Garibaldi’s New Menu Brings Ancient Fare from Sardinia, 2023’s Top Dining Destination

It’s official, Eater has just recognized Sardinia as the world’s top culinary destination in 2023. For those that aren’t hopping on a plane to Cagliari, Garibaldi, the bayfront rooftop restaurant located on the fourth floor of the InterContinental San Diego, highlights the flavors and essence of this specific Italian region and recently unveiled their newest Sardinian and Sicilian inspired menu, giving guests the chance to enjoy culurgiones and fregola in the heart of San Diego.

Food and Beverage Manager, Jeff Josenhans, explains, “Garibaldi is unique as it is based on traditional Sardinian food and wine, through the lens of San Diego in terms of local sourcing and cocktails,” to create an experience seen nowhere else in the city.

With the rollout of these completely new menus, Garibaldi is welcoming new Chef de Cuisine, Ricardo Heredia, and new Beverage Manager, Charles Crisp, as well as receiving recognition from the James Beard Foundation as a Smart Catch Committed restaurant for their sustainability efforts and passion for protecting the waters seen from the restaurant’s terrace.

Garibaldi’s New Menu

Garibaldi has always centered their menus on cuisine from the Southern Italian islands of Sicily and Sardinia. With the new menu that just debuted on March 2, Garibaldi is doubling down their focus on distinctly Sardinian fare, differentiating the venue amidst the sea of Italian restaurants.

New bread section

A new bread section has been added to the menu, citing the ancient Sardinian saying, “One who has bread never dies,” with Pane options like Sheet Music Bread, or Pane Carasau, a paper thin, crisp bread topped with sheep’s milk ricotta, olive oil, black pepper, lemon and bottarga. Stuzzichini, Italy’s version of appetizers, and Sfincione, Sicilian pizza with a focaccia-like base, also secure their own spots on the menu.

Main course highlights

In addition to hyper-local seafood offerings, main course highlights include the Fregola all’Onda with potato scallops saffron, tomato, baby zucchini, fried blossom and pecorino and the Braised Lamb with Artichokes, fingerling potatoes and polenta, topped with a vermentino lamb jus.

New bar menu

Come sunset, guests can be seen clinking glasses of limoncello and cocktails from Garibaldi’s new bar menu, courtesy of new Beverage Manager, Charles Crisp. New sippers include Garibaldi’s signature Green Flash Tonic, referencing the famous green flash associated with sunsets, crafted with Wild Sardinian Vodka, Mirto Verde with Tonic of Fig, Cinchona Bark, Peppercorn, Cinnamon, Cardamon, and the ultra high end Sophia and Rose featuring Barolo-based vodka, rare passito and Campari Cask Tales.

Garibaldi’s bar also boasts a wine program that focuses almost purely on Sicilian and Sardinian wines, including a unique orange wine, as well as Italian beers and a wide variety of amaros.

Late night happy hour

For late night libations, Garibaldi has enhanced their late night happy hour Thursday through Saturday, from 8PM to 10PM, now offering $7 Orange Fashioneds and Bartender’s Whim cocktails, as well as discounted sharable bites like Oysters Arrostito, Seadas Formaggi and Culurgiones Fritti, the iconic Sardinian stuffed pasta, fried and served with Taleggio Truffle Fonduta.

Saturday Brunch

On Saturday mornings, San Diegans can enjoy the sea and salt that rivals Sardinia during brunch on Garibaldi’s rooftop, overlooking downtown’s waterfront. The new menu includes sweet items like traditional Sardinian Pardulas, with whipped ricotta, honey and saffron, or a crème brûlée lover’s dream breakfast, the Yogurt Custard with sheep yogurt, brûleed honey, granola, farmer’s market berries and mint blossoms.

Savory options include the Lamb Smash Burger, with sardinian provola cheese, arugula, cucumber giardiniera, pecorino mayo, caramelized onion, a perfect pairing for Garibaldi’s assortment of Italian beers. The bottomless beverage selection has also been expanded to include Bottomless Limoncello Spritz, Sbagliato and Aperol Spritzes for $25. Brunch is offered at Garibaldi every Saturday from 10AM to 2PM.

James Beard Smart Catch

Garibaldi is thrilled to announce that their seafood sustainability efforts have been recognized by the James Beard Foundation, with the restaurant receiving “Smart Catch Committed” status, an honorable distinction held by very few notable restaurants across the country. The James Beard Foundation describes that the Smart Catch program was, “created by chefs for chefs with the purpose of increasing the sustainability of the seafood offered on menus,”  by recognizing those who utilize diverse, traceable, sustainable and delicious seafood options.

Only a small fraction of the thousands of restaurants in California have been recognized by Smart Catch, and now Garibaldi joins their ranks. After a rigorous approval process, Garibaldi is now recognized as being committed to serving local and responsibly sourced seafood, whether it’s the White Sea Bass, the sand dabs in the Sogliole alla Parmigiana, or the oysters and prawns in their iconic seafood towers. Pending further assessments, Garibaldi is on its way to Smart Catch Leader status.

For more info and updates on Garibaldi, follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

See you there, San Diego!