If you've not found this spot you are missing out!…read more Yes lunch & dinner are delicious- but breakfast here is like the best kept secret in Santa Barbara. Big fan of the toast, jam, and TRUE Italian combos. Everting from delightful eggs to sautéed peppers. Lunch entrees come with a simple salad- a perfect day date. Dogs welcome outside, more kid friendly than it may seem- and don't forget to take desert with you or at the table!

My visit to Via Maestra 42 came way with mixed feelings. There were definitely aspects of the…read moreexperience that I enjoyed, but a few issues with the food prevented the meal from living up to its potential. For my entree, I ordered the Costolette d'Angello alla Griglia, the grilled lamb chops served with vegetables and mashed potatoes. The lamb was okay, but it arrived more warm than hot and the accompanying mashed potatoes were a disappointment. They arrived noticeably cold in the center, giving the impression that they had been reheated rather than freshly prepared. Unfortunately, those temperature inconsistencies distracted from the dish and even made me question whether everything had been plated and served at its best. The lamb chops were okay overall, but the execution left something to be desired. I also tried the Linguine con Vongole (clam pasta). The flavors were fine and the dish was enjoyable enough, but diners should be aware that there were some broken shell fragments and bits of sand mixed in with the clams. While that can occasionally happen with shellfish dishes, it was noticeable enough that I found myself eating a little more cautiously than I would have liked. One aspect of the restaurant that stood out was the atmosphere. The environment has a distinctive character and personality that makes it feel different from many of the other dining options in SB. It certainly adds to the overall experience. The service was somewhat slow during my visit, though the staff remained friendly and courteous throughout the evening. Overall, this place offered an interesting atmosphere and friendly service, but the food execution felt inconsistent. Between the warm lamb, cold mashed potatoes, and shell fragments in the linguine, the meal didn't quite meet expectations. There's potential here, but a little more attention to detail in the kitchen would go a long way.

Great dinner in Santa Barbara. The pasta, the drinks, the environment was on point. We sat at the…read morebar and had a great conversation with the bartender. To prepare for my italy trip, I asked their suggestion on which wine or aperitif Italians drink. He introduced us to Rabarbaro Zucca, which tasted like rhubarb. Overall great place and I enjoyed my night here.

Solid Italian spot with a great location, but a few things to know before you go…read more The food was genuinely good. That part didn't disappoint. Service, though, was pretty meh. We mentioned it was our anniversary in the reservation notes and... nothing. Not even a quick "congrats." A small touch that would've gone a long way. The place is clearly popular. It was packed when we were there, so definitely book ahead if you don't want to wait. Parking nearby is tough too, so give yourself extra time to find a spot. Overall: good food, prime location, just don't expect much personal attention from them.

Absolutely amazing. I came here alone for my birthday and the server Joey made my night! He gave me…read morethe most perfect recommendations and satisfied my craving. He was also very attentive and made sure my night was perfect. Ambiance is definitely more on the calm side (I was sat in a booth, which felt very romantic) overall rating a 100/10 highly recommended!

An absolutely fantastic experience at Arnaldi's Café! From the moment we walked in the front door,…read morewe were greeted by the hostess with a smile. She escorted to show us the entire restaurant, as this was our first ever visit. We chose to first sit at the bar for happy hour, Which was delightful! Our dinner experience was made all the better by our bartender/waiter Sean; professional in every way. He made a difference in our evening. Kudos to him. The food was exceptional. This restaurant has a distinct positive "vibe" with customers happy to be here! I cannot understand the negative reviews posted about Arnoldi's . We look forward to our next visit.

My linguini with clams was delicious! I loved that they filled my plate with plenty of fresh clams,…read moreunlike some restaurants that serve mostly pasta with only a few clams. The dining room is much larger than it appears through the building's exterior windows, which was a pleasant surprise. We were seated at a long table that comfortably accommodated all seven of us, making it perfect for our group. My friend is very pleasant and sociable, but she is also quite clumsy. While chatting and enthusiastically gesturing with her hands, she accidentally knocked over her full glass of red wine, spilling the entire contents onto the man sitting across the table from her. His pants were completely soaked in red wine! Most of the group laughed at the unexpected mishap, but I felt terrible for our friend. He was a good sport, though, and never seemed upset. The waiter immediately came to our aid, removing the white tablecloth and replacing it with a fresh one. I truly appreciated how gracious, patient, and understanding the staff was throughout the whole situation. They handled the unexpected incident with such professionalism and kindness that it made a memorable moment much easier to laugh about. Thank you for your wonderful service and for making our experience so enjoyable. We will definitely dine here again--and hopefully my guests won't be quite so entertaining next time around!

My dad was craving Italian food on a recent stay in Santa Barbara, and this place came up as a dog…read morefriendly option. We had spent the day wandering through wine tastings and Solvang, so we were hungry. I wish we would have stopped somewhere else though. Ca'Dario was ok, but definitely not great. I wouldn't come back. - mozzarella caprese: probably the best thing on the menu. It's tough to mess up cheese and tomatoes. - fettuccine Alfredo: The dish became coagulated when it was set down in front of us, which made it really unappetizing. - ravioli: This was good, but not memorable. - spaghettini Della Nona: the best pasta we ate.

Amazing pizza, mocktails, and service!…read more Bettina was an incredible stop during our Santa Barbara trip! We loved the house mocktails, and the crispy sweet potatoes with crème fraîche were absolutely delicious. We also tried the GRAPE pizza with added sausage, and it was incredible! Everything was so satisfying, and the flavors really stood out. Natalia and Mia provided excellent bar service and made the experience even better. We also noticed the restaurant's 2021 and 2025 Michelin posters, which caught our attention! One tip: make a reservation ahead of time. We showed up without one, but it was still a great experience. Definitely worth a visit if you're in Santa Barbara and love great pizza!

We always love trying the restaurants that come up on Guy Fieri's "Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives" so…read morewe were excited to try this place when we were in Santa Barbara! It's in the Montecito Country Mart, a little boutique shopping center. We made a reservation for a Wednesday dinner and thankfully we did, as it was pretty busy. The service was good but it was pretty hot and stuffy inside (no AC, I guess), which made things a little uncomfortable but that would really be my only complaint for the evening. We started off with the Arancini. Flavor packed little balls of goodness! Very tasty and a great cheese pull when we ate it! The Roasted Cauliflower Pizza and the kid's pizza we got were great as well. Loved the texture and lots of unique pizza selections featuring great local ingredients! Reasonably priced, I wish they had Bettina where I live as I'd definitely go back again!

I had a great meal here a few days ago and was helped by a lovely young lady. Food was good, drink…read morewas strong, but as I was people watching one of your male staff members with braces (I could see them every time he would make some weird faces) kept kreeping on your host and acting offputting. Hope yall fix that weirdness for everyone.

Lovely evening at Mizza with family and buddy. We found ourselves at a nice fire pit high top table…read morewith enjoyable acoustic music. We ordered a variety of items. Kids pasta, lemon spaghetti, peach and pistachio pizza. Speaking on my pizza, wow! It was truly amazing. I shared it with everyone because I was so excited to share my excitement. They all agreed too. What a wonderful pizza. Definitely would order again. Enjoyed the overall atmosphere and food.

We were so happy to finally be back in the area for round two at this spot. The great vibes and…read morefriendly staff made us feel right at home again. When it came time to order, we purposely decided not to look at what we had last time because we wanted to try something new. Well... turns out we ordered the exact same things! And honestly, I can't blame us. Once again, both the salad and the pizza were absolutely amazing and just as good as we remembered. While this pizza by no means needs ranch, the owner was kind enough to give us some of their house-made ranch to try. All I can say is... wow! The pizza is fantastic on its own, but that house ranch was seriously impressive and made for one heck of a bonus. It's always a great sign when you return somewhere and the experience lives up to the memory and this place definitely delivered again. Thanks again for another memorable experience. We can't wait for round three!

Picked up a couple pizzas for takeout - there were a lot of people picking up so it's clearly a…read morepopular spot! I liked the range of pizzas they have, we ordered a lemon mushroom and something with ricotta, bacon, and fig as well as some garlic knots. They were both really tasty; the fig one was my favorite pizza, but my favorite bite was perhaps the garlic knots! Perfectly fluffy and the marinara sauce was the perfect accompaniment. I would've liked more char on the crust, but no complaints otherwise. Definitely want to order from them again and try the Hawaiian and other pies.

If you are looking for some quality pizza in SB, look no further. L' antica pizzeria hand makes and…read morebakes each pizza order in-house. I love the thin crusts of their pizzas because it doesn't leave you feeling too heavy even if you ate the whole pizza (aka, no food coma crash despite the carbs). Tried the Caserta Pizza (5/5) It's made with double flor di latte sauce base that gives it creaminess. Then topped with Italian sausage, garlic pecorino, basil, smoked provolone cheese, and Calabrian chili. The sausage was savory, and the cheese was melty and of good quality. You can taste the mild spice from the chili flakes and the herbal-ness from the basil. Add-on some of their housemade chili oil sauce for an additional spice kick. Service was professional and courteous. We had a great time and really enjoyed our dine-in experience here. We'll be coming back to try out other flavors for sure.

I cannot believe that this place doesn't have five stars on Yelp. This was the best pizza I have…read morehad in recent memory. Wow. Paper thin crust, fresh ingredients. I thought I must've been in Napoli. I was with some friends because we were on our way to a performance (I am a musician) and we were in a hurry. The waiter accommodated us and the pizza came out in under 10 minutes, I believe. The atmosphere is simple but nice. I was surprised that it wasn't more busy on a Friday night. I am telling you, this was fantastic pizza. I cannot wait to go back and to try some of the pasta.

Tucked inside the Santa Barbara Inn, Convivo is one of those spots I've been coming back to for…read moreyears. I'm pretty sure they've been open about 10 years now! I have a lot of memories here: birthdays, first dates with my now-husband, celebrations of all kinds, and plenty of happy hours. And don't let the fact that it's inside a hotel fool you. This is one hotel restaurant that absolutely holds its own. The atmosphere feels elevated but still relaxed, which is exactly my kind of spot. They offer happy hour Monday-Friday from 2-5 pm, and honestly, it's a great excuse to pop in early. I'm a big fan of ordering shared small plates so everyone can try a little bit of everything. Some of my favorites: * Beef Carpaccio * Gamberoni * Octopus * Fuyu Persimmon (and definitely add the focaccia because it pairs so well with burrata). * Charcoal Avocado * Shishito Peppers * Za'atar Flatbread with the ricotta + hummus accompaniments For drinks, the Jiji Spritz is my pick for a refreshing summer drink. And if you're a dirty martini person, the Convivo Dirty Martini is a must. The patio is such a vibe, especially when you're looking for a relaxed Santa Barbara meal that still feels a little special. Add the sunset and ocean breeze and, like, come on. The service is consistently great, and a special shoutout to Angel, the personable and warm manager, who always makes the experience feel welcoming. What keeps me coming back, though, is the consistency. The food is always delicious, the service is always great, and there's something about returning to a place that's been part of so many good memories. And bonus points for complimentary valet! There's also free street parking along East Cabrillo Blvd and the surrounding streets, although spaces can fill up quickly during peak hours.

This restaurant is inside of a hotel with views right by the beach. There is street parking…read moreoutside, and I believe there is valet parking if you are dining at the restaurant. Came here to grab dinner with a friend. We got the funghi pizza and the octopus. The pizza came out super quickly and was hot and crispy. I loved the different types of mushrooms and artichokes on the pizza, 8/10. The octopus wasn't anything special. It was a bit smaller than expected, and it was the same price as the pizza. I'd rather get another pizza than this octopus. The octopus came with a piece of pork belly, which was honestly better than the octopus, 6/10. The meal ended with complementary cookies. I think they are supposed to give them to you, but our waiter forgot and we just asked for them! They are small crunchy cookies, a great way to end our meal.

We had the best experience for dinner at Loquita! I came here with my sister and her fiancé to…read morecheck it out as a possible wedding venue location. The food was amazing and our server Dakota was exceptional. She was so kind, informative, attentive, and had great recommendations and hospitality. The restaurant's atmosphere was also gorgeous. I will definitely come back here and recommend this place to my family and friends.

Such an amazing experience! Dakota was our waitress and was so sweet and accommodating. The food…read moreand drinks were delicious, and they were able to offer celiac friendly options. Great location for date nights and events, I would highly recommend if you are looking for a nice place to spend your evening.