Barbarella Restaurant & Bar

4.3
883 reviews

About

European RestaurantBar
Barbarella is a restaurant and full bar located on Avenida De La Playa in La Jolla Shores. Adorned with an eclectic mix of art and boasting plenty of outdoor seating, Barbarella a one-of-a-kind culinary gem with executive Chef Lynn Crawford!

Details

  • Dine-inAvailable
  • TakeoutAvailable
  • Accepts reservationsAvailable
  • Curbside pickupAvailable

Location

Barbarella Restaurant & Bar
2171 Avenida De La Playa, La Jolla, CA
92037, United States

Hours

Reviews

4.2
718 reviews
5 stars
431
4 stars
144
3 stars
57
2 stars
33
1 star
53

What are people saying?

AI-generated from recent customer reviews

Food Quality

Mixed reviews on food quality; some dishes praised while others criticized for being bland or poorly cooked.

Service Issues

Service was inconsistent, with reports of slow service, inattentive staff, and some positive experiences noted.

Atmosphere

The restaurant's decor received positive feedback, especially during holiday themes, creating a fun and festive vibe.

Pricing Concerns

Many customers felt the prices were too high for the quality of food received, leading to disappointment.

Family-Friendly

The restaurant is noted for being family-friendly, with some positive experiences for children and large groups.
  • CW
    Chris Willbanks
    2 days ago
    5.0
    It was crazy busy for the day and time we went but the food was delicious. Chicken Parm, ravioli, and pizza are on point.
  • JK
    Jessica Kuharik
    2 days ago
    3.0
    Barbarella's is awesome for the ambiance since they go all out for the holidays! I loved Halloween and Christmas! Our server was good and attentive. The themed food is cute, but it's not very tasty and it's definitely overpriced!
  • RG
    Renee Gomez
    Oct 26, 2025
    1.0
    We went to this establishment with low expectations due to the reviews, but we were told by a family member we’d enjoy the decor. Please don’t waste your money. Restrooms were out of order, was told that I had to go to a Mexican restaurant couple of buildings down that was out of toilet paper. Food was ok, pizza was not. Drinks were ok. And the customer service was terrible. Our waiter must of worked fast food prior to this. Not friendly or welcoming. Made us feel like she wanted us to hurry so she could get to her next table. We asked what kids drink they had and she said lemonade and didn’t know the rest. Our child didn’t like the pizza, which is the size of a regular pizza, so we had it boxed. We forgot our boxed pizza and Halloween costume. 20 minutes later I called to let them know, I was on hold for 15 minutes for the general manager to come back to the line and tell me they threw out my pizza and could not replace it because I was responsible for it. I did tell him that I found it hard to believe they threw out an entire pizza and they should replace it considering they had my number since I had a reservation. He said they typically would have called me, but this situation didn’t reach the appropriate people on time… whatever that means. He also said it would cost them money to replace the pizza they threw out. Seems they have some sort money issue going on. The waiter was happy to get cash and took the tip form the table while I was dinning. I’ve never had that happen. Not in first or third world countries.The general manager claimed the owners name is Lake. So to “Lake” I’d like to say he should really focus on training and behavior is a reflection of management.
  • JB
    Jacob Bai
    Oct 24, 2025
    1.0
    Bolognese could have been good if the sauce were thicker. But it wasn’t. That basically sums up the meal. Lamb was just ok with a glaze that was unidentifiably mid. Sweet potato puree was mid. Chef’s pepperoni pizza with honey was pretty decent, kinda fluffy dough and palatable. If you know you’re going for the vibes and overpriced appetizers, i think it’s fine to go here. But 4.2 rating is incredibly generous for what I would consider a tourist trap, especially given all the reviews seem legit.
  • SF
    Sandy Frieder
    Oct 23, 2025
    2.0
    We went for a nice dinner however there was a 5 yrs old birthday party. They let all the kids go screaming and running thru the restaurant over and over for about an hour and 30 min. We couldn’t take being at Chucky Cheese anymore and left.

Frequently Asked Questions About Barbarella Restaurant & Bar

Does Barbarella Restaurant & Bar accept reservations?

Yes, Barbarella Restaurant & Bar accepts reservations. You can make a reservation online at https://barbarellarestaurant.com/#reservations_open_table.

What are the brunch hours at Barbarella Restaurant & Bar?

Barbarella serves brunch Thursday and Friday from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Brunch is closed Monday through Wednesday.