The whole idea of a bistro, says Seto A. Marselian, owner of Bistro Pazzo, is to offer a neighborhood place where everyone knows you — where great friends and great food meet. “It’s the type of place where you don’t have to come in to order something to eat or drink, but you can just stop in and say ‘hi’,” he said. “It’s all about your comfort zone, and if your comfort zone is just to say ‘hi,’ then that’s fine.” In opening Bistro Pazzo three years ago, the restaurateur of 35 years chose a location that’s slightly off the beaten path from his previous endeavors — just off Prospect Street at 7930 Ivanhoe Ave. — and the “hidden gem” nature of the eatery makes it just that much more of a neighborhood treasure. Marselian has experience opening nine restaurants in La Jolla (four of which were his own). His former restaurants include Avanti (now Roppongi) and Elario’s atop Hotel La Jolla. Marselian even opened a restaurant in Hillcrest once, but realized quickly that La Jolla is where he belongs. “My crowd is here,” said Marselian said, “I know everybody.” And it seems everyone knows him, too, as he thrives off his loyal base of regular guests, and he can often be seen standing outside his restaurant greeting familiar passers-by. Last Friday evening, La Jolla Village Lodge owner Egon Kafka, who is active with several civic boards and organizations, rolled into Bistro Pazzo on his bicycle and made himself at home, parking his bike right in the middle of the restaurant — clearly, Kafka and Marselian are friends. Kafka said he has known Marselian for many years, dating back to when he used to frequent the “much-loved” Avanti Restaurant, which sat for years at 875 Prospect St. He said something that sets Bistro Pazzo apart from other restaurants is that guests aren’t discouraged from ordering off the menu — as in, if you don’t see it, ask for it. But what really keeps him coming back, whether to eat or just to say “hi?” “Seto is just a genuine guy,” Kafka said. Not to mention, Marselian is outgoing, outspoken and — as he says himself — a little crazy. The restaurant’s name itself actually means “crazy bistro” in Italian. “Three years ago, everybody was closing their restaurants and here I was opening this restaurant,” Marselian said. “Everybody told me ‘You’re crazy.’”