The retail space, beautiful and spacious inside and out, was formerly inhabited by Pannikin, which has relocated elsewhere in La Jolla. The coffeehouse and bakery is authentic Italian, with all its pastries and desserts inspired by family recipes passed down generations bringing a touch of Italy to the Jewel.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t have any regular pastries people find in a coffee shop,\u201d noted Scognamiglio. \u201cOn the coffee side, we have multiple options including espresso, cappuccino, and macchiato. We try to be pretty authentic with the coffee. And 90% of the pastries we import from Italy. The only thing we get from local sources is the fruit, vegetables, and sugar. Everything we do we process in-house.\u201d<\/p>\n
Scognamiglio said Lilli has become a mecca for Italians. \u201cIf you come here early in the morning during the weekend, you hear only Italian spoken,\u201d he said adding, \u201cI found out there are a lot of Italians in La Jolla I didn\u2019t know about.\u201d<\/p>\n
Scognamiglio said, when the retail space on Girard Avenue became available, he seized the opportunity because it was a perfect garden spot for their needs. He previously owned restaurants in both Naples, Italy, and in Point Loma.<\/p>\n The restaurateur came to the States \u201ctemporarily\u201d seven years ago and liked it so much he never left.<\/p>\n \u201cStefania and I were looking to open something in La Jolla because we love it here, \u201cScognamiglio said adding they \u201cchanged the inside, the woods. She did everything with the design. Everything that looks pretty: It\u2019s her choice.\u201d<\/p>\n The breakfast and lunch menu at Lilli features a host of Italian sandwiches and salads along with Italian pastries and desserts as well as an assortment of teas and fruit juices.<\/p>\n With an indoor fireplace, Lilli has a very comfortable, homey feeling.<\/p>\n \u201cOur ideal business is to make a place that makes us happy,\u201d said Scognamiglio. \u201cAll our employees like working here because they like the way we handle everything. I would say it\u2019s my first home because I spend more time here than at my house.\u201d<\/p>\n The restaurant owner said he has lots of other coffeehouses to compete within the area, but added it is a friendly competition, pointing out all the coffee shops have their own niches and don\u2019t serve the same products.<\/p>\n Above all else, Lilli is a welcoming establishment.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a place where you come and enjoy your time,\u201d said Scognamiglio.<\/p>\n IL GIARDINO DI LILLI<\/p>\n Where: 7467 Girard Ave.<\/p>\n Hours: Daily 7 a.m.-4 p.m.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.sdnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/20230104111943\/Giuseppe-Scognamiglio-and-Stefania-Sciomachen-co-owners-of_edited-300x199.jpg\")