Ca' Dario Santa Barbara

The recommendations for food and wine were wonderful from the server, the food was delicious and the hostess, Delilah, was exceptional.

sea food risotto and the Halibut were outstanding. Staff was attentive and service was unhurried. It remains one of our favorite Italian restaurants in Santa Barbara and Montecito. Only issue is parking in the SB venue , easier at the montecito restaurant.

I met my son here for lunch as a halfway meeting point between Cal Poly SLO and LA and what a find this restaurant was! He had a Cesar salad and fettuccine Alfredo with chicken and nothing was left! I had the chopped salad which was delicious! Easy parking, friendly staff and quiet when we were there. Would definitely come back.

This is not a kid-friendly restaurant (under 12). They had no printed kids menu (separate or as part of the regular menu), and when asked about a kids portion, we were told it’d be $19 for a kids Bolognese. The server misunderstood our order and brought adult portions for the kids, although they were clearly smaller than my wife’s Bolognese so appeared to be kids portions. When I questioned the bill, he was very reluctant to do anything and only did so after I said, I would be very unhappy. He removed one of the portions, blamed me for not making it clearer, and told us condescendingly that if we can’t afford it, we should eat elsewhere.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 4

Service: 1

This is not a kid-friendly restaurant (under 12). They had no printed kids menu (separate or as part of the regular menu), and when asked about a kids portion, we were told it'd be $19 for a kids Bolognese. The server misunderstood our order and brought adult portions for the kids, although they were clearly smaller than my wife's Bolognese so appeared to be kids portions.  When I questioned the bill, he was very reluctant to do anything and only did so after I said, I would be very unhappy. He removed one of the portions, blamed me for not making it clearer, and told us condescendingly that if we can't afford it, we should eat elsewhere.

Went in for drinks and dessert and everything was delicious. The service is superb and we love the atmosphere.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I was very disappointed with my experience. I dined solo and had reserved a table outside, but there were no heaters. I asked the hostess if a heater could be brought out, and she said she would let someone know. I waited in the cold for about 20 minutes, but no one came. I then asked to be seated inside. Once inside, it took another 20 minutes for anyone to approach my table. Eventually, I was offered water, at which point I ordered wine and dinner.
The food arrived quickly and was nicely presented, with pleasant flavors overall. The tiramisu was just okay. I left feeling very disappointed, especially since I had been looking forward to a delicious meal. The restaurant itself was nice and cozy, which made the service issues even more frustrating.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 3

Service: 2

Manager was super rude does not care about customer satisfaction, the waiter Antonio was also very rude and messed up our order and bill several times.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

On 11/22, I had the most unpleasant experience that I ever had in a restaurant in my life. We decided to make a reservation for this restaurant to celebrate my mother in law's birthday just like we did that last year.

We got to the restaurant and despite it being empty (probably, they were attending a couple more tables), they had one prepared for us in a narrow corner between the restrooms and the waitresses booth. Ours was the only table in that room, and we couldn't really enjoy privacy and comfort.

I asked for my kid's meal (bolognese with angel hair pasta), and when it arrived at the table, I noticed a dry and overcooked pasta. My child didn't want it, so I asked the waiter to have more sauce for it because it looked dry. He came back with the same dish, more overcooked and topped with a creamy sauce. It was totally disappointing. We had tried this same plate in the past in this restaurant with my child, and it was a success. I ended up asking for some French fries for my kid, so I could make up her meal. We also didn't want retaliation from the staff for returning twice this pasta.

After eating our meals with disappointment because some of them were undercooked, some overcooked and my branzino wasn't fresh, we were asked by the waiter how everything went. We were totally sincere and that led the blonde thin lady manager to come to our table to ask further about what we didn't like. That was the worst idea ever. Instead of receiving a receptive response, she started to raise her voice to us to the point of yelling at us and telling us that this is not the right restaurant for us.

When I had the chance to speak about my kid's meal, the waiter and this blond lady manager had the audacity to say that I had had communication issues when ordering my child’s food and, if I didn't want the bolognese with cream I should have asked first. The menu doesn't indicate the bolognese has dairy and, it is the waiters’ responsibility to remark on it in case of an allergy. I just wanted the same meal my kid had in this restaurant before, not this big deal and to get scolded by this blond lady manager. My child is not able to communicate her needs or wants, so I try to advocate and speak for her. It's disturbing that someone tells you that you, as a mom, are not able to communicate well what your child wants. In the end, we never got the French fries. They remembered them when I suggested to the blond lady manager that her advocacy for “her restaurant” (she claimed being the owner) should consider that her customers would be able to eat something at least. My child didn't eat anything that evening. They were going to cook the fries after we got scolded by the blond lady manager. I told her we were done and that we just wanted to leave.

On 11/22 Saturday evening, we were disrespected by downtown Ca Dario's staff. We will never come back here again, and because we are locals, I will make sure lots of people in the community know about this incident. I'm also looking forward to talk to the actual owner of this restaurant, because our experience beyond being awful should be addressed in some way, so it won't be repeated again.

If I could rate 0 stars I would. The night began nicely being greeted and taken to our reservation promptly. We ordered our apps and drinks and one of the kids orders first. The pasta came out dry and not true to a bolognese. Sent it back twice and still was not good. The bread was cold. Then the fries that we ordered NEVER came. Then all the other entrees came and my husband's risotto was raw (hard pieces of rice not aldente), and he let them know that. We would've just kept on eating quietly yet the chef, crazy manager, and waiter came over to make a dramatic show occur. We've eaten here plenty of times before and not once has this happened ever and it was embarrassing. The blonde tall manager has got to go if this restaurant wants to keep its clientele. Literally yelling at the table scaring both kids as she explains how northern Italy makes their pastas and risottos differently and blah blah blah. And saying she has to defend the restaurant because we were complaining too much and that this restaurant wasn't for us. All we said was that two dishes came out wrong. We told them to try the risotto and then she came back with a spoon trying it (from my husbands dish) saying this is exactly what it needed to taste like since it is from northern Italy LOL. She needs a lesson in customer service skills because the way she spoke to her PAYING customers was so disrespectful. it was absolutely embarrassing, I don't recommend this restaurant whatsoever I would much rather go drop $400 at tres lune who has way better service than go back here!!

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

Went for birthday dinner son turning 15. Overpriced everything. The quail tastes like bland chicken, with salty mushroom gravy sauce. Manager is rude. My son said worst Alfredo pasta he’s ever eaten. Don’t eat here.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 1

Service: 2

Everything is overpriced. Quail, tasted like bland chicken with salty mushroom sauce. Wife had strong tasting fish that was obviously not fresh and smelled old. When she sent it back women manager came out being rude and defensive yelling at her that its supposed to taste that way. Manager doesn't know or care how to treat their customers. My son 15 had stomach ace after eating the Alfredo pasta, said it was the worst he ever had. Don't go here.

I cannot believe what happened at Ca’ Dario tonight. I’m still shaking.
ZERO stars. Stay away from this place until they fire the manager.

I’ve been coming here for YEARS. I trusted this restaurant. But what I experienced tonight was hands-down the worst, most unprofessional, most disrespectful treatment I have EVER had in any restaurant.

I ordered my daughter plain pasta — NO oil, NO butter, butter on the side. They brought it wrong. Fine, mistakes happen. But then they took it back and 2 minutes later brought back the exact same pasta, still smelling like oil. They didn’t even bother to make a fresh dish for a CHILD.

When we asked for the manager, Chuy, he came over already angry.
Not apologetic. Not concerned. ANGRY.

He immediately started raising his voice, denying everything, and then did something truly unbelievable — he grabbed the pasta plate and melted butter aggressively like he was snatching something out of someone’s hands. The butter spilled all over the table from how hard he yanked it.
My daughter literally got scared of him.

Then my friend walked to the bar to calmly ask about the pasta, and Chuy yelling at her that they “don’t tolerate complaints.”
Excuse me? A restaurant that can’t handle being told they made a mistake?

AND THEN I FOUND A HAIR in my pasta.

The chef came out, not to apologize, but to defend himself and act like we were the problem.

This place has completely lost its standards — food quality, sanitation, and basic human respect.

After 5 years of dining here, I am DONE.
And I will tell EVERYONE to stay away until management is replaced.

This experience was disgusting, frightening, and absolutely unacceptable.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

I cannot believe what happened at Ca' Dario tonight. I'm still shaking. ZERO stars. Stay away from this place until they fire the manager. I've been coming here for YEARS. I trusted this restaurant. But what I experienced tonight was hands-down the worst, most unprofessional, most disrespectful treatment I have EVER had in any restaurant. I ordered my daughter plain pasta — NO oil, NO butter, butter on the side. They brought it wrong. Fine, mistakes happen. But then they took it back and 2 minutes later brought back the exact same pasta, still smelling like oil. They didn't even bother to make a fresh dish for a CHILD. When we asked for the manager, Chuy, he came over already angry. Not apologetic. Not concerned. ANGRY. He immediately started raising his voice, denying everything, and then did something truly unbelievable — he grabbed the pasta plate and melted butter aggressively like he was snatching something out of someone's hands. The butter spilled all over the table from how hard he yanked it. My daughter literally got scared of him. And asked me what just happened Then my friend walked to the bar to calmly ask about the pasta, and Chuy started yelling at her that they “don't tolerate complaints.” Excuse me? A restaurant that can't handle being told they made a mistake? AND THEN I FOUND A HAIR in my pasta. The chef came out, not to apologize, but to defend himself and act like we were the problem. This place has completely lost its standards — food quality, sanitation, and basic human respect. Absolutely humiliating for someone who dines at least 4 times a week in high class restaurants. After 5 years of dining here, I am DONE. And I will tell EVERYONE to stay away until management is replaced. This experience was disgusting, frightening, and absolutely unacceptable.

Antonio is a great waiter. He is kind and attentive. Our food was super hot and delicious.