We were excited to try the new restaurant that took over from Angel Oak at the Baccara resort. The views are spectacular! We sat inside and looked out over the ocean. 5 Star. The restaurant just opened and is going through normal teething pain. Our server was polished and had two trainees with her. We had to ask a few times for our second drinks. We had the focaccia bread with red sauce ( great add) and oysters for apps. Very nice! Had polenta and green beans , both were good. Daughter had the fillet and Nona had lamb. These were nice. My daughters steak was perfect texture , charred and a nice medium rare throughout. We had the Bisteca Florentine. Signature dish was disappointing! They had trouble cooking it evenly. The fillet side was well done, the new york side was over on the edges and end and was raw at the bone. it was presliced and delivered in a crueset pan ( nice touch). Could have lived with it, but the beef was over aged had a very odd texture. Cutting the slices into bites yielded these squares that had no evidence of muscle fiber. It was really odd. Had the tableside tiramisu for desert. It was a nice presentation, but the flavor did not hit the mark. The ladyfingers overpowered the dish, and you were left with a soggy bread bite with marscipone and chocolate bits. My daughters vanilla bean ice cream was far better. We had mamma's rigatoni to take out, it was a small portion and had barely any sauce. Nothing to write home about. Our meal and service was OK, not great. I feel the service will eventually get better, unsure about the food. read more

Very nice people that work there but it's a little too much sauces that over powered the good taste of the dishes. Meaning you don't need sauces poured over polenta. I love veggies but it was too much spices on top which made the taste seem like it was an Asian dish. My son's ravioli was also over powered by too many sauces which when you took a bite you just tasted that not what's inside the ravioli! read more

Beautiful setting and decor. Very poor choice in music, soft rap!!!,come-on.Asked for the music to be changed,NO JOY on that matter. Service was very mixed. College babe, was the hostess and looked like a college babe. Mix of costumes for the rest of the crew. Iam sorry to say the food was POOR,FROM START TO FINISH and this was Sunday night.For the money, JUST A ALL AROUND BUMMER. read more

Very happy with our recent visit to Marisella at The Ritz Carlton. We celebrated our wedding anniversary here and the food and service were absolutely perfect. We thought that we were going to miss the old Angel Oak menu but this new pasta-emphasis menu was sublime. We will definitely be back. read more

Beautiful ocean view patio with excellent service! This place literally just opened a week ago, but the food and service already feels like a well oiled machine! We tried a little of everything: homemade focaccia w/ whipped ricotta (crispy crust/chewy inside), crispy squash blossom (good), California rock fish (tasty), and the overall standout -- the slow roasted lamb ragu (great handmade pasta with a rich & zesty lamb ragu)! The hostess was also very sweet and accommodating with our request to switch indoors instead of outside (too windy). Will be back especially for the pasta! read more

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Probably not worth going to! Atmosphere is nice. The service is adequate, but the food is really just mediocre. The focaccia and ricotta was phenomenal and we were very excited. Had a great drink and we were very excited. Had the meatball appetizer and it was OK but two out of three things being really good and one being OK we were hoping that the rest of dinner would be great. Unfortunately, that's not what happened. We had a salad with dates and oranges that was really just mediocre , left most of it. We had the Lamb pasta and the lamb had a very funny taste and in all fairness about 30 to 40% of it was too fatty to eat anyway. Had the chicken which was a very strange pounded chicken with half white meat and half dark meat. It was kind of like a compressed turkey roll, except the dark meat had a lot of fat compressed into it so it was not very good at all, and the flavor wasn't great either. On to dessert, we had the tiramisu Table side. The presentation was very nice, but the actual desert itself which was mediocre like Olive Garden level. All in all pretty disappointing if you want to spend this much go to Elwood down by UCSB. I've had three Great dinners there in last month and it's consistently spectacular. This feels like a hotel restaurant that will capture the people are staying there but if you're not at the hotel. There is no absolutely no reason to go there as a local or even a tourist. read more

Rare I give a one star review. Dinner started with an unfriendly greeting by hostess who then tried to seat us outside where it was obviously cold. We asked to be seated inside, so they left us standing in the middle of the restaurant for a few minutes, came back and seated us at a table where the booth and chair were of different heights so my wife was looking down on me. Odd but manageable. My wife ordered chicken which was undercooked so we sent it back. She then got a new chicken which was like rubber because I figure she was being punished for sending back the first one? She ended up not eating it at all and just had vegetables. To add insult to injury, the waiter then attempted to charge us for BOTH chicken plates at $42 each. Truly a bad experience. Really embarrassing for the Ritz Carlton to have this on their property given they are the essence of great service. read more

Amazing food, service, and ambience. The pasta and main entrees are a taste of Italy nestled on the coast of Santa Barbara. This restaurant is an 11/10 and secret gem of Santa Barbara no doubt. Kudos to the attentive, friendly staff and our world class waiter Santiago. read more

Our first dining experience was great. Everything about it including our server, the view, the food. We enjoyed it so much that we went back a few days later for my birthday dinner. Unfortunately, that experience is why we are not going back. There's just a sense of condescending attitude from the managers walking around that left a bad taste. Even when I complimented our server, the manager I talked with gave me some patronizing response. I have been to other comparable fine dining to know what an excellent and welcoming customer service looks like. This wasn't it. Not that this also a big deal but other restaurants like Luckys we have visited would have acknowledged my birthday with a dessert or candle, etc. but nothing. read more

The service was top tier!! My husband and I cannot stop raving about this place. They go above and beyond and we have never had such an experience! My husband ordered the filet mignon and it was our highlight!! Seriously have not had a better steak. My pesto pasta was amazing as well. The focaccia and whipped ricotta is 10/10 you must order. We were also celebrating our anniversary and we got to try the strawberry sorbet. Overall, this was an experience we will never forget. The view of the pier and sunset was the cherry on top. If you have the chance, please try Marisella!! read more

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Unbelievable food with a breathtaking view. The service was incredible. Definitely try out their seafood - I'm still dreaming of it. Can't think of a better setting to enjoy a great meal. read more

Marisella - Oysters, uni, shrimp - Italian Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Great addition to the Ritz and the neighborhood! From the warm welcome at the front door to the attentive service through out your dinner- you will feel special! The restaurant is absolutely beautiful and the views are amazing! The drinks and food are well thought out to create a coastal Italian experience. There is a great variety of food from light dishes to a hearty steak options. The house made Focaccia is a must! Caprese salad is my go to- the heirloom tomatoes are so good! The filet mignon is the most tender and flavorful I've ever had! All pasta dishes are made in the house and it's hard to pick which one to try first - had to try the Gnocchi and it was perfect! I couldn't say No to the fresh strawberry Panna Cotta - oh boy, what a perfect ending to a delicious meal! Needless to say, I have to go back, so many things I want to try! read more

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My boyfriend took us here for my birthday and honestly it was really cute inside! We both got drinks, pesto pasta, wagyu carpaccio, filet mignon, and i forgot the last item but it was an appetizer with fried seafood and tartar sauce. Everything was great in the beginning and our waitress let us know the kitchen will be taking a bit longer because of a big party outside. We didn't mind until we realized it took 40 minutes to get our main dishes. We were already getting tired and the food pretty much came out once we started becoming impatient. The pesto pasta wasn't mind blowing, but the filet mignon is definitely a must! It made it a bit worth the wait but since it's a brand new restaurant I hope they have a better system for getting food out faster. I am all for pacing dishes and getting to chat with the people your with, but my boyfriend and I are definitely not talking about anything worth a 40 minute conversation. It was kinda disappointing too because we wanted dessert afterwards but we were so over it. read more

Marisella - Italian Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Amazing service, food is great, the place is so nice close to the beach views. Love the entire dishes, everything was so good!! My Clara server was amazing read more

Marisella - Italian Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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FANTASTIC! The service was impeccable- Zoe and the other servers were friendly without being obsequious, smart and helpful without being overbearing. The manager in from Chicago came to introduce himself and I liked him so much. What a treasure! It's very obvious that the management here has taken the time to hire the best people and train them in how to make this experience top notch. The food was excellent, as one would expect, and the location, as always, is spectacular. As a special evening, I much preferred this to Caruso's or Lucky's- it's got a gorgeous view, and the team here went the extra mile to make us feel valued. The hostess, the young woman pouring water, the young man who got us our silverware- they were all A+++. What a nice group of people. read more

I was really looking forward to dining here, but the experience left quite a bit to be desired. The food had its highs and lows. I ordered the tomato martini--unfortunately, it was undrinkable. Harsh, odd flavor and not at all balanced. The kids' meals came out far before ours, which meant they were done long before our entrées even arrived. Also, there were no protein options available to add to pasta dishes--not even something basic like chicken or shrimp, which felt surprisingly limiting. What truly soured the evening was the unwelcoming attitude from the manager on duty. My 12 month old dropped a few puff crackers on the floor, and we were met with repeated dirty looks throughout dinner. We were mindful of the mess and even cleaned up after ourselves, but still felt judged the entire time. At checkout, I said to our server, "I'm sorry--I know your manager seemed very angry," and she quietly responded, "Yeah, I'm sorry about that," clearly acknowledging the tension. As we walked out, the manager--a woman named Bella, lighter complexion, shoulder-length curly/wavy hair--was near the exit. I said, "Sorry about the floor--you must not have children." She replied, "Oh no, I do--I just want them to clean it fast." It felt defensive and insincere, not the kind of understanding you'd expect from someone who claims to be a parent. Our server was kind, and the restaurant itself is lovely--but between the lackluster food experience and the discomfort caused by management's attitude, I wouldn't return. Expected better at the Ritz, a family friendly hotel. read more

Marisella - Dozen oysters - Italian Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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I would give six stars based on the service from Milo and the others that came to our table. My family and I ordered four different appetizers, four different desserts. a pasta dishes, shrimp and lobster ravioli and the lamb. ALL were presented to look appetizing and reflected the pride that the chef has in creating each dish. It was such a treat to experience the different and unique combination of ingredients in the dishes. The setting is inviting and casually elegant. read more

The place is beautiful and the staff was very Friendly and attentive, We were celebrating my Son's birthday and he wanted to have a special dinner. We thought of this place because of the Ritz Carlton fame so we had high expectations. The best thing we ate was the focaccia bread and the whipped ricotta dip. The pasta was kind of bland the slow-roasted short ribs were a little dry they tasted like if they were the last piece at the bottom of the pot. (If you cook you'll know) The wagyu was well prepared but we didn't notice that unless you ordered some side dishes it comes by itself and well it was kind of weird to eat just the meat and nothing else Again the staff were really nice so no complaints there. I don't know if I will give it another try. read more

This seems to be one of the nice restaurants on the Ritz Carlton resort in Santa Barbara. The food was great. Portions were small but delicious. Service was a little snooty but overall acceptable. We were staying at the Ritz and figured we gave it a try. We were tired and wanted to dine in our room, but the place wouldn't take phone orders. Take out must be placed in person. read more

I met with my friend at Santa Barbara for a hiking and winery experience, and our uber driver told us about this new restaurant in town ; and what can I say , it was phenomenal from start to finish, the house made pastas were so good!! We also had the filet mignon , the snapper crudo , and the oysters... so refreshing with the raspberry mignonette. For dessert they recommend us the table-side tiramisu and is definitely a Must!!! They have great ambiance, everyone is super attentive and the food ... no words ! . read more

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From the moment we walked in, the experience was delightful. The warmth and attentiveness of the staff immediately set the tone for a memorable meal. The food was very well balance and I we loved all the local ingredients. The Branzino is out of the world delicious, salt crusted and perfectly cooked. They bring a welcome treat when you sit and dine, tomatoes and garlic salt with local olive oil, wow and YUM! It's so welcoming. The cocktail and wine selection, equally impressive. I'm a wine drinker and the selections were very high-end and a big selection. Big shout to the champagne selection. Another fun part, was the martini selections. Really unique martini section, the star would be the tomato-tini. It's rare to find a place where both the cuisine and the service shine equally, but this experience was a perfect harmony of both. We left feeling not just satisfied, but genuinely cared for. Highly recommended, and we can't wait to return. read more

Marisella - Tomato-Tini - Italian Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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The food was good, but the service needs improvement. We checked in with the host for my wife's birthday, and all the information was noted when we were seated at the table. Some staff came by and offered water but never returned. After about 10 minutes, someone else passed by and asked if we had already been helped. We said yes, but that person never came back, and another lady assisted us at that moment. The server eventually arrived and asked for our beverage order. We placed our food order and dessert, but even after two hours, no one acknowledged my wife's birthday or recognized that we were celebrating a special occasion. No one even asked if it was a special day. We paid and left. It was fine for a regular dinner, but I do not recommend this place for a special-day celebration or a date. read more

We have stayed at the Bacara resort several times over the past few decades yet never dined at Marisella. We decided to dine for the first time during our recent stay and wow, what a let down. Service and ambience is great. The table provided focaccia bread and local olive oil was excellent but our entrees were awful. My wife had the lobster and shrimp ravioli. For some reason the chef decided to make this simple and typically great dish, spicy as hell. I tried a bite and I nearly choked. I had bone in short ribs. Yuck! Fatty and once again, an odd rub or spice the chef used. I have no clue how the restaurant has 4.2 out of 5 stars unless it's solely based on ocean views and the bread. No Bueno read more

Extremely disappointed sadly, came to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday. We ordered $178 Wagyu ribeye, came out cold we ordered polenta came out cold. We expressed it to our waiter our food was cold , He didn't even offer to replace it. Left us hanging not only that the bottle of wine we ordered came after the steak was served 15 minutes later. We ordered pasta came after 15 minutes after our wine was served to our table. .. we asked for bread the bread never came out, I noticed everyone around us had bread except us . Our drinks took forever. They didn't even bring a complementary birthday dessert, as I seen the other tables getting their complementary lighted candle birthday dessert . for being Ritz Carlton restaurant it is not the exacting quality that I have come to know and love from this establishment . I'm extremely disappointed we travel two hours to come to this restaurant! The food is mediocre to tell you the truth . Not because of our experience, but the taste is just subpar. read more

Richie was amazing and made our experience so special. Marisella had amazing food but our experience at the bar with Richie's care and demeanor made our experience a 10 out of 10. read more

I can't believe an experience like this exists in Santa Barbara, I usually have to go to Los Angeles or Malibu. I would say this is a blend of LA meets Big Sur. What made my visit so special? Everything! The ocean cliff views, the curated menu and the extensive alcohol list, along with the upscale but relaxed coastal ambience....but most of all the staff! They are professional, aware, and knowledgeable. They were attentive to every need, to the point that I wondered if they had hidden microphones listening to our conversation! (which I don't think they do, they are just very attentive). I had the privilege of meeting two of the sommeliers, and I got to chat with some of the staff to learn about their backgrounds. It's not a quick dinner experience, you'll want to savor the luxury and peace. We started with several appetizers and then my husband and I ordered pastas. Of course you must order dessert too! The sommeliers gave us a dessert port to go with our chocolate dessert. It was a perfect evening, the staff was impeccable and I enjoyed the thoughtful, locally sourced approach. Restaurants like this need to be protected and preserved, I'm already trying to squeeze in another night before leaving the country in July. Thank you team! This is what Santa Barbara needed! read more

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Food was great. Smaller portions. Outstanding service. Great ambiance. Great views of the ocean.

The pasta was absolutely delicious -- rich, flavorful, and beautifully plated. Every bite felt like a little piece of Italy. Highly recommend this place! read more

Marisella - Italian Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

One of the most beautiful fuse while dining ever. The food was delicious and the service was great. Do not skip the bread with whipped or ricotta. We enjoyed everything and their Sommelier was top-notch. He knows his stuff and was so pleasant and recommended the most amazing wines. We will be back. read more

Atmosphere and views are outstanding. Can not say enough great things about the food and service. Their made in house pasta program is out of this world. I have not experienced this at any other restaurant in Santa Barbara. read more

We were excited to try the new Marisella's at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara, where we celebrate our anniversary each year. The oceanfront setting, breezy terrace, and modern coastal décor were beautiful. The food was delicious...especially the homemade focaccia with tomato dip and the handmade pastas. The only disappointment was the management. Several managers were making rounds, but some tables received noticeably more attention than others. Even our daughters quietly picked up on it, which felt out of place for this establishment. With more consistent hospitality, this restaurant has the potential to become a true dining destination within the resort. read more

We were really looking forward to trying Marisela, but the experience just didn't deliver. Even with a reservation, we weren't seated until 25 minutes later. It took another 15 minutes just to get water, and another 10 before our server came by to explain the menu. Our main dishes didn't come out for an hour and a half--and when they finally did, the pasta was way too salty. A couple of the other dishes were okay, but nothing stood out. Overall, it felt pretty average. Not sure if our server was just overwhelmed, but we noticed other staff in the same uniform standing around at the bar, chatting with the bartender for a good 10 minutes while we were still waiting on basic service. Marisela needs a lot of work. If you're looking for a solid dinner spot, you're better off going somewhere else. No reason to pay premium prices for slow service and forgettable food. read more

Had dinner last night and was so disappointed Plenty of seats but were sat 1/2 late anyway. Food was too salty, the dip in pot oily. The pasta rubbery did not taste fresh at all. And small portion. The patronage is what really killed it and I fear this restaurant can't escape what will be its downfall. It is located on Bacara but this hotel is a Marriott which means many of its guests are there solely due to their points (5 star hotel catering to 2 star clientele)- alas what you have is drunk cruise ship vibes with loud drunk sloppily dressed people who have forgotten to use their inside voices. Will skip this disaster upon our next visit to Santa Barbara read more

Amazing experience start to finish. I think I tried a little bit of almost everything, and each bite was spectacular. The Dip in the Pot was fun and a delight, the Oysters were perfect, the filet was rich and juicy, and the surprise treat was Chef Danny Grant's "Beans & Greens" of gigante beans, rapini, sofrito, and lemon that are, hands down, the best beans I can remember. For dessert, the Baba au Rhum was sublime, but the topper was the homemade, slightly boozy vanilla ice cream. Ask for chocolate shavings on top. Great service at the bar from Marshall and Rich, great attention and menu advice from Christina. read more

Marisella - The house Old Fashioned with laser-cut cubes is... delicious. - Italian Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Fantastic menu, food was absolutely delicious, and the staff were so friendly and helpful! Looking forward to visiting again! read more

Marisella has a lovely layout and great views. The waiter brought us a complementary small appetizer of fresh cherry tomatoes and an herbed salt for them, which was delicious. We ordered two appetizers for our party of four: tuna crudo, and a carpaccio, both of which were delicious. Then things stopped going right. The waiter had keyed in the wrong entree for one of our party. We discovered this when they served us. I would have expected the waiter to do whatever he could to correct the error. Instead, he just said while passing our table: "that was on me", meaning he acknowledged his mistake. It took another 20 minutes to get the correct order to us, and he did not seem at alll to be involved in correcting his mistake. My wife had ordered their rack of lamb, which was three mutton, not lamb chops. Worse yet, each one of them was almost entirely fat only, hardly any meat at all, less than a forkful on each chop. I wouldn't have accepted such poor chops from a butcher, and neither should they have. We then asked for the manager and showed her the chops, which she acknowledged had almost no meat, just fat. She did apologize. When we got the bill, we were pleased that we were not charged for the chops. We ordered one dessert, the panna cotta, to share, and the manager also gave us a complimentary extra dessert of pistachio ice cream, both of which were very good. Maybe they were just having a bad night, but no self respecting restaurant would even have purchased those horrible mutton chops much less served them. They seem to be missing quality control throughout their entire process from purchasing to serving. We live in Santa Barbara. Our friends were visitors. I have to say this is the worst restaurant experience I have ever encountered in Santa Barbara, Montecito, or Goleta. Marisella really needs to improve. read more

My wife and I eat a TON of beef both at home and at restaurants, so we know good beef. We ordered both the filet and the NY Strip (both medium rare) and without a doubt, they both were some of the best cuts/cooks we have ever had. They were that good. However, what kept us coming back (we went 3 nights in a row), was the outstanding service and conversation with the bar staff, especially Richie and Mitchell. A bar can live or die with the bar staff and if they keep it up, they will certainly thrive. If you visit, tell them the couple that ordered a Fortaleza neat and a Grey Goose rocks says "hello and thank you" read more

Wow! Marisella, meaning star of the sea, is truly a testament to it's name. I dined here during opening week and was so in awe by the hospitality, flavors, and scenery. I am a vegetarian and that didn't hinder my experience at all. I ate on the patio overlooking the ocean which was romantic and peaceful. After dinner, I got a drink and dessert at the bar. The after dinner cocktails pair perfectly with any dessert option they have on their menu. I am so excited for the future of this restaurant... with the backing of the Ritz and the already strong start, I have a really great feeling about this place! read more

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We had a very disappointing experience last night at this restaurant. The food was not hot. The service was terrible and overall, we were very disappointed. read more

We have been here 3 times now and have not had anything we didn't like. The Pastas are so good. The focaccia with whipped ricotta is incredible. The ambiance is great. They really warmed the place up with greenery and low lighting. We sat at the bar one of our visits and our bartender David made some off menu cocktails that were so good! Highly recommend! read more