Barbusa

We accidentally made our reservation for the wrong day, but the staff at Barbusa were incredibly accommodating and still managed to find us a small table — even though the place was bustling. That alone made us feel so welcome, but things only got better from there. The service was outstanding — friendly, attentive, and professional without being overbearing. As for the food, it was very solid. Every dish we tried was fresh, flavorful, and nicely presented. You can tell they put real care into their ingredients and execution. The restaurant itself has a vibrant, modern Italian vibe, with a lively yet intimate atmosphere. It’s stylish but comfortable, with a sleek bar and an open kitchen that adds to the energy of the space. Barbusa is located right in the heart of San Diego’s Little Italy — one of the most charming and walkable neighborhoods in the city. Whether you’re visiting or local, it’s a must-visit spot for authentic Italian fare in a fun, energetic setting. We'll definitely be back!

This is a great option for better quality Italian food in Little Italy. The portions are large the service is fantastic and a small party, no more than 2, can sit outside or at the bar with no reservations! The waiter bumped our table and a beer fell to the ground shattering. He was nice enough to get me another without me asking and promptly at that. I would certainly eat here again.

A cute restaurant with lovely, inviting decor in a good location. The food was average—nice, but nothing more. I wouldn’t go out of my way to eat here again, and honestly, I felt the dishes didn’t quite live up to their prices. I ordered the creamy mushroom pasta (I asked for fettuccine and they kindly accommodated), but the dish was very heavy—I barely managed three bites. I also ordered the Lavender mocktail, which was just okay—it had a sour candy-like flavor that wasn’t really to my taste. The service, however, was very pleasant and courteous, and the dishes came out super quickly! Thank you for the hospitality.

A famous restaurant on Little Italy Street. Reservations are required. The bearded waiter is very interesting and the food is beyond imagination. The only thing is that there was a big quarrel and it was impossible to have a good

I had heard so many great things about this place, so I had to give it a try, and it definitely lived up to the hype in many ways. The service was warm and attentive, and the food overall was delicious. The standout for me was the short rib lasagna, hands down the best lasagna I’ve ever had. Rich, flavorful, and perfectly executed. The lamb chops were also excellent, cooked to perfection and incredibly tender. That said, the space got extremely loud when it was packed, which made the dining experience a bit less enjoyable. It was hard to hold a conversation at times. Also, I wouldn’t recommend the lobster pasta, it didn’t quite meet the same standard as the other dishes. Overall, a solid experience, and I’d definitely come back for the dishes I loved.

We had reservations to celebrate a graduation and were seated right away. Once we were seated we were greeted by Billy, who was a delight right from the start! He let us know that our server, Katie would be right with us. They both took excellent care of our party throughout the lunch. Katie was super knowledgeable about the menu and was on top of it the entire time. My entire party except for myself ordered the short rib lasagna, and it was exquisite! There was plenty of short rib in between the pasta and the cheese used to top it made me wish I had ordered it myself. I ordered the Granchio, which was just as beautiful! There was plenty of sauce and the crab provided the slightest sweetness to the dish. It was even better the second day. I highly recommend the banana espresso martini, so creamy and a nice spin on the cocktail. Overall, I highly recommend this restaurant!

We had 12 people, food was delivered promptly and fresh! The service staff was friendly. You felt welcomed like family. 10 out of 10 everything we ordered was delicious!!!

There was so much to rave about - the atmosphere was bustling, the food fresh and the service outstanding. We ordered the carbonara and the gnocchi with pesto. The carbonara was on point with the fresh runny egg, homemade fettuccini and bacon. The gnocchi pasta was incredible - like fresh baby clouds - but when you have to request salt and pepper because the sauce chef didn’t taste the pesto before plating, there’s a problem (hence four stars).

My girlfriends and I made last min reservations for the last available 10pm. We saw that they had a 9:45pm available as we were headed to SD so we were able to change our res when we called to confirm. We got in around 9:10pm. Checked in. The hostess informed it will be close to 9:45pm when the table would be ready. We were hoping to get a drink at the bar prior to dinner however it was packed and the aisle was tight thus not really comfortable to stand around with a drink with the staff walking in and out with plates of food. We got seated and our server greeted us immediately with a gorgeous smile ready to take drink orders. We were starving by then so put in a calamari and bone marrow appetizer. Appetizers- Calamari - delish! Loved that it came with green beans as well. Never seen it served that way before. Bone marrow - delish! The bone marrow came with fresh bread with a nice spicy kick! Yellowtail- delish! Came with green onions and a potato to pair? Interesting pair but it worked well! We ordered entrees: The squid ink spaghetti- amazing , the octopus in the pasta was the best I've ever had--Perfectly cooked. Lobster pasta- good but not wowed Prosciutto pizza with arugula with white truffle-- good! Salads: Panzanello siciliano -- so good!! Tomatoes, green beans, olives, with ginormous croutons I have ever seen in my life. It made us laugh so hard. Bietole- arugula, red beets, goat cheese, carmelized pecans, with a vinaigrette. Drinks: Sicilian mule was amazing came in a beautiful rose gold glass. It's a Vodka, aperol, bitters, ginger beer. Nice strong drink. Diavola --strong tequila cocktail. Just right. Fresco- nice & refreshing, strong It was a very happening place! Very loud, plenty of people who were here for bachelorette parties. Everyone is partying. The street is happening. Difficult to find parking however there were a couple of lots. $35 for 10 hours or $25 for 2 hours. Valet was "full."

Man I cannot say enough good things about this place. The ambiance inside is relaxed, not super upscale, the perfect place to take your family. The service was good and the food was even better. We loved every single thing we ordered. Lollipop Chops 5/5 - The lamb was extremely tender to the point where you don't even need a fork and knife, just your teeth will do. It was well seasoned, and paired perfectly with the sauce. This was probably the highlight of my meal. Bolognese 5/5 - Pasta was perfectly Al dente, and the sauce was seasoned just right, not super acidic, but not bland either. Gnocchi 5/5 - This is my introduction to gnocchi and it truly showed me what I was missing out on. I loved the chewy yet soft texture of the gnocchi along with the pesto sauce it was paired with. Funghi e Tartufo 5/5 - for all my truffle lovers this is the dish for you, I really enjoyed the truffle oil that was in this dish. Polipo Puttanesca 10/5 - This was my favorite pasta dish, the squid ink pasta was delicious, the anchovies and olives added a nice depth of flavor, and the octopus was super tender.

Our reservation was at 7:30pm and was told our table was taken up by a party that had been sitting there for almost 3 hours and they couldn't ask them to leave. They tried to find us another option, but by that time it had already been 20 min and our original table finally got up to leave. Our server came over and introduced himself and answered a few questions. We got the calamari and it was honestly more than I thought we were going to get, my son loved it. I did like the salt added to it, it definitely brought out the calamari taste to another level. We also got the bolognese pasta, carbonate and a pizza. All three were excellent as well and I am not a pizza fan at all. The atmosphere was very loud and "hip", I myself was not expecting such a modern place when I think little Italy lol Place was altogether pretty great, our server could have been a little better but that's all I can complain about.

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

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

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

Thursday dinner The food is mid. Tempura squash blossoms stuffed with creamy 4 cheese mix were unique but oily. $17 My vongole pasta was overcooked and flavors were muted but it did the job of filling up my belly. $29 Granchio tagliatelle pasta, comes with their famous serrano (pepper) sauce so it's spicy, just OK. $30 Garlic bread $12 Two mid beers $9 each Good spot if you have a large party and just need the hunger satisfied. They have a large dining area (in and out). Ambiance can be loud. Service was fine.

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

Barbusa was suggested to us from some friends and it did not disappoint. We made a reservation which I'm glad we had because it was busy. Modern interior. The squash blossoms filled with cheese and deep friend were delicious and so was the funghi e tartufo. Pasta was a perfect el dente. Great restaurant with great food.

The ambience in little Italy is great. There's so many restaurants and things to do. The food here is good but nothing over the top. Busy days the servers sometimes just forget you or write down the wrong order because it can get pretty loud inside. The appetizers were the star of the night. The prosciutto was amazing, calamari was nice and crisp, and garlic bread was solid. Main course was mediocre at best. Pizza crust was dense like a loaf of bread with the "cold burrata" melted and warm, the bolognese was good but not great. Overall it's a decent restaurant to visit while you're exploring little Italy.

We had dinner here during our stay in San Diego. I ordered the mushroom pasta and a glass of Chardonnay. The dao also orders pasta dishes.

Made sure to get dinner here after it came highly recommended by a friend and it didn't disappoint. Right as we sat down our server welcomed us and was really friendly and helpful with the menu. I started off with the banana espresso martini and it was really good. I loved the banana added to the martini, but could only have one because it was really sweet. Then we got the garlic bread and the squash blossoms (fiori di zucca), both were really good, but the squash blossoms were amazing. I would definitely get those again and again! I went with the gnocchi for my main and it was also a great dish.

Great ambiance right next to the busy street view. Love the warm heat from the gas warmer. Foods were great. My daughter loves the pasta. Rib eye cooked perfectly and tender. Our server was cool. Recommend to try them out.

Little Italy on a Sunday is a vibe! Establishment is clean inside and out. Items we ordered were good! Not pictured was the squid ink pasta, which tasted best in my opinion. The server was nice and on top of everything, always checking if we needed something. I'd come back and try different things on their menu. Recommend!

This is the only restaurant in San Diego we eat at regularly. Literally the only one. That's how picky we are.

Is it possible that this is our favorite Italian restaurant in San Diego? I think it is!! We really enjoyed Cesarina's Funghi pasta, but Barbusa is the first Italian restaurant we've tried in San Diego where we did not regret ANY of the dishes we ordered. I wish I had come with 10 other people so that I could've tried 10 other items on the menu. I will definitely return, but it's going to be so hard to decide whether I re-order the amazing dishes below or if I try alternative dishes that I did not get to taste this time. -Bruschetta $17.97: This was the most hearty and filling bruschetta I've eaten. Marinated pieces of eggplant laid upon a bed of marinara with a drizzle of pesto. The grilled ciabatta remained crunchy. There was a generous portion of burrata cheese atop each slice. I wish the eggplant were warm, but I don't know if I've ever tasted a warm bruschetta. -Calamari $22.98: The squid meat was exquisitely tender & cut into perfectly sized pieces. The batter is the lightest I've encountered, yet it still has a nice crispy coating and an explosion of flavor. -Squash blossom $16.97: This is the largest portion of squash blossom I've ever had for such a reasonable price. And it is possibly the most delicious squash blossom dish I've tasted! Each squash blossom is filled with a super generous creamy goat cheese filling accompanied by a lightly spicy sweet sauce. The squash blossom itself was very crisp and fresh. -Carbonara $25.94: So decadently creamy, even before we mixed in the egg yolk. The spaghetti was cooked to the exact degree of al dente that I like. -Funghi e tartufo $26.95: A very mushroom-forward dish. The sauce was rich and flavorful, coating each strand of pasta. I'm not a pasta expert, but according to Google the noodles were not campanelle. I think it was fettuccine, but it was delicious anyways. We liked this one better than the carbonara, but if you have the option you should get both! Parking was horrible HORRIBLE horrible during the Sunday lunch hour. Metered parking is free on Sundays, but there was literally no meter spot available. A nearby LAZ parking lot was $21! We ended up street parking almost a mile away and just walking. I can understand having an Italian restaurant in Little Italy, but if the owners can consider moving to, say, Poway (the city of infinite parking spots) that would be amazing so I could go every week. The restaurant is elegantly casual, perfectly suitable for a casual meal, family celebration, or date night where you want to impress someone. Service was professional and friendly. The bathroom had these toilets with auto-refilling toilet seat covers, but no option to open door without using your (hopefully) freshly washed hands.

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

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

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

Busy always we come here every two weeks always busy . here love it here. I'm here too much. I should get a part-time job love the music. I love the food. I love the service. I love the drinks the cocktails the pasta is amazing. I can eat two of those crudes. Can't say enough about Barbusa.

I visited this spot for a work dinner with 15 colleagues on a Wednesday evening, and we had a fantastic experience from start to finish. Our server quickly took drink orders while we looked over the menu--I went with their signature espresso martini, which was smooth and balanced. When it came to appetizers, we couldn't decide on just a few, so the staff offered us a sampler platter that included a taste of every appetizer on the menu, all beautifully arranged on a long wooden board. It was enormous--definitely a showstopper! We noticed other large groups ordering the same thing, and it even took two servers to carry it out. By the time we were ready for entrees, many of us were already getting full, but I went for the Funghi e Tartufo paradelle pasta and it was absolutely delicious--rich, earthy, and perfectly al dente. Overall, it was a wonderful evening. The atmosphere was lively and surprisingly packed for a weekday, which speaks volumes about the place. Highly recommend for large gatherings or anyone looking for a fun night out.

I can't believe I forgot to check into this place, but let's do this review anyway. A few weeks back my father in law was working in San Diego so my wife and I headed down to grab some lunch in Little Italy. We had no destination in mind, so when we walked by Barbusa we figured "why not?" and headed in. We got here around 1:00PM and were seated after a very short wait. This large, beautiful Italian restaurant has all the classics on the menu, a large beverage selection, and the staff was super friendly and kind during our entire visit. I was in the mood to try something new for lunch, so i ordered the Granchio! The Granchio is a pasta dish with Tagliatelle, Majestic Blue Crab, and Serrano Rossa Sauce. Now, since I love pasta and I love crab, I figured it was time to try a dish with both of those things mixed up, and let me tell you.....it was hands down the best pasta dish I have ever had. The pasta itself was absolutely delicious, the sauce was insanely flavourful and tasty, and the crab tasted fresh and amazing as well. Overall, Barbusa get's 5 stars and a big thumbs up from me. Little Italy has been one of my favourite neighborhoods in San Diego to get food in for years and this meal will just keep me coming back for more. If you want a good meal, this place is going to give you a top notch meal and I can't recommend the Granchio enough.

Slightly upscale Italian restaurant with a comprehensive menu I came here with my GF and her friend and I tried one of their pizza dishes, it was pretty large but I was very underwhelmed by the taste. This was made worse by the fact that it was pretty expensive. This being said, my GF enjoyed her pasta a lot, so I may have just ordered wrong

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

The Chicken Parmesan with gnocchi was amazing! The pizza was mid along with the short rib lasagna. Not too much flavor there. The ambiance was very nice and romantic. We put our name on the waitlist and was sat as soon as we arrived. Parking was horrible memorial day weekend!

Woke up this morning still thinking about our meal. The calamari and bone marrow appetizers were great. The salmon on top of the sweet potato was soooo buttery and delicious. The bone in ribeye cooked medium rare was flavorful. And the funghi pasta was amazing and creamy. We had dinner at 5:45pm so the ambiance was lively but not loud and the service was wonderful.

Been before and had a great experience, so I knew it was the perfect spot to suggest when I was out with some friends in Little Italy. We sat inside, which is both modern and a little moody in that classic edgy Italian way. We all got the signature espresso martinis and calamari to start, which were fantastic. My friends' pasta mains were perfect, but mine (the carbonara) was too al dente. A brief mention and our server took care of it right away. They were super quick getting another dish out, and it tasted fantastic. I can't rec this place enough, it's one of my favorites.

First off, our server Stefano was molto bene! He really added a lot to our dining experience tonight at Barbusa! From the wine to the apps, mains, & dessert every part of our meal was high quality. The atmosphere was equally great with a lively, young, hip & good looking crowd this was clearly the spot to choose for the best time on a Friday night in Little Italy San Diego. You should also come here.

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

Absolutely loved the food here! The garlic bread is a must have. I really enjoyed the honey & spice combo for the pizza that we ordered. The ravioli was a bit too al dente for my liking, but the taste was great! Our server was very sweet and we got in quickly with a reservation. The only note I'd leave is that tables were a bit too close together where we were seated & the music was a bit too loud at times, so if you're trying to have a conversation over dinner maybe try a seat outside!

Found out about this place from one of the vendors at the San Diego Crew Classic. It's in Little Italy and the food and service and atmosphere exceeded expectations. We had to try the bone marrow appetizer and then went with the special pasta that was just on the menu, and carbonara, which was the best I've tasted. My daughter and I had a great time and I'm happy they serve nonalcoholic beers. Definitely on my to do list when back in the area.

We stopped by here for dinner tonight. The food was delicious. I ordered the Funghi pasta. I was very happy with my dish. The place is located in Little Italy so parking is a little tricky. But thankfully the restaurant offers valet. The service was great. Our waitress was very attentive and even offered suggestions on dishes that were kid friendly. The restaurant was very busy even that it was a weeknight. I'll definitely come back!

Review for lunch~ AMBIANCE: Comfortable, informal. Table seating, mostly inside but some outside seats as well. There is also a bar with a decent number of spirits available. FOOD: Delicious! We ordered the tempura squash blossoms (order had 3 blossoms) which were fried well with just the right amount of tempura batter so that the integrity of the squash blossoms was maintained. The blossoms were stuffed with delicious warm cheese. We also shared the short rib lasagne, with bright, fresh tomato sauce and tender meat. SERVICE: Great. Very attentive. OVERALL: Very happy with our meal. We did not make a reservation prior but walked in immediately. Fantastic place to hangout for good food and great conversation.

On New Years Eve I went to my favorite restaurant in Little Italy San Diego and had another great experience. The restaurant is always busy and you should book ahead to ensure a table for your party. The service is always great and they make great recommendations. My favorite dish this visit was the lasagna which is packed with delicious tender short rib and a lot mozzarella. You won't regret ordering this classic dish with a Barbusa twist! The Gnocchi is very different than any other gnocchi I have had, the gnocchi are larger and more of a puffy consistency. With that said, they are amazing and the pesto is one of my favorites. Can't wait to come back and try more of their dishes!

Two dinners back to back, that's my review. Outstanding deliciousness. Reservations recommended. The best gnocchi I've ever had, buttery and the pistachio pesto crunch was over the top. The cheese raviolis with the tomato sauce still have my taste buds tingling. I can't wait to go back.

We had the best dining experience at Barbusa! We were a group of four and all had a wonderful time and left full. I'm glad we made a reservation because the place was packed. Our server was fantastic. So friendly and proved some great recommendations. He seemed like he really loved his job and people. The food was amazing. We shared the garlic bread and burrata caprese. The heirloom tomatoes in the caprese were so good and fresh! For our main courses we got a variety of pasta and mains. I got the gnocchi which was so good especially if you like pesto. My husband had the biggest piece of lasagna and had to take home half for leftovers. We will absolutely come back here and look forward to dining again!

Barbusa -- The Pasta? Perfect. The Seafood? Even Better. The Meatballs? YUGE. Listen folks, I know Italian food. I've had the best -- in New York, in Rome, even at Mar-a-Lago (we have a very classy chef). But let me tell you something: Barbusa in Little Italy, San Diego? It's a total knockout. Tremendous. Maybe the best thing to come out of Italy since espresso and the Pope. First of all, the vibe is incredible. Very sleek, very stylish -- but not too fancy where you feel like you need to speak fluent Italian. Although I do speak some, I invented "Rigatoni Trumpolini." People forget that. The burrata? So creamy, so beautiful, I almost appointed it to my cabinet. The meatballs? Absolutely massive. I don't know what kind of cow they're using, but it's working. And the squid ink pasta? Blacker than CNN's ratings -- and ten times more flavorful! Let's not forget the crudo bar. Raw fish done so well, even the sushi places are nervous. You could eat that stuff straight off a gold-plated tower, and it would still be the second-most luxurious thing on the table (first being me, of course). The drinks? Classy. The service? Fantastic. These waiters remembered everything -- better memory than half of Congress! In conclusion: Barbusa is an all-time great. Big flavors, huge portions, and it's located in Little Italy, which -- spoiler -- is not little at all. It's big. It's bold. It's exactly what America needs: more carbs, more seafood, and less complaining. Would I come back? I'm already making a reservation. I told them, "Put me at the best table -- you know which one." They did. Great people. Smart people. The best. -- Donald J. Fettuccine

As the gen Z kids would say, Barbusa was Barbussin! The food was incredible and the staff were extremely friendly (and entertaining). It was a Monday night and there were many people in the restaurant as expected. If you don't mind a loud ambiance for a date night in Little Italy, then this is the spot to be! The highlight was the Gnocchi which is what my partner ordered. It was melt in your mouth delicious. The menu was so big I settled for the Carbonara. You can't go wrong with Carbonara. Everything was flavorful and salted to perfection. The price wasn't outrageous either. I recommend Barbusa 100%!

SOOO GOOD! The best espresso martinis I have ever had in my life! We made reservations for a Saturday night and it was so packed! The food was insanely good & so filling! The pastas were sooo good and so flavorful. The pizza was delicious but a bit overbearing with the onions so maybe I'd try a different one next time. The place was so lively and the wait was insanely long. Lots of big parties were dining and celebrating. Overall loved it and would recommend getting a reservation.

This food is bomb!!! We had some pasta with crab and pink sauce, pizza, and the ragu/bolognese. Wait staff is really friendly and accommodating as well. You can get Caymus by the glass too. Great ambiance if you're looking for cute, urban feel. Kid friendly and highly recommended :)

If you're looking for a Sicilian spot this is it! Barbusa trades old world Italian Sophistication for lively social dining. Service was okay, our waiter was not very attentive. Their Italian cuisine was unlike any I'd ever experienced. The pasta was fresh and the sauces were deep with flavor. Eggplant Bruschetta 10/10 Prosciutto 10/10 Fried Calamari 8/10 Salmone with Pistachio Crust 9/10 Gnocchi with Pistachio Pesto 9/10 Short Rib Lasagna 9/10 Mushroom Pasta 8/10 Overall the food weren't as heavy as I thought. Decent quality and good flavor!

Music was great and that's pretty rare these days! Service was top being we had a reservation since I noticed people waiting quite some time up front so make sure you do set a reservation just in case. The food came out delish and hot to serve, loved the lamb and mushroom pasta that it's been a craving. Food definitely won't disappoint, dessert unfortunately disappointed but was there more for the savory foods.

The vibe and ambiance is nice inside but it's also really loud. It was also pretty packed for a Thursday night, unless that's when everyone goes out? So to not have to wait for a table, we got a table outside right away. I kinda wished there were some heat lamps cause it got kinda chilly. We ended up getting the garlic bread, gnocchi and carbonara. Out of the 3, I thought the garlic bread was the best. The gnocchi and carbonara were kinda bland. Thought I would give this place a try as there are so many reviews, but I think I'll try another place when I come back to visit.

Barbusa has a good Friday night vibe with music and a variety menu. It is definitely a happening place, but we had reservations and our table was ready before we got there. Their menu has a some options whether you are a meat lover, pescatarian or veggie. Lots of drinks to choose from as well. We opted to each get our own plate vs doing a shared board. Check out the photos to see what we tried. Other than the food, this is a great place to hang with friends whether you want to grab a drink at the bar or go out to dinner. Service was excellent.

I was very overwhelmed with choices of pasta in Little Italy and ended up at Barbusa for a quick lunch! Parking seems to be generally difficult in this area but I snagged a 1 hr street spot in a small cul de sac near one of the parking garages. I was seated right away and multiple servers came to check on me, bring water and food. The patio was lovely to sit out on and enjoy some sun! I ordered the ravioli with fried eggplant and devoured it. I was expecting more of a eggplant parm situation and definitely expected more eggplant but the ravioli was really delicious. The pasta was great; the sauce was definitely on the sweeter side but I enjoyed it. Overall a solid meal!

This reveal is long overdue for Rosana. I've been coming to this location since I was 21 years old, and I'm now turning 27, almost six years of memories here. I actually spent my 21st birthday at this very spot, ordering the carbonara with the egg yolk you break yourself. It was creamy, luscious, and unforgettable. This place has always been more of a social staple on Ninth than just a restaurant. But when it comes to service, Rosana is truly in a league of her own, an absolute 10 out of 10. I've had her both here and at Lala, and honestly, she's the reason I keep coming back. She brought the ambience for the location. While the food isn't always consistent, Rosana always is. She's Italian cuisine personified. Warm, attentive, and full of personality. My neighbors agree, she's the reason we return time and time again. If you ever come here, ask for Rosana. She's not just part of the experience, she is the experience.

I had made a reservation for 11 people. We had the group show at varies time and the host let the groups side down as they came. We started with garlic bread and salad. I ordered Granchio seasoning which was delicious. The margherita pizza my brothers did not like due to the goat cheese on it. The ambiance of the place and the location was just amazing. There were multiple restaurants next to this location and located within Little Italy. I really enjoyed the interior and service here. The host checked in a reasonable amount and ensured everyone was taken care of. Reasons for Rating: +1 Excellent location and parking +1 Food taste really good +1 Customer service +1 Interior/atmosphere +1 Would return/recommend others

Good tasting dishes, service is friendly but a little slow, nice atmosphere but a little noisy. Funghi e tartufo pizza was good.

I was very surprised with the portions of this restaurant. I ordered a lasagna and it could have easily fed three people. I was happy to have leftovers as pasta is always so much more delicious the next day. The service was good. Not super attentive, but it was not bad in anyway. The restaurant is simple but elegant. It's a great spot for a date or even a business meeting as the noise level is just right and you don't find yourself having to yell over loud music or any other distractions.