30 Best Italian Restaurants in Santa Barbara

“Amazing dinner and experience!! Our waiter Dan and his staff were very professional, knowledgeable and accommodating. We eat out often but this experience will definitely stand out and we will be back. We went to celebrate our 20 Year Wedding Anniversary and everyone made us feel special from the minute we walked in. Food was amazing and unique and the views spectacular!!“

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

“Tasty food at reasonable prices served by super friendly people - a winning combination!

We were shopping in the area and decided to eat here based on the ratings. It has a small indoor dining area but is heavily focused on outdoor seating. We ordered and paid at the counter and they brought our food out to us once seated. From the order to the food delivery, everyone we encountered was very pleasant and helpful.

The food was freshly prepared, had good portion sizes and tasted great. Everyone commented on how good it was. I had the ham torta and it was delicious. Nice combo of ingredients, excellent bread and just a hint of heat.“

“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“

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

“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.“

“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.“

“We visited Marisella for Valentine’s Day dinner and were fortunate to secure an 8:45 p.m. reservation. From the moment you pull into the circular drive for valet at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara, the experience feels elevated. After being directed through the property to the back where the restaurant is located, we were greeted warmly and seated promptly at a table that was ready and waiting for us.

For Valentine’s Day, they offered a curated four-course menu rather than à la carte ordering. The courses were well executed and thoughtfully paced. I have a fruit allergy, and the staff was very mindful of that, which I appreciated. Accommodations were handled professionally without making it feel like an inconvenience.

Service was somewhat mixed. Our primary waitress seemed informal and borderline overwhelmed throughout the evening. In contrast, the support staff—runners, bussers, and cocktail servers—were polished, attentive, and proactive. At times, they felt more engaged than our assigned server.

The food itself was excellent. Everything we had was flavorful and well presented. The wine list was strong, which is not surprising given the property’s location and reputation. There are plenty of higher-end selections available. The exclusive cocktail menu, however, is fairly small. They can certainly make anything you request, but if you are hoping for a large selection of signature house cocktails, you may find it limited.

Overall, it was a very good experience, especially for a major holiday evening. I would absolutely return and look forward to visiting again on a non-holiday night to see how the restaurant performs under more typical conditions.“

“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!!!“

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

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

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

“Great pizza spot in Santa Barbara! The pizza was very tasty, fresh, and full of flavor. The crust was perfect, the ingredients tasted high quality, and everything was served nicely. Great atmosphere and friendly service. Definitely recommend Saint Bibiana if you’re looking for delicious pizza.“

“Great pizza and a lovely experience every time. This was my fourth visit, and the food has been consistently amazing each time. We had a margherita pizza, marinara pizza, and spritz. Risch, who I believe is the manager, is very friendly and welcoming. My favorites are the Margherita pizza and the winter citrus salad — everything is so flavorful and freshly made. If you enjoy Neapolitan-style pizza, this place is definitely worth trying. They have a beautiful terrace as well as cozy indoor seating. Definitely one of my favorite Italian spots in Santa Barbara!“

“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.😘“

“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!“

“My wife and I drove up from Temecula to celebrate Valentine’s weekend in Santa Barbara, and as a big-time pizza lover, Cali-Forno was at the top of my bucket list. It did NOT disappoint. From the first bite, I knew this was something special. The flavor, the crust, the freshness — hands down some of the best pizza I’ve ever had. I even had the chance to meet the owner and his son, which made the experience that much better. Super genuine people. We caught him filming a Valentine’s TikTok while we were there — great vibes all around. It was so good, I went back for lunch one day and dinner the next. And yes… I bought an extra pie to take back home and enjoy throughout the week. If you’re in Santa Barbara and love pizza, this spot is a must. 🍕🔥“

“Really good pizza. The courtyard space for seating was nice, very casual. Only negative was the size of the beverage cup for the strawberry lemonade was kind of small and it was pricey. We went by other reviews and got the salty sailor I think it was with prosuito and it was salty. Overall taste was good if you like salty. The size of the pizza was perfect for us, party of 2. Friendly young staff. Overall, you have to try it!“

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

“Uncle Rocco welcomes all creatures of life, delicious fresh pizza at a very fair price. If you order a fresh pie, while you wait for the yummiest to bake, I suggest indulging in one of the Frosty libations available on tap at the bar. This place is what dreams are made of.“

“The pizzas are so delicious!!“

“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.“

“A wonderful place to meet friends for a delightful bite to eat“