Prices for Italian food are outrageous. There are so many other fantastic Italian restaurants. I will not come back. To the owners, remember what it is your serving- Pasta=cheap product. Your markup is out of the park for the cost of the ingredients!! read more

My son had a small reception dinner of 30 people after his wedding. at first glance, the restaurant doesn't look like much but when we were guided to the back for out door seating I was impressed. The food was Amazing out of whole party nobody had anything negative to say. The best part of the night was the Amazing service that Guillermo and the crew provided . I have traveled to alot of places and had dinner at service locations, but I have never had this kinda of service before. My hats off to the service.. Thank you for making it a great night for the family... read more

This was such an unforgettable dining experience. The staff at Arnoldi's is absolutely fabulous. This is by far one of the best meals I have ever eaten. We both had pasta dishes and salad. Every detail was attended to and the desserts were amazing. I honestly haven't stopped thinking about my next visit. read more

Absolutely the best Italian food I've ever had, and Italian is my favorite food. Desi was our server and so attentive and pleasant. We had a couple pasta dishes that were superb. Even dessert was the best ever! Highly recommended! read more

My first time trying Arnoldi's and I'm looking forward to going back. The service was exceptional, the food was delicious and I liked the ambiance. read more

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

Recently visited Arnoldo's for the first time since living here and it was excellent! Drinks were delicious and our entrees were superb! Thank you! read more

Best chicken Marsala I've had in a long time! My daughter wasn't hungry and had the bruschetta. It was pretty good. My wife had the Carbonara, which was OK but the gluten-free noodles really were not good. Probably not the fault of the restaurant. I will definitely go back and try the chicken Parm. Really good vibe and lovely service. read more

Food was great, service was not. Possibly best Italian food I have ever had but they got our order wrong twice then missed a dish completely, brought one late, then charged us for a dish we didn't even order. read more

Another amazing night at Arnaldis! Service- phenomenal. Friendly, fun, attentive. My biggest pet peeve is asking someone for something and being told "This isn't my table". Not only did that NOT happen , everyone working there is very noticeably one cohesive team. They ALL accommodated us on every level. Food-top notch. Everyone was passing their plates around sharing everything because we all loved every dish. Among 11 of us, there wasn't a morsel left to bring home leftovers! Ambiance - wonderful for big groups. Not a bad seat in the house- indoor or on the patio. Such a charming family feel to a charming community. Thank you for making our mom's bday dinner special for us. read more

Quaint. Peaceful. Absolutely delicious. I went to Arnoldi's, fully expecting an Americanized Italian restaurant, but then came a lovely restaurant with great customer service, and finally enough light (compared to other Italian restaurants). I would recommend the alfredo, it's cheesy and smooth like butter. (It comes in a large portion). The tenders are actually tender, and was quite crispy and well seasoned, not too salty. Overall, the food serves a large part in the experience, but the atmosphere is another thing to love. The music is nice and quiet, and not loud enough to burst your eardrums. read more

the best thing about arnoldi's cafe was our server CHRISTIAN! he went above & beyond, collaborating with chefs about substituting different sauces for my honey's meal. he was personable, kind, & friendly. as for the food, i ordered the potato gnocchi w the gorgonzola sauce. it was hearty, creamy, & delightful but i could honestly go the rest of my life without eating it again. the homemade gnocchi was pillowy soft & delicious though! i don't say this to deter anyone from ordering this meal. my daughter enjoyed her lasagne bolognese. my honey also liked his chicken marsala w linguini w "caper sauce" - we didn't finish our meals but that could be because we weren't especially hungry. read more

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Yo yo yo this place is totally off the hook so so yummy no lie food was flooding my mouth with great taste great workers and great surrounding read more

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Loved the ambiance at this little restaurant. We sat on the lovely patio and enjoyed our meals. I had pasta with clams and my daughter had the tri colored gnocchi. She had the Santa Barbara spritz and said it was tasty. Our waiter was not overly attentive but we still had nice dining experience. Watched several families with young children play bocce ball. read more

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As a SB native, Arnoldi's has always been a special place for my family and I. But their prices have greatly increased, the service has been sub par at best and our last dining experience there, the food fell really short. We then had to deal with the server adding gratuity onto our bill paid with a credit card after I tipped him in cash, which was SUPER unethical. I called the restaurant and the manager refunded the additional tip to me, but between the poor service, sub par food, inflated pricing, and now unethical tip practices by service staff, I'm not sure that Arnoldi's is the place for us anymore. JUST THE WEIRDEST RESPONSE FROM THE OWNER. You're not in Montecito. Your pricing is not inline with other restaurants in SB. You're not even addressing the fact that the server unethically added on gratuity after being tipped in cash. While your portions are overboard the quality does not come across as fresh at all. Thanks for the impersonal response, which just comes across as a way to combat a less than favorable review. read more

Found this Italian restaurant in downtown and to say it was fabulous would not be enough. The pasta and sauce was amazing. Service was even better and to top it off they have bocce ball courts was a fun time after dinner. If you're looking for great traditional Italian restaurant this is a must! read more

Wow what a tasty spot! My friend and I came here after seeing a super cute TikTok featuring this restaurants really tasty dishes :) Arnoldi's is Santa Barbara's oldest Italian restaurant! And you can really taste the years of work put into perfecting these dishes :) The restaurant itself is so cute! The outside is adorable and very welcoming. We walked in as a table for 2 and got seated right away! We got to choose between inside and outside, and we went for outside. Perfect choice! The seating pit back was stunning and a majority of guests sat out here, for good reason. It's like a wonderful garden, so ambient and pretty! I loved the pergola moment and all the fairy lights and plants! Definitely enhanced our dining experience :) Jorge (Alberto) was our waiter and he was fantastic by the way! So so friendly and accommodating. My friend knew him previously, which was so cool! He was helpful and made the dinner even better. We came here for two things; the calamari and the tricolor gnocchi. BEST CHOICES! - The calamari was so delicious. The squid itself was nice and tender, not rubbery or chewy in any way. The breading was perfectly seasoned and had a great crisp. This spot cuts everything by hand in restaurant, so the freshness was apparent. The sauce it came with was fantastic, we just wish we had even more!! - The gnocchi. THE GNOCCHI! We shared a single order of the gnocchi and Jorge got the order split on two plates for us, so nice! That way we both had the same stuff, and made it extra cute for pics! The gnocchi comes with 3 sauces: a tomato sauce, Gorgonzola cream sauce, and a creamy pesto! All three were phenomenal but we both loved the Gorgonzola the most. It was so rich and had a nice funky tang from the cheese! Complimented the pasta pillows amazingly. The pesto was so fresh and herbaceous. The tomato sauce tasted very similar to what was served with the calamari. As we ate and had different sauce combos, it just got better and better! The pasta itself was great. Such a nice, chewy texture! Gnocchi can get really mushy, and these were just rich. A perfect vessel for delivering all the yummy sauce. My plate was clean in the end Arnoldi's was so fun! Only mistake we made was not dressing cuter (we were so casual!) but next time we visit, we agreed on wearing dresses to explore more of the menu :) SO TASTY! read more

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The best Italian food I've ever had! 5 of us each had a different dish and all 5 were outstanding! Highly recommend the lasagne, the gnocchis with gorgonzola sauce, the linguine with clams and the bruschetta! Great service too! read more

Wow! This place is legit. Food was great. I wouldn't say a "5" but definitely better than a "4." It was great Italian food but not the best ever. Why the 5 star review, you might ask. Ambience was amazing. The outside seating was well decorated, plenty of flowers and lights that just give it such a nice atmosphere. The inside looked very "homey." It wasn't over the top, it was simple but nice. The music playing in the background gave it a nice final touch. The staff was so nice and attentive. Contantly checking in on us to see if we needed anything. I especially like that it was away from all the restaurants that are conveniently located where visitors generally hang out. It felt like this place was a local gem. So, there it is. That's why I feel it's a 5 star vs a 4 star. I ordered the ravioli, I typically wouldn't order ravioli but I went for it so that's on me. read more

an authentic italian spot in santa barbara that had a lovely ambiance, but the service and food wasn't worth it for me to go back. everything was alright but not worth the price/long wait time. a reservation is needed to get in and they have a good variety/selection of italian cuisine. i ordered the tricolor gnocchi, with tomato sauce, gorgonzola, and pesto. my favorite of the three was the tomato sauce because it had the most robust flavor, where the gorgonzola sauce was very bland and the pesto had a little bit of flavor but was still lacking. i added a lot of salt and pepper. our server came up to us to get our order and drop off the check, that was really it. we weren't given any utensils so if i didn't get up to ask another staff member we would've been waiting for awhile, as the next time we saw him was just when he gave us the check. read more

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Food and service was amazing as always. Chicken fettuccini Alfredo was fantastic as well as the chicken piccata. read more

Arnoldi’s Cafe - DD Chicken picatta (1) Chicken Fettuccini Alfredo - Italian Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Love Love Love! Like stepping back in time eating at my Grandma from Italys home, with a twist of Frank Sinatra vibe. Excellent Limoncello martini, tasty lasagna and first rate service! read more

Arnoldi’s Cafe - Beer, Martini and Caprese - Italian Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

The best Italian spot in SB in my opinion. Staff is amazing, food is amazing, ambiance is amazing. Feels authentic too, and the bocce ball events are fun to watch. read more

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

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Outstanding meal! We took our dad to Arnoldi's for Father's Day. We were able to make a reservation and the owner, Sara, found a beautiful shaded spot for us on the patio. We were served a basket of fresh ciabatta bread and butter to start. Two of us had the Spaghetti Alla Bolognese which was **absolutely delicious**. The sauce was rich and flavorful, pasta cooked perfectly, and it was obvious the meatballs were housemade! (This may be one of those situations where I return with the intention of trying something different, yet end up ordering the Bolognese every single time.) I hadn't been to Arnoldi's in a few years, so the fresh interior was a pleasant surprise. The restaurant still has the historic charm of the original Arnoldi's that my family visited when I was a child-- dark wood booths, original bar, bocce ball courts, and old photos scattered about, combined with a refreshed interior and white tablecloths. There were also new menu items along with their traditional Italian dishes. The wait staff was friendly and accommodating. I'm looking forward to returning and checking out their happy hour! read more

My wife and I chose Arnoldi's for our wedding reception location and could not be more impressed. The outside trellis area was BEAUTIFUL and the staff was incredibly accommodating & professional. We dine here often because the food is some of the best Santa Barbara has to offer. The buffet style dinner maintained the same quality I've come to love and expect from the kitchen. Guillermo was phenomenal in every regard! read more

The yumiest pasta !! Service was great, the waiter are so kind! Can't wait to come back

Arnoldi's is Back!!! Excellent dinner last night of Frutti Di Mare, pasta with meatballs, Caesar Salad, and the service by the young man in training, his first night, was 100!! We walked in around 4:45 and realized the reason for the crowd is a daily happy hour from 4:00-5:00 that had the place hopping and festive. You might consider an additional bar tender soon, which is a good thing. The only negative, it was really quite a long wait for drinks. So happy to see the positive simple changes made that have only improved the already wonderful Arnoldi's experience. We will see you again soon! Great job Arnoldi's!! read more

This review is long overdue, Arnoldi's never fails to amaze! This has been my go-to dinner & drinks spot for ages and we were happy to see such a special local's spot reopen after a closing period. The staff is always so incredibly kind, helpful, and really makes this place what it is! We've been fortunate enough to have Stone as our server both for my graduation dinner and recently with friends. He truly goes above and beyond with attentive and thoughtful service while handling busy nights with grace. The owner, Sara, was very sweet and accommodating with our large party for graduation and set us up with the most beautiful table on their patio. Highly recommend their hospitality, yummy food (especially the gnocchi), and cozy ambience to anyone planning a special event or just looking for a date night spot. read more

We made the call to forgo the cooking and cleaning that Thanksgiving Day brings and made a reservation. I had no idea how many places offer traditional Thanksgiving meals but SB has bunches. (See @Andieats.) We landed on Arnoldi's with excitement because although I am the only one that had been before, we were all optimistic...and rightly so. We brought our almost 8 month old to make us a party of 5. Nico kept the bread coming. Two of us ordered the half n half. Two of us ordered Italian (lasagna and bolognese pasta) and many beverages both mocktails and cocktails. Extra mashed potatoes and one and a half Caesar Salads. Out of all the desserts, pumpkin cheesecake and the limoncello raspberry cake were the winners. I'd do it all over again. Everyone left happy. The waitstaff was super attentive. Babygirl's sweet noises were no problem but it wasn't too loud. 2:45 was the only slot that worked for us. Next year I'd like to add Bocce Ball to the day...a private party made that impossible this time. Okay thanks, Arnoldi's! Two of us will be insisting on your place for birthday dinner, already. read more

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

Arrived for dinner about 745 and was seated quickly in a window booth. As you come in you could smell there was seafood. Outside area was also nice. Wife had wanted pasta and they had great choices. Complimentary bread was served. She had angel hair pasta with pomodoro sauce and I had the eggplant parmesan with spaghetti and pomodoro sauce as well. I pomodoro sauce was outstanding. I should have thought about requesting the gorgonzola sauce. Both of us really like our dishes and they serve quite large portions. Portions could be shared and we ended taken food home. We will definitely return here on our next visit. Looks like they have new management and their extensive menu reflects that. read more

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I'm a local and our family has been coming to Arnoldi's since the very beginning. My husband's family immigrated here from Italy before this place was ever a restaurant. To be fair, Arnoldi's has never been a fine dining establishment, but a solid, family meal could always be counted on, and our family has frequented this place often over the years. 4 of us came for dinner this past Friday, during Fiesta. I ordered a "Salmon special", what I got was 3 walnut sized pieces of overcooked, fishy and excruciating salty salmon with a small portion of pasta on top The sauce consisted of bland tomato/cream sauce and penne pasta that had not seen 'al dente' since last Friday. Italians everywhere were rolling over in their graves, shouting "Scotta"!!! (overcooked!). I had the honor of paying $45 dollars for a plate of food that was inedible. 2 others with us ordered just ravioli, 5 dollar sized raviolis each, and finally, one plate of chicken piccata. The best part of the meal for me was the Aperol Spritz and basket of bread. The Bocce courts were full of tables and chairs, so, no bocce ball. Our bill came to $250, ridiculous for the tiny amount of food, but more disappointing was the utter lack of quality. What has happened? Sadly, my time at Arnoldi's has come to an end, and that's unfortunate. read more

Really charming place. We went for a Sunday lunch and sat in the beautiful garden. The inside has old world charm as well. Waited to write this so I do not remember what I ate but it was good. read more

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

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Top notch service and hospitality. Food was outstanding and overall experience was exceptional. I am looking forward to returning and trying other menu items. read more

Arnoldi's has been open for a long time. Visit this gem and you'll see why. My party had a wonderful meal( ravioli, Lasagna, and chicken piccata)all excellent as is the entire menu. Drinks are strong and creative fine wine list.great service and of course very busy there is a cozy dining room and outside seating including a soccer ball court. Don't miss this brilliant Santa Barbara institution!!! I heartily recommend this wonderful place. Don't miss it read more

Such a hidden gem for Italian food!! The portions are generous and delicious. You will not leave hungry. From the moment you come in the service is top notch and attentive. Their cheese and meats platter can feed a small village. They have an extensive wine list but do serve basic cocktails as well. The lasagna and the meatballs were delicious with an explosion of flavor. The outside has ample space for groups and cozy feeling away from the busy main drag. Perfect for a date or big groups to enjoy an Italian meal. read more

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

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Excited because of all the good reviews I saw but food was mediocre, way overpriced for what it was worth. What truly was upsetting was the service. The same server we had offered every table around us bread but us. The server was not helping us the same way he was helping other tables. The poor service and the food quality was overall disappointing. We were on the patio, so ambiance was great but we won't be coming back. read more

Food 10/10, service 10/10, ambiance was amazing and quaint. Ugh I want to go back haha. read more

Arnoldi’s Cafe - Amazing meal. Chicken Picatta and Rainbow Gnocchi was insane. - Italian Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Writing this as I am walking away from the restaurant. That's how bad my experience at Arnoldi's was. I came on a busy day and as someone who has worked in the restaurant industry I totally understand how things can fall through the cracks. However waiting nearly 50 minutes for cold food at a "nice" restaurant is completely unacceptable. I paid almost $40 for a chicken piccata that was a handful of overcooked angel hair pasta with cold canned cream of chicken soup dumped on top, finished off with 4 capers (chicken actually was just ok!). The gelatinous texture was honestly sickening. We were also seated outside on a cold day with no working heat lamps near us I was legit shivering. As a college student that likes to indulge in nice meals as a treat, this was incredibly upsetting as I had been saving and looking forward to this meal. So disappointed read more

Very tasty carbonara!! It was busy but the waiters were quick and nice. The restaurant interior is classy and perfect for dates! (Might get a bit loud bc it's popular tho) read more

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Our family had a casual elopement/wedding dinner reception at Arnoldi's Cafe with 24 guests. Casey and Sarah helped with our reservation and were very responsive and flexible to accommodate our family. We had a lovely wedding reception dinner outside under the trellis. The decor/ambiance outside was beautiful and the food was delicious. The servers were all very attentive to our needs and even set up a separate side cake table for us. We recommend Arnoldi's for celebrating any special occasion. Thank you again Casey and Sarah for helping us, it was a perfect night and the bride and groom were so happy! read more

After being stuck in traffic for a while, my wife and I were starving and this is one of the first food spots that popped up on my feed. I love Italian food so we came here. Cute lil shop. The server provided us with some yummy bread and butter and it was good. We ordered chicken Alfredo and tri colored gnocchi. Both meals were so good but we were stuffed so we took the rest to go. We had also ordered two drinks (one each) and they were so strong..I couldn't even finish mine. Our bill was a little steep for what we ordered. Maybe we will be back and try other food. read more

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