Ambrogio by Acquerello is a collaboration between restaurateurs Giacomo Pizzigoni and Andrea Burrone, who founded San Diego pizza staple Ambrogio15, and the culinary team at Ristorante Acquerello, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Milan. Their goal: to change the way San Diegans view upscale Italian.
Our city’s perception of Italian cuisine is “50 years behind,” explains Pizzigoni. “We don’t eat spaghetti and meatballs, lasagna, or chicken parmesan anymore. Here, Italian chefs were recreating their nonna’s recipes, which is great, but we wanted to show off modern Italian cuisine.”
The menu at Ambrogio by Acquerello is a complete departure from Ambrogio15, showcasing a progression of flavors that leans heavily on the established dishes at Ristorante Acquerello. Two tasting menus, each seven courses, incorporate San Diego produce, meat, and seafood.
The “Dancing with the Stars” tasting menu begins with exceptional dishes like the Insalata Mare e Monti with sea bass ceviche and cauliflower mushrooms; the vegetarian (or vegan) tasting menu, “A Walk in the Garden,” stands proudly next to its omnivore counterpart. An optional wine pairing has a focus on natural wines and boutique winemakers. Also available, in lieu of an a la carte option, is the grandi piatti dello chef, a shared large plate with appetizer and dessert that changes nightly.
“I see this opening as a chance to show San Diego food lovers that cooking Italian food is like directing an orchestra,” Michelin-starred chef Silvio Salmoiraghi of Ristorante Acquerello offers. “The score may be the same, passed on by our mothers and grandfathers, but the way the chef plays the music and reads the notes is personal, ever-changing and in constant evolution.”
