35 Best Italian Restaurants near Montecito

“Came here with the wife to celebrate our 10 year anniversary.
The food was great and we left so full, the atmosphere was amazing and the service was incredible.
It was a memorable experience and we will try to come back in the future.“

“Ca'Dario was a delightful experience. High quality Italian cuisine marked by every dish excellently flavored. Antonio, our server, was very accommodating and pleasant. Reasonable pricing“

“We love this restaurant. it has been awhile since we were here however it meet all my expectations. The food was great our server was helpful and attentive. Great Italian food! Good wine selection. Dessert was awesome, Tiramsu.“

“Took our youngest for her 16th and the staff was exceptional, the atmosphere was wonderful, and the food was delicious! Thank you!“

“Still thinking about this incredible California pasta from our Santa Barbara stop 🤍
Fresh, vibrant, and perfectly balanced — every bite tasted like sunshine, ocean breeze, and pure comfort all in one. The sauce was light but full of flavor, the ingredients tasted unbelievably fresh, and the portion was just right.

One of those meals you wish you could relive again and again. Definitely a must-try if you’re ever in town“

“delicious food great service. Victoria was so welcoming and made my family feel welcomed. servers were on top of things👍🙂😁😉“

“This restaurant is a hidden gem. I had heard about Mollie’s culinary talents years ago, and finally made my way to the Santa Barbara area and tracked down her current location. Her food is out of this world. I had the spaghetti bolognese, and my friend had the lasagne bolognese - both were outstanding. I lost track of how many times we said “this is SO delicious” - after almost every bite. Truly the best pasta dishes I have ever had, and I travel and eat out frequently. Another couple who came in for dinner was also from out of town - it was their last night in the area - and it was their 3rd visit in a week. Don’t miss it.“

“Almost Instant pasta with your choice of sauces. Fast and good! I had Angel hair pasta with Tomato-meat sauce and mushrooms. You also get toast with the meal. My wife had chicken piccata and parmesano Garlic knot rolls. All was delicious.“

“The go to place in Carpinteria for Italian takeout. It's modern and centrally located with even a few tables inside and outside on the sidewalk if you want to eat it there. The food is not fast food, but restaurant quality Italian food in paper boxes with truly delicious tomato sauce on all the dishes.“

“Excellent restaurant, cozy atmosphere, quality ingredients“

“The pasta was amazing and so fresh! The tuna wrapped in prosciutto appetizer was so delicious 😋! You must try it.“

“good pizza, cooked freshly in front of you. lovely young man served us 10/10“

“After going to this incredible Italian restaurant, I will never go anywhere else for Italian food. It’s magical! We always try to get a table on the Patio, it makes you feel like you’re in an enchanted chateau. We’ve tried many of the entrees, and although some are more enticing to us than others, none have disappointed! All the food is amazing. To top it all off, the staff is friendly, extremely knowledgeable, and welcoming. If you’re looking for great food with a great staff, go to Gianfranco’s Trattoria!!!“

“Great service, great food. And it’s in Santa Barbara!“

“Great location, good food, but do NOT order limoncello. It is their own production they say. But tastes like bad wodka. For the rest we will be back. Piet & Annette“

“It was incredible! Wait staff is great and it had an incredible ambience! The food was delicious!!!“

“Was so good. We loved having dinner under the olive trees. Can’t wait to go back.“

“The food was amazing as was the service. The patio seating was beautiful and dog friendly!! We will definitely be coming back on our next visit!“

“Great place great vibe! We stopped for a quick drink coming back again next in Santa Barbara“

“Stopped in on a whim after seeing the glowing reviews and we were not disappointed! The pizza slices are rather large and a whole pizza is fairly typically priced for Santa Barbara. There is ample comfortable seating to choose from once you place your order at the counter.

The crust on their regular pizzas is thin, chewy and delicious. The toppings were excellent as well with a variety of meat and or vegetarian options as well as one vegan option. We ordered the garlic knots,(delicious and very pillowy), Lemon Mushroom pizza (creamy and light with just the right amount of zing from the lemon) and the Sausage #1 (very well balanced). We split the cookie for dessert and it was rich and delicious. We will definitely be back again to try other pizzas! Would recommend popping in!“

“The perfect mix of old-school Italian w modern seafood restaurant. We had NYE reservations, which we, unfortunately, had to cancel and instead stopped in for an afternoon linner the next day. We ordered a selection of apps — grilled artichoke, roasted clams, and meatballs. While the artichoke initially came out cool and had to be sent back, the flavor of everything was outstanding — so much so that my husband who rarely eats clams outside a chowder was fighting me for equal shares. Incredible local wine selections alongside a solid cocktail and beer menu. Can’t wait to visit again.“

“We went because we saw you on Diner Drive in and Dives. We've always we wanted to try a restaurant previewed on this show but they were all back east or mid west to far for dinner. So when we saw this In our own back yard we were in. Amazing food great atmosphere staff impressive and cocktails yummy too. Some many great options too. DEFINITELY coming back. thanks Bettina.😘“

“The weekday sampler menu was fabulous! It gave just enough of everything to serve two people and everything was delicious! Dessert was scoops of vanilla and chocolate gelato. The waiter was knowledgeable about the menu and the staff was accommodating and friendly.“

“Rude employees. Asked for a table outside because we had our baby asleep on the stroller and wanted to have space for him, they wanted to put us inside and told us take that or nothing. Couldn’t believe it, but plenty of other places out there with nice and well trained staff!“

“Excellent food and friendly people. Please support this amazing man’s business“

“The pizzas are so delicious!!“

“Lucky Penny in Santa Barbara is absolutely worth a visit! The food is delicious, fresh and prepared with a lot of love. The relaxed atmosphere in the garden is particularly beautiful – ideal for sitting outside and enjoying the Californian flair. Friendly Service and a great overall package!“

“The pasta was amazing and so fresh! The tuna wrapped in prosciutto appetizer was so delicious 😋! You must try it.“

“Good Evening, Uncle Rocco's pizza is an Excellent and Amazing Establishment. And there open Late nights for those Knightowls. The bread is Crisp and the ingredients are fresh and tasty. The atmosphere is relaxing, there's plenty of seats and wheelchair access and tables are present. The lighting is low and there's also a Bar and multiple T.V.'S with an array of shows. I would highly recomend this place as top shelf, and the Employees deserve a raise and a promotion. Thank You, and Respects.“

“Yummy!! A must place to visit in Ventura!!“

“We ordered the cheese pizza with extra cheese and garlic for my son's birthday and it was a big hit!“

“I love the Crocodile Restaurant!! I found this place last year when I was asked to perform for a birthday there. I knew it would be the right atmosphere for my vocal entertainment. I'm there every THURSDAY & FRIDAY night! (5:30-7:30) I sing mostly romantic songs but change it up for the kids to enjoy the fun of live music. I love taking requests to make the evening what the guests want it to be. The extensive food menu as well as the variety on the song menu make this restaurant a really cool place.“

“Best pizza in Santa Barbara by far 🙌👍“

“Craving some pizza but hubby wanted Mexican. The public market was the best choice. The pizza was delish. I got the four seasons. The dough was very good. Not dry. Not too thick or thin. Just right. We are the whole thing even though we asked for a to go box.“

“Great food, drinks, and desserts.“