While staying at the Ritz-Carlton we dined one night at Marisella.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Stephanie Camey
I brought my girlfriend here for her birthday. She’s a plastic surgeon and I’m an HR tech consultant, so we both work in professional environments where attention to detail and service actually matter. That’s probably why this experience stood out so much, and not in a good way.
I made the reservation a month in advance and clearly noted that it was her birthday and that we wanted a nice table with a view. When we arrived, we were seated in the middle of the room with no view, even though there were open window tables. We had to ask to be moved. That’s fine, but if you market yourself as a high end experience, the service should reflect that without guests having to advocate for basic requests.
The bigger issue was the service. Our server seemed noticeably more warm and enthusiastic with the heterosexual couple seated behind us. As soon as they sat down, he asked if they were celebrating anything. When they shared that they were expecting, he congratulated them, brought a mocktail, and called it a blessing. I’m genuinely happy for them, but the difference in treatment was hard to ignore.
When he introduced himself to us, he immediately asked what we wanted to start with. No mention of a celebration, even though I had clearly put in the notes that it was her birthday. It made me really sad because I wanted her to feel special. The whole interaction felt uncomfortable and distant.
Toward the end, he asked if we wanted dessert. I said yes, it’s her birthday and I’d love a candle. His response was just “ok.” He brought out a single scoop of ice cream with a candle, set it down, and said “here.” That was it. No acknowledgment, no warmth.
Beyond the service, the experience just did not live up to the hype. The view was fine but the landscaping looks unfinished. The olives were stale. The food was average at best and nothing memorable.
We had a much better experience at Clark’s in town. Save your time and money and go somewhere that actually delivers on both service and quality.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Ryan Caliwag
We visited Marisella for Valentine’s Day dinner and were fortunate to secure an 8:45 p.m. reservation. From the moment you pull into the circular drive for valet at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara, the experience feels elevated. After being directed through the property to the back where the restaurant is located, we were greeted warmly and seated promptly at a table that was ready and waiting for us.
For Valentine’s Day, they offered a curated four-course menu rather than à la carte ordering. The courses were well executed and thoughtfully paced. I have a fruit allergy, and the staff was very mindful of that, which I appreciated. Accommodations were handled professionally without making it feel like an inconvenience.
Service was somewhat mixed. Our primary waitress seemed informal and borderline overwhelmed throughout the evening. In contrast, the support staff—runners, bussers, and cocktail servers—were polished, attentive, and proactive. At times, they felt more engaged than our assigned server.
The food itself was excellent. Everything we had was flavorful and well presented. The wine list was strong, which is not surprising given the property’s location and reputation. There are plenty of higher-end selections available. The exclusive cocktail menu, however, is fairly small. They can certainly make anything you request, but if you are hoping for a large selection of signature house cocktails, you may find it limited.
Overall, it was a very good experience, especially for a major holiday evening. I would absolutely return and look forward to visiting again on a non-holiday night to see how the restaurant performs under more typical conditions.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Danny Delgado
Truly one of the best dining experiences I’ve had. Reservations were full Valentine’s Day but they said the bar was open and included full service. My wife and I were met by David, a great and friendly bartender who made the best old fashioned I’ve ever had, I had two! From the friendliness of the staff to the tastiness of their food. Especially the filet mignon, it was a great night. My wife and I will definitely go back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Aaron Cotton
The atmosphere was great and everybody seemed very nice. The feature drinks are pretty good but don't don't get unfeature drinks like a margarita it's not up to the standards of a fancy restaurant.
The reason I'm giving this such a low rating is I indicated that I had celiac disease on my reservation and with the waiter twice. He said there was adjustments that could be made to my food no problem.
And I have been the sickest I have ever been because of gluten exposure nearly on the level of needing to go to the emergency room.
In addition my wife requires her food to be as high temperature as possible and we also indicated that to the waiter and he also said that was able to be accommodated. However she received her food lukewarm and had to ask it to be reheated.
These kinds of mistakes might be tolerated at a restaurant that only charges $20 a plate but it is absolutely not acceptable when you're paying $200 for a date for 2.
I hope that they can improve this because I would I would definitely like to eat their food and not get sick afterwards.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 3
Ross Lewis
While staying at the Ritz-Carlton we dined one night at Marisella. This is owned by a New York based restaurant group, and I actually found the prices to be more reasonable than the food prices at the Ritz owned dining options. There's several excellent dining areas, including an outdoor area that they equipped with heaters for the chilly January nights. They can accommodate large groups, and had several being served at the same time we were there. Our food still came out quick. The salad and bread were fantastic, I liked my pasta dish but didn't love it. The others in the group really liked their choices, including the eggplant parmesean (one of the best he's had). There's a large bar with very friendly bartenders. Overall we had a great dining experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
George Hanna
We came for my birthday day and always love the property. This was our first time to the restaurant and had high expectations based on their information. Unfortunately one dish was good but over salted and the second dish had chewy clams and the pasta was a bit dry. We will try again next time we are there but the $75.00 corkage fee needs to be reviewed. This is over the top here in California. It was appreciated that management responded to my review. It would have been more disruptive to our evening either having the dish remade while I waited or a new dish chosen. My dinner would have been diminished as I would not eat while my spouse waited. We will certainly be back. Thank you
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Douglas Sheehan
Milo our server was spot on as were all the staff.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Harsh
The ambiance is incredibly pleasant and sophisticated. The starter of tomatoes, drizzled with excellent olive oil, fresh basil, and a pinch of salt, was absolutely delightful. We also tried their focaccia, which was quite large and satisfying. The meatballs were fantastic, and the pasta was incredibly delicious. I would suggest skipping the focaccia and opting for dessert instead.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Frank Risard
Local on a date night. Made it in and out in 60 minutes. Not sure that's a good thing on a date night and a meal this expensive. Seemed like bad training or understaffed. Got nominal attention, some quick check ins, but the courses need work, especially at this price point and environment. Ordered focaccia, meatballs, and crudo. Then a couple pastas. Appetizers came out all at once and we were part way through apps when the mains came. They saw that we were still working but dropped off mains anyways - was tempted to ask to send it back and hold so we didn't eat cold food. Really should have. Apps should've come out staggered with the crudo following the fresh tomatos, then the meatballs and focaccia next together after we finished the crudo. Those 2 together since the waiter knew we were pairing them. Mains should never come out so close to the apps and staff need to communicate to the kitchen. Good thing was the Manhattan and the mocktail were fantastic. Decided to get the dessert elsewhere. And the bill landed on our table at about the 55 minute mark. Didn't ask to rush. Just got rushed the heck out the door as quickly as possible. Dirty plates and all from appetizer and main course with the bill on the table. At least he said he hoped we enjoyed the meal after he returned our credit card. Food was definitely above average, quite nice, but the rush ruined the experience. Better service at fast casual dining.
The server was so courteous and professional. We forgot to ask her name but she speaks Mandarin Chinese from Hong Kong.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Emily Evans
We had a fantastic dinner at Marisella's last night. The stand outs were the house made focaccia and whipped ricotta (I feel like I died and went to heaven), the Mr. Carlton, and my short ribs. Overall, an incredible dining experience with a beautiful atmosphere. We want to thank our server, Rich, who went above and beyond to give us such a great experience! Thank you, Rich!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Matt Carpinelli
Marisella is a beautiful restaurant. It’s Located on a spectacular corner of the lovely property and decorated incredibly. The bar is lovely, and the service there is the very best. Mitchell makes a great drink and offers just the right amount of conversation. The inside dining room is a little tight but the seats are comfortable. Food - pasta, bread and tomatoes are some of the best. Caprese is nothing special, same with the meatballs. Wagyu ribeye for the table is incredible and cooked perfectly, at least the edible part. If the steak was 16oz, 10 were gristle and full un-rendered fat. I mentioned this to the waitress, who took the comment back to the chef. I didn’t want my money back, just wanted to mention it. The reply; “that’s how it’s supposed to be.” Delivered in a snotty tone, We left with both literal and figurative bad tastes in our mouths. From such a fancy restaurant group, I would expect more. A simple response of “we’ll do better next time “ and a free dessert would have made us feel great and would have cost them virtually nothing. Obviously they don’t participate in the Ritz 2000 rule. This was my second visit in the past month, but nobody cared. Too much easy business from people stuck at a hotel where this is the best dining option.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 3
Mark Goldsmith
Such a beautiful and romantic setting, especially outside. While not unusually pricey for a nice Italian restaurant, it is pricey given the portion sizes. They gave us these beautiful tomatoes as a complimentary appetizer and they were delicious. My wife's pasta was her entree and was delicious (once we put a small amount of salt on it) but the portion size was a joke. If it were an appetizer, then acceptable but as an entree, not at all. The focaccia bread with the cheese (or spread) was beyond delicious but we both misread the price which was $20, kind of pricey. After reading other reviews, many complain about the portion size so know that before you go. Service was great, wait staff were all very nice.
Paige Carter
I was very excited to dine here for my birthday, but unfortunately my experience was disappointing. Our server, Cordel, was extremely rushed from the moment we sat down. We arrived three hours before closing, yet he immediately told us we needed to place our orders quickly. It was my first time visiting, which he knew, but he made no effort to make the experience feel special or even to go over the menu with us.
There was a table of six seated next to us who had been there longer and had not yet placed their orders, yet he took his time with them. When he noticed us observing this, he tried to justify his behavior by saying he had misread his watch. Overall, my first visit was a disappointment.
While staying at the Ritz-Carlton we dined one night at Marisella.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I brought my girlfriend here for her birthday. She’s a plastic surgeon and I’m an HR tech consultant, so we both work in professional environments where attention to detail and service actually matter. That’s probably why this experience stood out so much, and not in a good way.
I made the reservation a month in advance and clearly noted that it was her birthday and that we wanted a nice table with a view. When we arrived, we were seated in the middle of the room with no view, even though there were open window tables. We had to ask to be moved. That’s fine, but if you market yourself as a high end experience, the service should reflect that without guests having to advocate for basic requests.
The bigger issue was the service. Our server seemed noticeably more warm and enthusiastic with the heterosexual couple seated behind us. As soon as they sat down, he asked if they were celebrating anything. When they shared that they were expecting, he congratulated them, brought a mocktail, and called it a blessing. I’m genuinely happy for them, but the difference in treatment was hard to ignore.
When he introduced himself to us, he immediately asked what we wanted to start with. No mention of a celebration, even though I had clearly put in the notes that it was her birthday. It made me really sad because I wanted her to feel special. The whole interaction felt uncomfortable and distant.
Toward the end, he asked if we wanted dessert. I said yes, it’s her birthday and I’d love a candle. His response was just “ok.” He brought out a single scoop of ice cream with a candle, set it down, and said “here.” That was it. No acknowledgment, no warmth.
Beyond the service, the experience just did not live up to the hype. The view was fine but the landscaping looks unfinished. The olives were stale. The food was average at best and nothing memorable.
We had a much better experience at Clark’s in town. Save your time and money and go somewhere that actually delivers on both service and quality.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
We visited Marisella for Valentine’s Day dinner and were fortunate to secure an 8:45 p.m. reservation. From the moment you pull into the circular drive for valet at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara, the experience feels elevated. After being directed through the property to the back where the restaurant is located, we were greeted warmly and seated promptly at a table that was ready and waiting for us.
For Valentine’s Day, they offered a curated four-course menu rather than à la carte ordering. The courses were well executed and thoughtfully paced. I have a fruit allergy, and the staff was very mindful of that, which I appreciated. Accommodations were handled professionally without making it feel like an inconvenience.
Service was somewhat mixed. Our primary waitress seemed informal and borderline overwhelmed throughout the evening. In contrast, the support staff—runners, bussers, and cocktail servers—were polished, attentive, and proactive. At times, they felt more engaged than our assigned server.
The food itself was excellent. Everything we had was flavorful and well presented. The wine list was strong, which is not surprising given the property’s location and reputation. There are plenty of higher-end selections available. The exclusive cocktail menu, however, is fairly small. They can certainly make anything you request, but if you are hoping for a large selection of signature house cocktails, you may find it limited.
Overall, it was a very good experience, especially for a major holiday evening. I would absolutely return and look forward to visiting again on a non-holiday night to see how the restaurant performs under more typical conditions.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Truly one of the best dining experiences I’ve had. Reservations were full Valentine’s Day but they said the bar was open and included full service. My wife and I were met by David, a great and friendly bartender who made the best old fashioned I’ve ever had, I had two! From the friendliness of the staff to the tastiness of their food. Especially the filet mignon, it was a great night. My wife and I will definitely go back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The atmosphere was great and everybody seemed very nice. The feature drinks are pretty good but don't don't get unfeature drinks like a margarita it's not up to the standards of a fancy restaurant.
The reason I'm giving this such a low rating is I indicated that I had celiac disease on my reservation and with the waiter twice. He said there was adjustments that could be made to my food no problem.
And I have been the sickest I have ever been because of gluten exposure nearly on the level of needing to go to the emergency room.
In addition my wife requires her food to be as high temperature as possible and we also indicated that to the waiter and he also said that was able to be accommodated. However she received her food lukewarm and had to ask it to be reheated.
These kinds of mistakes might be tolerated at a restaurant that only charges $20 a plate but it is absolutely not acceptable when you're paying $200 for a date for 2.
I hope that they can improve this because I would I would definitely like to eat their food and not get sick afterwards.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 3
While staying at the Ritz-Carlton we dined one night at Marisella. This is owned by a New York based restaurant group, and I actually found the prices to be more reasonable than the food prices at the Ritz owned dining options. There's several excellent dining areas, including an outdoor area that they equipped with heaters for the chilly January nights. They can accommodate large groups, and had several being served at the same time we were there. Our food still came out quick. The salad and bread were fantastic, I liked my pasta dish but didn't love it. The others in the group really liked their choices, including the eggplant parmesean (one of the best he's had). There's a large bar with very friendly bartenders. Overall we had a great dining experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We came for my birthday day and always love the property. This was our first time to the restaurant and had high expectations based on their information. Unfortunately one dish was good but over salted and the second dish had chewy clams and the pasta was a bit dry. We will try again next time we are there but the $75.00 corkage fee needs to be reviewed. This is over the top here in California. It was appreciated that management responded to my review. It would have been more disruptive to our evening either having the dish remade while I waited or a new dish chosen. My dinner would have been diminished as I would not eat while my spouse waited. We will certainly be back. Thank you
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Milo our server was spot on as were all the staff.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The ambiance is incredibly pleasant and sophisticated. The starter of tomatoes, drizzled with excellent olive oil, fresh basil, and a pinch of salt, was absolutely delightful. We also tried their focaccia, which was quite large and satisfying. The meatballs were fantastic, and the pasta was incredibly delicious. I would suggest skipping the focaccia and opting for dessert instead.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Local on a date night. Made it in and out in 60 minutes. Not sure that's a good thing on a date night and a meal this expensive. Seemed like bad training or understaffed. Got nominal attention, some quick check ins, but the courses need work, especially at this price point and environment.
Ordered focaccia, meatballs, and crudo. Then a couple pastas.
Appetizers came out all at once and we were part way through apps when the mains came. They saw that we were still working but dropped off mains anyways - was tempted to ask to send it back and hold so we didn't eat cold food. Really should have. Apps should've come out staggered with the crudo following the fresh tomatos, then the meatballs and focaccia next together after we finished the crudo. Those 2 together since the waiter knew we were pairing them. Mains should never come out so close to the apps and staff need to communicate to the kitchen.
Good thing was the Manhattan and the mocktail were fantastic.
Decided to get the dessert elsewhere. And the bill landed on our table at about the 55 minute mark.
Didn't ask to rush. Just got rushed the heck out the door as quickly as possible. Dirty plates and all from appetizer and main course with the bill on the table. At least he said he hoped we enjoyed the meal after he returned our credit card.
Food was definitely above average, quite nice, but the rush ruined the experience. Better service at fast casual dining.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 2
Restaurantji Recommends
The server was so courteous and professional. We forgot to ask her name but she speaks Mandarin Chinese from Hong Kong.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We had a fantastic dinner at Marisella's last night. The stand outs were the house made focaccia and whipped ricotta (I feel like I died and went to heaven), the Mr. Carlton, and my short ribs. Overall, an incredible dining experience with a beautiful atmosphere. We want to thank our server, Rich, who went above and beyond to give us such a great experience! Thank you, Rich!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Marisella is a beautiful restaurant. It’s Located on a spectacular corner of the lovely property and decorated incredibly.
The bar is lovely, and the service there is the very best. Mitchell makes a great drink and offers just the right amount of conversation.
The inside dining room is a little tight but the seats are comfortable.
Food - pasta, bread and tomatoes are some of the best. Caprese is nothing special, same with the meatballs. Wagyu ribeye for the table is incredible and cooked perfectly, at least the edible part. If the steak was 16oz, 10 were gristle and full un-rendered fat.
I mentioned this to the waitress, who took the comment back to the chef. I didn’t want my money back, just wanted to mention it. The reply; “that’s how it’s supposed to be.” Delivered in a snotty tone,
We left with both literal and figurative bad tastes in our mouths. From such a fancy restaurant group, I would expect more. A simple response of “we’ll do better next time “ and a free dessert would have made us feel great and would have cost them virtually nothing. Obviously they don’t participate in the Ritz 2000 rule. This was my second visit in the past month, but nobody cared. Too much easy business from people stuck at a hotel where this is the best dining option.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 3
Such a beautiful and romantic setting, especially outside. While not unusually pricey for a nice Italian restaurant, it is pricey given the portion sizes. They gave us these beautiful tomatoes as a complimentary appetizer and they were delicious. My wife's pasta was her entree and was delicious (once we put a small amount of salt on it) but the portion size was a joke. If it were an appetizer, then acceptable but as an entree, not at all. The focaccia bread with the cheese (or spread) was beyond delicious but we both misread the price which was $20, kind of pricey. After reading other reviews, many complain about the portion size so know that before you go. Service was great, wait staff were all very nice.
I was very excited to dine here for my birthday, but unfortunately my experience was disappointing. Our server, Cordel, was extremely rushed from the moment we sat down. We arrived three hours before closing, yet he immediately told us we needed to place our orders quickly. It was my first time visiting, which he knew, but he made no effort to make the experience feel special or even to go over the menu with us.
There was a table of six seated next to us who had been there longer and had not yet placed their orders, yet he took his time with them. When he noticed us observing this, he tried to justify his behavior by saying he had misread his watch. Overall, my first visit was a disappointment.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 1
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