One of my favorite places to dine! Gorgeous patio with incredible ambiance. Perfect spot to dine with kids where they are welcome without feeling like you are at a kiddie restaurant. I recently hosted a large party with guests who had kids as well- everyone was at ease. Planning was easy, and Sara (I think ) was super responsive for minor details prior to my party. She even checked in during to make sure everything was as expected. Thankful they are current with the times and had an amazing mocktail menu rather than the options being juice or soda! My other guests enjoyed this as well. Not drinking doesn't mean you can't be festive! Thank you Arnoldi's for recognizing that. Amazing food, amazing drinks, and perfect setting. Can't wait to host there again! read more

Arnoldi’s Cafe - Italian Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Better than ever! Marvelous Italian food without the cliches and gimmicks. All the staff are true professionals.

It was very sad for me to eat dinner at Arnoldis the other night. The menu has changed from veal and steak to chicken and chicken. The food was totally mediocre. The service was fine, but I won't be returning because of the menu. I've been going there since I was in high school and I'm very sad that I won't be going again. read more

This restaurant has reopened and an absolute disappointment. Don't waste your time nor money. - Menu is the same as the other fifty Italian restaurants in Santa Barbara. - Service was poor and 90% of the time had to ask wait staff for service. - Chardonnay list was poor and limited. - The Caprese cheese was below average quality and sliced tomato simply sucked. - Bread was cold and below average. - Both entrees brought to table and no silverware to eat. I stopped the staff walking by and informed them we need silverware to eat. Notice picture of entrees and no silverware to eat. Come on staff! Five minutes later silverware was brought to table. It takes 3 minutes for food to go cold when sitting outside. - Chicken Parmesan with spaghetti was good. - Lasagna was good. Outdoor seating included looking at extensive power-lines. Come on owners. Grow a hedge and make the outdoor seating area attractive. - Parking is on street and the neighbor is consider the undesirable area of Santa Barbara with high crime. No pride of ownership with the mediocre Italian restaurant. Save your hard earned money and go to a different restaurant. Why reopen a restaurant to have patrons not want to return?! I paid $180 for two people to eat and left knowing why the restaurant had NEVER been recommended by locals. NEVER recommended..... There are multiple 1 Star reviews since opening two days ago. read more

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If I can give this place 10 stars I would! We just had my daughter's wedding reception here over the weekend and it was beyond what we could've ever expected! It all started out when I called and spoke to Sara, the owner, and she was so helpful I just knew this is where we wanted to celebrate our daughter's special day! She was patient with all my questions and even helped break down menu options many different ways for me! Fast-forward to the day of... everything was perfect, the outdoor patio was a literal dream, the food was AMAZING (chicken piccata & 4 Cheese rigatoni) and every single employee treated us like we were family! This will forever be our new favorite place to come to eat in Santa Barbara! If you are looking for a venue for a party or reception, this place is a must!! read more

Arnoldi’s Cafe - Outdoor Patio - Italian Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I had the most amazing experience hosting my wedding at Arnoldi's. I'm an event planner, and after planning many other people's weddings I wanted an easy experience producing mine at a venue with great in house food, rentals, and staff. Sara was incredibly responsive to all of my requests throughout the planning process, and everything was perfect day of, from the food to the service. I recommend Arnoldi's to all of my friends throwing events in SB, and am looking for an excuse to host another event there. I also love stopping in for dinner or a drink--one of my fav spots in SB. Highly recommended! read more

I don't eat out often and haven't been to Arnoldi's in decades (grew up in SB) but we had family in town and when Arnoldi's was suggested I thought why not? Our party of 6 were seated easily enough and the patio was warm but less so as meal went on. Most of us had beers or cocktails and we all ordered entrees. I'm sad to say my pesto dish was lukewarm and pretty underwhelming. My daughter felt same about her chicken dish. I'm not sure about the other 4 dinners but no one was saying much. Service was fine and everyone was friendly. Side note: I was waiting to use bathroom and a lady next to me was knocked into as a buser came out of the dish room with a rack of glasses. She was kind of over dramatic but have to say a black curtain hanging in the door way that is right by bathrooms kind of lends itself to potential problems. All in all for the price and overall experience I can't say I'd go back or recommend Arnoldi's which is a shame because I went there confident it would be much better. read more

Food was Amazing! Gnocchi, Eggplant Parmigiana delicious. Went with friends and I am still thinking about this food!

The good: Service was outstanding. The not so good: The chicken part of my chicken Marsala was tender and ok but the salt laden sauce took over the chicken so much that it never had a chance to be great. The side pasta in white sauce was under boiled and was also taken over with more salt. The really not so good: The prices do not justify the food quality. read more

HIGHLY recommend! The food is amazing, service is incredible, wonderful atmosphere and great for groups, dates or families. read more

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Our nonprofit recently booked our Holiday Party at Arnoldi's for 35 people. The planning of dates and menu was seamless with Sara at the helm. The food was fantastic, the desserts were epic and the service from the staff was impeccable. I would highly recommend any larger parties there. Thank you Arnoldi's, our Staff and Board had a great time! read more

We went in with a party of 8 (5 adults, 3 kids). Service was great and fast, and they gave the kids crayons to draw with. Food portions were large. Would definitely recommend! read more

The food was absolutely delicious! I would definitely go back! there as a mixup with our reservation and and they accommodated us with ease.

If you want to go to a perfect Restaurant in Santa Barbara, then Arnoldi's Cafe is the perfect place. It's cozy, great deco inside great low keyed Music and the FOOD!! Tastes like it was made by MAMA. Sean was our Bartender, a Wealth of knowledge about the History of Arnoldi's from past to present. And our Server Guerrmo , was excellent, we had 17 people in our party, he brought out all of the orders with no mistakes. To say their food portions were generous is an understatement, so be prepared to eat a Man sized plate with a lot of tasty food on it. My Wife found this place and we went there for our Nephews Wedding Celebration. Parking is right, but they offered Valet Parking, take advantage of it you will not be sorry. This place deserves a 10++++++++ in my book. We will be back and make an effort to stop in and enjoy more of their great tasting foods. read more

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We had our wedding rehearsal dinner at Arnoldi's and it was amazing! They had been closed for a few months, so our event was the first night that they were going to be opening back up. Sara was on site to ensure that everything ran smoothly, and Guillermo (our designated server) was so kind and so on top of everything. They had a big name chef in town who was helping refine the menu and the food was so good! We ordered Bruschetta, Fried calamari, Spring salad, Penne Pomodoro, Gnocchi with pesto and the Tuscan Chicken which was a big hit! I'm dairy free so I stuck with a Penne Pomodoro and it was so yummy and so smooth - I even took some to go. Overall, it was a great dinner, great service, and great night! I would highly recommend having your private dinner or event here. They supply the chairs and tables so all we had to bring was decor. We had 35 people in our group and everyone was very pleased with Arnoldi's. read more

Arnoldi’s Cafe - Italian Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Service was good. Ambiance was cozy. Food was excellent. Although, they didn't have the dessert we'd like to try. But, we'll definitely come back when we go on a day trip to Santa Barbara. read more

"Perfect spot for a team dinner! The food is absolutely delicious, and the vibe is great. This is our third year in a row coming here with our team, and it never disappoints. The service is amazing, and the staff is always so kind and accommodating--even with our big group. The girls and parents all love it!" read more

Just had dinner tonight, my wife and I had done yard work all day so it was well deserved. Over our dessert and americano I asked her what she liked best. " The Limoncello Martini, the arugula salad, the warm crusty bread, the Carbonara, and the soft Chianti". What more can be said? Silvano the waiter has a nice table side manner and really lets you enjoy your time alone. read more

The cheese ravioli was life changing. All the staff were so accommodating. The atmosphere was so fun and festive!! But the best thing about this restaurant was their dessert. The simple vanilla gelato with chocolate sauce healed my soul. I live 2 hours away and I would come back just for the pasta! Do yourself a favor and come to this restaurant. read more

The atmosphere on the back patio is amazing, and perfect for a large friend and family gathering - so that is a 5 star! They also have bocce ball there I ordered the chicken piccata upon the waiter's recommendation and it was completely bland and the chicken was overcooked. I have had chicken piccata hundreds of times, and also have made it myself, and this was the most uninspired I have ever tasted. I snacked on everyone else's meal and took it home to doctor it up and see if anything about it was salvageable. Really disappointing. Gnocchi, also hand made there, were equally bland and boring. Took them home also, added pesto the next day to make them enjoyable and they were edible. My husband ordered the rotello which was lasagna rolled up with ricotta and spinach, those were delicious! And our friend ordered the frutto Di mare which is a seafood and pasta dish, he loved it, ate every bite, and didn't even share! So it's hit and miss out of the kitchen I would say. The service and ambiance were excellent though - and it is one of the oldest restaurants in Santa Barbara / I was there eating a meal 50 years ago and it is still charming. read more

We ate at Arnoldi's last night and found the food very good. We ordered the lasagne bolognese, chicken Marsala and Three Cheese Ravioli with " pink sauce", which was a tomato cream sauce. All dishes were delicious! The chicken in the marsala was tough but the sauce was perfect. Our server, Ruben, was very attentive and helpful. One big negative was the lack of parking and we had a disabled person with us. I am told they have complimentary valet on the weekends. read more

Had a family get-together at Arnoldi's when we were in town for vacation. The food was great, as was the service, even though it was clearly a packed house. The chicken picatta was particularly good (I recommend it with the linguine Alfredo), with the chicken so tender that the knife they brought was totally superfluous. Nobody left hungry, but there also wasn't a ton of leftovers, so expect just-about-perfect portion sizes. It reminded me of our family favorite Italian restaurant in Vista, Marco, which has sadly closed. read more

The food and service were incredible! My only major gripe is the music. There was Christmas music playing and it was very old and played on repeat. It would be nice to get some more night time tunes going for ambience. read more

Had dinner there Christmas Eve since it has been closed for a while. It was our favorite restaurant in Santa Barbara. Food was good, but not up to the same standard especially the calamari. They must be using a different recipe. My advice is to go back to the old. The menu for Christmas Eve was limited but good service as usual was excellent.. I will still go back there. read more

Really disappointed. The service was great. G Ute place. The lasagna bolognese was nothing like a bolognese sauce. It tasted like vodka sauce from a jar. Overpriced for what you get. read more

Sean and Glauco are awesome, this place is a vibe. Awesome happy hour, great drinks and food especially the gorgonzola raviolis. Patio is beautiful. Will definitely be back. read more

Unfortunately NO. Not only is the food poor quality, the recipes tasteless, we were halfway through our salads when they brought the entrees to crowd the table. Cocktails were good so have a drink here but eat anywhere else, none of us finished our food and left hungry. Never again. read more

Arnoldi's has returned and they have not missed a step. The food is amazing. The service is great. The new staff is polished. Can't wait to return. read more

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Arnoldi's has been on Olive Street in Santa Barbara for decades serving delicious Italian food. This is a very unique place with a vintage inside seating are including a bar and a couple wooden booths. The outdoor patio area is lovely and includes a bocci ball court. The food is consistently good and fir the price point, the servings are generous. Arnoldi's serves classics dishes with an "old-school" feeling. The tri-color gnocchi has been one of favorites, as well as the incredible chicken Parmesan. read more

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I won't lie. It didn't start great on the service side. We had a reservation but showed up early bc our prior plans ended early. No big deal, as we knew we would possibly have to wait. But we showed up, and the hostess let us know that they weren't busy and could seat us very soon, and in the meantime, we would sit at the bar and wait until the table was prepared. Next thing you know an hour had gone by and our reservation time had arrived. We asked her if we were at least going to be seated now since it was our reservation time. She then advised us that our table had been ready. But she had never advised us that it was ready even tho our party was all of 2 feet from her. This was a huge thing for me as I grew up in the service industry. But I will tell you right now that the food and the service we received from our server Christian most of all saved this review. Christian was absolutely amazing. We were a party of 15, and he handled it like a pro. Hostess - 1 out of 5 Food - 5 out of 5 Christian - 10 out of 5 read more

Jorge was our server and he was amazing!!! So personable. My partner and I had a beautiful night, thanks to the ambiance but also due to his wonderful service!!! read more

We're so glad to have found and dined here in New Years Eve! My husband and I planned our NY trip to Santa Barbara last minute, so we were worried that the restaurants were fully booked. Luckily, we saw Arnoldi's still had a few tables left, so we decided to give it a shot, and they did not disappoint. The most important thing, the food, was delicious! Filet Mignon Arnoldi's was on point. The steak was juicy and side dishes were palatable. We also ordered the special salad, which from what I can remember consisted of butter lettuce, beet, and blue cheese. It was to die for. I even intend to re-create it at home. Service was also great, and we enjoyed the family-friendly ambience. Will definitely come back! read more

Great food, good portions, my whole family loved it. Cocktails were ok but the food was really good. Highly recommend

Had a great Sunday lunch here . The old school bar and woodwork are such a nice look. The outside patio is so pretty. What a great atmosphere! We very much enjoyed our food and service . read more

This place was amazing!!! Great ambiance, staff as really friendly, food and wine was delicious! So good we may even come back before we leave town. read more

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First time and I'm impressed with the eggplant parmigiana. As someone who is particular with eggplant parm I rate theirs 10/10. They slice it thin and it's just the right amount of crispy and the sauce is in fact flavorful. It looks as good as it tastes. For the pasta on the side I requested the gorgonzola sauce instead of marinara sauce. It tasted like Alfredo sauce, still good, but was expecting that punch of flavor that gorgonzola brings. Great meal. Loved it. Will be back! read more

Arnoldi’s Cafe - Eggplant parmigiana w/pasta requested with gorgonzola cream sauce - Italian Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Great service and food! Family friendly restaurant. Back patio is so pretty. The drinks were amazing. Highly recommend!

Born and raised in Santa Barbara. This was my first time at Arnoldi's. The service was great and was on top of everything. I finally got the chance to try the Spaghetti Carbonara. It was the best dish I have ever had. I can't wait to go back and get that dish again. I went for my anniversary which was a great spot for a romantic dinner. read more

Arnoldi’s Cafe - Chicken Parmesan - Italian Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Well, we read this place was a local favorite. I think the locals need higher standards. The bathrooms were filthy. There were only two restrooms for at least 100 guests and all of the employees. The kitchen was pure chaos and gross. And the service, especially the hostess, was rude. We were given a table on the patio that slanted towards the window. Literally things could roll off the table, and chairs were not level and rocked. We asked the hostess, the rude one, for the table adjacent to us but she told us it was taken. We asked to see the manager, and she rolled her eyes with attitude and walked away. The manager came by and couldn't help us move to the other table. A half hour lately five guests arrived and sat at the table we requested for 10 minutes. They complained about the table and they were given another one. Boom! Just like that! Lucky them! Meanwhile, the vacated table we wanted sat emoty the entire time we were there. The food was good. It tasted homemade. But was overpriced. Sigh. I digress. Do not recommend. read more

I don't know why it took me so long to visit Arnoldi's Cafe but I am sure glad I have. The food was delicious with the carbonara being my absolute favorite. The ambiance is also something to behold if you are seated in their outside courtyard during the sunset hours. The painted sky and the food makes for a great combination. read more