Entrees were delicious- we did steak and lobster pasta. Mashed potatoes and broccolini were also…read moreoutstanding. Appetizers were just alright, though. The ahi tuna poke was disappointing; it just mostly tastes like soy sauce. The service was good, and they comped our dessert since it was an anniversary dinner.

What does The Elwood, Holiday Inn, truck stop coffee, and any movie with Kevin Bacon, have In…read morecommon? They're all meh. Are there worse restaurants, hotels, coffee and movies? Absolutely. But there are a lot better ones, and as far as The Ellwood is concerned, a better place is worth going to. The entire waitstaff looks like Abercrombie and Fitch models, which isn't a bad thing, but it's clear this is their first time working in a restaurant. Our waiter sat us, then returned when we were about finished and asked how everything was. It would have been better if I didn't have an empty glass of iced tea for most of my meal. Also, I have never seen smaller beverage glasses. 4 ice cubes and they're full. There was no salt, pepper, or any other condiment on the table, which is odd for a place where seafood is the main fare. Also, no bread or butter was offered. I got fish and chips which were pretty average, but the portions were small. My partner got a tuna melt which was better than mine, but still on the smaller side of average. If all you want is to sit at the bar and watch the surf with small drink, go to The Ellwood If you're 20 something and Tinder isn't ur thing, go to The Ellwood If you want a full meh experience, The Ellwood is the place But if you want good seafood brought to you by people who know how to serve, go anywhere else.

My partner and I came to celebrate our one year anniversary and we had an amazing time!! We chose…read moreto do the 4 course tasting menu which was out of this world and incredibly worth the price. Each dish was so flavorful and made with so much care. My favorite dish was the pumpkin style gnocchi we had and the branzino fish, he loved the bone marrow. The soup I forgot to take a picture of was potato and leek with truffle was amazing as well. The restaurant is also very cozy with great ambience and we had fantastic service.

Loved the cocktails! The coconut pillow and espresso martini were AWESOME. Wedge salad was solid…read more However, unfortunately our group was let down with the entrees. The steak was aggressively sauced to where it took over the whole plate- multiple people at our table couldn't finish it because the curry flavor was overwhelming. The pasta bolognese was missing the sauce- it felt like pappardelle with ground beef on top. The chicken dish was enjoyable. It was definitely a mixed bag.

Marisella in Santa Barbara was one of the highlights of our weekend trip at the Ritz Carlton. The…read morerestaurant is located along the coast, and the atmosphere is elegant yet relaxed. We had gone there to celebrate our anniversary, and it was such a great spot. We timed our reservation perfectly so that we were able to see the sunset over the ocean. As if that wasn't enough, we also spotted little bunnies hopping through the plants, which made my 6-year-old daughter's evening. She couldn't stop smiling! The meal started with complimentary fresh tomatoes served with an incredible seasoned salt for dipping. My daughter couldn't get enough of it. The house-made focaccia was easily one of the best breads I've ever had. Warm, fluffy, and paired with the whipped ricotta, it was absolutely amazing. If you come here, this is a MUST to order. We also shared the Festa Del Mar, which was packed with fresh seafood and was a very generous portion - perfect for sharing. The roasted carrots were also good. For drinks, we tried the Siren of the Sea, Intermezzo, and the Marisella Old Fashioned. The Old Fashioned was served with a beautiful monogrammed ice cube featuring an "M." All the drinks were good and they did not hold back on the alcohol. Our waiter was incredibly attentive, friendly, and super nice throughout the evening. He even offered to take our picture at the table and did such a great job at it too. The service definitely matched the quality of the food. We'll definitely be back here the next time we're in Santa Barbara. I'm still craving that house-made focaccia and the whipped ricotta. Soooo good!

We came to Marisella to celebrate my child's birthday. First, I want to acknowledge that the staff…read morehelped us modify our reservation after it somehow changed from July 29 to July 30, and I appreciate that. Unfortunately, the rest of the experience was very disappointing. We arrived around 8:30 p.m. and were seated around 8:45 p.m. We were immediately told that the kitchen was closing at 9:00 p.m., so we had to rush to place our order. Later, I asked for a glass of milk for my toddler. I was told the kitchen was closed. I then asked if the bar was still open, and the waitress replied, in a way that felt like she was making fun of me, "Usually we don't make food at the bar." I wasn't asking for food--I was simply asking for a glass of milk for my child. I even explained that if they could make cappuccinos, they should be able to provide milk. Unfortunately, my request was dismissed. The food was decent--about 7/10--but the portions were small. The biggest disappointment was the service. While we were still eating, staff were already taking plates and items away from the table. When they brought the dessert, they did not even clean the table first--there were still pieces of food left on the table, and they placed the dessert right there. It felt rushed and careless. For a Ritz-Carlton restaurant, I expected much better hospitality and attention to detail. Unfortunately, this experience felt like a waste of money, and I would not recommend Marisella.

Can I give 10 stars?!?! From the moment I emailed the restaurant, I was completely blown away by…read morethe amazing customer service (THANK YOU MATT!), that I knew the restaurant experience would be just as great, and I can tell you it more than met my expectations. We had the final dinner of my bachelorette weekend here and everything was made to perfection. From the coconut shrimp (perfectly crispy and piping hot) to the mushroom tartlets (very mushroomy in a good way, and the cheese didn't overpower it at all) , the beet salad (fresh and flavorful) and the herb crusted filet (cooked exactly as requested- juicy and flavorful)- everything was wonderful. The best way to end an amazing weekend. Highly recommend!

When I want a real culinary treat or for wowing my friends and family, I take them to Opal!…read more The ambiance is on point, the staff inviting and the food is always amazing! They have the best filet mignon! Tender, juicy and flavorful! Mushroom cream sauce, scoop of delectable mash potatoes and some fresh veg. Soooo good! Extensive wine list and a full bar make it a must try spot! Top off that delicious meal with house made tiramisu or vanilla bean crème brûlée and you can that me later!

After an afternoon of traffic from Pasadena, my husband and I enjoyed dinner at The Set inside the…read moreHilton Santa Barbara Beachfront on May 22, 2026. Because of their limited staff, we waited 20 minutes for a table when only a third of the tables were occupied and no party was ahead of us. The server was friendly and checked on us periodically throughout the meal. We decided to split a salad, a pasta entree and dessert. The kitchen was kind enough to split the Avocado & Citrus Salad for us - ripe avocado, crumbly & creamy goat cheese, bright citrus grapefruit, and pops of nutty pistachio. The Spicy Burnt Chili Shrimp Pasta did not disappoint! Flavorful and enough heat on the shrimp to water the nose but not sweat, and the roasted heirloom tomatoes added an acidic burst of freshness. And the dessert rounded out the meal - Lemon Ricotta Cake - wasn't too sweet, lemon lightness not tart, and a hearty ricotta cake crumb. Definitely order the pasta!

We enjoyed The Set for dinner this evening at about 8:15PM, as we were staying at the Hilton Santa…read moreBarbara. Our overall experience was very nice, with only slight oddity. We checked in with the hostess, and it was kind of an odd experience. The restaurant was about 60% empty, so I imagine the reason we were quoted 20 minutes for our party of two, is because they were short staffed. There couldn't have been any other explanation. This was happening with everyone that was appearing in person. However, once we were seated, our server was great. I forgot his name; however, he was very pleasant and worked very hard hopping from table to table and maintained his friendly demeanor. The restaurant is well decorated, and is a beautiful addition to the end of the lobby. They also have a lot of outdoor seating as well. We shared the Avocado and Citrus salad, the spicy burnt chili shrimp pasta and the Lemon and Ricotta cake. Everything we had was delicious. The salad they were able to split into two portions. It was so good with avocado, grapefruit, pistachio and goat cheese in a light vinaigrette. YUM! The spicy shrimp pasta was equally as yummy. It smelled and tasted so good. It had a smokey flavor and was surprisingly a bit spicy. The lemon and ricotta cake topped off the meal. The cake was dense, but had that light lemon which was a great complement to the heavy ricotta flavor. Very well balanced. Overall, a great experience with just a notch off for the weird entry experience.

If you have not been to El Encanto restaurant (The Dining Room & Terrace) since the new…read moreowners/management took over, it is well worth a revisit. The service is top notch and friendly. The food has been upgraded, everything we ordered was outstanding. We are neighbors so always tried to patronize the restaurant but previously found it hard to keep going back to the overpriced, ho hum food and bad service. NOT NOW! The food is amazing and at a very reasonable price point, but the biggest standout is the service. Julie Best, the Assistant Manager could not have been friendlier and the servers were so personable, knowledgeable and just fun! We have happily put El Encanto back on the date night rotation.

We used to love El Encanto. Over the last couple years, the menu has steadily declined. Its…read more Hard to find anything of interest among the blah choices.

We had a wonderful experience here! Everything--from the food and ambiance to the exceptional…read moreservice--was outstanding. Our server, Amine, went above and beyond to make our evening truly memorable. A special thank you to both Amine and Josh for their hospitality and for making our visit such a fantastic experience. We can't wait to come back!

Love this bar. Beautifully done. Great ambiance and customer service. My family and I came here to…read morehave some drinks and dessert. We ordered the churro and gelato. The churro was delicious but the gelato was runny and didn't taste good. The food looked so good so next time we will make sure to eat lunch or dinner here. It's a beautiful place.

Our experience at Intermezzo for our anniversary dinner was disappointing. Upon showing up for our…read morereservation, we were taken to a table out front where it was cold and lacked ambiance. When we asked to be moved to one of the many open tables inside, we were told that they were reserved. They sat empty for our whole meal. We felt so bad for our server. I'm not sure if they were short staffed that night, but he was literally running between indoor and outdoor tables. Because he was spread so thin, service severely suffered and we sat waiting at every point of our meal. It was strange to find that a restaurant with "wine cask" in the title didn't have a wine list. We went with a red when our server verbally noted the small list of options. The food was fine, but not specifically memorable. We had the Cask Burger and the Lemon Caper Chicken but everyone around us seemed to be going with the pizza, so perhaps that's the way to go. We didn't end up ordering dessert to celebrate the occasion because we didn't want to prolong the experience.

The three different dining spaces were all very inviting. I've been in to eat and drink at the Bar,…read morewhich was fun to meet the staff and diners all around us. And so much fun to eat their delicious selection of pizzas, and pair them with some incredible wines and/or cocktails. Definitely looking forward to dining at their Sunday Brunch. For our recent dining adventure we had a table in the middle section, which was well lit and very comfortable. We were greeted by our server Elizabeth, who took very good care of us. From start to finish, she was there with some food suggestions, and along with her supporting staff, they took very good care of us. For dinner we shared the Mezzo Meatballs, Rosemary Beet & Strawberry Salad, my favorite, the Lemon Caper Chicken, and the Oven Roasted Salmon. For wine pairing we had a bottle of the Seghesio Zinfandel, quite possibly one of the best producers of Zinfandel up in Sonoma County. For dessert, the classic Banana Split Sundae, and the Traditional Chocolate Cake. Still so much more on the menu to endulge in, we are looking forward to visiting Elizabeth and Intermezzo By Wine Cask again.