With the sunny patio brightened by year-round blooms and the menu of casual Cal-Italian fare, it's not hard to see why Barbarella attracts many visitors to the La Jolla Shores area. For locals, the other part of the charm is blond owner Barbara Beltaire, who works the room joking with regulars and even swiping a French fry or two. The warm woodsy room is accented with original art by local artists and a mosaic tile pizza oven decorated by Nikki de Saint Phalle. The seasonal menu ranges from crispy wild mushroom pizzas, rock shrimp, and zucchini fritti in a silver cup, to oversized burgers topped with marinated red onions and blue cheese, and grilled salmon with pesto. Barbarella is packed on weekends, so reservations are a must.
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