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.

Decided to stop in at Ellwood for happy hour. They call it Golden Hour? We love Goleta beach and…read moremiss the restaurant that was there, so decided to give Ellwood a try. Great greetings and helpful staff. Sat at bar for a little unwind time, drink and snack. We love a good calamari ( always looking for the best in the area). Ordered a beer and house Chardonnay. Great tasting house Chardonnay and great beers on tap. Then we ordered the calamari; unfortunately cannot recommend. The calamari was so salty you could not eat more than one piece. I am sensitive to salty so I let it to my husband decide, but he could not eat it as well. We had to send it back. The service became noticeably cooler after that :(. Sorry, but I am just telling you what could be improved.

I love Milk & Honey for its inviting atmosphere and unique, flavorful menu. The prices are also…read morereasonable for dining out, though the portions are on the smaller side, so you may want to order at least two dishes and a couple of drinks if you're looking for a more filling meal. My favorites are the Lamborghinis, the Brie with bread, and the Krimschaw Pilsner. I've visited this restaurant many times, and the service is generally good, though it can be inconsistent. Some visits have been excellent, while others have been just average, depending on how busy the restaurant is and which server you have. Overall, I would definitely return again and again for a delicious light meal and the enjoyable atmosphere.

My family and I stopped in for dinner while visiting Santa Barbara, and this ended up being one of…read morethe pleasant surprises of our trip. Overall, the food was excellent, the ambiance was welcoming, and the service was outstanding. One thing we especially appreciated was how family-friendly the restaurant felt. They had old-school cartoons playing on the TVs above the bar, which was a fun touch that kept everyone entertained. One thing to know before you order: the "tapas" here are much larger than what we've experienced at traditional tapas restaurants. We ended up ordering far too much because we expected smaller, shareable portions. Fortunately, that's a good problem to have, as everything was delicious. Just keep the portion sizes in mind when ordering. The drinks were also solid. The sangria leaned a bit more toward fruit juice than wine for our taste, but the other cocktails we tried were well-balanced and enjoyable. Between the great food, generous portions, excellent service, and relaxed atmosphere, we'd definitely recommend this spot to anyone visiting Santa Barbara.

The waiter asked us if we were celebrating a special occasion, but for us, it was simply another…read morefun dinner night out. LOL. Little did we know that our first visit to Marisella would take us into such a lovely restaurant with a beautiful ocean view! We came for the STEAKS...yummy yum, and we certainly weren't disappointed. This was our fifth steak restaurant of the week, and so far, Marisella had the best steak dinner we'd experienced. My date is a true steak professional and strict carnivore--he knows his meat because, after all, that's pretty much all he eats! Ha! He said it was the best ribeye he'd had all week. The previous one he tried was TOUGH! Eeew! It was actually my first time trying a ribeye because I usually order filet mignon. My filet was, as expected, wonderfully tender, but the ribeye surprised me in the best way. It was incredibly flavorful and beautifully balanced, with just the right amount of rich, delicious fat--which we both absolutely love! The service was excellent as well. Every staff member was so polite, respectful, and attentive. I especially appreciated their gentle, pleasant communication, which made the entire experience feel even more special. Thank you, Marisella, for such a fun and delicious dinner! We had a wonderful time and will definitely be back again soon! Yay!

Marisella was easily one of my favorite dining experiences in Santa Barbara. The restaurant is…read moreinside the Ritz-Carlton Bacara, and the entire atmosphere is elegant, sophisticated, and beautiful without feeling stuffy. Our server was absolutely fantastic. She was so professional, quick, polite, and genuinely friendly that I honestly wondered if she was the manager. She had that fresh, confident energy where you can tell someone really knows what they're doing and actually enjoys taking care of their guests. And the FOOD... wow. The whipped ricotta with honey and black pepper was probably my favorite thing I tasted all night. Creamy, slightly sweet, perfectly balanced -- I could have eaten the entire plate. The black truffle Wagyu carpaccio was incredible. The steak practically melted in my mouth, and the truffle flavor made it feel so decadent without being overwhelming. The spicy rigatoni alla vodka was also SO good fresh, rich, full of flavor, and exactly the kind of pasta you keep going back And I have to mention my virgin "Gossip Girl" drink because it was delightful! fresh, refreshing, and honestly such a fun drink. Everything from the food to the service to the beautiful setting felt elevated. This is definitely the kind of place I would come back to for a special dinner. Marisella really delivered. Thank you

My date and I really enjoyed the Tomahawk dinner special. The chef did a fine job combining all the…read moreingredients to create such a tasty steak, and I especially appreciated that it was already sliced for us. My date, a steak professional and strict carnivore, rated it "good." I, on the other hand, thought it was super delicious! The booth seating was comfortable, too. Service was great overall--except that we were given someone else's tab. Fortunately, the total was about the same as what our steak dinner would have cost, so I didn't realize there was a mistake until I got home. That's when things got a little frustrating. I tried calling the restaurant several times to correct the error, but no one ever picked up. By late morning the next day, I finally got through, and a woman told me the manager would call me at noon to help sort things out. Unfortunately, noon came and went, and I never heard from him. I'm curious whether my message actually got through and whether the manager will eventually call me. Fortunately, I'm local, so I'll stop by the restaurant on my evening walk and take care of it in person. Overall, I enjoyed the dinner and would happily go back--but if you need to reach them, don't rely on the phone!

This is the on site restaurant at the Kimpton canary downtown Santa Barbara. It's adjacent to lobby…read morebar and lounge. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. We stayed here for a weekend so we had breakfast / brunch here in the mornings. This restaurant is very cozy and comfy. Except a bit of toddler crying here and now since this is a family restaurant especially in the mornings. For breakfast we have tried local fruit plate, breakfast plate and California style shakshuka. Also sides of fruits and smoked salmon. The food was delicious in healthy portions. The service was fantastic and very welcoming! We were very impressed with this hotel restaurant and will come back whenever we are in town!

5* experience to end a holiday weekend on a high note! I'll be honest, Opal was the restaurant I…read morewas "least hyped" for before visiting. Not because it did anything wrong, but because a couple other options had gone more viral. Just goes to show you can't trust social media for anything. Let's start with the service, which was excellent from our awesome server Sam to our hostess to all the other servers we interacted with. My husband and I commented on how insanely in sync the restaurant was -- SO friendly, going truly above and beyond. Whoever owns and manages this place has clearly chosen some superstars! Then the food.... Just incredible! I had the duck breast and was devastated when I ran out of pieces. The sauce was so delicious and the risotto was excellent. My husband had the ribeye, which was cooked to perfection. Cherry on top was a sweet dessert surprise for our anniversary! Opal, we will be back!

Our group of eight thoroughly enjoyed our dinner at Opal. The service was outstanding! Our waitress…read morewas attentive, thoughtful, and incredibly helpful with the menu options, while also accommodating our individual preferences. We truly appreciated her care and attention. She also selected the perfect wine for me--beautifully balanced and full of flavor. I was very impressed! A special thanks to the chef who prepared my lamb chop dinner. I was served three large, thick, and incredibly juicy lamb chops. They were absolutely amazing--truly heavenly! I highly recommend this dish, especially for fellow meat lovers.

If you can eat somewhere else, you should. We eat dinner in Montecito at least once a week and we…read morehad never tried Ca Dario. We did last night and at least we now know where not to go. My wife ordered the carbonara pizza. The egg was more than over hard. I had the salmon pasta. Cheap penne swimming in a cream sauce. The overwhelming flavor of the night? Salt. Everything was salted heavily for flavor. Low quality food seasoned to be acceptable. If Walmart opened an Italian restaurant, this would be it. The table behind us checked out early and left without eating hardly anything because it was so bad. Ambience is also nothing great. Too bright. Minimal decor. It was very hot inside on our visit. Both tables on the sides of us were fanning themselves as well. EXTREMELY loud. Between the kitchen noise and general customer noise, you could not have a conversation. We even asked our server about it and he said that yes eventually you get used to it but it's always very loud. I will say that the bathroom was very clean AND well maintained. Those are not the same things. One solid star for the bathrooms. When I went to write this review, I thought I would take a look at the other reviews and see what other diners had to say. I noticed that the owner has a habit of commenting back on the reviews rudely without addressing any of the issues raised. He clearly can't recognize an opportunity to improve and lets his hubris dictate his actions. No reason to go back. Please save yourself and eat somewhere else. Many other wonderful eateries in Montecito that are deserving of your dollar.

Our first time dining here, and it was a great experience! We were able to get a last-minute dinner…read morereservation for a party of five to celebrate our dear friend's birthday. The staff was kind and welcoming, and we received excellent service from our servers. The food we ordered was delicious, and everyone enjoyed their meals. We were seated on the outdoor patio, which was especially nice with the beautiful weather. If I'm back in Montecito, I'll definitely want to dine here again!

We love Paloma for a date night! Also love it during the holidays when it's decorated to the max!…read more Food is always interesting and tasty and service is always friendly and feels elevated in a relaxed way. I will say that we're both so sad they changed the wagu tri tip sauce from a bearnaise to a chimichurri! Please bring the bearnaise back or as an option, it was our absolute favorite!

The skillet cornbread was probably my favorite item, but the kids loved their grilled cheese and…read morekids' pasta dishes. The house made pickles aren't in fact pickles, but pickled veggies (carrot, onion, green beans, cauliflower, garlic cloves). Pulled pork arancini were a big hit with my son. Caesar salad with pulled chicken was good and sizable, too. Enough for 3+ to share if ordering as a starter. The Paloma salad with optional wagyu tri tip add on was tasty and also enough to share. Mocktails were enjoyed by the kids. Service was so/so. We weren't told about items they'd run out of UNTIL we'd ordered them. Water refills were slow, but we were pressed to order our entrees immediately with the starters, which was bothersome. In the end, it turned out kids eat free on Sunday nights, so a few of those got comped, and left us feeling happy with the experience.

This service, view and outdoor ambiance was so amazing to experience with a group of girls for a…read morebachelorette. We shared some complimentary bread (including GF options) with some oil and spices for dipping. The iced tea, coffee and cocktails were all top-tier, and so was the food. Also came out very quickly for a bigger party. Loved our experience!

Stonehouse continues to be one of my absolute favorite restaurants in the Santa Barbara area. Every…read morevisit reminds me why it's such a special destination. From the stunning grounds to the impeccable service and beautifully executed food, the entire experience feels luxurious without being pretentious. If you're celebrating a special occasion, it's hard to imagine a better setting. I chose Stonehouse for my birthday this year, and they made the evening feel incredibly memorable. Our server, I believe her was Amy, was absolutely fantastic. she was warm, attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely made me feel celebrated throughout the meal. It's the kind of hospitality that elevates an already wonderful dinner into something unforgettable. I ordered the lychee mocktail which was refreshing with a perfect balance of sweetness, and my server smoked it table side for me. It was such a thoughtful gesture for my birthday. We started with the assortment of fresh breads served alongside really high quality olive oil, which were delicious on their own. Shortly after, we were treated to an amuse bouche which was a delicate whipped lobster nestled inside a slice of cucumber. It was light, elegant, and a wonderful way to begin the meal. The Grilled Yellow Peach and Burrata Salad was another standout. The sweetness of the peaches paired beautifully with the creamy burrata, creating a refreshing and well balanced appetizer that felt perfect for the season. For our entree, we shared the Beef Wellington for Two, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. The pastry was beautifully golden and flaky, while the beef was cooked perfectly and remained incredibly tender. The sauce also made it very pleasant. Every component of the dish felt thoughtfully prepared. It also came with the Signature Mashed Potatoes. It was unbelievably rich and indulgent. At first it seemed a little watery, but after letting it sit for a few minutes, it thickens slightly and became perfectly smooth and velvety. By the end of dinner, I was completely satisfied, but they had one final surprise for me. The team presented me with a beautiful birthday dessert, a thoughtful gesture that perfectly capped off an already exceptional celebration. Beyond the food, the property itself is breathtaking. The beautifully landscaped grounds and elegant dining spaces create an atmosphere that's both romantic and timeless. Every detail feels intentional, making the experience feel truly special from the moment you arrive. Stonehouse consistently delivers one of the finest dining experiences in the Santa Barbara area. Between the impeccable service, outstanding cuisine, gorgeous setting, and thoughtful hospitality, it's a place I find myself returning to time and time again.