Ambrogio by Acquerello in La Jolla Recognized by Michelin Guide
Ambrogio by Acquerello, a fine dining restaurant in La Jolla, has been added to the California section of the Michelin Guide.
The Michelin Guide is a series of guidebooks published by the same organization responsible for issuing Michelin Stars for restaurants. (And, little known fact, it’s the same company that makes Michelin tires.)
In the latest edition of the Michelin Guide to California, the editors selected Ambrogio by Acquerello — formerly known as Semola — as a “recommended” restaurant, which means that it’s a culinary gem worth checking out. The restaurant is also now eligible for a Bib Gourmand or Michelin Star.
According to Eater San Diego, Ambrogio by Acquerello is the brainchild of Ambrogio15 Restaurant Group, and its kitchen is headed by celebrated chefs Silvio Salmoiraghi and Choi Cheolhyeok. Both of those chefs have a Michelin pedigree, since they’ve worked at Italy’s starred Ristorante Acquerello. It’s no wonder it’s one of the best fine dining restaurants in La Jolla.
As far as what kind of food to expect, Ambrogio by Acquerello features four- or eight-course tasting menus that include “new Italian cuisine,” as well as hints of French, Korean, Japanese, and California ingredients and flavors.
The restaurant is the only San Diego establishment to make the Michelin Guide this year, but it joins 12 other restaurants from around California. It’s also a teaser before the full 2024 Michelin Guide California section is revealed at an awards ceremony on Aug. 5.
“This friendly, cozy La Jolla offshoot of a celebrated restaurant outside of Milan has a vibe somewhere between humble and sophisticated, for a comfortable experience that’s none too precious,” the guide wrote. “The style that chefs Choi Cheolhyeok and Silvio Salmoiraghi shaped at the original is a contemporary, minimalist approach to Italian that incorporates elements of Chef Choi’s Korean background.”
Media credit: Image courtesy of ambrogiobyacquerello.com
Mike Peterson is a writer, editor, and strategist based in San Diego. When he’s not writing and editing the La Jolla news, you can often find him practicing yoga, rock climbing, or exploring the outdoors with his wife and dog.
