Such amazing, friendly and caring staff and service. Each plate came out perfectly timed, one after another. Hands down the BEST disco/funk playlist I've ever heard and was such a vibe with the amazing food. Couldn't tell if I was dancing because in my chair because of the great food or the playlist or both! We stated off with: 18 month aged prosciutto (fresh, healthy, delicious), Tomato & Burrata (an absolute must get!), Short Rib Arancini (OMG the sauce that comes with these.. *chefs kiss*), Sicilian Poppers (very creamy, sweet and very subtle spice, be sure to dip in the sauce and then scrape along the rim of the plate for the seasoning). For the entrees we both got pasta: Fettuccine Alfredo with Truffle (creamy, delectable, and a surprisingly subtle nutty flavor from the truffle), Linguine Vongole (AMAZING salted butter sauce, super FRESH clams and shrimp, and perfectly cooked pasta). Will DEFINITELY be coming back here! read more

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It was basic AF Baguette 8/10 Spicy Caesar salad 3/10 Meatball 8/10 Shrimp Alfredo 3/10 bland Shrimp appetizer 4/10 The spicy caesar salad was not spicy didn't have any original flavor at all My daughter had the fettuccine alfredo with shrimp she liked the shrimp They have low alcohol selection small venue Nice ambiance pretty restaurant Server was great and cool throughout the dinner read more

Lala - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Came here for my wife's birthday and overall the food and ambiance were excellent. We ordered a wide range of dishes (steak, pastas, desserts), and everything came out well executed. The atmosphere is lively and definitely fits the Little Italy scene. The issue was with the birthday experience. I noted it in my OpenTable reservation and also confirmed it with the hostess when we arrived. She mentioned they do a dessert presentation with a candle and sparklers and said she would notify our server. During dinner, we even saw another table receive that exact presentation. When our dessert came out, it was only a candle. We still sang and enjoyed the moment, but it didn't match what had been described or what we saw delivered to another table. When I asked the server afterward, there wasn't a clear explanation. Also worth noting: there is a 20% service charge added, but it's not clearly explained whether this replaces gratuity or is in addition to it, which creates some confusion. Overall, a strong restaurant in terms of food and atmosphere, but consistency and communication, especially for special occasions, need improvement. Also had difficulty reaching the restaurant, as only one of the listed phone numbers was working. read more

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I was so excited to try this place but sadly we were all underwhelmed. The ambiance of the restaurant was so cute and funky with lots of pink and fun accents. But the service was mediocre, or server was friendly but he rarely came by to check on us, never asked if we wanted more drinks or dessert. He was just immediately ready to take our order. The food came out incredibly quick, which not complaining about that but it was just warm and very bland. We tried the gnocchi, rigatoni w/ burrata, and pesto pasta. All of it was very bland and underwhelming. And they never even offered Parmesan or chili flakes to top it off. All in all, it was a cool experience but with all the other trendy Italian spots popping everywhere, i will definitely not be returning read more

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Came here for my 22nd birthday dinner and loved it! The service was a bit slow; it was a busy night and a small space, so it was understandable. Despite it taking a while, our server was very attentive and sweet! When making my reservation, I asked for a birthday freebie, and I got a cute dessert! Bone marrow Trofie ($23.95)- Super creamy, and I loved the trofie pasta. It was my first time trying it. However, there wasn't much marrow in the bone. Flavors all went very well together,r though. Pink Ferrari ($17)- Such a cute and girly drink to get! A bit of a heavy pour Busa Espresso martini ($17)- Amazing espresso martini, and it uses oatmilk! It was my first time trying one, and I loved it a lot. The alcohol taste wasn't too strong. The space was small, but the decorations were gorgeous and definitely made up for the smaller area. read more

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First time at Lala and it was overall a good dining experience. The prosciutto app was amazing and the bone marrow pasta dish was recommended and did not disappoint! I will say the restaurant is on a smaller scale and you are sitting close to other parties but it didn't bother us. Our waiter was kind and always made sure we were okay. I'd say I would go back! read more

Lala - Bone marrow pasta dish - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Incredible service, vibes, and food! This place is tucked away and a hidden gem. San Diego must try! Make sure to try the espresso martini too! read more

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Loved the food and ambiance at Lala! Between stilettos on the wall and heart shaped napkins, this restaurant is perfect for a girls night out. We made a reservation in advance, and we got sat as soon as we arrived which was nice. Our food was delicious and the portions were generous. Our table tried the spicy caesar salad and arancini for appetizers, and I would say definitely to get the arancini - I could have passed on the spicy caesar. For mains we order the gnocchi, pinwheel lasagna, and rigatoni - we loved all three! Unfortunately, the only reason I couldn't give our experience a 5/5 stars was a our service. Our waiter seemed distracted by some folks he knew at the bar. We had to ask for things like water or more napkins multiple times before we received them. We also were never offered a dessert menu and just handed the check. Although we didn't love our waiter, our busser (I am so sorry I don't remember his name, but he had a fun accent!) was amazing. He went out of his way for us and checked in multiple times. We made sure to thank him extra on our way out. I will want to come back and try a dessert! read more

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Love the old 1930s style vibe it feels like you're inside a railroad car but on a much more elevated level. The bartender was super friendly and helpful with menu recommendations. They had a bartender's cocktail on sale for happy hour which the bartender explained that particular day was made from Aperol, bourbon, and a few other ingredients, I wasn't sure because I'm not a fan of bourbon however, this cocktail was delightful not too tart not too sweet with undertones of the Aperol, It was perfect.! We had an appetizer tower with eggplant and olives and peppers and cheese and they were so good.! and we also had the appetizer of meatballs and sauce with crusty bread so amazing we recommended it all. Love the entire list of specialty craft cocktails we will definitely be back to try them. We had a great experience and we would definitely come back.! read more

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Such a cute bar! Found it by accident and loved that it's my name. So it was a must. Only had one drink here cause we tried several other bars in little Italy . Service was okay .. bartender was busy so nothing extra read more

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Ambiance: A+. Service: A+. Food: solid B. Our server Jesus was amazing, really made the experience. Friendly, fun, and a great server who legit seemed to enjoy what he does and good at conversing with customers. (Most of the) drinks were good. We ordered multiple rounds of their espresso martini. I particularly liked the Lala martini, which had a nice spicy kick to it. One of their mezcal drinks was dry and tart, that it was hard to drink... we didn't finish it. Food was average. Good, but nothing stunning. Pasta portions felt small -- our group of 4ppl ordered 3 appe's, 2 pastas, and 1 main. Most of their dishes were fatty and cheesy, which adds taste but no depth of flavor. For example, the chargrilled oysters were primarily cheese... I didn't taste the oyster at all. Food was pretty forgettable. Overall, a solid experience and if anyone asks, I'll say Lala is decent. But nothing I'm itching to come back for... read more

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Lala. My go to when wanting a great meal with amazing service and a good atmosphere. I hate food regret so usually when I come here I'm ordering multiple apps, 2-3 mains to share and some drinks. Hits the spot every time read more

Lala - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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We came to Lala for our 2-year anniversary dinner, and the food was honestly incredible. We ordered the short rib arancini, the 1/2 lb meatball with spaghetti, the gnocchi, the lobster bisque, a cab, and the stiletto martini and every single thing was sooo good. You can tell they put real care into their dishes. The flavors were rich, balanced, and comforting without being heavy. The drinks were on point too. Our server had amazing energy -- super warm, attentive, and really added to the experience. You could tell they genuinely enjoyed what they do, and it made the night feel extra special. The reason I'm giving it 4 stars instead of 5 is because of the space itself. The restaurant is very small and gets packed fast. We went on a rainy night, and toward the end of our meal, water actually started leaking through the ceiling onto us. It wasn't enough to ruin the experience, but it was definitely noticeable. Still, the food and service were fantastic, and I'd absolutely come back -- just maybe on a dry day. read more

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Had come here for my mom's birthday recently and could not have had a better time! She has been driving by Lala for months and decided she wanted to celebrate her birthday there. We had a reservation and were seated right away. Our server was so nice and made great recommendations. We started with the half pound meatball, lobster bisque and the spicy caesar salad. They were both incredible and very shareable. For our main, we decided to share the shrimp entree that came with mashed potatoes in a lemon sauce and asparagus. Everything was delicious, and the martinis were so good. I completely forgot in the reservation I added that we were celebrating a birthday until our server brought out a little birthday dessert. The dessert was a citrus cheesecake and so incredible! read more

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2/19/26 We were fortunate to be able to make a last minute dinner reservation at 6:30pm that afternoon. The restaurant has a speakeasy vibe which I love. It was busy all night. Jesus, our waiter, was fun and attentive, even taking a selfie with us :) The appetizers (calamari & bruschetta) and entrees were delicious. We all shared so we could try all dishes (lasagna, risotto, ...) It was a wonderful dinner in San Diego's Little Italy. I recommend it! read more

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Super cute and girly with all the pink vibes! The perfect place to bring my not so little princess! We ordered all the things for research purposes of course and everything was amazing! Hot fresh and delicious well seasoned too!!!! It gives a speak easy feel and all the wait staff was amazing! I wish I could remember my servers name but it escapes me at the moment nonetheless he was amazing!!!!!!!! We ordered 3 entrees because we couldn't decide between the lasagna and the risotto and both were delicious!!! I also ordered a shot cuz ya girl hates a weak drink lol! The only complaint I have is the music didn't match the vibe lol I wanted to hear smooth jazz no 70's pop lol but the prices were great considering the area it was a steal! Parking was crazy but there is valet for under 20 right in front just be mindful that they close at 10 so we had to run out tip and get our keys they just showed us where they parked the car and we continued dinner it was fine. read more

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The drinks were delicious but they definitely need another bartender bc the wait is too long. The place is small but they were able to accommodate our party of 13. The food was delicious and great portions. read more

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THE SERVICE: Our waiter was attentive and brought us anything we asked. Haha but when my friend asked for a recommendation, he couldn't give one. He just told her everything is good . AMBIANCE: It's small/cozy. The bathrooms are alright, the sink is outside the bathroom, and everyone can see you washing your hands lol. Maybe they should put a curtain or something there. This way guests aren't looking at people in and out of the bathroom while eating. Fazzoletti PESTO: Wouldn't recommend. It tasted more like a crepe rather than pasta. The taste of the pesto was not what I was expecting and the greens at the top didn't seem to go with the plate. It was also pretty greasy. 1 out of 4 people in my group liked the pasta. The one that says she would eat it, eats anything lol... LALA MARTINI : first sip is nice but the more I drank it, the more it tasted like salad dressing and cleaning products. Had to exchange for espresso martini 3/10 NEW YORK STRIP: not my favorite, my friend got it. She ate it but again she eats anything haha. It was really chewy and I wouldn't recommend. There are better places for steak. 4/10 ESPRESSO MARTINI: Light and it was good. Would get again. Now it isn't my favorite espresso martini of all time but it was nice to drink at the table. 8/10 BONE MARROW PASTA: They ate it all lol so must be good. I can't say anything about it since I don't personally enjoy bone marrow. They said 8/10 END RESULT: Would not go back read more

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Came to Lala in Little Italy for some holiday vibes and it did not disappoint. They had a pink Christmas theme --festive, fun, and different. The Italian food and shareable plates were perfectly portioned and fairly priced (dangerous in the best way because you'll want to order more). Bartender was friendly and prompt. Cocktails were creative, try the Grinchita! the vibe was date nights, girlfriends at the bar, and solo social types all mixed together. Great energy. Would definitely return to experiments the place outside of the holiday. read more

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really loved this place the last time I visited. I actually celebrated a birthday here before, and we ordered almost every single item on the menu -- everything was amazing. We were so impressed with the variety and the flavors. This time, I was honestly a little sad because the menu has completely changed. I couldn't find any of the same dishes we enjoyed before, which was disappointing since I was really looking forward to them. The food was still good, and the quality was there -- that's why I'm giving 4 stars. The only reason it's not 5 is because I truly miss the previous menu. I hope they consider bringing some of those dishes back! read more

Lala - Valentines Day - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Fantastic and festive Italian spot tucked away on India Street. Food was good, not the best in Little Italy, but tasty and inventive. The ambiance during the holidays is where Lala shines. Try the Sicilian Poppers you won't be disappointed! read more

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I came here a year ago and again recently! Last week my friend and I checked out their Cigars and Stillettos "Mob Wife Menu", which includes truffle fries, Caesar salad, and spicy rigatoni, as well as the Gambino vino or epic dirty martini. It was nice that I was able to get a mocktail instead! Big sunglasses and cigarette chewing gum was provided to make our experience even better! The staff were so nice and helped take some photos and videos of us to commemorate the night. We even got a Polaroid of ourselves at the end of the meal. There were also some fur coats, etc. to make the vibes more aesthetic. read more

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Great spot for pregame before a night on the town. Sat at the bar with friends, service was attentive and friendly. We got holiday drinks and snacked on a little appetizer that was delicious. Loved the DECOR!!! read more

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BEAUTIFUL chic aesthetic vibey ambiance. Lala is a cozy italian eatery in Little Italy SD. I came here for a friend's birthday celebration, and they were able to seat 10 of us. It is a small restaurant so the tables are all quite close. We visited around the holidays so they had very nice decor, a cute display of christmas trees outside. I enjoyed my meal here, they had a nice selection of dishes! I started with the Pink Ferrari drink which features vodka, lemon, and prosecco. It was a lovely drink but not pink, lol! Calamari is always a great starter. I chose the Osso Bucco as my main, it was a HUGE portion of meat. Almost... too much meat haha. The pork shank was so big that some of the inside pieces did not taste as seasoned. But I am a meat lover so I enjoyed it nevertheless. I had bites of my friend's Bone Marrow Cavatelli and Spaghetti Nero con Aragosta (squid ink pasta), both were super rich and tasty. I also tried the spicy caesar, and it wasn't spicy. I had a sip of their "world's first" oat milk espresso martini, I liked it!! Overall, a great experience at Lala. Good food and pretty interior decor! read more

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Food is a 10 out of 10. If you're vegan or vegetarian, though, I would not think this is the place for you since there are limited menu options. Service was an 8 out of 10. It was a tiny bit slow, but it's OK. We still had a great time and not in a rush. Vibe was an 8 out of 10. It probably would've been better inside, but we had the front tables so I felt a little disconnected from the rest of the restaurant. read more

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Cute bar, great bartenders. Mahan was our bartender and he made the Busa Martini, it was sooo good! He also recommended the tiramisu dessert, and I have to say I don't like all Tiramisu, but this one (in a martini glass) was soooo good! the chocolate, the taste, not too wet, perfect combination. Definitely coming back, thank you Mahan!! read more

Always a good cocktail at Lala sat at bar with a friend service is always fast my dirty martini was delicious was able to take next door once we got called for our table never a bad time here . read more

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One of the best Italian dinners I have ever had. The wife and I decided to have a fun night and found Lala on OpenTable. I was blown away by the food...full stop. The restaurant and staff were amazing and we loved our server. Great for date night or Monday, Tuesday, etc... read more

Lala - Bone marrow Pasta with fennel sausage - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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I love Lala! The food here is sooo tasty. My favorites are the tom & burrata appetizer, and the Rosa gnocchi. I had mentioned that this was the best gnocchi that I've found outside of Italy, besides Batbusa, and then realized they are owned by the same company! So it makes sense that they both have the best gnocchi around! I would have liked to order the cheese and meat board, but I was dining with vegetarians. I'll have to try it next time! The ambiance was amazing. It's so beautifully decorated and has that authentic quirky Italian feel, as opposed to the stuffy try-hard Italian vibe you often find in little Italy. I do have to mention... the first time I went, our service was impeccable. This last time, however, we had a gentleman who served our appetizers to the table next to us and then proceeded to forget about us. When he realized his error, he swore profusely (which was like kinda? Funny) and then made several other errors, forgetting drinks, etc. He ended up comping our appetizers and giving us some free wine but considering the amount we still ended up paying, it did leave something to be desired in terms of service. We had a friend in town and it all felt a little unprofessional. C'est la vie! We will be back. read more

cannot believe I hadn't been here sooner--this restaurant is absolutely amazing! It's an intimate, beautifully designed space with a dark dining ambiance that sets the perfect mood. The decor? Heels on the wall near the bar--such a unique and stylish touch. The whole experience was a total vibe. Came here for a little Galentine's dinner with two of my friends, and we were obsessed. We started with the calamari--so good--and shared a spicy Caesar salad. A Caesar is always a classic, but a spicy Caesar? Next level. For our mains, we ordered the lasagna--super cute presentation with three rolls, packed with flavor in every bite. Not your typical lasagna, but trust me, different in the best way. I personally had the squid ink pasta, and it was absolutely phenomenal. Every bite was perfection, especially with the little lobster pieces. I added Parmesan and chili flakes for an extra kick, and I have not stopped raving about this dish since! So much so that half my friends have already made reservations after hearing me talk about it. For drinks, we had martinis--classic, strong, and very Yelp Elite-worthy. Huge thanks to Armel, our amazing and fun server! He was so attentive and super honest with his recommendations, which we really appreciated. Also, a big shoutout to the busser (I'm so sorry I didn't get his name!)--he made sure our table was always taken care of and that we weren't missing a thing. Also, I think this place must be connected to Barbusa because on our bank statement, it said Barbusa. Honestly, not mad about it! I've been to Barbusa before, and I have to say--I like Lala ten times more. I cannot wait to come back. This place is a must-visit! Suggestions: Maybe get the host a host stand, its little Italy and the host was sitting on a chair with a blanket all evening. Valet parking is available and you can also get validation at the restaurant! read more

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I just got a chance to check out Lala for my friend's birthday dinner! OVERALL RATING: 4.5/5 - Ambiance was everything. It was giving Great Gatsby speakeasy, but a bit more casual and welcoming feel. Lala is located right next to Barbusa, and honestly looks like a cool night club from the outside - Service was exceptional. Orders were taken quickly and plates cleared in a FLASH. We also got great recommendations from our server! - Food was INSANE. I had the spaghetti and meatballs which included a meatball the size of a newborn baby. Literally one of the best meatballs I have ever had & great portion size for the price. Everyone else's dishes looked fantastic too!! - Only critique: We were under the impression that the "free" birthday shots & dessert for Oliviah were free (since that is what we were told) but they did charge for them on the bill. Only reason why I didn't give 5/5! read more

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Excellent spot in Little Italy, one of the best Italian spots I've been to in SD. It's a cool, intimate spot with great service and delicious food. Went for a birthday so we got to try a ton, the spicy caesar salad was solid, an amazing lobster bisque, bone marrow pasta, lasagna, all amazing. read more

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Loved this spot so much, stumbled across it tonight and the hostess was so friendly, she sat us immediately and let us pick our spot. The restaurant is so cute and beautiful. The service was really good and all the food was really incredible. The arnacini was a little bland with too many peas, it the lobster bisque was the best we've ever had and would truly go back for, the osso bucco was also incredible!! read more

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Had a lovely time catching up with friends at Lala. It is such a cute little spot and the napkins folded into a heart shaped was a nice touch. The service was amazing as was the food. We got the beef carpaccio and the bibb and Bleu salad to start. Both really hot the spot with our drinks. I remember really liking my drink, but I don't remember what I ordered. For our mains, we got the gnocchi rosa and the bone marrow cavatelli. Both were delicious and would order again. Looking forward to checking out more of their menu on a future visit! read more

Lala - Bone marrow cavatelli - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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The place was very beautiful decorated all things Christmas. A bit loud not a first date kind of place. We had oysters for starter. Very delicious good flavor. The risotto fescatore was not my favorite... it was an acquired taste I didnt warm up too. The spaghetti and meatball was one giant thing that nobody can't finish. The fettuccine Alfredo was ok just needed some protein. Service was quick and efficient. read more

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Atmosphere is nice, and the cocktails are great, especially "The mistress". The food however is quite bland across the board. We had the bone marrow pasta and the Osso Buco - while they were prepared correctly and had great presentation, they both tasted relatively flavorless. The best thing there we ended up getting was the lobster bisque which we ended up needing to get Tabasco to make it flavorful. The service was ok, very disorganized. We had 3 different people checking in on us and it turned into a bad game of telephone where we would ask for something (like the Tabasco) and we would have to ask for it again when the next server approached us because it never arrived. The same thing happened when we asked for the check - keep in mind there's less than 15 tables in the whole place. Nothing extraordinarily bad, just not for me. read more

Layla is perfect for a girls night out. We made a 5pm reservation and the food was delicious. The drinks were even better. The only bummer was that we came during happy hour, but we could not have happy hour unless we were at the bar and they would not serve us dinner at the bar. The server gave us a free lemon cheesecake since that was the case. Overall good experience and good food. read more

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One of the cutest, best decorated restaurants I've been to! Don't let the unassuming front keep you from visiting Lala, this was a great night out with my friends with incredible food and drinks. Portions are a good size, the cocktail menu is extensive and delicious, and the service was great! read more

Lala - Gnocchi - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

I cannot recommend lala enough! I've come here for drink and their iconic oat milk espresso martini and it was amazing. This time I came for the food and Christmas decorations and my husband and I loved it. Our server was so knowledgeable and super friendly too! We will definitely be back. (Side note the Spaghetti & Meatballs probably had the best sauce I've had in awhile.) read more

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Fun Fact: --- Sister restaurant of Barbusa - which is right next door --- I had the best birthday dinner experience here. I was a bit nervous due to the reviews (new-ish restaurant), but it seems like they really got their food and service down! Valet was $12 (Oct 2024) and definitely worth it for how busy Little Italy can be. Be sure to save your Service: spectacular and timely. The girl (dark-haired) who greeted me and sat our party of 12 was amazing. She kept me up to date on the short wait as much as possible and made us feel extra welcome throughout the night. The servers were also great, very attentive and handled a large group well. Ambiance: GNO! Perfect girl's night out spot (boys welcome!). The restaurant is on the smaller side, so reservations are recommended. With cute girly decor, darker ambiance , and lots of "Instagram-able" moments , it's perfect for date nights, celebrations, or a quick drink before heading out on the town. Food: wonderful place to share! Arancini was delicious and perfect for sharing. Burrata was amazing - the pistachio pesto added to the wonderful classic. Got good reviews from my friends with the pasta as well. Tried the Lasagne pinwheels (Pork and Beef Ragu, English Peas, Bechamel, Mozzarella, Marinara) and the FAZZOLETTI PESTO ( Handkerchief Pasta, Pistacchio Pesto, Cream, Parmigiano) - TASTY! Definitely would come back for a good time paired with good food. read more

Lala - Burrata - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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