Ambrogio by Acquerello, an Italian restaurant in La Jolla, is among 13 California establishments joining the Michelin Guide in July, according to a press release. Michelin says all 13 restaurants have earned the guide's "recommended" designation and are eligible for the Star or Bib Gourmand awards, which will be announced during an Aug. 5 ceremony

Food critics described Ambrogio by Acquerello as a "friendly, cozy" offshoot of the original Michelin-star restaurant in Milan, with an ambiance hovering between "humble and sophisticated." Chefs Choi Cheolhyeok and Silvio Salmoiraghi deliver a comfortable experience, providing guests a contemporary, minimalist approach to Italian cuisine while fusing elements from Choi's Korean background.