Presto Pasta

One of my absolute favorite restaurants of all time!! I used to come here a bunch when I was a…read morestudent at UCSB, and I missed it so dearly ever since I graduated. Live in SF now and nothing can compare, not even in North Beach. Spent my birthday weekend in SB and had to stop here. Got my favorite dish, the farfalle allegria, which was amazing and just how I remembered it. Service is always so wonderful. Our server, Tasha, was so kind and sweet. You can't go wrong with any of the dishes here. Must get the tiramisu! Hope to be back soon!

Italian was on the menu tonight and Yelp brought us here…read more Via Maestro 42 has a small interior mostly made up of two top tables, and then an outside covered area within the parking lot. On this fine March evening, we opted to sit outdoors. I was concerned with how much lighting there would be once the sun set but they didn't really have any four tops available inside for us. (In the end, the interior lights from the neighboring business helped illuminate our table that was directly in front of the restaurant, and not necessarily under the outside covered area.) After we put in our order and received the complimentary bread (with the provided olive oil), we were questioning whether we had ordered too much food. We attempted to ask the waiter if it was too much and he didn't really answer our question. And since there was only one table next to us and he was dining solo, it was hard to gauge the portion sizes. We ordered: * Antipasto Sampler Platter $19.95 - A generous selection from their deli case, perfect for sharing. The butter bean with tuna salad was a first for me and has me thinking of how to incorporate more butter beans in my diet. Other items included grilled zucchini, grilled eggplant, mixed olives, farro salad, green beans, salami, tomato and mozzarella. * Bucatini all'Amatriciana $22.95 - We opted for this as it was a described as a traditional dish from he Lazio region. It was enjoyed by all. * Linguine con Vongole $26.95 - Next to arrive was the linguine, which was the absolute favorite for us all. It was light, filled with clams, and just had a great taste overall. * Farfalle al Pesto $19.95 - The Little Gal wanted pesto, but this version was so heavy. It was exhausting to eat and probably our least favorite. * Polenta Del Montanaro $21.95 - The mushrooms and polenta sounded amazing, but again this was very heavy for us. There were also a few hard bits of polenta mixed in. It was just overwhelming in not the best way. Overall, the portions are HUGE and just perfect for sharing. We would have dreaded being stuck with one dish on our own as it's just too much. We were also concerned about the $3.95 split charge fee that may apply, hence why we went with four entrees. You can easily get your fill with a few items here without breaking the bank. I can definitely see why they have such great ratings. The restroom is located in the back, so you do need to walk outside to access the restroom. I guess this avoids having you walk through the kitchen to get there. Service was fine. We did have one primary waiter but the other staff stepped in when necessary. It was pretty busy for a weekday evening, at least for all the outside tables. Since it's a bit away from the touristy area, you do get a sense there are more locals enjoying this spot.

Tiramisu

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Bruschetta di Pomodoro

Toma Restaurant & Bar

4.5(1.5k reviews)

2.7 mi

OMG when we come in from Jackson hole, we love eating here, we take the kids and we all go. It's…read moreone of the best environments. The food is delicious. So glad there's quality food still in town. Coming from LA the food capital of the world, this place is so good.

This is an outstanding restaurant on all levels. It's very popular, so make a reservation!…read more The food is delicious and the portions are very ample. The side dishes such as the mixed seasonal vegetables are worthy as an entree. The wait staff are very professional and inviting. The service is prompt. The host is exceptionally anxious to please guests. The restaurant is beautifully appointed with fresh flowers at each table. Tables are dressed in white cloths and the flatware and glassware are exceptional. the space is sparkling clean. The full bar is also an inviting place to sit and the cocktails are clearly prepared by a mixologist. ENJOY!

Inside

Complimentary bread - honestly it was just ok

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Amuse bouche - fried olives with cheese

Arnoldi’s Cafe

Food was solid…read more Service was even better Location a little awkward But man did they really used all of that space Don't let the first part of the restaurant fool you there is two other rooms both having there own vibe!!!! Must try the outside for that outside villa vibe Then the second room for a nice little cafe feeling Then the bar area for well the bar scene

This is a classic Santa Barbara institution. That's been here as long as I remember…read more Fantastic Italian food portions of epic sizes My only complaint of this restaurant is minus one star for the sometimes questionable service but absolutely wonderful food. Entrées are easily big enough to split between two.

Chicken parmesan

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Ca' Dario

3.8(842 reviews)

1.4 mi

Popped in on a Weekday for a dinner date early evening-- no reservation/ no wait. (don't let the no…read morewait discourage you) Hot or Not? Ravioli al Burro e Salve : Spinach + Ricotta rav 10/10 bites Beau & I split this one dish (during our SB food tour) and it is rich & delicious, the Crispy sage, the brown butter sauce, the raviolis cooked perfectly all blend so well in this dish. my favorite Rav in all of the (SB) land. HOT! I will keep coming back for this dish. Excellent Service. (we love montecito but it's just not the same at that location, I've had it here before & it's superior in this location) Prime Corner location, lovely ambiance, plentiful street parking in the area (Note: Our "Food Tour" is not an actual Tour, that's what I call going to multiple restaurants in a day i.e., to make the most of a weekend trip/ day trip)

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.

Hurricane Hilary dinner

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Bettina

4.1(807 reviews)

4.3 mi

Loved Bettina x3 and would be back in an instance and also recommend others visit. The four leaf…read moreclover was on our side cause we managed to get seated on a Friday night at prime dinner time without a reservation. The host staff was accommodating and friendly. Our small party of 2 was seated at the pizza counter which was an experience in itself. Our server, bummed I don't recall her name, was extremely friendly, present, and accessible. Ordered a cacio e pepe arancini, beet and burrata salad, and pepperoni pizza. All three items were served in a timely manner and tasted really good! The pepperoni pizza was a bit soggy towards the center but flavor was on point. The cacio e pepe arancini was yummy but could have used a tad more dipping sauce. The salad was great. The restaurant atmosphere is lively, vibrant, and an ideal space to engage in conversation. If you're looking for an enjoyable pizza and pasta experience when in the Montecito / Santa Barbara area, Bettina is your best bet.

It was a solid meal!…read more My husband and I showed up around 5 pm on a Monday and were seated right away without issue. It is a small space so we were seated very close to two other tables (the kind of close where it's hard to focus on your own convo). We ordered the Caesar Salad to start. I feel like I've had this exact salad (as in gem lettuce, breadcrumbs, lemony dressing) other places executed a little better. The breadcrumbs were almost too hard creating a grainy/sandy texture rather than a nice crunch. Good flavor though. We also got the Meatballs "Alla Vodka." This was the highlight of the meal for me. My husband thought they could've used more of a binder but personally I liked that they felt more meaty than bready. I recommend using the spoon to eat the meatballs so you get enough sauce with each bite. Don't want any of that delicious sauce to go to waste! We got the pepperoni pizza for our entree. This pizza was just okay to me based on my personal preferences so take this with a grain of salt! I'm not the biggest sourdough person and since the pizza is fermented it has a similar flavor. I also wish that the pizza was a little less charred. I think it was more burnt on top than charred but maybe that's what they're going for and I'm just not the audience. We enjoyed the pepperoni pizza with the house ranch. I really enjoyed this bc I prefer a dill-heavy ranch and this definitely delivered that! Overall, solid meal and would come back. Our server was a little awkward but didn't really affect our experience all that much.

Dining room and Bar during a bustling Saturday lunch

Meat lovers pizza

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English Pesto Pea Pasta

Mizza

4.1(760 reviews)

1.6 mi

I had an amazing lunch! I ordered the burrata and heirloom tomatoe, and the tomatoes were super…read morefresh and juicy. Jenny was my server, and she was so attentive and always on top of things.

We got lunch here on Sunday and had such a phenomenal experience! The food was delicious and so…read morewell-balanced. My husband and I split the anti-pasta, the spinach gnocchi, and the meatball and caramelized onion pizza. Everything was absolutely amazing, and we are still talking about the pasta sauce, deeply regret not getting an extra order to go! More than that, we received the most outstanding service. Our server Tavon was knowledgeable about the menu, attentive, and anticipated our every need. He was so friendly and joyful and made us feel so welcome.

Inside Private area

Arugula prosciutto pizza

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Wild Mushroom and Leek Fettuccine

Saint Bibiana

4.6(202 reviews)

2.0 mi

If you're in Santa Barbara - do not leave without trying this place. Casual, hidden gem on a quiet…read morestreet. You order at the counter and find a seat. The setting is great! Your table is thoughtfully set up with plates and cutlery for you to grab as needed and perfect for sharing. Grab your drink from the fridge. Plenty of options to select from: water, flavored Pellegrino, beer, or if you prefer they have some beer options on draft. Let's get to it! The Figgy Piggy- wow! If you love sweet and salty, this is it! A fig marmalade as your sauce layer with plenty of crispy bacon and a ricotta center. 10/10 You will not go wrong with a pepperoni classic. The pepperoni cups are crispy with a subtle spice. The lemon mushroom is also a great slice! The cauliflower salad was AMAZING!! The herby flavorful yogurt based dressing was so tasty. The cauliflower was just roasted to perfection. You have to get the garlic knots! These are buttery, soft, pull apart beautifully and are topped with real garlic. Honestly the best knots I've ever had in my life! Make sure to leave room for their cookies! Overall the service was great, great casual ambiance and even more amazing food!

Saint Bibiana Came…read moreback here after a few years, and somehow it was exactly the same in the best way. The first time, we stopped in because my daughter was hungry--one bite of the pizza and I remember thinking, "wait... this is actually really good." Fast forward to now, same situation, same reaction. Still memorable. The crust is nicely thin with that perfect balance--crispy but not dry. The margherita was cheesy, flavorful, and super well-balanced (not overly salty or greasy, which is rare). Just clean, simple, done right. My husband tried the lemon mushroom, and that was surprisingly good too--bright, a little different, but still comforting. I also love how easy it is here--you can grab a single slice or go all in on a full pie. They've got beer on tap, and there's even a free old-school arcade game, which made it extra fun for the family. Laid-back vibe, great pizza, and one of those places that sticks in your memory. Easily my favorite pizza spot in Santa Barbara lately.

Margarita Pizza

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Sausage

L’antica Pizzeria Da Michele - Santa Barbara

3.9(210 reviews)

1.6 mi

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.

Polipo: braised Spanish octopus, potato, olive, caper, tomato

CAPRICCIOSA: Tomato, Fior di Latte, Pecorino, Basil, Artichoke, Mushroom, Black Olive, Ham

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DIAVOLA: Tomato, Fior di Latte, Pecorino, Basil, Spicy Soppressata

Convivo Restaurant and Bar

4.1(746 reviews)

3.3 mi

Convivo was a delightful way to end our Santa Barbara vacation. It's located in the Santa Barbara…read moreInn, and it has free valet if you're visiting the restaurant. Sit on the patio, which overlooks the beach. I'm sure at night, it's just beautiful. - Avocado toast: My dad had this, and it was filled with ripe avocados. - Furikake eggs: I really enjoyed this dish. It was light, and not heavy like most brunch foods. The brioche bread was delicious. - Chorizo and egg scramble piadina: Wow this was unexpectedly the best dish of the morning. Hearty, flavorful and the crust was perfect. I'd order this the next time I'm in town.

This is a review specifically a review for the bar…read more Convivo is lucky to have an unassuming rockstar mixologist in Devin. We sat at Devin's bar for over 2 hours drinking and eating and running up a decent tab after arriving at the Santa Barbara Inn. Espresso Martinis, Old Fashions, and more were expertly crafted and creatively presented. I suspect we will be back at SBI's restaurant and bar again based upon the great experience we had earlier today. Thank you Devin for the great work and service!

Hugo Spritz

$18 Spicy Soppressata Salame pizza on happy hour menu

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Desert

Loquita

4.4(1.7k reviews)

2.5 mi

Visited Loquita on 04/11/26 for a birthday celebration and let me tell you I was blown away by the…read moreentire Loquita experience! From the food to the service to the ambience, all of it was truly an amazing experience. Food - We got the patatas bravas and the paella verde. Both were phenomenal. I have tried ~4 other vegan paellas and was originally skeptical going into this, but Loquita's paella was by far the best vegan paella I've ever had! The attention to detail is what made the dish shine. It had perfectly tender mushrooms and artichokes as well as the delicious vegan cream on top. They were able to make the dish smoky and delicious. Dessert - We got the crème brûlée and the pistachio ice cream. Both were truly wonderful, when I go back I will order both of these again! Vibe and Staff - Super cute and romantic vibe, perfect for a nice date. The staff was super attentive and even gave me a little postcard for my birthday! Definitely worth the visit :)

This place is hyped as a date place…read more It's in a fancy location near the beach, nice patio. It is good food but overhyped IMO. $16 for patatas bravas is a bit on the silly end. lts also one of thoses places that defaults to 20% tip on the low end. I have no problem with paying a 20% tip but the service was poor on my visit. We gave one instructions/request that were just completely disregarded. Very little in terms of service other than attempts to upsell with more Tapas when we were done. Sorry, just being honest.