The food and care given to the ingredients feels like like Italy. The spritz variations are superb on a warm day and different to the typical Aperol variety. Only downside is the busy road. The location is unique and has character, but very small - Italian style! Come for a spritz! Enjoy some fresh pasta or the bruschetta. You won't be disappointed. Saw they are reviving the order ahead home meal for two once a week which looks interesting. read more

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I am not a huge Italian food person but this place blows every dish out of the water! They have very little seating but the menu is unique every night and they kill it on every dish. The burrata is a must!! I also really enjoyed their bruschetta with prosciutto and a mushroom pesto read more

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So so good! The menu is always changing and is always amazing! The drinks are tasty as well.

Lindsay was amazing!! We loved the vibe, the food, and the wine! We'll be returning the next time we're in town read more

Aperitivo - Wine Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

The food gods must have been with me because I walked into this tiny restaurant on a whim. And what a delight it was. I cannot understand by what magic the two chefs were are able to churn out such refined dishes cooking on a couple of hot plates. Hot plates! I woke up this morning congratulating myself on the series of life decisions I've made that culminated to me eating the burrata, artichoke, and ragu I had last night. The ingredients looked simple and straightforward enough on the plate but in my mouth, they .. I dunno... sang? This girl is not typically into Italian food, but if I had to pick one restaurant to eat at for the rest of my life, Apertivo might be it. . read more

A revelation in Santa Barbara! Absolutely the best Italian food I have eaten outside of Italy- and perhaps inside Italy as well. I would eat here over and over if I was lucky enough to live in the area. Party of four- we were all so pleased by our dinner choices. The fresh pasta is amazing. Don't miss this gem! read more

One of the best pasta dishes I've tried outside of Italy. The food is amazing. The place is small and intimate and the service is super friendly. The pasta dishes are made fresh to order so this is the perfect place to relax and enjoy a glass of wine with good company. Overall, so glad we stumbled upon this place thanks to Yelp! read more

Aperitivo - Pesto - Wine Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Best Italian food in Santa Barbara. Small but always interesting menu. No one in SB serves better pasta. The few starters are always perfectly executed with just the right amount of inventiveness without falling into the trap of irrational added ingredients. Service is always spot on. The wine list has gems you've never seen at user friendly price points. I love this place! read more

Came here on a whim on a saturday night. We waited about 15 min for a table (you're able to browse state st. as you wait). The restaurant is kinda small, they offer high top table seating or bar seating. Upon getting seated, all the staff were super warm and welcoming. We ordered the burrata, pesto pasta, and ragu pork pasta. (however they change their pastas every week, so yelp pictures might not be accurate). Everything was delicious, the only downside was the ragu was two minutes less than al dente. Flavors were all there, the wine was great too. Unfortunately, we devoured everything before I thought of taking picture. On the plus side, they are a dog friendly establishment. This was such a small hidden gem tucked by state st. I definitely recommend coming here for some great italian food and great service! read more

We thoroughly enjoyed our meal at Aperitivo. The food was cooked fresh to order and the quality of the food was amazing. Customer was great and they seemed to be very busy but very efficient. The food here was really good. Prices are decent for the portions and quality of the food. Highly recommend! read more

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It's a small restaurant that's first come first serve, best fitted for groups of 2-4. Everything tasted freshly made and reminiscent of the restaurants you would find in Italy. The menu changes frequently, would absolutely try to come back quarterly! read more

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Stopped by on the way home for some yummy and delicious food. Upon arriving we found out they were not serving specific food items on the weekends. To counter the disappointments, we decided to just grab some drinks, which were okay, not too bad. Server asked if we would like to olives and nuts (which we thought were included when dining here), ended up charging us $15 dollars for olives and nuts. Today, I learned to not make assumptions for what's included and what's not. read more

Amazing food and service. The wine was great and the food was really good. Would highly recommend

The best little spot! The pasta was absolutely amazing. Only a few spots inside but we got sat almost immediately. Service was excellent. Nothing else like it around SB. read more

Aperitivo - Wine Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

This place is top notch. The drinks are delicious, the food is incredible, and the owners and staff are friendly and warm. We brought our dog and they welcomed us like family, even though it was our first visit. We have been coming to Santa Barbara for many years and Aperitivo will remain on my "must visit" list. Strongly recommend. read more

Aperitivo - Burrata with kobacha squash. Amazing!!! - Wine Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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We came here as a stop on our mini food tour of Santa Barbara. The staff were friendly and welcomed our dog into the restaurant as well. We were seated quickly at around 6 pm despite the weekend busyness. This will be a short review as we only ordered 1 dish. The delicious house-made gnocchi was a perfect sharing size for 2nd dinner! This restaurant warrants coming back multiple times. read more

Aperitivo - Wine Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

It's been said that you find the best food in a town by traveling it's side streets and seeking places off the beaten paths. Aperitivo proves this theory beyond all doubt. Located on West Haley street just a few meters off State, though generally not in a place that gets a lot of foot traffic. Aperitivo is stealthy and unassuming yet you are so greatly rewarded for taking that venture to its cozy environs. These folks aren't running your typical restaurant here it's got much more of an old school vibe (though it's clean and modern inside :-) . They have only a few items on the menu and they change every day (always some appetizers and pasta dishes for sure though). They make their own pasta daily (oh my goodness!!!) and it's wonderful! We had one of just about everything they had that day but the standout was the "tagliatelle con crema di mais e tartufi" Basically House-made tagliatelle pasta, corn panna, tuscan summer truffle & Parmigiano Reggiano. One of the most original and excellent pasta dishes I've ever eaten. And that sentiment was shared by all at the table! I'd describe more of their menu, but it varies day to day so I can only encourage you to try it for yourself :-). They do have a solid and varied wine list with a bevy of very nice Italian wines and some local favorites. We enjoyed the Vermintino , the Primitivo and the Sangiovese. They do take reservations and those are recommended as there is really not a ton of seating. A few two tops some four tops inside and one larger and one smaller table out on their parklet. It can fill up fast. We were served by the whole crew which was led by owner Andrea. A fabulous dinner and there's a reason they have so many 5 Star reviews, I cannot wait to go back!!! read more

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Stoped by for a quick on my way back to LA. Unfortunately on Sundays they don't serve their pastas. So we ended up getting some drinks instead. drinks were ok nothing special but what really brought the mood down for me was when the waiter asked if we wanted nuts and olives. Me coming from LA, when a waiter asks if you want nuts and olives with your drinks it's always complimentary or would atleast disclose that it's not included. Unfortunately for me I was not given that heads up. Maybe that's just how they do it here at this restaurant, but I just find it kind of ridiculous that we got charged an extra 15 dollars for those. read more

What a cute little restaurant! Quaint and cute design. Super busy but was still checked on often by staff. Food was so good. The bruschetta was awesome, super flavorful, and a perfect crunch on the bread. Pasta cooked perfectly, can't wait to go back! read more

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Service and ambiance were great. However, the food was mostly mediocre. We made the mistake of coming on a Sunday -- apparently Sundays and Mondays are when they have tapas (appetizers) only. That should be on the website but it's only in some of these reviews. Anyway, the burrata was delicious, as was the bread served with it. The ricotta was good but not amazing. The bruschetta, imo, was barely edible. The dried, fried? pancetta on top was extremely salty and the combo of pea sprouts and peas tasted bitter. I usually finish all my food but I didn't want the rest of this. The price for 3 tapas ended up being $75. I expected that all the dishes here would be top notch here based on the reviews, so I was disappointed. read more

If only they were ever open when I'm visiting Santa Barbara!!! I had one of the most memorable meals of my life here. But only one...sigh!!! I know they are a very small business/mom and pop shop but I wish they were open even just one more day a week!!! Alas, I'll have to plan my next trip around that next meal. read more

Had my best friends bachelorette dinner here and it did not disappoint! This place is so aesthetically pleasing and had a great atmosphere. Also loved how picturesque this place was! Come early though, they get packed and there's not much seating for big groups. We had a group of 7 and we got lucky with seating. Service was great, the staff was really nice and attentive. Food was amazing! Only a small complaint is that the pasta was a bit salty for me, but I also eat more on the lighter side of salt, other than that, everything was great! Would definitely come back again read more

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Love coming here for a special occasion or for a spritz. The menu changes and I have not been disappointed. Definitely recommend one of their spritzes and their pasta always tastes fresh. Seems like they only have their indoor seating now read more

Aperitivo - Aperitivo spritz Hugo spritz Crudo - Wine Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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A must visit if you're looking for a place to dine in Santa Barbara! The food is beyond flavorful and the spritzers teleport me to Italy! A must try is the burrata, do your taste buds a favor and immediately order this cheesy delight! Beyond the food being impeccable the staff is the friendliest you'll ever meet; making everyone feel like a regular and valued as a patron! Do yourself a favor and mark this as a must see on every visit! read more

Aperitivo - Wine Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

No hesitation here with the 5 star review! Excellent food, stellar service, and guaranteed high quality product every time. When I want fresh and delicious pasta, Aperativo is my go-to. I appreciate their dedication and consistency. Highly recommend for date night since its a cozy intimate venue with an open kitchen. I'm also a big fan of Tues pasta club for take out, excellent wine pairings every time. read more

Aperitivo - Couldn't resist pasta club night tonight! Lasagne alla bolognese with Sangiovese Castelluccio le More! - Wine Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Aperitivo is an absolute must for dinner in SB. The food quality and creative flares are beyond exceptional. You can truly feel how every step for each dish is perfected. I highly recommend the spritz, Caesar salad, and panzanella when available. Simply cannot say enough positive words about this place read more

Aperitivo - Spritz, Cae Sal - Wine Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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One of the best restaurant in town! I wasn't able to take a picture of my drink but it was not on the menu and very delicious! Everything I tried was delicious, especially the ahi tuna! It's best to order with a group so that everyone can try a little bit of everything. It was chilly outside but they have huge heaters that warm the patio section up. The space inside the restaurant is not that large but it's lively and my focus was on the food's flavor and obvious quality. I will definitely be going back! read more

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I am a foodie, I travel for work and have been fortunate enough to have amazing food all over the world. That being said this is one of the most underrated restaurants in Santa Barbara I can easily say this is one of the top three restaurants in Santa Barbara. My recommendation would to be to order anything with the burrata on it! The 24 hrs burrata, the pere brushchette , and the stratacciatella brushchette were all amazing! The passion fruit margarita is also to die f Thank you for upping the food game in Santa Barbara Aperitivo! Side note, my other two favorite restaurants in Santa Barbara are the Black Sheep and Bouchon read more

Aperitivo - Wine Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Wow, Wow, Wow!!! Santa Barbara has officially stepped up its game in dining. The limited menu is well thought out. This place has a limited menu, limited seating, and ultimate flavor. This is an absolute must. Beautifully cooked and presented food heightens your senses. The dishes don't require any further seasoning. They are known for their pasta and the menu changes frequently. We definitely will be back! Perhaps monthly. Side note: they have a pasta club you can become apart of and also take pasta home to cook a meal. read more

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Completely blown away. Total must-go. We had the following, all excellent: -burrata w/ figs; -panzanella; -tuna crudo; -cacio e pepe; -spinach creste w/ chickpeas Ate a ton but didn't feel grossly full because the pasta was handmade, which makes a huge difference in quality. The spinach creste was especially unique, and the cacio e pepe was perfect. read more

Terrible service, the tall brunette hostess lied about having no tables for two, told us it was 30 mins, then let a couple of 2 sit at the table we were told it was for a larger party, we overheard the other couple ask if dogs were allowed, with no reservation she then sat them as we waited on the back wall. She should be fired. read more

By far our favorite restaurant in Santa Barbara. The food is to die for and everyone there is so nice! More locals than tourists. Changing menu that is incredible every time. read more

Staff emits love and friendlyness. If I lived down the block this would be my daily hang out and I bet they would adopt me. Haha. This is a very charming spot w high quality foods and drinks! Pappardelle was al dente and saucy. There was a Bread sourdough grilled that was from another planet. Everything about this place was charming and you leave enamored. read more

The miso butter truffle tagliatelle was so perfect that we all said wow after every bite. The vibe was great and the chef hand-delivered our food. I'll be hitting this spot every time I'm in SB. read more

Aperitivo - TAGLIATELLE D'UMAMI - Wine Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Amazing service. Menu changes often so check the website link. Has outdoor seating. Was popular on a Thursday night, so I would try to reserve ahead of time on the weekends. We sat indoors and could see the chef make our dishes. Food 10/10. Very aesthetic and the Hiramasa was next level and for an affordable price! A must try if you're in Santa Barbara! read more

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Aperitivo is such a hidden gem! They do not take reservations so be prepared to wait or come early as the place is small and intimate. They have a cute parklet in front for outdoor seating. The owner is from Milan and he rotates his menu based on seasonal ingredients. The menu is limited but everything is spectacular. There is usually a seasonal bruschetta and burrata on the menu as well as two types of pasta dishes. They have a variety of spritz options as well as wine. For those who like to cook, they offer a wine and pasta club. We can't wait to go back- it is wonderful to have a piece of Italy in Santa Barbara. read more

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Food is perfectly well balanced and fresh, I was scrapping each plate clean!! Great service and ambiance. I will definitely be back!!

O. M. G! O. M. G! O. M. G! O. M. G! O. M. G! O. M. G! O. M. G! The bruschetta! O. M. G! O. M. G! PS: The chairs are just fine. read more

Lets go over the negative real quick. The seating arrangement is small. The chairs are a bit uncomfortable. They don't do take out. So now we got the negatives out of the way. Everything else is POSITIVE. The menu is very finite but the attention to detail is the reason why it is so. You know for a fact that there will be attention to detail with every dish. As any restauranter knows, the smaller the menu, you'll get the best quality. The menu does change a every so often so definitely call before coming. Also you'll need to budget your finances, this place is rather expensive. But well worth the time and effort to be here. Definitely a treat! The process is a bit long, but only because they make everything fresh. So you'll need to be patient. Even though there isn't a take-out option, they have a pasta members club. Definitely ask the staff for all the details! Staff is very professional as well knowledgeable. You'll definitely will get impeccable service. read more

I can only speak for the spritzes, apps, and vibes... but all were great! Super cute spot, owned by locals who know good stuff. read more