JOANN LEE
Staff Writer
Panoramic ocean views and delectable Italian cuisine are two of the infinite ways to describe Malibu’s Italian eatery, Spruzzo’s. Situated on the second floor of Malibu’s Shopping Plaza, Spruzzo’s is located north of Pepperdine on Pacific Coast Highway. Jeff Shores, a regular customer, describes it as an unusual mixture of dining genres.
“It has a casual, if odd, feel,” Shores said, “coffee-shop meets banquet hall meets luxury.”
One unique factor about this Italian eatery is that it contains three highly distinctive dining areas, each with a different theme. The first dining area, which has a nature theme, is spruced up by a number of lush green plants and surrounded by a salt-water fish tank, while the second area resembles an aviary. The final dining area is outdoors with a perfect view of the ocean. Mimicking a courtyard area, the outdoor region has well-groomed landscaping and a fountain that creates a peaceful sensation.
Dining areas are not the only aspects of Spruzzo’s that offer a variety of choices. The menu includes 27 lunch choices varying from chicken, pasta, sandwiches, soups, salads and pizzas.
And if you can’t find something you like even then, come back and try again at dinner, when there are 37 menu options ranging from meatball sandwiches at $7.25 to chicken parmigiana at $32. The menu contains items for meat-lovers and vegetarians alike.
Although prices range from $8 to $30, many eaters say that the price is well worth it.
Pepperdine freshman Shea Miller said the restaurant provides a tasty and affordable option for students looking to escape the usual cafeteria fare for a while.
“The chicken pizza at Spruzzo’s was glorious,” Miller said. “It wasn’t too pricey compared to the other restaurants.”
However, some students disagree, recognizing that with the cheapest menu item priced at $6.50, many of the meals may be a tad pricey for typical college students. Sophomore J.D. Dilborne said he and his friends make it a point to eat at Spruzzo’s as often as possible in spite of the cost consideration because “their Italian food is the best in the area,” but he said he wishes it were a little cheaper.
“They have amazing chocolate cake, and it’s pretty close to campus,” Dilborne said. “Compared to other restaurants, however, it is expensive, and I wish they still offered a Pepperdine student discount.”
Spruzzo’s manager Leila Baton said the restaurant has not had a student discount since its ownership changed hands about 10 years ago. Baton says that it is very unlikely Spruzzo’s will reinstate the discount.
One other tiny snag at Spruzzo’s is that the eatery shares the parking lot with other businesses in the shopping center. Thus, parking spots can be extremely difficult to find. And although reservations are not usually necessary during the business week, reservations are highly recommended for weekend diners.
Though the pricey pastas and parking problems may hold Spruzzo’s back from earning a consistent glowing praise among the entire student body, the restaurant’s loyal customers say Spruzzo’s still stands out, especially among the relatively limited dining choices that surround the campus.
“Considering there is not much of a selection just off campus, the place is decent,” Miller said, balancing the glorious pizza with the not-so-glorious parking situation.
Other students appreciate the eatery’s location not only near Pepperdine, but even nearer to the beach.
03-23-2006
