwhelming. Nothing special and honestly a bit disappointing as there was almost no flavor. Both dishes were a bit small for an entree too, but it was expected for this type of restaurant. We would both come back for the carbonara alone. We were celebrating an anniversary so we each did receive a complimentary glass of rose, which was a nice touch. Very refreshing before our dessert. We ordered two desserts to share, the Budino and Gelato Della Nonna cake. The Budino was brought out incorrectly (I believe they gave us tiramisu with the doughnuts from the Budino) but our sever noticed it and did deduct it from our check which was very appreciated. We enjoyed the tiramisu with doughnuts though! The gelato cake was just like an ice cream cake, but only one layer was distinguishable from the others. We had consistent service throughout our dinner which we loved the most! read more

Had an incredible dinner celebrating two friend's birthdays at Marisi. The food and drinks were fantastic, the vibes immaculate, and the service elevated the whole experience, shoutout to Justin and Britnee!! Enjoyed every moment, right down to the candle in the bathroom (which they sell... and yes, I absolutely couldn't leave without it ). read more

Such a charming spot with a great atmosphere and fantastic food. The tomato carpaccio was absolutely amazing and everything we ordered was delicious. As someone who is vegetarian and gluten-free, I really appreciated that there were plenty of options for my dietary restrictions. The biggest standout, though, was our server, Dakota. He was incredibly attentive, friendly, offered great recommendations, and made our whole experience even better. Great food, great service, and definitely a place we'll come back to! read more

Everything tasted delicious and our servers were so attentive. I love all things bread and the focaccia was no exception. I'm picky about Carbonara but it passed my standards and the Campanelle was an excellent pesto dish. The surprising highlight however was the Little Gem (a fitting name). What business does a Caesar salad have being THAT good at an Italian restaurant? I don't know, but we can't stop raving about it. read more

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The food here was delicious! Highly recommend the carbonara and also the beef carpaccio. The pornstar martini was also very good and they had good presentation with it. They gave you small glass of champagne to cleanse your palate and an actual passion to eat from after. Employees were so friendly - I came for my bachelorette party and they gave me a cute card. Highly recommend read more

Marisi - Pornstar martini - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

The food was delicious and the service was even better! Justin and Britanee were phenomenal!

In town and our son made a reservation here as he lives in La Jolla. Let me start by saying this place is pricey, however it is worth the price. The food and service were excellent. We shared two appetizers, 2 pastas, and their porterhouse steak. My only complaint, and it is becoming more common, is they add 4% to the bill for employee insurance. People I speak to about this usually deduct it from their tip. read more

Marisi is one of those places that makes a *stunning* first impression. The **ambiance is absolutely beautiful** -- from the elegant decor to the warm lighting and carefully curated playlist, it feels upscale without being stuffy. The **table settings** are equally gorgeous, making it perfect for a special night out or celebration. But once we got past the aesthetics... things got a little rocky. Despite having a reservation, we experienced **long wait times** and were left standing awkwardly at the front with barely an acknowledgment from the host. The **staff was surprisingly curt** throughout the evening -- not exactly what you'd expect from a fine dining experience at this price point. Now for the food and drinks: **Drinks were great** -- well-balanced and creative cocktails that lived up to the setting. The **food was just okay**. Beautifully plated, yes, but the **portions were small** and the prices were steep even by La Jolla standards. The **branzino**, in particular, was disappointing -- overly **fishy** and didn't feel as fresh as it should have. Definitely not worth the \$40+ price tag. Marisi is a great spot *if* you're going for drinks and vibes. But if you're coming hungry -- or expecting exceptional service to match the bill -- you might leave underwhelmed. read more

Came here for a birthday with my girlfriends and was excited to try this place because of what I've heard, unfortunately this place was mediocre at best. The food came out cold and overly salted. The only thing saving this review is the little gem salad. read more

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We had such a great meal here! We've been many times and it never disappoints! But this time we had the best server Denisse! She was so friendly and made our night! The restaurant is beautiful and the dishes are incredible! Make sure to get the Lemoncello tiramisu! The best for any nice night out! read more

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The food and atmosphere was amazing. Denisse was an amazing server with excellent customer service. I would highly recommend to anyone who is celebrating something special or looking for a nice dinner. read more

Marisi is such a charming spot, it's floral, romantic, and gives you that perfect little Italian escape right in La Jolla. I came here for a birthday dinner with girlfriends, and we had such a blast. The space is beautifully designed and makes you want to dress up and savor every moment. The pasta is the star of the show so both the bolognese and the pesto were absolutely delicious and cooked perfectly. I also loved the cocktail menu, especially their cheeky three-part drink called the Pornstar Martini...it had us all giggling. I opted for a classic dirty martini, and it was perfectly done. We finished the meal with espresso made in-house, which was a lovely touch. This place is ideal for a special occasion or just a fun night out with friends. It's polished but still playful, and definitely one of my favorite new finds. read more

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Ambiance is great at night, our waiter was certainly prioritizing other tables besides us unfortunately. The carbonara lacked flavor, but the spicy sauce that normally comes with the bread was an amazing additive. I got the short rib pasta and it was very good. The 3 piece drink was great too. It was $24 and my small bowl of pasta was $34. read more

Marisi - Pornstar martini - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

Amazing vibes and delicious Italian food. I found Marisi on Instagram that showcased the restaurant during daylight. I saw how beautiful the patio area was and thought it'd be perfect to enjoy a nice brunch vibes - 9/10 Their patio area is so lovely! We got a table for two, and the seats were angled so that we could face the street and enjoy the scenery and sun. The brunch menu is rather limited, and our waiter told us that they only recently started serving brunch and are more known for dinner. This is surprising to me because their patio looks like it would be best suited for daylight! The waiter also explained to me that there's outdoor seating which is uncovered and along the sidewalk, and then there's their patio seating which is covered and has better decor. Rigatoni - 8/10 this is exactly what I expect from a good spicy pasta Eggs in Purgatory - 7/10 my partner ordered this and enjoyed it. Overall, Marisi is a good choice if you're searching for nice Italian dining or a lovely brunch day in San Diego. read more

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I couldn't love this place more if I tried. Our server May was lovely and had great recommendations. Do NOT skip the browned butter with the focaccia. I will have dreams about this bread and butter duo! You may think $25 for a martini is insane, but the pornstar martini is an experience and one that's definitely fun to splurge on! The beets were delightful, tart and salty with a slight sweetness from the raspberries. I could eat a dozen orders of them. We had the duck lasagna and while I wouldn't order it again (duck isn't my favorite) it was very well done. We finished up with a dessert I usually wouldn't order (I don't love fruit with chocolate) but was pleasantly surprised by. The milk chocolate was a pudding topped with a wonderful whipped cream, all over some kind of fruit coulis. Their espresso martini is among one of the best I've had in San Diego. I enjoyed this so much I came back two days later with my mom for their Wednesday "Girls Dinner," which was a killer deal. The decor here is also wonderful and makes for a great date night. read more

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We celebrated an early Valentine's day at Marisi this year, made reservations via OpenTable. The interior design is very trendy and they take advantage of open sight lines to the kitcThe service was great once seated with our host attending to us quickly, placed our order right away and apps arriving minutes later. We had the apple burrata w/ rosemary crackers and focaccia w/ Calabrian pepper sauce, the focaccia was the star of our meal definitely recommend! For mains we had the rigatoni and bolognese, both solid pasta options. Only slightly sour note was our seats were pretty tight quarters, barely enough space between my seat and the bar seating to walk thru. read more

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

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Our first time visiting Marisi! Popular restaurant in La Jolla. We came on a rainy night, but the restaurant was still packed! Showing how popular this place is! The ambiance was great for a date night. Large heated patio area that's perfect for a cozy dinner. It has a smaller inside dining area which has a large bar. We sat on a high table near the bar. The service was simple, but to the point. We had two entrees, carbonara bucatini and filet mignon. My carbonara was very creamy and thick, which isn't typically my go-to pasta style but I wanted to give a try. The bucatini was great. Overall, I didn't like my pasta that much. Just very creamy and the flavors felt flat. The filet mignon was okay, as you would expect in a nice restaurant. The steak was salty and nothing too special. We really liked their espresso martini. Overall, I was expecting more at Marisi. I would try other dishes to see more what they can offer! read more

Marisi - Carbonara Bucatini - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

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good first experience. We came here the day before Valentine's Day, & even though it was a full restaurant, service was always attentive & quick. You can tell the pasta really is homemade. Our 2 pastas were yummy. We finished everything. I also liked their version of their burrata app, different but i liked it. Decor & ambiance are beautiful. From the table top, to the high ceilings, to the light fixtures, to the wallpaper-really aesthetic. The indoor area by the bar was cramped though. We sat at a table by the bar & it was a tight squeeze to get to our seats. & we felt like we were seated oddly close between other tables. Other than that, the experience was nice & would come back here again to try their other menu items. read more

Marisi - Table setting - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

Espresso martini great, they also have an N/A version, carbonara was so good that I inhaled it before taking a photo, and the limoncello tiramisu was a great way to end our meal. read more

Marisi - Marisi Espresso Martini - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Fantastic date night restaurant. This place has great vibes, awesome decor, and superior service. My wife and I loved the place the moment we walked in. The colors and accents are so elegant and vibrant. Decor-5/5 stars! It's beautiful inside. From the street to the restroom, it's all top notch and no expense was spared when decorating this place. It's elegant and inviting. Service-5/5 stars. Our server was great and made great recommendations. Food-4/5 stars. Don't get me wrong, the apps were splendid and packed with flavor. Burrata-5/5 stars. This app was so good and creamy. The burrata and roasted peaches were a combination made in heaven. It truly had the chefs kiss. Beet salad-5/5 stars. I didn't think there was a better app than the burrata, but this was. The goat cheese was a great compliment to the beets. The raspberries and pistachios worked like an orchestra working together. Pasta-4/5 stars. The short rib and bolognese was good, but it didn't blow is way. I also would've liked to see more entree options. All in all, we had an amazing experience and we will go back for date night again. Well done guys. read more

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Very cool ambiance, decor, and good service. Nice for a date that doesn't care about the food. Cesarina is much better Overall the food was mediocre Little gem was great Green bean side was good Short rib pasta was terrible Ravioli was too sweet, sauce was good but had so much garlic (both in volume and in size) it was practically inedible read more

Marisi - Little Gem - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

The ambience is nice , a little loud inside and out but otherwise, good. The outdoor covered patio is a nice choice as it has the feeling of being inside but yet provides the fresh air. We were seated promptly as we had reservations. However, we sat unattended for approximately 15 minutes. It was not busy at the time we sat down. There were 2 other parties of 4 already seated. Our server Christina was polite but not too attentive to us. She attended to a table that was seated after us, prior to coming over to introduce herself. The food was good. Especially enjoyed the roasted beets! We ordered the whole chicken and the pasta which were flavorful. The Lemoncello, hit the spot! The food felt like it took a very long time to arrive. Overall, it wasn't bad. Only 4 stars because service was not up to par. If I could give 4.5 I would. read more

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Came here on a Friday night with my wife. Seated with my back directly in the walkway to entrance. Felt odd, but I was able to look past it. Ordered drinks and the local crudo. Crudo and drinks were great. Entrees: wife ordered the carbonara and I ordered the duck lasagna. Carbonara was cold. Definitely had been sitting so we sent it back. Duck lasagna, sent back as well. It had no flavor and seemed like shredded beef with a tomato water. Round 2: received carbonara at an appropriate temp, and it was actually good. I had ordered the filet mignon instead of lasagna to reduce the risk of dish being underwhelming. Unfortunately steak was cold. It was also rare instead of medium rare like I ordered. Wife was able to eat and enjoy her carbonara. I sent back my steak and asked for the check. In conclusion. I would not come back here due to the restaurant fumbling a filet after letting us down with two previous dishes. The lead or maybe shift manger did come to the table to apologize and gave a gift card to try restaurant again. I live in Oceanside. I would not go out of my way to come here again unfortunately unless it's for just drinks. The server was attentive but extremely slow once it came to getting the check. read more

Hands down, this is one of the best Italian restaurants I've ever been to. I've traveled to Italy many times and often crave the authentic flavors I've had there, something that's usually hard to find here. But Marisi absolutely delivered. My husband is a huge fan of carbonara, and the way they prepare it at Marisi is truly fantastic. We ordered the carbonara steak and the Crudo appetizer, both dishes were absolutely delicious. We live in Orange County, but after this experience, we've decided to make the trip to Marisi once a month. It's just that good. The service was exceptional, our waiter was incredibly welcoming and fun. Honestly, the customer service was some of the best I've ever experienced. Marisi is a fantastic spot all around. Highly recommended. read more

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Denisse was amazing. Incredible recommendations - wonderful professional attitude and warmth. Best meal my lifelong bestie and I have ever had. Absolute heaven! The tomato carpaccio was epic. Spicy rigatoni exceptional. Limoncello tiramisu was perfection! read more

Marisi - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Britnee at Marisi is truly exceptional. From the moment we sat down, she made us feel so welcomed and taken care of--it honestly elevated the entire experience. She struck the perfect balance of being attentive without hovering, and her timing was flawless throughout the night. Her knowledge of the menu and recommendations were spot on, and you can tell she genuinely cares about creating a great experience for her guests. Every detail felt intentional, and she made our night feel special without it feeling over the top. read more

I grew up in La Jolla and my family has been there since the late 1980s so I have been to all the different restaurants that have been in this location. I would say that Marisi is one of my favorites of all of them. It has changed countless owners over the decades, but this is definitely one of the best versions that's been in this location. I know it's popular for brunch, but we decided to stop in for dinner based on positive reviews from our other friends that have stopped in recently. Inside is beautifully done and very open. There are very large windows that let in the breeze and the outdoor dining area is really beautiful with vines hanging down and beautiful lights mixed in between them. Inside also has a small bar and has a very hip and trendy vibe. It's just really well designed. Parking in the area can be a bit tricky but La Jolla parking is available quickly so if you just circle the block you'll find a place or you can do a pay lot on the same block. Our server was very polite and everything that we ordered came out very fast. The menu has a lot of great options on it so it was hard to choose what I wanted to order. For my first visit I decided to start off with the Roasted Bone Marrow and thought it was fantastic. It is literally a cow's femur and I would say this is the largest bone marrow, in terms of size, that I've ever had. Definitely the largest bone I have had. It had some great flavors and was a wonderful start to the meal. For my entrée, I chose the Branzino and thought it was also great. The herb seasoning on top was pretty strong, but I liked it so it really added to the flavors. It also wasn't as bony as other Branzinos that I've had recently and I just really loved it. We finished the meal with a Cappuccino and some Soft Serve and overall had a wonderful time. I would highly recommend to anyone in or visiting La Jolla and I already want to come back in the future to try more items. read more

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I would recommend making reservations no matter the night of the week. It's always pretty busy. The food is great. We always get the short rib pasta. The focaccia is amazing. It's very cool inside with a cool vibe. A great place for date night, birthday, or girls night. read more

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What a cute, aesthetic looking restaurant. We thoroughly enjoyed our food. The carbonara pasta was handmade and very fresh which paired well with a 12 ounce hanger steak. Our server was very nice as well. It was pretty busy, so make sure you make a reservation. Right in the heart of town. read more

Marisi - 12 oz hanger steak - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

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This restaurant is definitely a vibe. I do love sitting in the outdoor patio, not the actual outdoor patio but the one that's like inside the restaurant where it's open to the outside.. it almost feels like you're in one of those Vegas restaurants because when you walk by the design is very chic. Definitely make a reservation because the wait is painful even on a weekday which is when we went. Service was great people or attentive. The hostess was nice about the wait and apologized. For food we ordered the burrata, Caesar salad, short rib casarecce, bolognese parpadelle. For the most part, everything was good however, the Bolognese was not a great . The pasta came cold and the meat seem like it was like thawed and just quickly heated, and the noodles didn't have a good chew and it was all stuck together. read more

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10/10 Girl Dinner Deal!!! Absolutely amazing experience with my girlfriends we will definitely be coming back! You get focaccia bread, a small Caesar salad, spicy rigatoni, and a spritz (NA drink option available). We ordered the lemon tiramisu for dessert and it was amazing! We made a reservation and were sat immediately. Everything tasted so good and the perfect portions! Hop on this deal! read more

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Focaccia ($11) tomato carpaccio ($21) spicy rigatoni ($28) and the wines were all delicious. We had to sit at the bar because the wait for a table was 4.5 hours on a Sunday evening, so definitely make a reservation since walking up doesn't work. The bar has 12 seats total for first come, first served. The bartenders are very attentive and nice. Parking is also tricky, so plan ahead for this especially if you don't want to pay for a lot spot (most are $2.50 for 15 mins). Super cute atmosphere and decorations, not good for large parties (mostly 2 tops). read more

My favorite place for pasta in La Jolla! It is located near La Jolla Cove so after going to the beach you can walk to the restaurant. The pasta is delicious; I've tried a few and my favorite is the rigatoni. Their focaccia is honestly my favorite thing on their menu. I would go just for the bread! It's perfectly seasoned and soft and goes great with the oil. The ambiance of the restaurant is nice! There is a bar seating inside and the kitchen is open so you can see dishes being made. The whole restaurant is decorated nicely. read more

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I made a reservation for brunch on a Saturday, we were seated quickly upon arrival in the covered outdoor patio. The ambiance is lovely and the decor is beautiful!! We ordered the grilled toma cheese and little gem salad to start. The grilled cheese was great and really unique. The little gem salad was amazing, the sauce was on point! For entrees, we got the Italian dip sandwich and the carbonara pasta, both were wonderful! For my daughter we got a kids pasta with chicken which was also great. I really don't think you can go wrong with anything on the menu. I really appreciated that they use quality ingredients, everything seems to be made from scratch and they use no seed oils in their cooking! Our waiter Nick was really nice and knowledgeable about the menu, and he checked on us frequently. Highly recommend this restaurant! read more

I finally had a chance to come here for my birthday this year. The service was top notch. The staff was friendly, extremely knowledgeable, and very attentive. There's a large outdoor space which is decorated beautifully. We ordered a bottle of wine which the bartender helped us pick out. We ordered an array of items to share; shrimp, crudo, beets, and short rib pasta. Everything was delicious. They surprised me with house made serve with a sparkler. So fun! We capped the meal with a house made aged limoncello. Definitely make sure to try this. It was phenomenal. read more

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We have been going to Marisi since it's opening and it was one of our favorites in the area, but, our recent visit with the new chef it was not the same, The bread, the salad and pesto pasta are still very good but the best carbonara in town is replaced by a totally different one that does not come close to the old one, I truly hope they bring back the original one. Also, they run out of branzino, another favorite and the local fish and it was disappointing. Their wine list is very good but we were served a flat Prosecco by the glass, they replaced it but it would had been nice not to have to go through this. Service was excellent, as always and atmosphere very nice read more

I've always walked past Marisi and it always had my attention because of the atmosphere. I finally checked it out for my sister's birthday and the food did not disappoint. We ordered the carpaccio, focaccia bread with the brown butter, and the ravioli. The carpaccio wasn't my favorite I've ever had but it was pretty decent. We loved the focaccia bread especially with the brown butter. The bread was pretty big and soft on the inside. The brown butter was really the staple for me and I would definitely buy it if I could! The squash ravioli was also super tasty and would highly recommend it. I would definitely come back here for a cute date night or for another celebration! read more

Marisi - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Although the restaurant is beautiful and I did really enjoy some of the appetizers, I think i'd have to agree with another commenter that the place felt a bit pretentious. They're definitely going for a refined casual and upscale vibe, but I felt the experience did not live up to that. The bathroom, although very nice, was permeated by a grassy herby like scent that wasn't the most pleasant. Moving onto drinks, the Pornstar cocktail sounded interesting since it came with a side of champagne and passion fruit that you taste in succession, but personally for me had no cohesion. Next, it was almost painfully awkward how slowly the waitresses moved around the table clearing up the plates and silverware between each course. For how little food each dish comes with too, the platter change was almost excessive to me. While I highly recommend getting the burrata and focaccia, I felt their pastas were a bit too salty for my palate and definitely lacking in portion size. Good for a single but one dish is not really shareable. We tried all 6 pastas and the agnolotti was my favorite in terms of flavor but this probably had the least amount to eat. Rigatoni and bolognese would be my runner ups. Lastly, we came for a birthday and asked if they did anything for that in which they replied they do. For a place wanting to be upscale, you'd imagine they'd fork over at least a mini dessert especially considering we spent almost $600 but the only thing that came out was a sparkler stuck into a tiny cheap bottle of sand. read more

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