Restaurant dining room with patterned tile floors, pink banquettes, arched windows, and hanging lights.

February Restaurant Feature: Marisi

Raquel Benguiat
February 5, 2023

Marisi is a located in the heart of La Jolla, California. This cozy, family-owned spot serves up authentic Italian cuisine that will transport your taste buds straight to Italy.

One of the things that makes Marisi stand out is their commitment to using fresh, high-quality ingredients. They source many of their ingredients including meats and vegetables from local farmers and purveyors, which means the food is always bursting with flavor. Plus, the pasta is made in-house with organic, heirloom wheat and the sauces are made from scratch using traditional recipes in a gorgeous, open kitchen.

The menu at Marisi is diverse, with options for everyone. Start your experience by celebrating Italy’s tradition of beginning the meal with a glass of vermouth. Marisi’s Bordiga vermouths come from Cuneo and are made from foraged wild plants grown in the Occitan Alps. My favorite is the Bordiga Bianco, featuring chamomile, gentian and coriander.

To start your meal, I recommend the focaccia alongside the carpaccio featuring Wagyu beef with an unexpected drizzle of salsa verde mingled with pine nuts, scallions and bitter horseradish. For entrees – the homemade pastas are a must-try. My favorite is the rigatoni, but I would be remiss not to mention the fresh fish, Calabrian chili-roasted chicken, lamb chop and dry-aged porterhouse steak entrees, which are just as delicious. No meal is complete without dessert, and Marisi’s Meyer Lemon - a light, chilled layered dessert of tart lemon curd, salted pistachios and chamomile cream, topped with seasonal fresh fruit – is the perfect option.

Let’s not forget about the wine! Marisi also has a fantastic wine list featuring a wide selection of Italian wines that are perfectly paired with the food. The atmosphere is intimate and perfect for a romantic dinner or special occasion. The service is top-notch, and the staff is always happy to make recommendations and answer any questions.

With their commitment to using fresh ingredients, homemade pasta and sauces and a diverse menu, Marisi will quickly become one of your favorite Italian restaurants in La Jolla.

Marisi is located at 1044 Wall St, La Jolla, CA. Make a reservation at marisilajolla.com.

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Marisi restaurant exterior with coral awnings and an arched entrance.

Pasta with clams, purple cabbage and golden breadcrumbs in a Marisi-branded bowl.

Amber cocktail with a large ice cube and citrus garnish, beside a bowl of fried snacks.

Diner twirls pasta at Marisi beside wine glasses and a pink rose centerpiece.

Golden, blistered bread on a floral Marisi plate beside a bowl of dipping sauce.

Chefs plating dishes at Marisi’s open kitchen counter beneath copper lamps, with a wood-fired grill behind them.

Grilled fish with leafy greens and yellow citrus on a Marisi plate.

Beef carpaccio topped with herbs, grated cheese, red pepper, pine nuts, and edible flowers at Marisi.

Marisi restaurant interior with pink banquette seating and illuminated shelves of bottles.

Raquel Benguiat posing with her hands beneath her chin against a teal background.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

RAQUEL BENGUIAT IS A LUXURY REAL ESTATE AGENT IN RANCHO SANTA FE WITH DOUGLAS ELLIMAN AND A LONGTIME COVENANT RESIDENT WHO MEETS CLIENTS AT HER PRIVATE OFFICE IN THE VILLAGE. IN REAL ESTATE SINCE 2004, SHE REPRESENTS BUYERS AND SELLERS OF HIGH VALUE ESTATES ABOVE $5M ACROSS ALL 24 RANCHO SANTA FE COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING THE COVENANT, FAIRBANKS RANCH, AND THE BRIDGES, AS WELL AS DEL MAR AND THE SURROUNDING COASTAL AREAS. HER WORK COVERS EQUESTRIAN PROPERTIES, GOLF COMMUNITIES, AND LAND SALES.

REALTRENDS VERIFIED RANKS HER IN THE TOP 1% OF AGENTS NATIONWIDE. SHE TAKES ON A LIMITED NUMBER OF CLIENTS EACH YEAR, SO EVERY SHOWING, NEGOTIATION, AND CONVERSATION IS HANDLED BY HER PERSONALLY, AND SHE IS KNOWN FOR HER DISCRETION, OFF-MARKET ACCESS, EXTENSIVE GLOBAL NETWORK, AND RELATIONSHIPS THAT CONTINUE WELL BEYOND THE TRANSACTION.

DRE #02011666

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