Busalacchi Restaurants
Celebrating 40 years of bringing Sicilian cuisine to San Diego and 30 years of business in Little Italy, Busalacchi Restaurants is a beloved family business dedicated to providing authentic Sicilian dining experiences. Today, the Busalacchi Restaurants include Barbusa, Lala’s, Nonna, and Café Zucchero in Little Italy.
As one of the most established restaurant families in San Diego, the Busalacchis were looking to create something fresh, bold, and buzzworthy—an event that would showcase their legacy in a new light. The goal was twofold: develop a creative culinary experience that hadn’t been done before and use it as a platform to generate meaningful media and social coverage across all three of their Little Italy restaurants: Lala, Barbusa, and Nonna.
We created the Tavolo Tasting Tours, a first-of-its-kind progressive dinner experience that invited guests to journey through the Lala, Barbusa, and Nonna in one unforgettable evening. The word “tavolo” means “table” in Italian, and the concept was simple: three locations, one-night, endless flavor.
What set the Tavolo Tasting Tours apart was the personal touch: each tour was led by a member of the Busalacchi family. As guests dined, they heard behind-the-scenes stories, learned the history behind each restaurant, and shared laughter with the very people who brought these beloved eateries to life.
The Tavolo Tasting Tours were an instant success. The very first round of tours sold out within days. By strategically aligning the press release with coordinated social media efforts, we created a perfect wave of awareness and momentum. We partnered with There San Diego, a hyper-local outlet known for reaching foodies and culture-seekers, to amplify the launch. The audience was exactly who we wanted: locals and visitors looking for unique, high-quality experiences in San Diego. Due to overwhelming demand, we worked quickly to add additional tour dates and strategically pitched the expansion to the San Diego Union-Tribune, who offered coverage as an exclusive in their column, “The Dish.”
Across the board, the campaign delivered. The restaurants experienced increased foot traffic, heightened engagement on social media, and strengthened community connection. Most importantly, it reinforced the Busalacchi legacy in a fresh, modern way—one that honored their past while building excitement for their future.