An absolute gem in Montecito!…read more The cuisine is exceptional, featuring fresh ingredients and remarkably vibrant flavors. Their curated wine list is equally impressive. The restaurant itself perfectly balances a warm, inviting atmosphere with a modern, refined aesthetic, creating an experience that is both grounding and uplifting. My best friend recently moved to the area, and this was our first visit. Little Mountain is our new fave restaurant! Just loved it!...can't wait for our next visit!

Simply incredible!…read more The service, the vibe, and the freshness of the entire menu. Can't wait to visit again.

The ambiance the food the menu the wine the espresso .... All of it .... Just perfect…read more I had the omelette for dinner and my heart is won over. My husband had the French dip, which I stole bites of ... and am still swooning. Bravo Sam and the rest of the crew.

Despite our long wait, I'm still giving this place a 5-star... because they deserve it…read more Came here at the recommendation of a local friend and loved it! To me this place gives you that "Santa Barbara" experience - - beautiful building, relax and elegant vibe, and of course, great food! Though we had to wait a long time, the surrounding area is quite nice, with shops and other eateries so you can take a walk up and down the street. They also have a coffee shop right next door so you can get some snacks and drinks while you wait. The area is also great for people watching... as well as dog watching. We saw so many cute dogs while we were outside. They definitely contributed to the high rating! Friends who dined with me liked their lamp sandwich (was a special that night), the French dip, and the salads. I personally thought their smoked salmon appetizer was the best -- it's like a meal all by itself.

Go somewhere else…read more Most atrocious service I've ever had. Restaurant was empty, hostess has never smiled in her life, maybe outside of work. Server walking back and forth till we pulled him to our table to take our order, mind you the place was empty (now I know why!). Plopped himself next to us, no introduction, no questions, just stone faced. We ordered, he didn't write a thing down, very confident. Placed a simple order. Food came, wrong order. He takes it from in front of me and leaves without a word. I wait and wait, eventually ask if my food is still coming, did he place the wrong order? "Yeah, your food is coming, yes wrong order". There was no "sorry if this isn't your order, there was a mixup" or something, ANYTHING. Food eventually comes, suddenly we have a different server, again no explanation. Food is mid at best. Dessert as an apology or something is out of the question, they've never heard of such a thing. Safe to say I regret wasting my money here, and it makes total sense why it's empty all the time. Don't bother, take your money somewhere else, there are so many great restaurants in Lower Village Montecito, this one is definitely a Must Miss!

The food was great. Fish and chips were solid. Be sure, if you're gluten-free, to say so. The menu…read morecalls the fish and chips GF but it uses wheat beer unless you specify. The brussels were great. One note: all of our food (the fish, the brussels, and the street corn) came at the same time, which meant our small table was both very crowded and things got cold. Wish they had staggered it a bit. Still a great experience and would recommend.

This was our first time here while visiting town for a weekend getaway, and it ended up being one…read moreof the highlights of our trip. The location is absolutely beautiful and it's right on the boardwalk overlooking the beach. If the weather is nice, I highly recommend sitting outside and enjoying the view. We ordered the BBQ Chicken Cobb Salad and the Crunchy Chicken Sandwich. The salad was incredibly flavorful and fresh, but the real star of the meal was the sandwich. Our waiter, Justus, recommended getting it on brioche bread with grilled chicken instead of fried, and it was hands down one of the best chicken sandwiches I've ever had. I honestly can't stop thinking about it and will probably come back next time I'm in town just for that sandwich alone. A huge shoutout to Justus for making our experience exceptional. He was attentive, friendly, genuine, and incredibly knowledgeable about the menu. He took the time to walk us through his favorites and the crowd-pleasers, even though the restaurant was busy. He checked on us throughout the meal, our food came out quickly, and he even gave us recommendations for places to visit around town. The manager also stopped by our table to make sure we had everything we needed, which was such a nice touch. Everyone here was welcoming and genuinely seemed to care about providing a great experience. The food was fantastic, the service was outstanding, the prices were very reasonable for the location, and the oceanfront atmosphere can't be beat. After lunch, we took a relaxing stroll along the beach, which made for the perfect end to our meal. Highly recommend this place, and if you see Justus, you're in great hands!

The Anaheim location is one of my go-to spots so I made a reservation for the SB location for a…read moreweekend trip. The location and ambiance are beautiful; however, we were disappointed from the beginning with a few things. First, we were sat at a dirty table, the host sat us down and then wiped the table after we were seated. We then waited for over 15 minutes before we were even greeted by a server. At this point, we were already disappointed with the service. The rest of the night was okay, the service was not awful but not spectacular either. While we were eating, another server came by and switched out our salt and pepper shakers which weren't even halfway empty. This was an unnecessary interruption to our dinner. The only highlight was definitely the food, especially the wings, which never disappoint. The cioppino, garlic noodles, and tater tots were all delicious as well. I've tried the clam chowder at the Anaheim location multiple times and this time it was a bit runnier than usual. The flavor was okay but the consistency was a little off. Other than that, our food was great. Drinks were also good!

5/5 due to service. I believe the staff that helped us was Kevin. He went above and beyond to make…read moreour dining experience fabulous! We went in for a birthday brunch resy on Sunday. The parking is validated with a dining reservation. We were seated indoors overlooking the gallery and sea. We informed him of our dietary restrictions and he was beyond accommodating. We got the baked eggs without eggs (i know!) and scramble on the side, a french omelette, and some desserts and drinks to celebrate. Even with the drinks, they can make you whatever you need. Excellent experience!

Excellent fine dining spot in the elegant Rosewood Miramar! Highly recommend grabbing a tasteful,…read morerefreshing cocktail and a couple starters before your main course as they were memorable. We loved the burrata starter the most followed by the seabass! Brookie is quite sweet if you're in the mood for that. Service is one of the best I've experienced.

I really enjoyed my dinner at Lucky's. I wouldn't say the steak was the absolute best I've ever…read morehad, but it was definitely up there. I ordered the filet mignon, while my date had the ribeye. My filet was flavorful, tender, and nicely seasoned without being overly salty. It paired beautifully with the red wine I ordered, which I also really enjoyed. My date is a strict carnivore and considers himself something of a steak expert, and he said his ribeye was good. LOL. I loved the classic white-tablecloth setting. Our view was mostly of the street, which was fine because I was really there for the food and service. And the service did not disappoint. The waitress and staff were attentive, professional, and genuinely welcoming. Their experience with customer service really showed. Yay! What I especially appreciated was the relaxed atmosphere. It was a peaceful evening; everyone seemed respectful, and there was no drama--just good food, good service, and a pleasant night out. I'd definitely come back, especially with a group of friends. I noticed a group sitting around a large round table, chatting and enjoying themselves, and it looked like a perfect setup for a group dinner. I may have to do exactly that the next time I'm back. Thank you, Lucky's, for an enjoyable dinner. I'm looking forward to returning!

We come here a few times a year, food is always delicious, drinks on point and service is warm and…read moreunpretentious. The ambience is comfortable, casual and unpretentious as well. I always get the filet, he always gets the New York, we order the escargot (always yummy), delicious sides, and any yummy looking specials. My husband is an amazing chef and is the only place or person to come close to replicating Peter Lugers Porterhouse, but when he wants a night off from spoiling us at home, there are a few places that satisfies his palate for SB steaks. We come to Lucky's or Tee Off (yes I said Tee Off, deal with it). Only real criticism is that their steaks are way overpriced and you get less bang for your buck than places like Maestros or Boa, and dare I say, that I love Ruth's Chris too ( yes, I said it). But it's Montecito so the prices are to be expected, and we always have lovely time so just have fun and treat yourselves! See you all soon!

We went back to Caruso's for a gratuitously nice end-of-summer date night, this time getting a 6:30…read moretable with a prime view. For some reason, the only option for that time slot was the chef's tasting menu, though I wonder if we could have plead down to the four-course if we'd called ahead. The restaurant wasn't especially busy, and I'm sure there was some flexibility in the bookings. The chef's tasting was pretty decadent for a Wednesday. It was also a wonderful experience, a long dinner looking out at the beach, through sunset on a summer evening. Service was immaculate. Our waiter was fantastic, as was our sommelier Tre, a young guy with a clear passion for wine, who gave us handwritten recommendations for our upcoming trip to Paso Robles. We got the regional California wine pairing, and it was fun and educational, featuring several great wines that went well with our food. Dinner started with the house antipasti, a spread of small, delicate dishes. My favorite was probably the spot prawn open face sandwich with kimchi and finger lime, though I also loved the compressed melon topped with uni and Tsar Nicoulai caviar. There was a Baja kanpachi cigar, garnished with caviar, a super-thin toast with prosciutto and fig, and a shot's worth of sour plum juice flavored with cinnamon. Real Michelin star stuff here, both in the ceremony and the execution. Honestly, everything we ate was superb. The first larger course was the refreshing Cavaillon melon gazpacho with melon salad, feta snow, and an intricate melon rind tuille. Then we had a colorful Baja kanpachi crudo, silky raw fish arranged with shaved rhubarb, cucumber, avocado, pickled radish, pickled strawberry, and finger lime, with a strawberry aguachile sauce touched with serrano pepper. Next, we had Iron Chef tomato: tomato salad and tomato with panzanella; a sidecar of buffalo mozzarella and a "martini" of cool tomato water. Summery and light, with intensely concentrated tomato flavor. After that, bread service, house sourdough with ramp butter and Buellton olive oil. Two pastas, both very Caruso's, Italian cooking extruded through Montecito. There was casoncelli alla Nerano, crescent-schaped pasta with crispy fried zucchini, provolone del Monaco, and pine nuts. Then spaghettini with Stephanie's uni (thank you very much), burrata, and a lush tomato sauce fortified with shrimp consommé. We had the option of switching out our entrée courses for salmon and beef, for an extra charge. I don't know why one would do this with Channel Island white bass and Liberty duck as the default choices. Both were excellent, perfectly cooked. The bass came with Brentwood corn, chanterelles, and corn beurre a la nage, the duck--breast and sausage--with plum, in various forms, and sour prune sugo di cottura. There was a vibrant green palate cleanser of basil sorbet with candied pistachios and pickled and fresh blackberries, exactly my kind of dessert. Then a more decadent brown butter cake with marinated Santa Barbara peaches, pine nuts, and fig gelato, finished with vinegar infused with peach and fig. Finally, an array of mignardises: a chocolate hazelnut bonbon, a fig tartlet with goat cheese, a strawberry pate de fruit with Thai chili, a chocolate truffle with raspberry powder, and a Tahitian vanilla cigar with coffee. This was a special dinner, one I'd love to repeat in another few years. Next time, maybe we'll save Caruso's for a special occasion, but I'm glad we made the most of this lovely date night.

We had a memorable evening at Caruso's tonight. Their location is stunning. The restaurant is…read morelocated right on the beach. You cannot find a better oceanfront dining experience in Santa Barbara/Montecito. The hostess team was super friendly and chatty. Great first impression. One hostess took a photo of our group when asked. The wait staff team were very professional, knowledgeable, and fun. Vincent, Arturo, Ali, and Olive were just a few of the standouts making our evening unforgettable. We had at least another 5 or 6 other service team members that assisted throughout our culinary journey tonight. With the chef's tasting menu, we had a 4 hour dining experience. My only critique is that 80% of the time we had to pour our own wine. This is very unusual for a restaurant the caliber of Caruso's. While I don't believe the responsibility should rest entirely on our sommelier, Trey. However, he should be the one leading the charge on rectifying this service oversight. The lack of attentiveness on pouring our wine and cleaning the crumbs off the table were the two reasons I couldn't give Caruso's 5 stars. The unique, creative, and amazing food preparations that our group enjoyed all evening certainly wasn't the issue. Okay, so let's talk about the food. In a word...Amazing!!! Chef Massimo and his kitchen brigade are flexing their world class culinary gymnastics with local produce, seafood and proteins that scream Michelin experience. Each tasting course was beautifully presented on unique 'plates' or serving vessels that enhanced the artistry of Chef Massimo's tasting experience. We ate seasonal and local preparations that represented Santa Barbara farm and coastal cuisine incredibly well. Caruso's is a dining experience worth the every penny we spent. If you appreciate great food and service, treat yourself, your best friends, and your family to a chef's tasting dinner at Caruso's. It will be an amazing experience that will leave a lasting memory.

My boyfriend and I stopped at Padaro Beach Grill during an afternoon drive up the coast…read more Immediate impression: it reminded me of Hawaii in the best way. The outdoor seating area, the architecture, the sounds and smell of the ocean right there. Immaculate vibes. We went on a Friday around 3:30pm, so it wasn't crazy busy. We found a table without issue and there were always at least a few others available. However, I imagine this place gets extremely popular during peak hours. We ordered the Baja Fish Tacos and a side of French Fries. All were delicious - no complaints! Although the tacos are so loaded, they can be a challenge to eat! Would definitely return the next time I'm in the area.

Dear Hubby and I have been long-time fans of Padaro Beach Grill. As such, we wanted to introduce…read more(maybe re-introduce?) Sweet Granddaughter to the place on a Saturday as summer is winding down. Am not sure if there's been a change of ownership, but there did seem to be a change of results of the experience of visiting. Noting that in a previous review I mentioned live music. Several other reviewers did, too. When we were there this past weekend in the early afternoon, there was no music to be found. We caught the ordering line at the right time; it wasn't too long and it didn't take but a few minutes to get to the counter. After that, it went downhill to some extent. The main disappointment was the food. I mean, it's a restaurant, right? That's kind of the point. The ambiance is still fun - beachy casual, like you're a guest at a private beach club. But the food used to be much, much better. I made the mistake of ordering the tri-tip sandwich. It was served with grilled onions and smothered in BBQ sauce. It would normally also come with cheese, but I had that left off as cows' milk cheese and I do not get along. I would have much preferred to leave out the BBQ sauce and have au jus on the side instead to let the flavor of the beef come out. Alas, that's not an option. There wasn't anything else on the menu speaking to me at the time, or I could have / should have ordered something else. I thought about the fish tacos, but I'm not a huge fan of cabbage. In any event, the tri-tip was cut too thick. That made it tough to bite / and overly chewy. To the point where it wasn't a happy eating experience. I only finished half the sandwich and gave the rest to DH to eat later. I didn't choose to add any fries or onion rings as I wanted to give fried foods a rest. So I had half a sandwich, and half a very overpriced and underwhelming chocolate chip cookie for dessert. For me, the food was bordering on a failing grade. Barely a "C". DH, on the other hand, really enjoyed the fish and chips he'd ordered. I had a bite, and while the fish was really fresh, the batter coating was undercooked, which made for a mushy exterior texture. It was also extremely greasy. SG ordered her favorite meal of chicken nuggets and fries. She'll never turn down fries, so that made her happy. The chicken pieces were not that flavorful, and not that great a texture, either. We also spent the meal dodging ants which were running over the picnic tabletop. A tabletop which looked like it hadn't been cleaned by human hands in a very, very long time. Which likely explains why the ants thought it was fair game - they were on the hunt for missed crumbs. I can bet good money that when we ask SG if she remembers eating at Padaro Beach Grill, she will recall that it's the outdoor place where the ants were trying to eat our food. There aren't enough umbrellas for all the picnic tables, and there's not really any other source of shade on a warm, sunny afternoon. We were lucky enough to get one of the lawn-area tables with an umbrella, but we ended up feeling crowded when mid-way through our meal, a group of seven people took over the adjacent table. By then, we were ready to finish up and go. In past visits, lingering and enjoying the tropical vibe was part of the experience. Not during this last visit. A shame.

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.

Jeannine's has some good breakfast. We stopped by early morning for some coffee and I ordered…read moreHuevos Rancheros. Everything was delicious from their bakery to their coffee. Service was fast. We ordered our food inside, paid and got a number. Our food came out with matching mugs and plates. Super cute. The place is decorated nicely in pink. It really gives it that relax environment.

DEFINITELY WORTH IT…read more Make the stop if you're in the area. We went for brunch on a weekend while traveling and it was clear this is the spot in town: the line was out the door, but it moved quickly. You order at the counter, they seat you, and the food comes out to your table. We had the lobster Benedict and the challah French toast, and both delivered. The lobster Benedict was generous and rich, and the French toast impressed my wife who has high standards when it comes to French toast. The atmosphere was lively and inviting, and the staff stayed attentive and friendly even with the crowd moving through. If you're in the Santa Barbara area, make time for this one. Next time, I'm going to try the chilaquiles. Almost forgot - best hash browns I've had in a while as well.