Spruzzo Restaurant & Bar — Restaurant in Malibu

I’ve been visiting this spot since before COVID. Like many places after COVID, it sloped. But they have no excuses.

First, I used to walk in and we’d be greeted. Now you walk in and there is no sever in sight and the person behind the counter just looks at you as if you’re an alien. I asked if I can just sit anywhere and she said, “yes if you’d like to sit then you can pick where you’d like to sit and a server will be with you”. I didn’t see any standing table area so fortunately yes, I did want to sit(?).

I chose to sit outside as I usually do. There was another occupied table nearby so I wanted to make it easier on the current wait staff and sit fairly close. Little did I know the table had waited 20 minutes and asked if I’d seen anyone.

After returning inside I spotted a waiter who clarified that he was sitting down to eat his lunch (that would be nice). I continued BACK to the counter where I patiently waited for the “kind” lady to finish watching the video on her phone before asking if anyone was attending the outside area. Unfortunately she did not share the comedic value of the video to identify the reason why it took priority but that’s okay.

I’d seen what looks to be the manager (of some sort) waltzing around appearing to be busy but one would realize right away there wasn’t much to be busy about.

Continuing outside a very kind waitress eventually attended us and was attentive throughout. However, I could tell that the service was being offered to avoid any sharing of the poorly executed welcome.

The food has definitely sloped and although they deliver what they promise, their promise has lost integrity. The pizza no longer has any foundational carriage and the ingredients are meh in freshness. The water is tap (normal) but the question of whether or not it’s filtered is for you to judge. Their bread is dry and has also offers no conversation (although it is complimentary so no room to complain).

Professionally, I operated a marketing firm who has a strong portfolio in the restaurant space. We consult and build restaurant experiences to improve/create experiences. I understand what these reviews do to businesses so I typically avoid them. Especially if it’s my first visit (I don’t believe in sharing one bad experience). But this has been routine here.

I don’t hold the waiting staff accountable, I hold management accountable. I hold the gentleman who just walked around the staff standing around doing nothing accountable. Poor leadership is always the culprit and $20 minimum wages haven’t even sunk in yet.

It’s a shame a place like Spruzzo’s has continued to skate downhill. Intentional? Maybe. Recommended? I’d say...

Malibu dreams are realized here, even if you're not the gazillionaire that everyone thinks they know. Food, wine, spirits, parking, ambiance, patio with ocean views. Take your time while there as it's across from Zuma and Westward Beaches. You have to go out of the parking lot perpendicular to PCH 1 at the light (Busch Drive), and drive across the highway to Westward Beach Road. As you approach the beach, there's parking on the sides of the road. Go at dusk or night when most sun bathers have headed out. Moonlight, bare feet, red wine, beach, surf, pizza. You're get your mojo back with interest! Happy magical moments in Malibu. Cool canoodling (kissing) spot is behind the sunset restaurant at the top of the stairs there's a bench with a stellar view. At the top of Pt. Dume, trail to head up is on the left side as you near the rock wall of the Pt. There's a rock at the top to sit on it. On occasion Spruzzos has entertainment on the weekends. Date night. She'll be yours for sure. P. S. Extra wow points...Lily's Flower shop in the back parking lot at Trancas Road shopping center for a bouquet, they'll wrap it so it's good until you get her back home. Duck and Dive at nearby Heather Cliff has local bands performing too. Decker Beach has parking overlooking the ocean on the left side of PCH as you drive North, but no beach access, for getting off the road and having that deep epiphanic connected conversation (without talking). But, for me, it's all about the barefoot beach walk, get jazzed and leave the party early to make your own...

We had the worst service experience of our life here. Made a reservation for 8pm, outdoors, and let them know we'd be coming over from getting engaged and celebrating there. We arrived at 8:06, and they were barely willing to seat us. The waitress told us she was leaving and the kitchen was closing so they would give us food in takeout containers and let us sit there and eat it, I asked if they were open til 9 and she said yes but we're closing down early because nobody is here. I reminded her we had a reservation and she told us we were late so she clocked out and there's nothing she could do. We were stunned but it was too late to go anywhere else, so we stayed to order.

She proceeded to stand at the table as we looked at the menu, rushing us to order. Just very rude and unprofessional.

The bus boys were working hard and were about to bring us a normal setting and bread, but she waved them off, and the hostess was the one to bring us our food and drinks and check in on us.

When we finished, the waitress was still there in the kitchen so obviously she could have done her job. The check had her name on it as the server so we tipped in cash to the hostess instead, who was polite and did the actual work.

The food was pretty good, but obviously we won't be back. We didn't make a big deal of it there because we didn't want to ruin our moods on a special day, but don't go here if you're looking for good service!

Google Review wants to know if we dined in, had take out, or got delivery. Status update: it's...