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Diners' Choice: Best Food restaurants in Santa Barbara

OpenTable

Updated November 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall cuisine in Santa Barbara? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

A photo of Tre Lune restaurant

4.8

4.8 (1984)

$31 to $50

Italian

Montecito

About the restaurant

"Upbeat and comfortable, serving real-deal pastas and pizzas that make you feel like you're in Italy again." - ZAGAT 2010

Fresh fish, veal scaloppini, osso buco, prime steaks, Kobe-beef burgers, organic salads, and house-made desserts.

Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner-Cocktails.

Award Winner of Italian wines list.

Please call to make reservations.

Top review

J

Jordanvip

Dined 4 days ago

We loved everything about our dining experience! Cocktails and food were superb!

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A photo of Lasagne Maria of a restaurant

A photo of Fettuccine Alfredo of a restaurant

Fettuccine Alfredo

A photo of Secret Bao restaurant

4.8

4.8 (665)

$31 to $50

Asian

Santa Barbara

About the restaurant

Modern Asian American Restaurant from Chefs Peter Lee & Felicia Medina.

"Consider the bao. Chinese in origin, it’s most easily described as a steamed bun filled with something savory. Yet, like the American concept of a sandwich, the bao exploded into a flexible format of untold bounds — served at any meal, filled with you-name-it, completely closed or wide open, with endless regional variants from across Asia and far beyond." - Matt Kettmann (SB Independent)

1 Block From State Street, Easy Parking, Public Lot Nearby, Free 75 Minute Parking, Walking Distance, El Pueblo Viejo Landmark District, Superior Court, Spanish Colonial Revival Courthouse, Santa Barbara Museum Of Art, Courthouse Gardens, Bell Tower, Bao, Food, Restaurant, Asian, American, New, Modern, Fried, Chicken, Octopus, Vegan, Vegetarian, Paelo, Friendly, Dog Friendly, Outdoor Patio, Heaters, Warm, Inviting, Hospitable, Modern Design

Top review

L

Lisavip

Dined 2 days ago

Delectable food and great service. Creative bao flavors and everything from cocktail to noodles to baos to desserts were perfectly flavoured with nothing too sweet, salty or overpowering. Love that they offered happy hour until 6pm, even on a Friday.

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A photo of KFC Bao of a restaurant

A photo of KFC of a restaurant

A photo of Shrimp of a restaurant

A photo of Stonehouse at San Ysidro Ranch restaurant

Stonehouse at San Ysidro Ranch

4.8

4.8 (2601)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Santa Barbara

About the restaurant

The Stonehouse, located in a beautiful 19th-century citrus packing house, offers an unparalleled dining experience. Guests can unwind in a relaxing lounge with full bar service or enjoy the ambiance of the separate dining room, complete with a crackling fireplace and world-class views. Chef Matthew Johnson creates evocative regional cuisine, utilizing fresh herbs and vegetables from the Ranch’s organic chef’s garden. The Stonehouse boasts the only Grand Award-winning wine program in Central California, ensuring an unparalleled selection of wines to complement your meal. For a unique twist, visit the restaurant's speakeasy for before or after dinner drinks, where you can enjoy expertly crafted cocktails in an intimate, nostalgic setting.

Top review

A

Ambervip

Dined 3 days ago

Lovely ambience and very friendly staff. The food was DELICIOUS.

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A photo of San Ysidro Ranch Meyer Lemon Tart of a restaurant

San Ysidro Ranch Meyer Lemon Tart

A photo of Blackened Ora King Salmon Salad of a restaurant

Blackened Ora King Salmon Salad

A photo of Sunday Champagne Brunch of a restaurant

Sunday Champagne Brunch

A photo of Lucky's restaurant

4.8

4.8 (2871)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

Montecito

About the restaurant

LUCKY'S is widely known for its exclusive selection of USDA Prime steaks, fresh seafood, farmer's market vegetables, no-nonsense cocktails and world class wine cellar.
For take-out, please call the restaurant.
We do not accept bar table reservations online, please call the restaurant.
For larger parties, please call or email the restaurant directly.

Top review

W

Willaim

Dined 2 days ago

Amazing food, staff are attentive and knowledgeable.

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A photo of Monday - Chicken Pot Pie with Morels of a restaurant

Monday - Chicken Pot Pie with Morels

A photo of Barbareño restaurant

4.8

4.8 (1875)

$31 to $50

Californian

Santa Barbara

About the restaurant

At Barbareño we seek to help further shape and define Central Coast cuisine. We take our inspiration from traditions and specialties of our area, delicacies unique to our region, and the many outstanding purveyors with whom we are so fortunate to work. In all of our efforts, we hope to capture the essence of a particular place or local flavor, embracing the nuances that make our food and drink unique to our home.

Top review

G

Georgette

Dined today

Amazing food, amazing service. Thanks for making my birthday a great night!

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A photo of Santa Maria BBQ of a restaurant

Santa Maria BBQ

A photo of Baked California of a restaurant

Baked California

A photo of Grilled Avocado of a restaurant

Grilled Avocado

A photo of Corazon Comedor restaurant

Corazon Comedor

4.6

4.6 (181)

$31 to $50

Mexican

Santa Barbara

About the restaurant

Corazon Comedor emerged from the longing of nostalgic food from the streets, markets, and homes of Mexico. We look forward to bringing this experience in each dish.

Top review

M

Michael

Dined 1 day ago

Love your food here and the service is great! Great place to eat before going to the theater .

A photo of Stella Mare's restaurant

4.8

4.8 (2294)

$31 to $50

French

Santa Barbara

About the restaurant

French country bistro...Between Montecito and Santa Barbara, Stella Mare's Bistro is located in a historic Victorian home overlooking the Bird Refuge. French country cuisine rules the menu, with dishes like coq au vin, cassoulet, and moules frites. Sip seasonal cocktails amid cozy décor -- all the right ingredients for a great dining experience. Bon appétit!

When requesting the greenhouse please note that is considered indoor dining.

Top review

B

burbanitevip

Dined 6 days ago

We recently moved to the Central Coast in CA. We often go to Santa Barbara for its restaurant scene. On my wife’s birthday we wanted something special and we were drawn to Stella Mare, with its classic French with a twist menu. We were blown away! Cannot say enough about the food, great housing in a Victorian home, and unparalleled service. The mushroom soup was perfection as was the apple, endive, pecan salad local blue cheese and light vinaigrette dressing. The coq a vin was perfectly seasoned and the meat fell off the bone. The salmon with cauliflower sauce was incredible. We were full but couldn’t resist the French Beignets which were heavenly and different from the normal Beignets. The only issue you better go now because the restaurant is slated to close Dec 31. Don’t miss the opportunity!!

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A photo of Stella Burger of a restaurant

A photo of Salmon of a restaurant

A photo of Saumon Amandine of a restaurant

Saumon Amandine

A photo of Opal Restaurant & Bar restaurant

Opal Restaurant & Bar

4.9

4.9 (1751)

$31 to $50

Californian

Santa Barbara

About the restaurant

We have inside and limited outdoor sidewalk dining. If you prefer to sit outside, please indicate that with your reservation request.
To accommodate our second seating, early parties should plan for a maximum stay of 1.5 to 2hrs, depending on party size. Please call 805 966 9676 for more details.
A popular local’s favorite, opal restaurant & bar’s Eclectic California Cuisine fuses creative world cuisine influences with American Regional touches, from a 14 oz. Herb-Grilled Ribeye Steak on Tuscan White Beans, to Fresh Pan-Seared Fish & Seafood, Homemade Pastas, Gourmet Pizzas, fresh Baked Breads, imaginative Salads, & Homemade Desserts.
We have a Wine Spectator award-winning wine list, & a full bar with seasonal Craft Cocktails.
Our entire dining room staff assists to take care of each table, enabling exceptional service in a warm engaging manner, properly nuanced to your mood & taste. Our staff genuinely cares about giving you the best possible experience!

Top review

L

lois

Dined 4 days ago

The sea bass dinner & service were fantastic. The guy at the table next to us was a bit noisy but not your fault. Best dinner I had in a long time but don’t tell my spouse that.

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A photo of Pasilla Chile Filet Mignon of a restaurant

Pasilla Chile Filet Mignon

A photo of Olio e Limone Ristorante restaurant

Olio e Limone Ristorante

4.8

4.8 (2538)

$50 and over

Italian

Santa Barbara

About the restaurant

Olio e Limone Ristorante, located in downtown Santa Barbara's ARTS District, serves artisanal Italian cuisine. Meaning “oil and lemon” in Italian, their restaurant’s name reflects husband-wife team Alberto and Elaine Morello’s philosophy: rely on the integrity of the ingredients and quality of the preparation to provide Santa Barbara diners “simply sophisticated” Italian cuisine served in an inviting atmosphere with European hospitality. Start with eggplant souffle, then tuck into a plate of house made duck ravioli or Sicilian spaghetti with bottarga. And be sure to take home a bottle of their own olio, an organic extra-virgin olive oil made from Sicilian olive varieties.
Bonus: their contemporary Italian breakfast, lunch & retail spot Olio Bottega, and authentic pizzeria next door at Olio Pizzeria. Private dining in the Cucina Room for up to 40 guests.

Top review

H

Howardvip

Dined 2 days ago

Simply the best, our most favorite Italian restaurant in Santa Barbara that never, ever disappoints.

A photo of Bouchon - Santa Barbara restaurant

Bouchon - Santa Barbara

4.8

4.8 (5420)

$31 to $50

Californian

Santa Barbara

About the restaurant

We are delighted to have added additional outdoor seating but Santa Barbara nights are chilly so bring a sweater or light jacket!

Fresh, local ingredients, prepared with care. Excellent wines that reflect the quality and character of our region and work in concert with the cuisine. Warm, inviting ambiance, service at a relaxed, leisurely pace. Santa Barbara ‘Wine Country Cuisine’ means we source our ingredients using an ‘as-fresh-and-as-local-as-possible’ approach, with fish from the Santa Barbara Channel and produce from the surrounding countryside. We then take into account how these flavors can be presented in concert with our local wines. We believe you’ll taste the difference. Bon Appètit!

Top review

C

Cecile

Dined 4 days ago

Excellent in every way. Nicolas was our server. Great guy.

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A photo of Scallop Trio of a restaurant

A photo of Dungeness Crab Cakes of a restaurant

Dungeness Crab Cakes

A photo of Bouchon French 'French Onion' Soup of a restaurant

Bouchon French 'French Onion' Soup

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