Diners' Choice: Neighborhood gem restaurants in Santa Barbara

OpenTable

Updated January 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighborhood gems 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!

Tre Lune

4.8

4.8 (2021)

$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

Liam

Dined 2 days ago

Tre Lune was an exceptional dining experience, reminiscent of our time in Italy. The gnocchi truffle pasta and fettuccine Mare e Monti showcased outstanding flavor profiles, beautifully crafted and perfectly balanced. The ambiance was inviting, and the service was impeccable, further elevating the experience. This will undoubtedly become a regular stop for us whenever we visit the Santa Barbara/Montecito area.

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4.8

4.8 (1815)

$31 to $50

Italian

Santa Barbara

About the restaurant

"Anything grilled is divine, and the rest of the menu is delectable at this charming Italian restaurant in Santa Barbara known for its excellent execution of simple pasta, meats and other classics. A fantastic wine list with many available by the glass; its a local favorite, so reservations are a must."

Top review

Charles

Dined 2 days ago

Overall, a great experience. The restaurant is attractive and nicely lit, with small vases of flowers on each table. It was a Monday, not crowded but many tables were occupied. Our table was ready when we arrived. We split a salad, first course and second course. The food was flavorful and well prepared. The pacing was perfect and the quantities made sharing work well. Our cocktails were well crafted and generous. I find this always makes a good impression on me. The server was present and not intrusive. She seemed well informed, offering advice and answering questions without needing to check with someone else. All in all, a great experience and worth going back.

Ca Dario Montecito

4.8

4.8 (897)

$50 and over

Italian

Montecito

About the restaurant

Ca' 'Dario's newest restaurant on Coast Village Road promises the same authentic and fresh Italian cuisine as our other locations, now easily accessible for residents of Montecito!
Enjoy outdoor dining on our covered patio, or indoor in our elegant dining room.
We feature an adjustable roof that keeps out the rain and allows in the sun.
Dogs are welcome (we ask that you limit the number to one per guest)

Top review

MargoVIP

Dined 6 days ago

Absolutely wonderful. Service is most noticeable above and beyond most restaurants. Food is delish!

Arnoldi's Cafe

4.7

4.7 (767)

$31 to $50

Italian

Santa Barbara

About the restaurant

Oldest Italian restaurant in Santa Barbara! We have two bocce courts on our patio with outdoor dining. Lots of pasta, appetizers, salads, chicken dishes and homemade desserts...Italian wine and local wine on our wine list...indoor or outdoor seating. We are a true local's secret and kid friendly. Open for dinner 7 days a week! We also host rehearsal dinners, wedding receptions, and large birthday parties.

Top review

Susie

Dined on Dec 29, 2024

Such a fantastic “ old school” Italian experience! The hostess was efficient, the wait staff top notch, and the food… incredible!!!!!! I love Arnoldi’s soo much!!!!!

LOCAL Montecito

4.7

4.7 (278)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Montecito

About the restaurant

Incredible outdoor seating with two heated patios, firepit, couches, and a 360 degree bar. Featuring local ingredients and exceptional dishes from multiple cuisines paired with an extensive and rare wine collection, LOCAL has it all in the heart of Montecito.

Top review

Pamela

Dined 6 days ago

Not sure why this place isn’t packed every night? The food is fabulous as is the service and ambiance!

Intermezzo By Wine Cask

4.6

4.6 (1788)

$31 to $50

Californian

Santa Barbara

About the restaurant

Intermezzo by Wine Cask
New Menu by Executive Chef Mossin Sugich

Modern American cuisine with a Mediterranean twist

Top review

RichardVIP

Dined 6 days ago

Intermezzo was and always is wonderful, and it's my first choice when we want an excellent evening in a beautiful setting. The menu, the preparation and the presentation were flawless, and the unflappable Emma ensured the entire evening was perfect.

The Bistro at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara

4.5

4.5 (537)

$50 and over

American

Santa Barbara

About the restaurant

Named “Top 100 Best Al Fresco Dining Restaurants in America” by OpenTable, The Bistro offers a casual and relaxed atmosphere to dine and enjoy sweeping views of the coastline. Local produce and sustainable seafood highlight an acclaimed menu of traditional bistro favorites, including brick oven flatbreads, seasonal salads and the signature Santa Barbara burger.

Please note that holiday reservations are only available for in-house guests. Room confirmation number is required to officially confirm your dining reservation during these times.

Marriott Bonvoy Members can earn points when staying with us. Please enroll here: https://www.joinmarriottbonvoy.com/uscanqr/s/EN/ch/sbarz

For parties with 6 guests or more a 26% service charge fee will be added to your final bill. For all guests there will be an 8.75% California State tax added to the final bill.

Top review

Ana Y

Dined on Jan 3, 2025

Amazing food! Our waiter German was the best!!!!!!

Ca' Dario Cucina Italiana

4.5

4.5 (620)

$31 to $50

Italian

Goleta

About the restaurant

Anything grilled is "divine" and the rest of the menu is "delectable" at the "charming" Italian in Santa Barbara known for its "excellent" execution of "simple" pasta, meats and other classics plus a "fantastic" wine list with many available by the glass; it's a local "favorite", so reservations are a must.

Top review

Vivian-Lee

Dined 7 days ago

Excellent experience, as always. Business dinner, so appreciated the combination of lively atmosphere with attentive but not overbearing service.

L'Antica - Santa Barbara

4.2

4.2 (172)

$31 to $50

Italian

Santa Barbara

About the restaurant

Experience Authentic Italian Cuisine at L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele in Santa Barbara Indulge in a slice of Italy at L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele in Santa Barbara, where authentic Neapolitan pizza and Italian dishes await. Using only the finest ingredients, each dish showcases the traditional flavors of Napoli, from the perfect Margherita pizza to sumptuous pasta and indulgent tiramisu. The rustic ambiance creates a cozy setting for any occasion. Dedicated to sustainability and local sourcing, L'Antica brings the essence of Italy to California for an unforgettable dining experience.

Top review

Guilherme

Dined on Dec 21, 2024

Excellent Pizza and food. We have been to the original one in Naples and couldn't tell the difference in quality and flavor. The ambience is modern with loud music. Its ok but doesn't suit the pizzeria vibe you expect. Service is what you expect in California. Recommend it for the quality of the pizza which is very good.

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3.2

3.2 (435)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Santa Barbara

About the restaurant

In business for more than 30 years, Roy is a bistro-style, Americana restaurant with a frequently changing, handwritten menu. We strive to serve unpretentious cuisine of the highest quality. We use mostly certified organic produce from the local Santa Barbara Farmers Market, free range chicken and Harris Ranch hormone free beef. We bake our own bread, hand roll our pastas and make all of our desserts in house. Our ambiance is retro moderne California casual, and we have rotating art shows that run for a month and a half at a time. Live music once in a while. Full bar all the time.

Top review

Rick

Dined on Dec 29, 2024

Noise level was high which affected conversation but the music was excellent.

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