Occasionally over the past 10+ years, I’ve found myself dining here. This evening, I brought my son and my father, and we enjoyed a fine meal paired with great conversation. The Antipasto Sampler featured an amazing farro salad. My son and I both ordered the Penne alla Bolognese which was spiced perfectly, and the Insalata Verde greens were fresh, flavorful, and topped with a delicious cheese my father especially enjoyed. He also ordered the Veggie Lasagna, which he finished entirely! My son loved his gelato, and the biscotti at the end of the meal made it the perfect finale.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tyler Browning
Authentic & Awesome.
Seb.P
Lovely outdoor seating and great servers are ready when you are! One their servers gave me a free dessert, they are very kind 😁
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tim Kubichek
The ricotta salad, bowtie salmon w/ vodka sauce, gnocchi, and desserts were ALLLL amazing. A+
Service by Laura was also A+.
Us on Instagram: @organized_adventurer (139,000 adventurers)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Megan Musolf
We all loved our food- Only complaint was that the limoncello spritz was overly sweet. I was informed that they only accept reservations for groups 6 or more, but luckily my party of three was able to walk in on a Saturday at 7pm (on the patio), no issue.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
E.J. Z.H.
Even though I only came here for dessert, the food was indescribable. Truly authentic Italian food, flavors were much better than anywhere else I've eaten. I had the chocolate hazelnut Gelato and the tiramisu. First the Gelato tastes like a Ferrero rocher in an ice cream and it had real hazelnut chunks, the tiramisu felt like a fluffy coffee cloud. The staff were super kind and welcoming. Someone else got the pistachio and it tasted like real pistachios and had no added colors lol. The atmosphere felt like italy and I am definitely coming back. It wasn't overpriced and it's all imported from Italy except the seafood. 100/10. Legendary!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Gelato
Omar Torres Muñoz
Pasta was oily and not very tasteful. The sandwich I ordered tasted stale and also lacked flavor.
Food: 1
Karen Bisquera
Always liked this place but, my raviolis were under cooked, chewy and my portion was very small. Ordered dessert and received the wrong dessert after making it very clear what I wanted. I usually do not write bad reviews but maybe this will help improve a good restaurant
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 2
John Rauschkolb II
First visit to Via Maestra 42 with my wife on Valentines Day for lunch. What a pleasant surprise, as we had recommendations form friends that this was a place to go for great italian food but what we founds was excellence in every catagory. Excellent food, excellent service and a truely excellent atmosphere that charmed and captivated all of my senses. I'll be back!!!
Via Maestra 42 is a gem in Santa Barbara! The quality of the food is simply outstanding (especially the desserts!). My partner is gluten free, and the restaurant was able to accommodate quite remarkably. For example, their GF ravioli was delicious. It was the first time we've been to an Italian restaurant that does GF quite well.
The service is equally impeccable. During our visit, the staff was warm, attentive, and genuinely passionate about providing an excellent dining experience.
This is a must-visit for anyone who appreciates authentic Italian cuisine. Highly, highly recommended!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Eanna McAdon
Food was a bit plane. I ordered the mushroom ravioli and it was thinned sauce that barely blended with the ravioli. The ravioli itself was good but cold. My husband ordered shrimp pasta that was just warm, not fresh. His dish was watered down and tasted more like plain pasta. Both of us finished food still hungry, totally unexpected at al Italian restaurant. We also waited 20 minutes for a refill of bread. When I wandered to the bathroom I saw most the chefs using the microwave, very disappointing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 1
Frank L
After hearing that Via Maestra 42 had been voted the #1 Italian restaurant by Santa Barbara locals from 2021 through 2024, I was eager to dine there. The countless positive reviews on Yelp and TripAdvisor further heightened my expectations.
Upon arrival, I found the restaurant to be quaint and cozy, with a limited number of tables that filled up quickly. The intimate setting was complemented by the friendly and attentive waitstaff, who contributed positively to the dining experience.
However, as I made my way to the restroom, I observed a concerning amount of microwave usage in the kitchen. This observation was unfortunately reflected in the dishes I sampled. The shrimp pasta was notably bland and watery, lacking the robust flavors one would expect from a traditional Italian dish. The truffle ravioli, while acceptable, did not stand out and failed to leave a lasting impression.
Considering the high prices, I anticipated a dining experience that showcased authentic and flavorful Italian cuisine. Regrettably, the quality and taste of the food did not align with these expectations, leading to a disappointing visit.
While Via Maestra 42 offers a charming atmosphere and commendable service, the reliance on microwave preparation and the lackluster flavors of the dishes I tried do not justify the premium pricing. Given the restaurant’s esteemed reputation, I hope this was an isolated experience and that future visits might better reflect the accolades it has received.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 4
Catrina Chitjian
We tried the truffle ravioli and branzino and everything was so good that I have high confidence we could have loved anything on the menu.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
sol valdez
One of the best breakfasts in town. Delicious food, excellent service, highly recommended.
Occasionally over the past 10+ years, I’ve found myself dining here. This evening, I brought my son and my father, and we enjoyed a fine meal paired with great conversation. The Antipasto Sampler featured an amazing farro salad. My son and I both ordered the Penne alla Bolognese which was spiced perfectly, and the Insalata Verde greens were fresh, flavorful, and topped with a delicious cheese my father especially enjoyed. He also ordered the Veggie Lasagna, which he finished entirely! My son loved his gelato, and the biscotti at the end of the meal made it the perfect finale.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Authentic & Awesome.
Lovely outdoor seating and great servers are ready when you are! One their servers gave me a free dessert, they are very kind 😁
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The ricotta salad, bowtie salmon w/ vodka sauce, gnocchi, and desserts were ALLLL amazing. A+
Service by Laura was also A+.
Us on Instagram:
@organized_adventurer (139,000 adventurers)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We all loved our food- Only complaint was that the limoncello spritz was overly sweet. I was informed that they only accept reservations for groups 6 or more, but luckily my party of three was able to walk in on a Saturday at 7pm (on the patio), no issue.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Even though I only came here for dessert, the food was indescribable. Truly authentic Italian food, flavors were much better than anywhere else I've eaten. I had the chocolate hazelnut Gelato and the tiramisu. First the Gelato tastes like a Ferrero rocher in an ice cream and it had real hazelnut chunks, the tiramisu felt like a fluffy coffee cloud. The staff were super kind and welcoming. Someone else got the pistachio and it tasted like real pistachios and had no added colors lol. The atmosphere felt like italy and I am definitely coming back. It wasn't overpriced and it's all imported from Italy except the seafood. 100/10. Legendary!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Gelato
Pasta was oily and not very tasteful. The sandwich I ordered tasted stale and also lacked flavor.
Food: 1
Always liked this place but, my raviolis were under cooked, chewy and my portion was very small. Ordered dessert and received the wrong dessert after making it very clear what I wanted. I usually do not write bad reviews but maybe this will help improve a good restaurant
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 2
First visit to Via Maestra 42 with my wife on Valentines Day for lunch. What a pleasant surprise, as we had recommendations form friends that this was a place to go for great italian food but what we founds was excellence in every catagory. Excellent food, excellent service and a truely excellent atmosphere that charmed and captivated all of my senses. I'll be back!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food great…
The only Italian who doesn't have pizza.
Food a bit clear, hence a deduction.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Via Maestra 42 is a gem in Santa Barbara! The quality of the food is simply outstanding (especially the desserts!). My partner is gluten free, and the restaurant was able to accommodate quite remarkably. For example, their GF ravioli was delicious. It was the first time we've been to an Italian restaurant that does GF quite well.
The service is equally impeccable. During our visit, the staff was warm, attentive, and genuinely passionate about providing an excellent dining experience.
This is a must-visit for anyone who appreciates authentic Italian cuisine. Highly, highly recommended!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food was a bit plane.
I ordered the mushroom ravioli and it was thinned sauce that barely blended with the ravioli. The ravioli itself was good but cold. My husband ordered shrimp pasta that was just warm, not fresh. His dish was watered down and tasted more like plain pasta.
Both of us finished food still hungry, totally unexpected at al Italian restaurant.
We also waited 20 minutes for a refill of bread. When I wandered to the bathroom I saw most the chefs using the microwave, very disappointing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 1
After hearing that Via Maestra 42 had been voted the #1 Italian restaurant by Santa Barbara locals from 2021 through 2024, I was eager to dine there. The countless positive reviews on Yelp and TripAdvisor further heightened my expectations.
Upon arrival, I found the restaurant to be quaint and cozy, with a limited number of tables that filled up quickly. The intimate setting was complemented by the friendly and attentive waitstaff, who contributed positively to the dining experience.
However, as I made my way to the restroom, I observed a concerning amount of microwave usage in the kitchen. This observation was unfortunately reflected in the dishes I sampled. The shrimp pasta was notably bland and watery, lacking the robust flavors one would expect from a traditional Italian dish. The truffle ravioli, while acceptable, did not stand out and failed to leave a lasting impression.
Considering the high prices, I anticipated a dining experience that showcased authentic and flavorful Italian cuisine. Regrettably, the quality and taste of the food did not align with these expectations, leading to a disappointing visit.
While Via Maestra 42 offers a charming atmosphere and commendable service, the reliance on microwave preparation and the lackluster flavors of the dishes I tried do not justify the premium pricing. Given the restaurant’s esteemed reputation, I hope this was an isolated experience and that future visits might better reflect the accolades it has received.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 4
We tried the truffle ravioli and branzino and everything was so good that I have high confidence we could have loved anything on the menu.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
One of the best breakfasts in town. Delicious food, excellent service, highly recommended.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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