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Barbusa, San Diego, CA

Barbusa

4.6
4.6
4427 Reviews
$31 to $50
Italian
1917 India Street, San Diego, CA 92101

Make a reservation

2 people
11:00 PM
Booked 121 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Lively
  • Neighborhood gem
Barbusa Local Modern Sicilian Restaurant.
Lively atmosphere with our craft cocktails, handmade pastas, freshest seafood, delicate pizza, and our famous Sicilian Ribeye.

Pizza Served from our stone fired oven.

Gluten free and Vegan Items Available


WHILE WE VALUE THE TIME OF ALL OUR LOYAL GUEST AND SMILING FACES, WE KINDLY REQUEST YOU LIMIT THE TIME SPENT AT YOUR TABLE TO 1 HOUR AND 30 MIN DUE TO MANDATED REDUCTION IN CAPACITY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT, WE COULDNT BE MORE THRILLED TO HAVE YOU DINE WITH US!


Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Steak, Contemporary Italian
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Sat, Sun 11:30 am–4:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–9:30 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive chef
    Joe Busalacchi and Nino Zizzo
  • Catering
    We can cater all your events .Please send email to joey@barbusa.com
  • Private party facilities
    We are here for any of your private party needs. We do buffet, family style and seated experiences.
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Neighborhood
    Little Italy
  • Cross street
    Grape Street and India Street
  • Parking details
    we have Valet in the lot next to our establishment
  • Public transit
    Bus and trolley within blocks
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 4,427 people are saying

Barbusa reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.4Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • San Diego

    Most Booked 1000-Point Tables

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Barbusa in Little Italy offers a vibrant dining experience with "delicious food," "wonderful service," and an "amazing ambiance." Known for its authentic Sicilian cuisine, guests rave about the garlic bread, short rib lasagna, and crab pasta. While the lively atmosphere can be noisy, the exceptional service and flavors make it a must-visit spot.

4,427 Reviews
  1. Hannah VIP

    Chicago14 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This was a WONDERFUL experience! We had the best servers - Marcello and Billy! We are Chicagoans and would recommend a trip to Barbusa for anyone visiting for a few nights especially. The food and atmosphere were outstanding, and we can't wait to return some day! Despite having to show up an hour and a half early to our reservation, we were still accomodated and seated immediately which only elevated our experience. Some food highlights included: the meatballs, garlic bread, short rib lasagna, and gnocchi pesto!

    Is this helpful?

  2. Amy VIP

    Las Vegas3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Ali was our server- she was very attentive and positive - everything was great! We had the meatballs app and gnocchi . Great food and really wasn’t that pricey.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Ilimary

    Los Angeles2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    My husband and I had dinner at Barbusa on a Saturday night while visiting San Diego, and it was such a great experience. The place has a vibrant, stylish vibe—modern decor, fun pop music, and a lively crowd. It was a bit loud, but not in a bad way—it just added to the energy. We started with cocktails: the Andiamo (light and floral) and the Fumo (smoky with a little kick)—both were beautifully presented and well-balanced. For food, we shared a few small plates: The Lollipop Chops were incredibly tender and flavorful. The Fiori di Zucca (squash blossoms) were crispy and cheesy with a sweet-spicy touch—so good, though I personally would’ve liked the jam to be a little smoother. The Tuna Carpaccio was delicious too, just a bit heavy on the sauce for my taste. We finished with the Short Rib Lasagna—rich, comforting, and perfect for sharing, though the presentation wasn’t as impressive as the others. Portions were generous, and everything we tried was full of flavor. Our server, Manuel (I think), was super friendly and attentive. Only minor hiccup: water arrived after the food, but it wasn’t a dealbreaker. Pricing was very reasonable for the quality and atmosphere. Highly recommend Barbusa for anyone visiting San Diego—especially for a fun date night or a group dinner with good vibes and great food

    Is this helpful?

  4. Cheryl VIP

    San Diego13 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    We were seated on time for our reservation, but after bring greeted by our server we sat for 15 minutes without any service and had to ask another server to find our waiter. We were a party of 3 with a reservation, seated at a table meant for 2. It was definitely a problem as our food and drinks arrived because there was not enough room to dine comfortably. We were forced to place finished plates on a nearby empty table !! Luckily our food was very good.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Francisco

    San Diego7 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Came here for lunch with my wife. The food was delicious and the service was great. I would recommend this place to anyone who likes pasta and pizza. Would definitely come back.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Patrick

    Las Vegas1 review

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Such a fun spot for a bachelorette dinner! We enjoyed the whole vibe!

    Is this helpful?

  7. Gail

    Los Angeles3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Barbusa never disappoints. The Gnocchi are like little pillows of deliciousness.

    Is this helpful?

  8. jasmine

    San Diego2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    the meatballs are to die for- the burrata and garlic bread were great and loved the espresso martini I had!!! Would definitely come back

    Is this helpful?

  9. stephanie VIP

    Orange County4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The best server and food was amazing !!! We will be back very soon.

    Is this helpful?

  10. Candis VIP

    San Diego11 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food & service is always perfection. The yellowtail is always my fave!

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Barbusa offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (619) 238-1917.

Barbusa is rated 4.6 stars by 4427 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. San Diego
  4. San Diego
  5. Little Italy

Make a reservation

2 people
11:00 PM
Booked 121 times today
Google Map for Barbusa

1917 India Street, San Diego, CA 92101

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Grape Street and India Street
  • Neighborhood
    Little Italy
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Sat, Sun 11:30 am–4:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–9:30 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Steak, Contemporary Italian
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    we have Valet in the lot next to our establishment
  • Public transit
    Bus and trolley within blocks
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Joe Busalacchi and Nino Zizzo
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Phone number
  • Catering
    We can cater all your events .Please send email to joey@barbusa.com
  • Private party facilities
    We are here for any of your private party needs. We do buffet, family style and seated experiences.
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