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.

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!

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.

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)

Looking forward to dinner here but it turned out to be a disappointment,…read more Ordered calamari appetizer (good) and overpriced $60 (menu) bottle of $15 (retail) Banfi Chianti. Really a 400% mark up is necessary? We ordered two pastas, Fusilli tartuifato and papardelle Boscola. Papardelle were good, but the fusilli sauce was watery, like soup, so the minimal flavor did not really stick to the noodle. Also very little truffle flavor in the sauce, was embarrassingly bad. We sent it back suggesting any other pasta dish would be a better choice but they insisted on replacing it with another identical order which was just as bad. We gave up and overpaid for unsatisfactory pasta meal. Service was ok, had to ask for water fill up, but we did not fault the waiter for bad food, not his fault. Profiteroles dessert did not have enough chocolate sauce and too liquidity cream filling . Also disappointing. Do not recommend. Quality did not justify the price tag, Sorry.

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.

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.

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.

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.

After a beautiful day at East Beach, my boyfriend and I finally made it to Convivo. We arrived…read morearound 3:00 PM ready to order specific items I'd seen on Yelp, but I was sadly informed that they change menus daily and the dishes I wanted were only on their '5 o'clock menu.' Thankfully, I realized it was still happy hour, so we got excited and ordered a bunch of drinks and appetizers! The Bucatini, Lamb Meatballs, and Quadrati Rigati were all wonderful. However, the layout is a bit strange. I found it a bit odd they would put the hotel swimming pool right next to the patio dining area. There were a gaggle of overweight half nude guests flaunting their new tan lines which made me a little sick, so I decided to move further away from that area. If you need the restroom, they are a bit of a trek: walk past the bar area, make a right, and follow the long hallway to the very end. It's a great spot for food, just be mindful of the menu timing and where you choose to sit!

Update time since my last review here was 8 years ago! The world has changed, prices are much…read morehigher and and it took awhile for restaurants to recover. I am thrilled that Convivo has finally brought back their happy hour! This was my go to spot after a day at the beach specifically for happy hour. They used to have $5 cocktails and $8 pizzas. But prices have risen since then. Ahhh the good ol' days, but you can still find a great deal here and the views alone are worth it! Happy Hour is Monday through Friday from 2 - 5pm. Unfortunately no weekends. Think $9 libations in hand, ocean breeze in the air, and the kind of setting that screams paradise. For Provisions, start with the Coxinhas. They are crispy fried crocchette filled with chicken and fontina, perfectly golden on the outside and creamy inside. Also condimenti, a light refreshing fare of pickled veggies, spicy kimchi and Roman artichokes. Of course, the spicy Soppressata pizza is not to be missed and one of my favorites here but now $18 *sigh. The size is very generous for the price though. And the best part? You're right across from the beach. Palm trees, coastal views, and a space that feels like your own little tropical paradise. What more could you ask for! This isn't just happy hour... it's a whole mood that makes you feel transported to Hawaii. I've never been, but the lush tropical landscape takes me there whenever I come here.

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 :)

A wonderful birthday dinner…read more My friends' bday treat for me was dinner here before we hopped over to the bowl to see Disclosure. Dinner service had just started when we got there for our resy. We tried to sit outside l, but we opted not to since the only available table had a time limit. We didn't want to be rushed. It was such a beautiful day so we wanted to enjoy the last 2 hours of the sun before sunset. We ate ate. For a second I thought we got too much food, but it all worked out in the end. Everything was eaten. I started off with the guayaba cocktail. It was so refreshing. So much so I felt like I was in the tropics. The table shared the following: Croqueta De Seta Broccolini Oysters Tuna crudo Pulpo Beef cheeks Branzino I wasn't kidding when I told our server "I have no notes" every single time she came over to check on us which was about three times. Everything was so good. The standouts for me were the broccolini which was perfectly crunchy with a hint of charred. The bed of sauce it was sitting on was divine. I ray fingers through that portion of the plate. We ended up getting 2 orders of their bread to scoop the rest. The oyster was 10/10. I could've done with less bacon. The saltiness of the bacon kind of overtook the taste of the oyster. And lastly, that branzino though. The three of us dug in, ate the whole fish then realized after that we should have asked for rice. We ended our meal with the goat cheese for dessert and their coffee. What a perfect way to close our night before we danced the night away. The service was stupendous. Add to that how great their food is. All of it. Everyone wins. It was not a surprise to me to see them fully booked by the time we left. Congrats to team Loquita! I'm looking forward to my next visit with more people so we can eat the entire menu.