Fantastic first experience at Caruso's last month! The ocean view was beautiful, with the…read moreindoor/outdoor vibes, plenty of heaters for warmth, a live pianist playing, and the service was excellent. It is worth mentioning that it takes a little time and is a little challenging getting to the restaurant from the valet area, for those who might be a little physically challenged or slower moving. I do believe that they have an elevator to take you down to the restaurant level though! Reservation-wise they have two options, the four course Prix Fixe menu (which I chose) and a three hour Chef's Tasting Menu. For my menu, I was able to select from about 3-4 options in every course, and there were some available add ons as well. I loved the La Mora Messicana NA Cocktail, it paired nicely with all of my dishes and still felt fun and margarita-esque. Of all the dishes I ate during the evening, the standout for me was the Yolk Gnocchetti Sardi Risotti with Stephanie's Uni Santa Barbara Abalone, Yuzu, and Caviar. It somehow combined all of my favorite things and made what felt like a comfort dish, but elevated. The Chef's Bites at the beginning and end were also delicious, I loved the little blueberry tart. I would definitely return for another meal here, and recommend it to friends or family.

Came here on a Saturday night with my mom and overall had a really lovely experience…read more Even though we didn't stay at the hotel, the service throughout the property immediately stood out. When our Lyft arrived, employees rushed over to open the doors, and when we asked where the restaurant was, the front desk employee actually stepped away from the desk to personally point us in the right direction. The walk to the restaurant is a bit long since it overlooks the beach, but it was a beautiful night and ended up feeling relaxing and special. (Particularly on the way back when we were full from the tasting menu) I just wouldn't wear uncomfy heels. One interesting touch: we overheard the hostess offering another couple the option to put their phones away for the evening so they could fully experience dinner distraction-free. I ended up keeping mine away too and honestly enjoyed being more present during the meal. As a side note, another couple took photos of every meal and there didn't appear to be a stigma regardless. We did the tasting menu, and our waiter was fantastic with recommendations. All the staff was great, honestly. What stood out most to me compared to other Michelin-starred restaurants I've visited was the focus on seasonal ingredients and vegetables. That night featured Harry's berries and asparagus throughout several dishes. My favorite was probably the burrata with Harry's berries and rhubarb. There are quite a few optional upgrades throughout the tasting menu, including caviar and upgraded steak options, but we only added the chocolate bar selection at the end, which was excellent. I also appreciated the atmosphere. You could hear the waves crashing through the open doors, but it still stayed warm and comfortable inside. The noise level was lively without being overwhelming, and the recently added piano really elevated the experience. Some dishes seemed to sing to the symphony. Overall, I wouldn't say it was the best meal I've ever had, but I absolutely would return. Several dishes highlighted the ingredients so beautifully that I'd love to come back during another season to try a different menu. Solid experience and felt more or less felt worth the price.

Tre Lune is a classic Montecito restaurant that lives up to its reputation. The atmosphere is…read morelively, even on a Monday night, and the restaurant's ambience fits perfectly with the the neighborhood. We started with the Frittura Mista di Pesce, which was lightly fried, fresh, and a great way to begin the meal. Excellent choice. The Gene Salad was another standout, simple, fresh, and well balanced. The tomatoes were so sweet. The food was solid across the board, the service was polished, and the energy in the dining room made for an enjoyable evening. A dependable choice in Montecito that I'll happily return to.

Had to stand on street to wait for our table that was empty next to us!…read moreDid not see a waiter for 15 minutes. Had to ask because they were busy even though our waiter had been standing at next table talking up the lady there. Finally a waiter arrived. No greeting. Took wine order but came back because he didn't remember what we ordered. 45 minutes later we had a glass of wine. I politely pointed out food all over the floor at table next to us. They sat people there without cleaning. Took our order, came back because he didn't remember my order! Food arrived. I have to say it was good burrata. Next course came, and I truly can do better at home! Both dishes disappointed. Left the food there. The attitude, the dismissals and the bland food was not worth it. We won't go back!

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!

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.

We had a most delicious dinner at Lilac tonight! We ordered…read morefour starters, each one notable . Starting with tasty shrimp and clams, spicy and saucy with a knock out sauce and toast for mopping. Outstanding cauliflower seated on a bed of fantastic sweet and sour sauce. The fried calamari was delicious with a dipping sauce of spicy aioli. Sadly, we had no room for their famous desserts! Highly recommend this lovely spot in Montecito. Outdoor seating was pleasant and friendly .

It was a nice little find in error. We were looking for a coffee shop and Google suggested this…read morespot. We ended up having an early dinner since it looked so yum. Decently priced, delicious food, great service! The calamari was the star of the show for sure, crisp, not oily at all. It's a beautiful little spot with a nice wine list and good daily specials. Nice place settings and ambiance.

A warning: don't come here…read more If you come here, your expectations for any future plate of expertly and carefully prepared crudo will be extinguished forever in the aftermath--the afterlife--of a crudo so delicate, so beautifully presented that few plates could compare. There was life before this crudo plate, and there is life afterward. Burrata? You haven't *tasted* burrata. A plump burrata seeming to bloom amongst hefty slices of speck resting on a bed of some of the sweetest peaches I've ever eaten, grains of oil-kissed mustard seed divinely adorning its crown. I'm light-headed writing this. My queendom for burrata of this caliber. Now, the service. Exquisite, warm, intelligent. Lindsey (Lindsay? Please tell me how to spell thy name!) was incredible. From the moment we walked in, to the moment we left, we felt genuinely welcomed and cared for throughout our dining experience. I was merely passing through on my way back home to Claremont from Monterey (on a research trip; you didn't ask, dear reader, but this context is essential as research takes its toll on one's nervous system and sometimes only a glass of wine and delightful aperitivos will do to calm thyself) and decided to stop here on a whim. Don't come here, lest you find some excuse to drive 2.5 hours out of your way from the Inland Empire to Santa Barbara to taste not only these delights again, but to feel welcomed so wholesomely into a space where it is clear (from service to food prep) that the art of the aperitivo is not lost, not shallowly puppeteered for an unknowing diner, but ALIVE, and vibrantly so. Thank you to everyone there for one of the best dining experiences of my life. I will be back. Don't come. Turn away. Do not embrace the internal shifting of one's sense of self. Like Stephen King warns his Constant Reader at the end of The Dark Tower: "Should you go on, you will surely be disappointed, perhaps even heartbroken...Endings are heartless. Ending is just another word for goodbye. Would you still? Very well, then, come. (Do you hear me sigh?) Here is the Dark Tower, at the end of End-World. See it, I beg. See it very well. Here is the Dark Tower at sunset." Here, at Aperitivo, is a materialized sunset that you can taste in every bite. Like many, I read beyond Stephen King's warning to see the truth of what lay at the culmination of his most famous series. I want the truth, however painful it may be. If you are strong enough to embrace a shift in what a truly special dining experience *can* be, then come, at your own peril. Oh, and they have txakoli. Long days and pleasant nights, dear reader.

Not the first and definitely not the last we'll be here. Stumbled upon Aperitivo a few years ago,…read moreand it was some of the best and most authentic Italian food I'd ever had (even before knowing what real Italian food tasted like). Now that I've come back from Italy, I have a greater appreciation for Aperitivo and what it stands for. Definitely fell in love with the concept of aperitivo in Italy, and this restaurant really embodies that concept. Sat down and got myself a Negroni. It was pretty damn good and close to what a real negroni would taste like if it had Campari. Was pleasantly surprised that they gave us snacks on the side (in true spirit of aperitivo) and then proceeded to crush some crudo and mortadella sandwich. Afterwards, ended the night off with delicious affogato. Really brought me back to my time in Italy. The menu is always fresh and seasonal, so there's always something new to look forward to. Will definitely be back.

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.

Roasted cauliflower salad The Whole Shabang! Pizza!…read more + ranch for dipping Both were amazing! 10/10 would go back for more. It's open seating so there may be a wait but so worth it ! We went around 7pm on a weekend and grabbed a seat outside. They brought out the salad and pizza!

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.

Came here for their happy hour yesterday (2pm - 5pm M - F) and it did not disappoint! Had a few…read moredrinks and my friend and I shared the coxinhas, pizza, and ribs. We left feeling very satisfied. Everything was so good but the pizza and coxinhas were my faves. Our server was very attentive and made sure we had everything we needed. Ask for patio seating so you can dine while looking out into the ocean. Beautiful view!

So ate here twice while in town. I'd say modern Italian with some old world notes. Cocktails…read morewere on point, mojitos & old fashioned. First night, we had the potato appetizer to start & the market salad. The potatoes were yummy, probably could have just eaten them for my main. The salad was really fresh. The mains were: the risotto with scallops & the 7 hour veal bolognese. The risotto mentioned nothing of have octopus , which I later learned had, would have been nice to know way in advance. Note to the chef, some of us cannot have mixed seafood dishes. For dessert we tried the chocolate caramel bar - ooh what a gooey delight. The following night there was order of the chicken, the ribs, the lobster raviolis, bucatini and a margarita pizza. There were no complaints. Ambiance - casual; both in door & outdoor seating. There's heaters should it get chilly. Shall return our next trip down.