Barbusa Modern Sicilian Reviews

We stopped in for a glass of wine and a little bit to eat and Barbusa was a great place for this. The wine was very reasonable and a the two appetizers very good. The fiori di zucca were incredible, the best we ever had. Tender young zucchini with flower attached stuffed with four cheeses and dipped in a light batter. Not oily or greasy at all. The octopus was boiled then served cold with pea shoots and a delicate sauce. Both excellent. Comped a slice of siciliano pizza. Very pleasant environment. Very nice time spent here.

Visited Barbusa with my family today and we have mixed feelings. The bolognese pasta was amazing! The rest of the food was just ok. The service was friendly but they were too busy to notice the wine glass that they served us was dirty, the wather bottle was empty, etc.... they did agree to make my son an Alfredo pasta and that was not on the me u, which was really nice. They did apologize for the dirty wine glass and changed it.

We went to Barbusa for an early dinner on our first night in San Diego. We arrived at 5:00 to take advantage of happy hour prices. The restaurant filled very quickly, so we knew we had made a good choice. Half price drinks and appetizers were available and we took advantage. The food was very good with many choices. We really enjoyed the atmosphere of a busy restaurant with many people having a good time. We went back three night later but did not arrive until 5:45. The place was packed but we managed two seats(the last ones) at the bar. It was just as good the second time.

This place was packed out, even on a Tuesday night! We walked in and kept hearing about all the reservations and didn’t know if we could get in. Thankfully if we could be in and out in 45 minutes we could get a table. We only ordered entrees so we could be done eating in time. Instead of bread brought to the table you get potato chips, which is a nice way to save you from eating lots of bread! The risotto with shrimp was tasty and full of small shrimp. The carbonara was absolutely delicious. Would try this place again, but would recommend reservations.

I had a reservation at another place so I just stopped in here for a drink at the bar. The bar is well stocked and has a good selection (thought small) of Italian wines. You can get a 6 or 12 ounce pour. Prices were fine, service was good and while I had nothing to eat, those next to me enjoyed their meals and they were very ample in size. I arrived about 4:30, when I left at 5:45 the place was packed. I suggest if you want to eat here, avoid the wait and make a reservation. This place is located right in Little Italy. I’ll be back to try dinner.

In Little Italy on India Street. Parking is a HUGE issue. They have awful wait line management: we were told an hour wait, and while we were deciding what to do we were told they could seat us right away. Very upscale setting. Truly professional servers. Capelacci (5), Gnocci E Zucca (5), Gorganelli Funghi (5). Food was delightful. $136 for 4 is fine dining. Overall fabulous if you can park and can wait. If this review is helpful then please indicate so below.

We had pasta dishes, chicken, steak and fish and each item was well cooked , if not memorable. The wine selection was pretty good, but I think the fancy drinks are their drawing card here. Quite popular with 20somethings having birthdays, etc. The noise level is really high. If you are looking for a fun bar/bistro scene this is it...for a quiet more relaxed dinner-not so much.

Very friendly service. Food ok. Pasta not freshly made in my dish. Not enough garlic in the linguine and clams. Great for single dinners on business trip.

Grea dinner on a busy Saturday night! Luckily we had a reservation and were seated as soon as we arrived. It is crowded, and loud but very busy and lively. All of our food came out delicious! Bone marrow appetizer, pasta dishes and wine were all on point. Service was good! Would go back for sure

We happened to be in downtown San Diego and so walked over to Barbusa for lunch. First - I loved their chairs - extremely comfortable and just a tad taller than a normal chair, which made a positive difference to eating. We shared the Sicilian meatballs and the Granchio. Very good choices and just enough for a light lunch for two. Excellent service. We will definitely come back to try more dishes.

Food was outstanding - from the Sicilian meatballs appetizer to the bolognese al forno and tortellacci di manzo main courses. All absolutely declicious and generous portions. Waiter was well informed and helpful in making appropriate choices - from the beer to the main courses. Service was professional and efficient. Extensive craft beer, specialty cocktail and wine list. Good value for the money. Visited early on a Tuesday evening and there were very few empty tables when we left. Will be back next time in SD!

Barbusa is the real deal! We were welcomed warmly, Italian style. We had the server bring us his choice of appetizers & we were pretty impressed when he showed up with a 5’ plank of appetizer choices! His wine selection was perfect as well. Our table ordered the gnocchi, the steak & the seafood linguini. The steak had a perfect crust & was juicy and tender. The gnocchi was the most tender I’ve ever had. The seafood linguini was tasty & had lots of perfectly cooked seafood. We will be back for the homemade pasta for sure!

Barbusa is located right next door to Born & Raised. I came here earlier in the week for a friend’s birthday. The restaurant was bustling with people and it was a Wednesday night. While I waited for my friend to arrive, I was overcome with food envy. All of the dishes coming out looked amazing. But one in particular caught my eye. It was love at first sight. I whispered to the hostess “what is that” and gestured towards the table to the right of us. She replied “the grachino”. It was a spaghettini with northern crab and a rosa sauce. My friend and I shared the calamari, Caesar salad, and the grachino. I took a bite of the granchino and it was as if my taste buds were awakened. It was the best pasta I’ve ever had in my life. It’s Saturday and I still can’t stop talking about it. I’ll be back soon Barbusa, I promise!

The food was great and the atmosphere was beautiful. Parking was a nightmare and we had to walk quite a ways to get to this restaurant only to have them tell us it would be an extremely long wait, at least an hour and a half. Unfortunately we did not know they had reservations, as we had dined at their sister restaurant and they do not take reservations. Also a Monday night it was very unexpected for the restaurant to be packed inside and outside. I was disappointed that we waited over an hour and still had to sit outside. Later when I used their restroom I was happy we were outside, inside the music was blasting very loud and then people were talking loud because of the music. The food was excellent but our first choice of Osso Bucco was sold out. They do not have printed up menus, only QR codes and unfortunately the menu the comes up differs in items and prices from the real menu. They brought us a tablet and stood there wanting us to make up our mind right on the spot, we told them we needed a few minutes. Beware if you use the QR code you may be paying a higher price than expected. While we did love the food and atmosphere the service was frantic. It was so crowded and parking was a nightmare that I doubt we will be back the next time we visit San Diego but this goes for Little Italy in general. With all the outdoor dining patios constructed on the street, taking up way too many parking spaces, it ends up with them having less parking but the restaurants are serving many more people. Little Italy and the City of San Diego need to come up with a better solution.

It's not a lunch, it's a robbery It's not a lunch, they steal you It's not a lunch, is the expensive meal ever

I joined my sister and my brother in law for dinner Thursday night . The restaurant is very nicely decorated, and all of our meals were very good. I had the bolognese which was delicious, we shared a very tasty bruschetta, and a good bottle of red Barola wine . If your considering going here you won’t be disappointed?

We had a late dinner meal. The service was excellent. Some menu choices were not available. Would like to see more traditional Italian menu choices. The restaurant is worth another try.

We just happened to have dinner at Barbusa. It was impromptu and on a Thursday evening. Surprisingly we were able to get a table. The servers were very responsive and continually checked on our needs and satisfaction. The food selections were very tasty and had excellent pasta and seafood dishes. The portions were generous. They had a a good select of wines. The only negative was the noise level. This is a place we will return to - for happy hour.

We had a weekday lunch here and enjoyed the Sicilian Meatballs; the Chef’s platter was so generous I could not eat an entree after! The pasta was really good and accompanied by a house wine from Sicily. For dessert we shared Tiramisu which was disappointingly bland with a lot of cream. Overall much more expensive for what we had than other restaurants we ate at in San Diego so although we enjoyed the appetisers and main course we didn’t feel it was good value.

We spent a lovely evening wandering around the Little Italy neighborhood in San Diego. From the waterfront park, to the shops, to the inviting restaurants we were delighted with the fun, friendly atmosphere. We had heard wonderful things about Barbusa, and we were glad that we had made a reservation, because on this gorgeous Spring Sunday evening it was packed! We were seated immediately, and the wait staff was attentive and efficient. We started with Sicilian Meatballs, Busalacchi Ceasar Salad, and Garlic Bread. There were all very tasty. Our entrees included: Bolognese al Forno, Carbonara con Piselli, and a Salsiccia Pizza. Everything was delicious, and we couldn't have been happier with our selections. Portions were very large and we had plenty of leftovers! We will definitely return to Little Italy and Barbusa on subsequent visits to San Diego!

The waiters mat look quite nice but our surprise was at billing time. 72$/person for a pasta dish & some appetizers. Oh! the appetizers were the killing surprise, added to a 8$ ending dinner shots. Sorry but we feel quite robbed. Next time we wont trust the waiter. Well, there won't be a next time. Arrivederci

Great ambiance, great service and the food was fresh and delish! Pastas are terrific. Highly recommend.

It shows a $$ symbol for price range, but it should be $$$$ or even $$$$$, maybe even don't ask. I had hone into a place for a manicure and the conversation came into if we were from the area or not. " If you want some good food go to Barbusa, especially the bone in rib eye steak". So off we go to seek and decide. Ordered the rib eyes, came perfectly cooked (medium) with veggies. We had already decided water only to rehydrate. Good thing..$105.00!!! Be prrpared

Walking through Little Italy, Barbusa was the most crowdy and lively restaurant by far. It seemed promising, so we found a table outside rather quickly. The servant recommended granchio (a crab). It was pricey at $29, but I don't mind if the experience is proportional. However, this mesl was an utter joke. I have never had a small portion in USA, but this one was too small even to Italian standards. The dish can be described as lots of cream with a little bit of overcooked, low-quality pasta. I don't know what it had to do with crab. Barbusa maybe is better at other dishes. But I don't have any trust based on this one meal.

From the minute you arrive you feel the vibe, welcoming and and hip. This restaurant is one of my favorites in little italy in san diego. Food is amazing, large portions and a menu that changes with the season. Family owned and operated.

Excellent food on the edge of Little Italy, within walking distance (or a quick scooter rental) of Waterfront Park. We ate family style — lamb chops, stuffed broccoli, meatballs, bolognese O’s, steak, capellini w/crabmeat — all outstanding! We paired that with draft beer and capped the evening with a brandy or Tuaca. Service and atmosphere, particularly sitting at one of the window tables, were perfect. Good sign: this place gets packed during main dining hours (6-9), even midweek.

I do NOT recommend this place at all, i found a huge piece of plastic wrap in my pasta dish and i was chewing it! This is not acceptable at all! AVOID THIS PLACE !

Nothing too special about this place. The food and service OK. My Caesar salad was drenched with dressing and the chicken dish I ordered was slathered in sauce. Not much to my liking. The pasta I tried was very good. Service OK.

We had reservations and went on a Friday night during the holidays. People without reservations were being turned away, so make a reservation if you want to go. When we first arrived, the bar area was very loud which made the entire restaurant loud; it did seem to mellow out a little, but in general it’s a very noisy restaurant. The food was overall delicious. The good food outweighs the loud acoustics. 8 of the 9 items we ordered were outstanding (including Margherita pizza, gnocchi, broccoli pasta, calamari, etc.). The only complaint we had was one person in our party had a pasta with crab entree, and she said the crab was kind of fishy and not very good. We were there to celebrate a birthday so they brought out a piece of chocolate cake with a sparkler (instead of a candle) which was a nice touch. Overall, an enjoyable night.

Thank you Barbusa for a great experience at your restaurant. Please be sure to make reservations as it gets very busy on weekends. Great atmosphere. Very nice servers. Great quality food. Our kids loved their pizza and pasta. We will definitely go back.

An amazing experience! The BEST Ragu I’ve ever had. We tried every appetizer and loved them all. Our service was wonderful - as if the server had prepared the food himself watching to see our delight as we tried everything. I’ll be back in October and am excited to share with my husband.

Food is limited in taste and poorly presented… big plates do not compensate unflavored food. Price is really high for what you get and the service is terrible. Do not get caught in this tourist trap.

This place did not impress me, ended up eating something that looked liked spaghetti Os, no American beers at all on the menu, took forever to get a table so it seems to be popular, food very average décor is good.

The Barbusa Italian Restaurant was fabulous for our Valentines dinner. The special menu for the occasion was totally delicious from start to finish. The host greeted each woman with a red rose and great smile. We ate every morsel of our dinner. The dessert was a chocolate mousse heart-shape chocolate with fresh raspberries on top which was the perfect ending to an outstanding evening. We loved it. Thank heavens for the valet parking as well! We loved this restaurant and we’ll be back for sure. Super Italian cuisine. Edna E.

Very bad customer service, I was very disappointed. They treated us terribly, they left us in the rain outside, the waiter was impeccable, the owner and the hosts were terrible, they had never treated me that way, it's not worth it.

Just started our family vacation and was looking for a place to eat before check-in. Barbusa is a nice walk-in (reservation helpful) restaurant in the Little Italy area with inside/outside seating. Very tasty food (various pizzas, sicilian meatballs), service with a smile, clean eating area and bathrooms (extra point from Average). Got "learnt" on the ketchup etiquette by a very nice host with beautiful italian accent :) Gluten free pizza is celiac friendly (tested by family member, extra point from Very Good), and just as tasty as the other ones. Recommended for a nice dinner with the family, bring the big wallet.

First time here and had an excellent dinner…nice atmosphere but the place is just too noisy…it take effort to keep up a conversation. Had the bone marrow appetizer…..tasty but very small amount….the bolognese and carbonara were very tasty….nice Caesar salad…..might be slightly less noisy outside.

Excellent Sicilian food. Beautiful atmosphere and very pleasant wait staff. We had the chicken, short ribs, salmon, and carbonara sauce along with heirloom tomato and lollipop lamb chops as appetizers. All excellent!!

Gave this place a try while in town for a meeting, ate at the bar. The bartenders are knowledge but not overly friendly. The wine list was nice bartender gave good recommendation for what I was looking for. I find the wine list price affordable for restaurants. The menu is a mix of pizza pasta and entrees again I found it to be a nice selection and affordable. I went with the Osso bucco it was enough for two people in my opinion. It was a nice dish just too much. I think this restaurant is a good choice in little Italy.

Barbusa specializes in Scicilian cuisine and it’s A++. This place was packed and we showed up with no reservations at 8pm on a week night. Only outdoor dining was available for walk ins. We sat underneath the warm cozy heater. I got Granchio because it was blue crab in their special sauce. Absolutely delicious. It was a bit of everything, it’s sweet and tangy with a kick of spiciness in a creamy light sauce. Wasn’t planning to finish but I sure cleared my plate. My friend got the squid ink linguine with shrimp. That pasta had tons of shrimp but the sauce was not unique like the Granchio. Still good but I feel like I’ve had this elsewhere. We shared tempura squash blossoms as a starter and it was not my favorite. It was stuffed with four cheese (Quattro formaggi). Texture resembled light and fluffy sour cream. I don’t like cheese and I don’t like sour cream so this was not for me. Overall, great service, excellent food and ambiance.

Really Nice restaurant in little Italy. The food was very good and the staff was very friendly, especially Roberto!

We wanted to try something new in Little Italy. The restaurant had good reviews and the menu appealed to us. My husband started with lobster bisque en crute which was excellent. My ceaser salad was served with lettuce wedges in a nice presentation. We ordered a pizza and it was tasty but the crust was undercooked. The pasta bolognese and gnocchi enters were good and the portions were very generous. The standout dis for us was the dessert: a cannoli served like no other I have seen. The shell was cut up like chips and the filling was separate like chips and salsa. It was delicious! The service was friendly, but just average. The ambiance was nice but very loud and the prices were just a tad too high.

Not only is the food very good, the wine tasty and the staff wonderful, but they have a fantastic happy hour. A nice selectin of items for $5 or $6, tasty red wine for $5/glass and nice atmosphere. I will be back and recommend this place.

Kind of a funky vibe but good food. Staff was friendly, checking on us regularly and booths were comfy. Ordered a crab pasta dish which we loved. The gnocchi could have had a bit more “spice” for my wife and I but our 7 year old loved it.

I am sure that the biggest disappointment we experienced was because a friend had recommended this restaurant as “the best Italian food in San Diego.” After one visit, we decided it was not. The restaurant is packed with people and they all seemed to be having a great time, but for three people on the far side of sixty it was more like a nightmare. Too noisy, too crowded and a menu item that two of our party wanted to order was not available.

By chance we had lunc at this italian restaurant in little italy and dinner in another italian restaurant in the gaslamp quarter. I must say this restaurant is not proper italian. We didnt get any bread (usually you get bread with olive oil and salt in a good italian restaurant). The pizza margerita was soaked in cheese, far too much cheese. The caprese salad was with half dried tomatoes and burrata, it was just not very tasty, lacking flavour. Would not recommend to go if you are looking for a real igalian restaurant.

I was pretty excited to go here with my family (all adults, this time). I just wasn't thrilled with anything. The portion sizes were large, and nothing was terrible or even bad, but I wanted so much more. The bread to start was amazing, though.

Great ambience, exceptional service, and superb food. Glad we walked in for a date night (upon recommendation from a friend).

Short Ribs of exceptional delicacy. Four desserts that were stunners. Exceptional tastes on every front. Be aware of the overall noise. Restrooms nothing to brag about. Still memorable for its plusses.

This is a great restaurant to visit for Happy Hour just prior to the crowds of diners that invade Little Italy most evenings. The polenta was outstanding and the osso buco was incredible.

Unfortunately, we went here late and somewhat full, so we did not get the full appreciation of the place. It was hot outside, and the doors and windows were open and the place was packed. It was hot. Our server Rosanna was great. The food was okay. The spicy pizza was very good, almost too spicy to eat because it was so hot in there. the zucchini blossoms were not as good as the night before, and the burata was average. The fried calamari was ok, not a lot of taste. The gnocchi was tasty. There were a lot of "beautiful" people in there. I am glad we went , but would not rush back.

Pasta dish + a snapper dish. Both were excellent. Good service. Excellent ambiance. Not cheap but you do get what you pay for ...

We wanted a nice Italian evening in Little Italy and with fresh pasta. We got rather disappointed. One pasta dish had pasta at twice the thickness of normal and other one was over cooked. The noice in the restaurant was higher than the airplanes constantly landing a few hundred meters away. In total worth two stars but the very charming female staff earns this miserable place a 3rd star. Only visit when you have tried all other restaurants in San Diego or when pigs fly!

Rolled in without a booking. Probably a mistake as the place was packed, but the staff seated us at the bar and we ate there. Food was tasty but portions small for the price. Wait staff were friendly and efficient. It is very noisy so don’t go planning to have a chat, but the people watching is worth it. Would definitely go back.

We were in town for a family vacation and by several people it was recommended to eat in Little Italy. After a little research we decided to try Barbusa and we were glad we settled on eating there. It was not the best Italian we have every had but it was very good. First off, Little Italy is a great area with lots of restaurants and different stores to visit. I would say a must stop and walk if you are in the area. Barbusa we did not have reservations and were able to walk in and get a table around 4pm on the weekend. The atmosphere was great and service was good. We ordered the Meatballs and Fior Di Zucca for appetizers. Highly recommend the meatballs! For our meals we ordered the Grancchio, Pesce Giorno and Al Forno. They were all excellent depending on what type of Italian you like they were all good. Definitely would recommend this as a stop if you are in the area looking for some good Italian. Enjoy!

We can't seem to skip Barbusa whenever we visit Little Italy, and this time we introduced yet another friend to this restaurant. Could not skip the squash blossoms--a must whenever they are available--as well as the polenta with sausage ragu. Then this time my husband and our friend tried the Ribeye (fabulous) while I opted for the Osso Buco (also fabulous). This is a fun, noisy, wonderful place with fun, competent servers. You can't help but have a wonderful time.

Drove by on a walkabout Little Italy a few days ago. Place was slightly busy and everyone was very welcoming. Our waiter was sweet and attentive. He was also the singer for random Italian song requests. Had the pappardelle with bone marrow. Not enough noodles to tomatoes ratio and the bone was down right prehistoric looking. It was ok but nothing special. Saw the pizza at the next table and the sauce seemed super thin and unappetizing. Not planning a follow up. On the upside, parking was free after 6pm.

Truthfully, we wanted Cucina Urbana but even booking three weeks before the requested date, the restaurant was full so La Barbusa was our second choice, but truthfully it was very very good. It was Prom Night in San Diego. But even so it was a luminescent Saturday night, May gray having receded. Two clients before us were turned away for having no reservations, and the place was filling up- even at 5:30 as we had theatre reservations at The Globe. We met our friends, were given a great table and seated in a really comfortable spot . True, the noise level is a bit loud. We started with the burata and beet appetizer, the cheese soft and delectable, the beets a little tasteless. The melanzano appetizer, however, was a magnificent blend to be spread on crusts. We could not stop eating it, even requesting more bread. Our mains were simply outstanding. The friends shared Carbonara,the egg breaking perfectly over the fresh peas and bits of bacon. My husband and I ordered the same pasta of shrimp and octopus in tomato sauce, mine replaced with more tender exquisitely cooked shrimp( even with heads) in a wonderful thick traditional and delicious tomato sauce over bucatini. The sauce was as good if not better than Cucina Urbana’s, or maybe their chefs are sisters. Our waiter was excellent, friendly and helpful. Food came quickly as did our wine- a Barbera- which needed a little time to open up- but was a good balance to our food. No complaints over this lovely dinner.

This is a trendier restaurant in the Little Italy area. Between our table we ordered a number of different dishes and we loved every one of them. My favorite was the polenta appetizer. If you are a polenta fan, I recommend ordering. In addition the cannoli dessert is to die for! Be sure to make a reservation if you are thinking of eating here. We went on a Monday evening and it was slammed.

Great place for dinner in Little Italy. We both got pizzas, gluten free for me, and we thoroughly enjoyed them! The service was good and the atmosphere was fun. It was a little loud, but a very nice night. Well worth a visit!

After a flight into San Diego, our family went to Little Italy for lunch. We decided to try a new place and Barbusa was our choice. The staff was very friendly and accommodating as we had our two year old grand daughter. The drinks and food came out in a very timely manner. Everyone ordered something different and enjoyed their selection. The decor and ambiance, at least for lunch was enjoyable. We would not hesitate to return for dinner or lunch.

Service was good and good as good as well. Wine recommendation by server wasn’t great wine was decent. Overall a good lunch. Sea bass was good but very small portion or what we paid.

From the time you step in PJ greets you like family. Awesome staff , friendly and great food. The place is full of energy. Would recommend to my family and friends.

All star ambiance, staff, and food! This is like going home to grandmas cooking: it’s done with perfection. The flavors are incredible. Bruchetta is 5 Star. Very popular, make a reservation. Great wine selection. A bit pricy but you get what you pay for. Vince is a great server.

Barbusa. You never disappoint, and I LOVE you for that! My partner and I visited for the third time yesterday for date night, and our experience was just as wonderful as it was two years ago. IMHO this is the best affordable date night spot in Little Italy. I've listed the details of our dinner and my pros and cons below for reading pleasure. What we ordered: * Bruschetta Di Melanzane * Rollatini * Funghi E Tartufo * a glass of their Sangiovese and Montepulciano Pros: * The food is delicious and fresh, locally sourced and authentic. The bruschetta had an excellent eggplant addition to the standard recipe. They have wonderful vegetarian options like the Rollatini, which I tried for the first time and adored. Our least favorite dish was the Funghi E Tartufo because it had a touch of too much butter, but the decadent truffle taste made up for that. They also give very generous portion sizes, so (if you're not too bougie) you can get another meal out of your leftovers. * ‍ The service is top-notch! We were seated near the bar, and every single bartender asked us if we needed anything when they could. This place clearly employs lovely humans who love their jobs! * The music -- which is mostly Pop EDM and chill house -- is perfect for the lowkey SoCal vibes this his place emits. Con: * This restaurant is VERY popular, so you must make a reservation to be seated on time. This place quickly gets packed. They also allow indoor dining, which is apparently OK in SD? This usually wouldn't be a problem, but of course, I was nervous because we are still in a serious panoramic.

This service here is simply awful. Salads after the entrees (they forgot I had ordered), had to request refills and parmigiana……twice! We used to come here 2-3x a month…..never again. It used to be very crowded. Now you have your pick of seats.

Every time we go to this place we get a really nice surprise. We love it!!! The food is amazing. The bar is out from this world. The service excellent. We love the ambiance and the menu has always something delicious. I think it’s one of the best restaurants in Little Italy. You can see that because it’s always full. It’s good to make reservations.

We had a business dinner. It was a set dinner and didn't have much of veg spread but the dessert spread was awesome. The food was good but when you take the price into consideration, it was just ok.

Omg! Perfect place for way better dinner! I loved this place! Interior and atmosphere is great! Staff amazing. Very helpfull and friendly. Food was absolutely great! Big portions. So for me there we no place for dessert! But we took it anyway and that was perfect ofc 🤩

One of the dozens of Italian eating places in San Diego's Little Italy. Not too busy when we went for lunch at 12 noon and got a good table. Great ambience and space between tables, friendly service, and very good pastas. We liked the Sicilian Meatballs, Granchio (spaghettini, crab, shallots, serrano chile, rosa sauce) and the Aragosta Fra Diavolo (squid ink fettuccine, lobster, calamari, onions pomodore). We enjoyed our meal at Barbusa.

I was really hoping the manager of Barbusa would follow through on his several email promises to comp my pasta dish (will explain), so I could say this ended on a positive note. In a nutshell, we live in a land-locked state and were super excited to get to have seafood (and Italian anything is my favorite); I had made reservations before our trip and were really looking forward to our splurge dinner.. I’m not sure what the cold/wet “pizza-like” appetizer was, but thankfully the rest of the food tasted much better. I was enjoying my spaghetti with crab when I chopped into something hard, hoping I had not broken a tooth - it turned out, as the apologetic chef explained, to be a piece of a plastic food storage bin. He did apologize profusely and offered us free dessert, which I refused because I was stuffed, but they insisted and it went to waste. There was no offer to comp the spaghetti (which I stopped eating) and it was on our bill. I waited till later to email the manager who said it should have been comped, send him my credi card info, etc. needless to say this went on by email for a few weeks till I gave up, never getting a credit. So, while if you’re looking for a straight review of the food, it was good, the experience will taint that forever.

The young lady at the front desk was not very friendly and didn't seem to care if we stayed or not since we did not have a reservation. We had to ask to sit at the bar while we waited to be seated for dinner. It took forever to place our beverage order. Once we were seated, our server was attentive and the the food was delicious. We ordered a salad and pasta dish which was prepared perfectly.

The salmon was totally tasteless. Zero. I did not like the pureed potato either. My wife's oxtail wasn't too bad, but nothing we would order again. Then they cranked up the music so loud the waiter had to shout in our ear to be heard. Totally inappropriate for a restaurant. Maybe in a bar, but NOT in a restaurant. Hated it, will never return. It was only the "OK oxtail" that keeps this from being a one-star review.

I have been here a couple times now and both experiences were great. This restaurant is always super busy so make a reservation or expect a long wait. So many entrees that I love to try. Good thing I came with 4 other adults so got to taste a bite of their entrees too. Started with the squash blossoms and the Salumeria plate. Wish the salumeria plate had more crackers. For entrees we ordered the Cavatelli bone marrow, Aragosta, granchio, Oxtail pasta and the sea bass special. Was happy with each entree we ordered my favorite was the cavatelli and the granchio . If they have the sea bass as the special order that too it was so tasty and was cooked perfectly. Armel was our server and he was very friendly and helpful. Gave great recommendations. The noise level is pretty loud which didn’t bother me at all but might bother some so just be aware. They have valet parking for $8 if you eat there which is great since parking is harder to come by in Little Italy with outdoor dining and most streets still lined with tables.

The taste of the food was good. But it was not hot enough, the taste would have been enhanced if it was served warmer. Friendly and good waitstaff

Sicilian arancini was del.. the stuffed zucchini blossoms were highly anticipated but I found the filling overpowered the flower. Salads were a highlight. The truffle pasta was very rich and the portion was large. Everyone enjoyed their selections. Suggest ordering two appetizers to share and an entree to share for two people.

The squid ink pasta, crab pasta and the pasta with pancetta are pure perfection. Awesome appetizers. Can’t go wrong with anything you choose at this great restaurant.

We ate here based on the recommendation of someone that we met earlier in the day on the golf course. I have to say that while we loved the atmosphere and the decor...we were disappointed in the food. My wife had the sea bass special and it was so spicy that she couldn't even eat it. I had the ribeye and while it really was one of the most flavorful ribeyes that I have had in a long time...it was also one of the toughest. It was even difficult to cut in some places. Our wine selections were wonderful and we had the appetizer special which was only OK. We possibly would try it again...but not before we tried some of the other places in the area.

For authentic handmade pasta and other Italian favorites, look no further! Barbusa is a great restaurant with great service (from native Italians to boot!). A fun atmosphere for a special occasion or date night celebration.

Barbusa is a hip place to eat and be seen in Little Italy! Parking is a nightmare here, so take a ride share service. Our pasta dishes were incredibly rich. I got the Ravioli di Zucca, which was good but a little too sweet for me. The table sitting next to me ordered a pizza, which they said was excellent. Overall, a great place in Little Italy, San Diego.

On a Thursday night in August me and two of my girlfriends decided to go into LIttle Italy and enjoy some pasta and wine. Little did we know that this would turn into one of the best night ever. Our service was amazing and so was the food. Somehow we made friends with the owner or manager or whoever he is ( a red-headed man) who was giving us free shots of limencello and a free bottle of wine. ( which we didn't realize was free until the check at the end of the night). Our waiter ( a handsome man our age in his 20's) was sitting with us, giving us free apps and dessert. I mean Free is always good but, it was do good I would have paid for it. I think the only thing we paid for was out entrees which were, carbonara pasta, bolognese pasta and a black linguine pasta. Regardless we ended up staying PAST closing time with the staff who was trying to get us to karaoke but, at this point we were wasted and it was time to go home. This was truly the funnest night and we are in our mid 20s!

We ate here with a couple of friends on a Saturday night...and the restaurant was packed. Luckily, our friends had made a reservation. Located in Little Italy in San Diego, the whole area was packed with people and a lot of energy. If you drive to the restaurant, I would recommend valet parking as finding a space on the street on a busy weekend was nearly impossible. The restaurant had a rustic, European vibe. Our server spoke with a genuine Italian accent and was helpful with recommendations. I had the Garganelli funghi...a large plate of creamy, home-made pasta mixed with huge chunks of oyster mushroom and a hint of truffle oil. It was delicious! my friend had the bone marrow cavatelli...a plate of pasta topped with a large piece of bone filled with rich bone marrow that goes great with the pasta. overall, great food and experience.

Recommended by our hotel, this was a fab spot in Little Italy to enjoy our anniversary dinner. Really superb, tasty food, attentive service and a great atmosphere (though yes a little noisy as others have mentioned). We love good traditional Italian fare and this fits that bill just perfectly.

The Cesar salad was too wet, with 5 romaine lettuce leaves for $12, the pasta with supposedly a variety of mushrooms, little mushrooms, overpriced at $18.. it was noisy..and just so so..too many great choices in Little Italy..this is not one of them!

Referred here by an industry person and we were totally impressed. App of meatballs delicious, sauce so good. Carbonara served with egg yolk on top for guest to mix in - noce touch. Good wines and exceptional food. Noisy, so be warned.

With reservations in advance, we were seated upon check-in. The 'vibe' in Barbusa was how we remembered it from our last visit...very festive. We were shown to our table and directed to pull up the menu on the QR code. (We prefer the old school printed menus and wine list, but this was fine.). As my husband and I started discussing entree and wine options we found ourselves yelling across the table. The music was loud and the acoustics in the restaurant resulted in a pretty boisterous environment. I'm sure this is intended...otherwise they could turn the music down a bit. We love the lively atmosphere but DO like to be able to carry on a conversation across the small table without shouting. I asked the girl at the check-in podium if we could sit outside and there was no problem with that. It was much easier to have a conversation and the parklet decor and heat lamps made it a pleasant place to dine. Be aware that on cooler nights, even with the heat lamps, it would be wise to wear a sweater or jacket. It was fun to people watch from this charming location in Little Italy. Our server was attentive and our meals were delicious. We shared the Caesasr salad, I ordered the Lobster Ravioli and my husband ordered the Bolognese Al Forno. All were generous portions! Plan on spending $60 and up for a bottle of red wine. Bread does not come with your meal, but you can order Garlic Bread for $12.

Authentic Italian on Chef Alley. I tried the calamari but did not try the bone marrow. I got the Salmone with pistachio crust, panna, Dijon mustard, yams, and pee wee potato purée. Had a bite of some fantastic bruschetta. My colleagues loved their food as well. Nice ambiance. Great service.

Great find. Wonderful staff and delicious menu. The restaurant has nice open vibe and feel. Mini high bar area and multiple seating. It was a little noisy due to the open floor plan. Service was great and the server took care of our needs. The dishes are good sized and are crafted with enjoyable flavors. Yummy. Recommend giving them a try.

Met our daughter for dinner last night. We had reservations but it was very business. The manager came up to us and offered a drink of choice while we waited. I had an Pinot that was delicious. We were seated before we could finish it. The menu choices offered a wide variety of flavors. The three of us ordered different pastas along with a salad. I had a short rib pasta. Every bite was out of this world. In fact we where all loving our choices. Great dinner great dessert and great company. The manager that gave us our before dinner drinks checked in often. You will love the specialty cocktails offered as well. Best time at a restaurant all around in some time. Our new friend even closed our evening with afterdinner tequila. Thank you and we WILL be back. Ciao

Great location and atmosphere. Service was on point. And the food was amazing. Nice location for a business dinner or date night.

The game was dull, but not the service and food and beer at the bar. Lots of choices in the Italian style - some fine local craft beers too

Great restaurant in Little Italy. Marco, our waiter, was great on recommendations and very kind. He insisted on Tempura Squash Blossoms (FIori di zucca) and it was amazingly delicious, the best dish we had there. Would return anytime.

Pretty underwhelming overall. Our party of 10 came in with a reservation on a Thursday night at 8:30. It was still pretty packed (and loud) at that time. The menu looked really good but unfortunately, they didn't have most of the menu items we wanted (including the oxtail, or the uni pasta, which I was really looking forward to). I'm not sure if this is a regular occurrence, or if it was because our reservation was a pretty late dinner time, so everything was sold out? To start, we had the Sicilian Meatballs, which were pretty on point. We actually ended up getting another order of these. For the main, my sister and I decided to share a pizza because we weren't starving, so we went with the Margherita. The crust was so thick, which I was not expecting from an Italian restaurant like this. It reminded me of pizzeria pizza you'd just grab and eat. But still, pizza is pizza. Any pizza is better than no pizza. I also tried a bite of my other sister's Eggplant Rollatini and it was pretty bland. Our waiter was really nice but overall, the food was kind of a let down. Maybe we just came at the wrong time, or had too large a group? Either way, I don't think I'd be back if I ever visit SD again.

I dined here with friends and family, and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The restaurant was impeccably clean and had a lively atmosphere. Our server, Gianni, was exceptionally friendly and attentive, offering helpful recommendations. The food was delicious; we savored every dish, including the calamari, burrata, meatballs, beef capaccio, ravioli with pink sauce, clam alla Van Gole, Pizza, Mushroom with pasta, and chicken with pasta. Everything was superb; I highly recommend this restaurant if you are in Little Italy. While the ambiance is somewhat lively and perhaps a bit noisy, it's ideal for groups of friends seeking a wonderful evening.

Great place! Very elegant but yet casual. Food is fantastic! Really authentic Italian food. The frittura was awesome. Great wine selection too. Must visit if you are in San Diego.

We were looking for a place to eat lunch on a Saturday that wasn’t featuring eggs and waffles and this was the place to go. Like the calamari and the squash blossoms. Also enjoy the pasta carbonara with pizza. Great drink menu and excellent service from the bar.

This is one of our favorites in Little Italy for sure Love the ambiance and the food is delicious!!!! They have a great bar and an amazing selection of wines The service is impeccable and the ambiance is beautiful It’s always packed so make sure you Make reservations

Visited on Monday night for the dinner. They have very limited menu selection and food was not excellent but the white wine was perfect and could have a seat right away.

Very tasty food, attentive service, and nice atmosphere. Smack in the heart of Little Italy, menu offers some classics with a nice twist. Would definitely visit again.

Worried that we (four of us) would not get a table (NO RESERVATIONS). Well, they took our name a told us we could have a cocktail/appetisers at the bar (luckily we sat at the end of the bar) 'till a table opens (should be no more than 20 mins.). They were so gracious and accommodating; we even brought our own bottle of wine! We'll be BACK with reservations!

This was the first time we were at the restaurant. We were served and had the bill within 30 minutes. After just two sips of very expensive not very good Chardonnay that was a very small shot, dinner arrived. I enjoyed my butternut squash ravioli and my husband thought his linguine was fair. Waiters took my husband plate before I was half finished. When I ordered a second glass of the cheaper but still expensive Chardonnay it was also poor and little. Hardly a fine dining experience. It was extremely noisy, we won’t be back

Located in the middle of Little Italy, Barbusa is surrounded by dozens of great restaurants. We noticed it when we walked by in the afternoon and made a reservation for that evening. We were very glad we did. It was extremely busy, on Tuesday night, and I doubt we would have gotten in without the the reservation. The atmosphere is bustling and very noisy. Luckily we got a table in a corner where the noise was tolerable. Aside from the noise, we were very pleases with our meal. Service was good and friendly. We shared a delicious appetizer of the lamb lollypops. I had one of their handmade pastas and my husband had the Risotto Di Mare. Everything was excellent.

This family owned restaurant shows the pride of its owners in every respect. The Busalacchi Brothers have learned well from their parents--a long standing successful San Diego Restaurant couple--and have created a modern, exciting Italian restaurant that offers a cool dining experience -- outstanding innovative food, fun environment, and friendly Italian staff. Try the bar area dining.

We had a 7 pm reservation and arrived a little early but we were told to come back at 7 pm. There were open tables at the time. We returned at 7 pm and had to wait for our table. There were 3 of us dining and they put us at a 2 top and pulled up an extra chair. We were very cramped. There was an open 4 top table near the front of the restaurant, that was open when we arrived earlier, and it was still open. The service was average, food is overrated. The manager on duty was very chummy with the hostesses and the whole staff seemed to cater to young females and locals. Would not recommend.

This restaurant was recommended by our hotel. The service was great and the food very good. Prices were reasonable considering the location. The canoli desert was super. I did think the expresso was a bit on the small size for the price.

I think this restaurant is standard 3 Star , normal food , the quality is 6/10 , There are many Italian restaurant at little Italy much better than this The way they put the tip is weird , minimum requested tip is 21 % !!! As mentioned !!

The restaurant is very nice and trendy. The staff is great but I went there expecting an authentic Italian cuisine. I was quite disappointed by the food. The pasta were too cooked, and the sauce too heavy. Maybe adapted to the American taste, I don’t know. But definitely not up to the Italian standards.

If you have a reservation be ready to get in with all your part otherwise you wont get your table. Not even of you whant to start with cocktails and appetizers. Terrible hostess, rude and zero polite.

This place claims to cook authentic Sicilian cuisine, being Sicilian I can tell you this is a American version of authentic Italian fare. The “Marinara” was awful, truly awful. We don’t call tomato sauce marinara b t w. It tasted like sugar was added. A big no no! The pasta with bone marrow was also awful. Heavy pasty cream with a roasted whole marrow which looked so unappealing. I’ve seen this done before but this was not good The only reason I gave it a 3 star is the calamari were done perfectly and there was one pasta dish in our group done well.

I absolutely love this restaurant. Everything was beautiful and delicious. Wonderful atmosphere. We had the bruschetta and squash flower (forget the real name) appetizers and highly recommend both. We also got a pizza and pasta and holy food coma we felt like we needed to roll out. Took half the pizza and pasta home. Reasonably priced for what your getting! We each had 2 drinks and the bill was just over $100. Wish we lived in SD so we could come back!!

Long wait, we ordered a pizza with sausages and eggplant bruschettas. The eggplants were cold and for the pizza I have to say that it is not even close to a italian pizza. No comment for the wine we left two full glasses on the table.

We never repeat restaurants on vacations but we couldn’t resist having dinner a 2nd night at Barbusa. We had the short rib carpaccio both nights and it is one of the best things I’ve eaten in a very long time. Freshly shaved Parmesan and a creamy and tangy sauce accompanied the short rib. We also had the pork shank, fall apart tender, the ribeye and the bolognese. All were just amazing and perfectly executed. The squash blossom is stuffed with 4 different types of cheese and lightly battered and fried. The lemon cheesecake was creamy with a very light lemon flavor, not overpowering at all. Thiago (Thi) was our server both nights and was so warm, passionate and knowledgeable about the wine and food, he made our experience even more special. Can’t wait to go back!

Very nice place and very nice service. Felt too crowded. Some food felt sugary or glazed, not bad, but funny and not what I was looking for in a pizza and calamari. Pork was delicious, caesar salad and gnocci too!

We were there w/3 couples, all originally from CT...visiting the city before taking a cruise . Local friends suggested this restaurant ...& they know good food. TA reviews confirmed the choice! Like most city restaurants, there is a lot of activity , noise level fairly high , but our group sat at a window table , which was relatively less noisy. Creative entrees, definitely not your basic Italian offerings, although one in our group had a spicy rigatoni w/meat sauce they loved & there were some pizza dishes . Joey, one of the owners took care of us w/great gusto , a real showman , even the way he poured our glasses of wine was fun...exc wine choices by the glass & bottle. Standout dish of the night was Black Cod. We asked for a side of pasta & that was the only thing that wasn’t wow...basic red sauce. Their version of cannoli ‘s for dessert are a must...can be shared by 2 - 3. Finished dinner w/a Lemoncello, a very small pour , but good .

The service was great. My son had the pesto pasta and loved it. I had the salmon and it was great. The daughter in law had a seafood pasta. She liked it. I didn't care for it. and my other daughter had pizza. The pizza was too spicy to me, but the waiter warned her of such. We had a couple of good appetizers as well. The restaurant overall had a good vibe.

A lovely restaurant in the heart of Little Italy. Armel was our server, he was super energetic and made the meal even better. The lasagne and pizza were delicious, the overall atmosphere was great and I would recommend this place to anyone.

Always a good idea to go for dinner at Barbusa!!! We have been going since it opened and will never be old. The best ambiance in Little Italy!!! They have the best food and their bar is amazing!!! Love to hang out even if we just have drinks. Every time we go it’s an experience. Don’t miss it!!! Make reservations because it’s popular.

Y’all!!! Yall!!! I can’t even tell u how much I need Barbusa in my life everyday. I had this last night and I literally craved it today! The service was outstanding! If u want someone to stand next to u while u eat then it’s isn’t your joint. They let u enjoy your meal. Ask for water they won’t fill it when it’s empty. One thing that I will say is the table behind me dropped a glass of martini on the floor shattered all over my shoes not one person said a word to me. Not even a I’m sorry or r u ok. My kid was soaked all over and again not a soul came to say a word. Now why do I still give it a 5 cause of the FOOD!! y’all.. apps we had margarita pizza, California pizza, lamb chops, seafood platter. Pizza was outstanding! Lamb chop was ok nothing to jump for joy. The seafood platter was delicious and wowzer! Prawns, calamari, baby octopus. Get this u can thank me later! Entrees. Sea bass is LIFE! Get it trust me it’s $45 worth it. It comes with omg the best part Parmesan cheese risotto. I dream about this part all day today. Then the carbonara delish…..so there is a raw yes raw yolk right on top of peas in a white wine sauce with bacon. Order this! Also had the squid ink pasta with shrimp and octopus. It is on a fishy side so if that smell bothers u don’t do it but it’s $29 but a huge amount of pasta. It’s a good amount and if u wanted to share u probably could if u aren’t super hungry. Drinks: I had 2 glass of Chianti that the server recommended and it was fabulous $13 each. Italian love affair was tasty however flowers in it made it “annoying” to sip as the flowers were over kill of the drink. Don’t even questioning going. The food is the only reason for the stars. If the food was horrible then I truly would not give more than a 2-3 stars especially with the drink spill issue. My shoes r truly ruined. Run to this place y’all!!

We had a fabulous time! Our waiter was outstanding! The Salumeria, Fior di Zucca and Aragosta were outstanding. The oysters were the best ever. Excellent wine list too. You MUST make a reservation especially during the weekend or you will not be able to get in the restaurant. When in Little Italy this is the place!

It had the feel of an Italian restaurant. Fresh pasta and lots of food. Service was good, did not have a reservation and had an immediate table.

If you wanna have a night meant for the gods...excuse me, goddesses, then it’s at Barbusa. We were treated like royalty and then some. Manager/owner PJ paired us with the formidable Marco for an unforgettable meal. Marcos navigated the menu for us like Vasco da Gama taking on the seas. Ensuring we hit all the best flavor waves and had the best journey. The wine list is epic, the pasta handmade with care and desserts that make you not care the calorie count. The night is young and Barbusa is where it’s at to start out your weekend. Cannot wait to come back and dive into more great eats!

Amazing experience! Vince was absolutely the best waiter. From recommending a wonderful and affordable red wine to handling all of our selections. He even had some comical napkin art and playful, which given our group was critical. We asked him to just pick our entrees and he did a wonderful job. The food was authentic and full of flavor and depth. The atmosphere was great. You can see the open kitchen and the teamwork behind the scenes. One of our best dining experiences in Little Italy!

Prosciutto, tomato and burrata, pasta with short ribs, and seafood risotto were delish. Wait significant but we got in with promise that we’d only be an hour due to another party w reservations.

Oh my gosh, what a great restaurant, fantastic food and beverages plus a fun place to go to. Marcelo was our waiter and was outstanding. It was our anniversary and the owner's son comped us a delicious prosciutto ham plate and the VERY BEST garlic bread we have ever eaten. We were in San Diego for four days and this was by far the best evening of food and drinks of our trip. We highly recommend Barbusa (LaLa Barbusa) for a great evening out. Make your reservations today!

The restaurant closed to accommodate our party of about 300 serving a Prix Fixe menu serving swordfish, shortribs or chicken. The antipasto alone was a meal. They presented a wooden platter measuring at least 4 feet followed by pasta, entree and dessert. Service was as quick as possible when serving a large crowd at one time in a restaurant transformed into an open area with long tables. The waiters were informative regarding menu options and attentive with individual needs. The shortribs were extremely tender and delicious. Only downside - too much food I couldn't eat it all.

70$ for 1 appetizer (the waiter recommend it to us without telling us the price) + 1 main course + 1 draft beer. Huge robbery

Very disappointed: calamari and mussels were rubbery and had to send them back : service was good: atmosphere fun but food was lacking

Ahhhhh, if you are a fan of Gnocci, get on over to Barbusa to try some! A friend and I decided to stop in to Little Italy for lunch while on a quick trip to downtown San Diego. We are locals but live in North San Diego County, so don’t find ourselves downtown very often. We decided on Barbusa & were not disappointed. My friend had the Bolognese Al Forno and I had the Gnocci. But before our meals came out we were treated to some delicious warm bread with a tomato spread - fabulous. I tasted my friends bolognese after she raved about it; loved the anise (which I assumed came into the dish via the sausage in the ragu) and the rest of the flavors in the ragu. There was just the right amount of cheese mixed into the dish - perfect. As mentioned, I had the Gnocci and as one who strives to find the best darn Gnocci in town, this one now tops my list. If you’ve had much Gnocci then you know you can get anything from a dough ball to melt-in-your-mouth goodness. These little pillows of goodness almost melted in your mouth. The sauce was lite enough to not overpower the delicatessen of the Gnocci but with the addition of the “guanciale” was hearty enough to stand on its own. I’d highly recommend Barbusa & can’t wait to go back to try other dishes ....that is if I can pull myself away from the Gnocci! Mangia!

Came for dinner, and loved the carbonara. 😍 It’s a great place to stop off and have at least a drink or 2 while in Little Italy

We were a party of 10. All dishes were very good. The ambiance is pulsating energy - the diners and bar crowd were YUPPY all the way. If you go, I would recommend that you order three things, and in this order: 1) ear plugs 2) a megaphone, so you can converse with the other people at the table 3) the pork rib "tomahawk."

Good menu with lots of options, the pizza was incredible, we have all had better pasta but it was still good. The service was so great, valet a great option in a very busy area. The interior of the restaurant and the patio is gorgeous. We were all happy here and the price was very good for lots of food. It is very loud so not a quiet spot to catch up.

We came here for dinner and it was really great! We had the mussels, the carbonara and the yellowtail crudo. All 3 dishes were so delicious! We wanted the squash blossoms but they had run out. We got the mussels instead and we were so thrilled with our choice. The broth was amazing so we actually asked for some bread to dip into it. The art work in the restaurant was on point( pics attached). We will definitely come back here. The service was great and our cocktails and wine were wonderful as well.

We had all superb food while visiting San Diego, but we all unanimously agreed that this was the BEST Italian food we have had anywhere in the world! Vince made it an over-the-top experience and his recommendations were leaving nothing more desired. What a great ending to a fabulous trip!!!

QUICKIE REVIEW Do yourself a favor and order that garlic bread. FOOD This is what I tried: -busalacchi’s garlic bread -vongole rosso -tortellacci di manzo -chocolate cake -distilled spirits 😊 The garlic bread is a family recipe since 1982 and a good one. I could see where someone could just get an order of that with some wine and cheese and call it good. They were very giving with the clams in the vongole rosso and it had great flavor. The tortellacci di manzo was ok but paired with the garlic bread turned out to be great. PARKING No. Street parking is what you are going for. SERVICE Good, waiter came and checked up on us as needed. PRICE Can go up to $100 for two depending on what you get. TIP/OTHER THOUGHTS You can make reservations here. That would be a good idea in the evenings; although, the place is big enough where you might be able to get away just showing up.

We spotted this place on our way to get an afternoon coffee at my favorite spot (James) up the road from here and decided to come back at night for drinks and dinner. I am so happy we did. We figured we stumbled on a great find when there was a 30 minute wait for dinner on a Thursday night. We landed st the bar while we waited and enjoyed some great drinks. The bartender was friendly and we could have stayed there to eat, but decided to wait for our table. Once seated the service remained excellent. Attentive and friendly, but never annoying. Now, the important part - The food. It was amazing. We shared numerous items and enjoyed everything. We actually contemplated cancelling our reservations the next night at Juniper and Ivy to return here - in hindsight, I wish we would have, but you’ll have to read that review for the reasons. The vibe at the place was upbeat and fun. My only complaint is that the tables are jammed together so you don’t have much room, but I get it. We will absolutely be back!

We had such a great meal here. From the moment we walked in we had incredible attentive service and a great window seat perfect for people watching. We tried a selection of appetizers for the table. Loved the Futta de mare and roasted peaches with prosciutto and a delicate honey dressing. Don't miss the gorgonzola stuffed squash blossoms. Excellent!!! We even were treated with a tasting of oysters for the special occasion celebration. The main course was worth the wait. We all got a different fresh pasta and each one was full of flavor and generous portions. The bone marrow cavatelli was rich and delicious. The squid ink linguini with seafood was a favorite. Likewise the granachio is the house specialty and it was full of crab and a delightful sauce. The fettuccini with peas and pancetta was also great. The portions were large so don't fret over the price. The meal is worth it. Unlike other Italian eateries..we didnt' leave overly stuffed. It was a great dinner. Cant wait to return.

Visiting San Diego as part of a tour of the US. This restaurant was recommended to us by bar staff in our hotel. The food was good quality and waiting staff were very friendly. However our issues were with the hostess who was very rude and dismissive from the outset. We did not have a reservation as had only just had the recommendation. Despite there being plenty of empty tables the hostess said it would be an hour wait (this was after 8pm) without checking anything. We thought this was too long and left but came back soon after, after not finding anything else we preferred. By now there was a man seating people who had no problem finding us a table immediately. The hostess then glared at us on our way past - very unprofessional and let down an otherwise good restaurant.

We like the food but won't return due to the noise level. The food was good but the noise level at dinner time (more than 82 dB according to my iPhone dB meter app) is deafening and totally ruins the experience. Note that they don't have a kids menu. The pistachio pesto pasta and the gnocchi were great. The salmon was somewhat dry. The short pasta in tomato sauce they made for our 2 years old was too hard and the sauce was just like tomato paste. The cannoli and lemon cheese cake were good.

Came in for happy hour. Zero regrets. Great meal and service at the bar - thanks to Wendy and team !!

Saturday night visit. The place is so packed inside, people's buttocks literally invade our dining space.We requested a patio table; equally bad. This is a place for endless scores of young men trying to pick up the equally endless hordes of skin and high heel showing girls that swarm the spot. The noise level was unbearable. The patio (like all Little Italy's venues) like a horses stable, constructed to accommodate the California cover dining prohibition. Pitiful. The whole Little Italy experience must be avoided for dining ..The waiter had an Italian accent and he was blurting out authentic Italian to enhance our "authentic Italian experience"...The water came warm, the salad unaccompanied by anything at all (no special bread etc), the food was less tasty than the Jack-in-the-box down the street.... This spot is a combination of a tourist trap and a "meat market". If you however, are in, for cool chicks, drinks, and noise... perhaps you may fare much better.....

Good food and nice modern and lively environment, but for having such a great product I expected great service. It wasn’t bad, just not very attentive, but they were nice. I’d still return.

Visited here with my family. A very average dining experience. I had the lobster pizza which was nice, my son had the pepperoni pizza which wasn’t great to be honest. The service was also lacking, our starters had been delivered before we’d received our drinks, our server was posted missing a few times. We also sat outside, which is next to a valet car park so it’s very noisy.

Barbusa is an open inviting place for a mid-week dinner in Little Italy. We were fairly early and were seated immediately. Service was a little slower than we would expect but it did not diminish from our experience. We ordered drinks and apps. Drinks came out quickly and were served properly. Our apps were bruschetta di melanzane and Carpaccio . Both were good and I liked the Bruschetta best. The cheese burrata and eggplant were a unique and delicious combination. For dinner the table ordered Bolognese al Forno, Carbonara cob Piselli and Rigaroni Palermitana. This was a ton of food! We shard and while all were good, the rigatoni was exceptional...meaty, spicy and rich. Remember, this is San Diego, California, so, be prepared for the prices of California to reflect that fact.

Can I say that I rarely give out five star reviews but this one deserves it. The hostess was super sweet and got us into a table right away. We were greeted by the nicest Italian man named Stefano who was the best server. We literally felt like he was entertaining us at his house. The ambience in there was amazing. That was even with my four kids in there with me all under 10. My son had gnocchi and my husband had the seafood risotto and I had the crab spaghetti. It was all delicious to say the least. I cannot say enough on how much we loved our server. If you dont come here when your in the area you will be truly missing out. Make it happen!

This is one heckuva place to eat dinner! We had the tempura squash blossom as an appetizer, and it was so darn good, we bartered another one! I have the ravioli which was to die for and my friend had the lasagna! Both were absolutely amazing and so tasty. Our waitress was Julianna, and she made our visit even better with her sweet and outgoing personality. All the waitstaff were very attentive and helpful. I will return to Barbusa!

We recently made a trip over to Little Italy to get a little bit of Carbs before the Rock’n’roll Marathon and this place did not disappoint. I would definitely recommend booking a reservation in advance as this place does fill up quickly. They do have some communal seating that looks over the pasta making station (and yes, they do make some fresh, delicious pasta). They quickly sat us down quickly and the service was attentive as well as quick, which was very much appreciated. We ordered the Garlic Bread (also requested some marinara for dipping), Ricciola, Lollipop Chops, and the Bone Marrow Cavatelli. All the dishes tasted fantastic! I would recommend taking a stroll up and down India Street after the meal to help digest all the delicious food and explore the area.

In a town with great Italian Food on every corner and next door, it is really not easy to stand out. But Barbusa does just that. Wonderful service and the food selections are unique and extremely delicious. Drinks are also creative and still down to earth and really good! I highly recommend Barbusa. One of my favorites in Little Italy. It never disapoints!

Our daughter made a reservation during our visit because it’s her favorite restaurant. We were not disappointed! We devoured the squash blossoms, followed by n’duja pizza, gnocchi (which were fluffy with a wonderful sauce), and the carbonara pasta. The Castiglione Chianti was enjoyed with our dinner. The deconstructed cannoli completed a fantastic meal at Barbusa. Our waiter was attentive but not hovering. We will be back!

Our party of 10 enjoyed the Barbusa’s menu choices. The starter appetizers were impressive. Squid, oysters, meatballs, cheesy bread with sauce all served on a gigantic board. It took 2 servers to place it in the middle of our high top table. Service was primo! The vibe in the Little Italy area is definitely festive. Wanted to give Barbusa 5 stars but the crust on our pizzas was burnt. Recommend either using the valet parking or Uber.

This is a good place for lunch and dinner, or just a drink. Great atmosphere and fantastic food. The crab and past is simply amazing. Well done !

Top quality of pork shank and garganelli pasta! As appetizer, the arancini are a tradicional fare but presented in a fun egg ceramic dish. While waiting for your order, try to identify the famous people on the big posters. Service is cordial, not in a hurry for you to eat and pay.

We have visited the restaurant with our family. We really liked the atmosphere and enjoyed great food with a great service.

We came for the first time when they just opened and it was gorgeous!!! Every time we walked by it was so busy that we had to go somewhere else but this time we got there early and we were lucky!!! We had a seat right where the chefs cook and belive me... At the beginning it didn’t sound so good but it was amazing!!! We were at a common table and we loved it!!!! Our waiter was extraordinary!!!! We had a great meal and belive me... Next time we will be there earlier!!!!

We sat outside and it was very comfortable with the heaters and a great atmosphere on a beautiful night. We started with an appetizer, the Tempura Squash Blossom. It was so good that ordered another one! :) I had the lasagna and my friend had the Ravioli. Both were excellent. To top things off, our server Julianna was wonderful and so friendly! We will definitely be back next time we are in San Diego!

Make sure you make a reservation before you go (even during weekdays). The restaurant is very busy, they told us to wait an hour before they would have a table, so we just went there the next day. The location is very nice and inviting. Very cordial and helpful staff. But the best thing about this place is the food. The pasta was delicious (annelletti), same for the pizza. I enjoyed everything single bite. The portions are really big.

Delicious happy hour menu. Their Salmon Tartar with strawberries was excellent. Drinks were very reasonably priced too. The Sicilian white wine was very good and smooth.

My son and I visited; my second, his third. The service and food were excellent. We both had pasta dishes and our entire meal was prepared very well. Great Italian restaurant in the heart of San Diego's Little Italy.

This place was PACKED on a Wednesday night but it was worth the wait! Fresh and delicious raw seafood, steak cooked to perfection, authentic pasta dishes, and the service was excellent. Great place!

Loud crowded space maxing the fire code and dance music up around 9.5. If that’s what you seek, enjoy it here! Basically once we got our entrees, they did the “check in every 5 minutes” to hurry us up and turn the table. Again, can’t blame ‘em if that’s what ownership wants. I think you can do “modern Sicilian” without the slam bam cram atmosphere, but it’s someone’s edgy vision, so I don’t wanna pee all over that. The entree portions could each feed a family of four easily, and were OK. So if you want romantic Sicilian where you can hear yourself think and hear your sweetheart on a Sunday evening (we were three feet away from each other and had to repeat ourselves constantly) — this isn’t it. Fiori di Zucca — awesome appetizer. Sicilian white wine — nice.

We ate at Barbusa and had a wonderful experience.We were introducing friends to the restaurant and by the end they couldn't say enough good things. When we arrived the bar was very lively and the restaurant busy. Always a good sign. We were very pleased with our server, Marco. He made excellent recommendations on the wine as well as entrees and checked back frequently to ensure everything was going well. There was nothing for him to worry about as the Squash Blossoms were excellent as were our entrees (Fazzolette, Bolognese and Vongole). All of their pastas are homemade so I would recommend. A great evening--thanks for making us look smart.

Great restaurant in little Italy. Great tasting traditional Italian dishes. The Pesto Gnocchi and Short Rib Lasagna are amazing.

The waiter become annoyed with me just because I asked him if the Tuna was a catch from the day. The answer from him: I was sleeping at the moment that some else caught the Tuna.

We had a reservation, we arrived on time. Waited 20 minutes for our table, which was empty the entire time we waited. We were seated and than waited 10 minutes for our server. When I asked the waiter for a recommendation for a white wine he said “I don’t know, I don’t like white wine”. Our server was abrupt. Our food was served, he disappeared and after half our food was gone he arrived with Parmesan cheese. We patronage the Busalacchi restaurants often but will not return to Barbusa. The food was decent but the service was so awful it could not be overlooked .

Great staff, great place, great food ! We had a great pizza, amazingly fresh crudo fish and the real Italian coffee and limoncello. A true corner of Italy in San Diego

WOW. I cant wait to go back so I can try everything on the CRUDO menu. Creative menu,. Great atmosphere. Definite must do.