Wow. This is my 1,000th Yelp Review, and what a great choice for my 1,000th! We visited Manifattura with an 8:30pm reservation on 05/23/2026 for 2 people. We thought this was all around a 5 star experience. Let me tell you a little bit about it. First of all, much earlier in the day, I had texted the restaurant and asked if they had a slightly earlier reservation than 8:30pm. They promptly responded to me and said they did not; however, they claimed they would keep me on a list and notify me if an earlier time became available Now, most restaurants would tell you this and then forgot about it. To my surprise at 7:30pm, (nearly 6 hours after my initial inquiry), I got a text from the restaurant telling me that they would have a table available for us in 10 to 15 minutes. We responded with a yes, and made our way over to the restaurant. I am very impressed that they held to there promise of notifying us. Once we arrived, you are welcome into a very intimate space. We had a high top table for two near the back of the restaurant. It is a tight squeeze, but you forget all about that after you start eating. Wow! 5 star food. The menu is not big, and a lot of times that indicates high quality, because you know they do a few things very well. We had a great server by the name of Carly. She checked in when appropriate, and was always present when we needed her to be. We started with a Blood Orange Soda and a Spritz Emiliano. Both were delicious. We then shared four additional items for the evening. This included the "Pizza" Bianca, which is essentially Focaccia, along with an order of the Burratta. The Focaccia was excellent, and it paired really well with the Burratta. We then continued our sharing with the Fiori De Zucca, which is essentially squash blossoms. They were really yummy. We then moved on to the Sacchetti, which is a pasta dish that is filled with pork sausage and ricotta with some cherries, brown butter, sage and hazelnuts. Everything this evening was absolutely delicious, and we would definitely return again in the future. read more

See all

So much to love about this intimate Italian Restaurant space. Congratulations to Andreas and Brian, and staff for bringing such an enjoyable and delicious experience to Santa Barbara. Fortunately with our group we were able to try the various Spritzers. Our favorite being the Manifattura Spritzer. And such a hearty selection of Italian Wines. With each one pairing nicely with our dishes. I highly recommend starting out your meal with a nice glass of the Falanghina, and then pairing with the Barolo and Chianti Classico. For the table we started the evening with their Zucchini Blossoms and house made Focaccia Romana, and dove into the Antipasti and Pasti dishes. Each dish more delicious than the next. Highly recommend making reservations, it's still such a hot spot there in downtown Santa Barbara. read more

First, the food is stellar! Really, really good. As expected, the place is very popular and crowded. We appreciated one of the partners coming around to each table that evening. We understand the need to turn tables in the U.S. (not done this way in Italy) but this dinner pacing was so rushed it ruined the enjoyment for us. We ordered a pre-dinner cocktail, a starter and two mains with wine. We had just received the spritz and cocktail and my entree was served less than 5 minutes later with the dinner wine. No time to enjoy it at all. They let you know several times that your reservation is limited to 1 hr and 45 minutes. We were done in less than an hour. For me. This is not how you enjoy excellent Italian food. Given the choice again, I would go back to their first restaurant, Aperitivo, instead. read more

My dinner at Manifattura was probably the highlight of my stay in Santa Barbara. I started with the fried zucchini blossoms with a glass of white wine. The batter was crisp and light, and the ricotta filling nice and rich. My entree was the sacchetti which made its debut that night. They were stuffed with pork and ricotta, sauced with brown butter, sage, and vincotto, topped with cherries and hazelnuts. This was a delicious combination of flavors which went well with the Chianti. Excellent food and service. read more

Manifattura - Fried zucchini blossoms - Italian Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

See all

Service was great and the space was beautiful, but the food was a mixed bag. The lamb tartare was extremely salty to the point it overpowered the dish. The squash blossoms had a nice flavor and were crispy/light, but they felt incomplete without a sauce or drizzle of some kind. We asked if there was anything available to pair with them and unfortunately there wasn't. Overall, great hospitality, but the dishes needed a little more balance and finishing touches. read more

Manifattura - Lamb tartare - Italian Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

See all

Small space - definitely make a reservation ahead of time. Because of the demand, dining sessions are limited to 1h45m eating periods. Highly recommend the Foccacia as a starter and to sop up any leftover pasta sauce. The dishes are very rich and flavorful - my roomies and I shared the Cacio E Pepe, Pasta del Pizzaiolo, and Cappelletti. read more

See all

Great spot on State St! House-made pastas that change seasonally. They have a window from the exterior so you can see them hand making the pasta. We started with the focaccia and burrata which pair nicely together. Focaccia is a must get! Both of our pastas were delicious. You know it's good when they only have 4 entrees available and it is full on a Tuesday night. Check this spot out! read more

See all

Manifattura is a new Italian place on State Street, a sister restaurant to Aperitivo, a popular wine bar around the corner. Matt B. and I went for a late dinner a couple weeks back, on a Friday night after driving up from L.A. and frantically throwing our children in bed. The space was lovely, with a kind of cool, buzzy small restaurant aesthetic I see all over L.A., but rarely in Santa Barbara. It was also super busy at 8:30, and remained lively most of the time we were there. Unusual in a town where I feel like restaurant patrons tend to skew boomer. Service was great, enthusiastic and helpful. Our waiter knew her wines and helped us pick a nice bottle of Verduno Pelaverga, an Italian red varietal we'd never tried before. It was light and tasty, and went very well with our food. Manifattura means "handmade" in Italian, and the restaurant makes all of its bread and pasta in house. We ordered a decadent spread, starting with the "pizza" bianca," a focaccia romana with olive oil and sea salt. Our server described this as the best bread we've ever had, and that was maybe an ill-advised oversell. The focaccia was solid, probably better fresh out of the oven. We ordered a couple of the accompaniments to go with it, the affettati misti and the burrata Pugliese. The affettati misti was a quality assortment of speck, coppa, and mortadella, and the burrata was excellent, three little knobs flown in fresh from Puglia and finished with olive oil and sea salt. I do wish we'd subbed in the melanzana in agrodolce for one of these, though, as the meat, cheese, and bread was quite heavy. Some pickles or mostarda or balsamic vinegar would have helped a great deal. We also got the fiori di zucca fritti, four giant ricotta-filled zucchini blossom, thinly battered and fried up crispy, flavored with fresh herbs and lemon zest. These were delightful, both the soft, cheesy bulbs and the tender green stems. My husband doesn't love zucchini, so I ate three of these on my own, and I was full by the time our pastas arrived. We shared the mezze maniche cacio e pepe and the cappelletti con sugo d'arrosto. The pastas were well made, but at this point it became clear to me that Manifattura could use more acid across its menu, vibrant elements that can break up the heft of cured meats and pastas in rich sauce. We skipped the one salad, but that might have been a mistake. In any case, I did enjoy a few bites of each pasta. The cappelletti were doughy green hats filled with roasted pork, served with a demi-glace sauce over Jerusalem artichoke purée. The mezze maniche were short al dente tubes tossed with pecorino romano and black pepper. Did we need dessert? No, but the affogato al caffe was pleasant, even if the cappuccino gelato was more substantial than necessary, studded with some kind of sugary crumble. It came in a pool of espresso, and it was an easy thing to share at the end of the night. I'd like to come back to Manifattura, but next time I'll take a different approach to ordering. I look forward, though, to more handmade pasta and interesting Italian wine. read more

I felt like I stepped into a major city when I walked into this spot. For a second, I thought I was in Toronto or NYC, and then I looked outside and saw no snow. The star is not deducted for the pitless olives, but please leave the pits in the olives. Pizza bianca with the burrata is a beauty, get it. Cicoria e mele: Gorgeous salad, the walnuts and the date vinaigrette are art. Cacio e pepe: keep the pasta generic; the thickness of the one here outbalances the saltiness and creaminess, making a thinner noodle the perfect pairing. Tagliatelle: Teach the team to pronounce the pasta correctly, but beyond that, this dish is perfection. Egg-based pasta is hard to mess up, and with their meats and light sauce, this is an A+ dish. The desserts and wines are set up to succeed. Fix the Cacio e pepe, don't give me the "it's a Roman noodle" excuse, sometimes traditional thin tonnarelli is all you need. The dessert and the wine list are a beauty. Their lungo +. We had an 845 resy, service was rushed, but that's SB for you, their Franciacorta made up for it. read more

Manifattura - Italian Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Manifattura is a newer restaurant that just opened in November, and I recently went for a holiday, intimate dinner with friends. It already feels like a special neighborhood spot. The space has a warm, mid-century modern atmosphere that's cozy, relaxed, and thoughtfully designed. They focus on handmade pasta made fresh in-house and offer an all-Italian wine list. We started the evening with a brut rosé, and later enjoyed a hugo spritz, which was light, refreshing, and a perfect mid-meal drink. Our server was knowledgeable and gave us great recommendations throughout the night. To start, we shared the pizza bianca, a house-made focaccia with olive oil and a perfect sprinkle of sea salt. Simple, comforting, and very well executed. The buratta pugliese, was incredibly creamy and paired beautifully with the focaccia. The cicoria e mele was a standout. I love a good radicchio salad, and this one with local granny smith apples, pecorino, walnuts, and date vinaigrette was perfectly balanced. We also ordered the zucchini blossoms, filled with ricotta cheese, light and crisp. For pasta, we shared dishes and appreciated the generous portions. The pasta del pizzaiolo (on the spicier side) and the tagliatelle were both excellent and clearly made with care. We didn't get to dessert since we were full and even had leftovers to take home. Service was attentive without being overbearing, and the owner stopped by our table a few times to check on us, which added a personal and welcoming touch. Overall, Manifattura is an ideal choice for a special dinner or an intimate night out with friends. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 5 to 9 pm and absolutely worth checking out. Reservations are a must. For parking, I recommend the nearby city paid lots. Lot #11 on Haley Street or Lot #12 on Gutierrez Street are both convenient options. read more

Manifattura - Pasta del Pizzaiolo and Tagliatelle Degli Umarelles - Italian Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

See all

Manifattura is the latest hot spot and sister restaurant to Aperitivo. It's a small space, so just be aware the seating is not very spacious. Despite that, it doesn't mean you'll have a bad experience here. This place is warm, intimate and inviting. I especially love the paper lantern lighting here. I felt transported to another place once I walked in. Erica was my waitress for the evening and she did a great job at explaining the menu. I started with the Hugo Spritzer. It was a little too sweet for me, but still a refreshing drink. They also offer a wine menu. For food, I ordered the house-made focaccia Romana. The bread was so good! It's topped with olive oil and sea salt. I loved how crusty it was, yet still remained soft and light. I chose to pair this with the Melanzane in Agrodolce, which is eggplant, sweet & sour tomatoes, ricotta salata and pine nuts. My only complaint about this dish is that it was too salty for me. The flavor was delicious, but could use less salt. I know when eggplant is prepared it's usually salted first to bring out the extra water. Aside from that, this dish was still flavorful and delicious! I love eggplant and would still order it again. For my main, I opted for the Tagliatelle Degli Umarelles. I can honestly say this pasta is hands down the best pasta I've ever had! It's full of comforting flavors that make you feel as if it was made by your Italian grandmother! No lie. I've never had a pasta dish like this one. The serving size is enough to share for two, or three. I was happy to take leftovers home. Overall, this is a great addition to downtown and it's good to see Aperitivo expand their restaurant. read more

See all

Wonderful dinner! I recommend it if you are in the mood for Italian food. I absolutely love the team behind Manifattura and Aperitivo. Truly just amazing humans. I'm giving 4/5 stars because I do think there is some room for improvement. I wish I could give 4.5 stars. We went as a group of 6, they were so kind to accommodate us. We loved the space, the decor is so moody and feels very New York. They sat us right away and the service was really impressive (the owner cares so much and was checking in on us himself!). The starters were all so so so good. I was blown away by the olives and cheese and charcuterie and crackers and focaccia and meatballs. Everything was delicious, most amazing flavor and the olive oil was such good quality. Now for the pasta...we purposefully avoided one of the pastas because our friends recommended we skip it. We did two of the bolognese and two more pasta dishes. The bolognese was SPECTACULAR. I love the ratio of meat to pasta. The saltiness. It was the dish of the night. The cacio e pepe was borderline too salty - I personally couldn't eat it honestly. The pesto dish was fine. The dessert could use some love. The Affogato was tasty. We all loved it. But the cookies were not good - I'm sorry but the cookies stuck to my teeth and none of us liked them. The baba al rum but very strange - we were not into it at all. We all were disappointed by it sadly. I'd recommend skipping dessert all together. It is worth saying that when we left we went to aperitivo for a glass of wine because we wanted a good bottle of wine before calling it a night, they delivered!! I took photos but they are all half eaten so I'm only including decent pics. read more

See all

I had a beautiful experience here. We came at around 8:20 and stayed till about 9:30 and even though they close at 9 I didn't feel rushed whatsoever. We were greeted so well in the front, everyone was so nice and welcoming. Jessica was our server and she was amazing and gave us so many good recommendations. Food was delicious as well :) read more

We went to Manifuturra for the first time last night after being longtime fans of Aperivito, and it absolutely did not disappoint. From the moment we walked in, everyone was incredibly friendly and welcoming. It's amazing what they've done with such a small space -- it feels warm, intentional, and special. We were there with a large group and were lucky enough to try pretty much everything on the menu, and honestly, everything is good. I could live off the focaccia and burrata alone -- truly incredible. Other standouts for me were the tagliatelle, cacio e pepe, cicoria e mele, scarpinocc alla zucca, the limoncello gelato, and the tiramisu. Daniel was an amazing server, and Andrea (the owner and sommelier) elevated the entire experience with the most incredible wine pairings throughout the night. If you're a foodie, this place is a must. We'll definitely be back. Pro tip - reservations are hard to get currently but give them a call if there isn't anything online or stop by without a reservation and they will add you to a walk in list. You might have to wait an hour or as a walk in so go grab a drink across the street while you wait and they will text you when your table is ready. It's worth the wait! read more

See all

Overall a nice dining experience. Setting pretty, service excellent. I liked the food. Cacio de Pepe and radicchio salad very tasty. Meatballs I enjoyed. Ricotta dumplings not good. Pizza bianco was a focaccia which was tasty especially with eggplant sauce. Worth a try. Wish they had balsamic vinegar for my bread. read more

See all

This place is definitely a treat especially mid week. The atmosphere is nicely decorated and the staff friendly and attentive. We were able to nab a reservation to try this new spot located on lower state. It was full and they were turning away walkins. They have wine and spritzes on the menu. Minimal options to buy wine by the glass, most you would have to buy the bottle. The Negroni is pretty strong and the Hugo spritz is light and refreshing. The pizza Bianca is a must have, some of the best focaccia bread that I have tasted. The burrata comes drizzled with olive oil that pairs well with the bread. The cacio e Pepe pasta was okay, felt that the noodles were undercooked. The patate croccanti is perfect for sharing and comes with an aioli. The must have dish there is the pesto vibrante. These are gnocchi dumplings smothered in the freshest basil sauce that you will taste. Overall, will be returning to try other items on the menu. read more

See all

Great atmosphere, very lively. Good servers and food. Enjoyed my date with my wife.

The food was okay certainly not the dining experience we were hoping. What made the whole experience unpleasant was the acoustics, it was difficult to have a conversation between just two of us sitting a couple of feet apart. From my perspective it was a case of whoever shouted the loudest got heard. I would not recommend this place for an intimate dinner. read more

Loved! Menu is apps and pasta. Book your res early!! Great atmosphere, friendly staff. read more

Manifattura - focaccia, burrata, manifattura spritz - Italian Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Fantastic food at this gem of a restaurant on lower State. Loved the asparagus dish, squash blossoms, and salad. Pasta dishes are next level, especially the tagliatelle! A must try! read more

I did not eat much from here, but what i had was amazing. the burrata is probably the best I have ever had. it was perfectly seasoned and the olive oil was the best quality. the burrata itself was beautifully creamy too. service was nice. I personally just didnt find anything I really wanted on the menu but I was talking to others nearby me and they all said they loved what they had lol super packed in here! I went on a Wednesday night read more

Absolutely loved this place! The burrata was amazing and the Cacio de Pepe was perfect. The noodles were perfectly al dente and I'd honestly be happy to be smothered in that sauce any day. The restaurant itself is super aesthetic, cozy, and gave me total NY vibes. Service was not intrusive and she had everything timed well. Perfect spot for a date! The menu was simple but felt really well curated - you just know everything on it would be good. Ended the night with an affogato and have no complaints. This gave state street a much needed tasteful and sophisticated new spot to land for dinner. read more

See all

We had to wait a bit and sat at the bar but this is the best food we had for the week that we spent in Santa Barbara., eating out 2 to 3 meals a day. We had two pasta the dishes we got the tagliatelle and the pasta pizziola both had fantastic well flavored. The service was friendly albeit a little bit busy. We'll come back again read more

If you're craving authentic Italian pasta in Santa Barbara, Manifattura is absolutely worth a visit but be sure to make a reservation as they are typically booked out about a week in advance! First off the vibe and aesthetic create a great balance of classy and cozy which make it a great option for both casual weeknight dinners or weekend date nights. As for the food, the menu is on the smaller side but does not disappoint in flavor. We went with a group of four andid family style which gave us the opportunity to try 75% of the menu. We started with the "pizza" Bianca which was an incredibly flavorful focaccia which had a crispy crust and perfectly salted top. We also ordered the Vitello tonnato which was a unique dish with thin sliced veal and a tangy sauce. No one on our table had tried anything like it but it was definitely one of our favorite dishes of the night. And lastly we had the cicoria e mele which was a refreshing salad of radicchio and apples which provided a freshness to our meal. As for the pasta, we all couldn't stop raving about the pasta del pizzaiolo. The tomato sauce was tangy, spicy, and just overall a 10/10. This was definitely our favorite pasta of the night. The tagliatelle degli was also delicious with its perfectly al dente pasta tossed in a well seasoned meat sauce topped with freshly shaved parm. The gnudi al pesto vibrante had the most pillowy and light ricotta dumplings with a fresh pesto sauce. Our least favorite dish of the night was the tonnarelli cacio e pepe. The sauce was somewhat lacking in flavor and was quite gritty. However, we had heard that it was a customer favorite so it's possible that this was just an unfortunate case of a sauce that had split. TLDR: Manifattura is a beautiful addition to downtown SB and a must try for your next night out read more

See all

Great food and ambiance. The ingredients were quality and everything was so flavorful. Will be returning . Just wish they took reservations!

This place is so very good. We have been here several times and have had excellent experiences each time. We have ordered everything on the menu and have loved all the apps and entrees. The desserts are not as solid, but still pretty good. I will concede that my viewpoint on desserts may be skewed because the main courses are hard to follow! Lovely atmosphere, friendly and helpful staff and food to rival Nonna's. read more

Incredible food, it's an experience like being in a fine restaurant in Italia. Exceptional service, attention above and beyond.

The vibes in this restaurant were immediately off the chain. We were greeted and seated very quickly. Our waitress gave my honey and I a great run through of the menu. The menu is short and sweet, not too many choices which I appreciate. This also shows that each dish is very intentional. The Food was AMAZEEEBALLZZZ cannot recommend it enough. read more

See all

Amazing addition for Aperitivo fans! We had the meatballs, cacio e pepe, and gnudi for dinner, as well as the rum cake for dessert. We loved everything we tried. The cacio e pepe noodles were so bouncy and the sauce was fabulous. The gnudi was literally like biting into a cloud and the pesto was delicious. We walked in around 6:30 to put our names down. We were able to see our place in line in the Toast App and were seated in about 45 minutes - super easy! Overall vibes were amazing - ambiance and decor was very classy, service was super friendly, and lots of excitement around the new opening. Can't wait to come back! read more

See all

Wonderful Italian food, great ambiance, lively but you can hear yourself talk, great service with staggered entree serving which we loved because we like to share. Tried all of the pasta dishes- all delicious. One of our party was a somm and said the wine list was very respectable. The espressos and coffee were very good. I do not know if the menu changes, but I posted pics of the current menu. We ordered focaccia, antipasti, entrees for each of us, dessert, wine, bottled water and coffee (pretty much everything on menu) and our bill was less than $200 per couple. We are locals and that is amazing for fine dining in Santa Barbara. read more

See all

They lied about seating us - literally kept us waiting for an hour and a half then shooed us away

Service!! Food !!! Ambiance!!! Can't wait to return!! Every bite was a chance to celebrate the food flavor experience!! The house baked bread was a gift as was the staff ! Everything was unique and delicious.. My only reservation was the salad. It is probably better now, because it needed a more appealing dressing!! read more

If you want to experience the flavors of Italy in Santa Barbara, this is the restaurant I recommend‼Flavorful food, excellent service, and a lively ambience set the tone for a perfect evening. Enjoy... Gloria read more

Loved the focaccia and the burrata! The Cicoria E Mele salad was fantastic. I wouldn't get the meatballs again. We got all of the pastas- our favs were the Cacio e Pepe and the Tagliatelle. The Pasta del Pizzaiolo was also unique and tasty. And you definitely have to get the limoncello gelato! read more

See all

A must try in Santa Barbara! Outstanding food, wonderful service, and the perfect date night vibes. Just with the pasta dishes were bigger!

Keeping it simple: This was the best pasta I have ever eaten outside of Italy. This is not a place to go for quiet conversation: instead it's perfect for a date with someone who also loves food made by hand with the best possible ingredients, unique wine list with wines we hadn't heard of but loved. The foccacia alone is priceless. read more

My friend and I tried this new restaurant last week and I'm so happy we did. The food was fantastic as was the service. We started with the zucchini blossoms which did not disappoint, then the bread. Pasta and ended with Affogato. The service was exceptional too. The owner was out working the room and I wish them much success because this restaurant is delicious! read more

The food was amazing, the focaccia is incredible! The staff and atmosphere is also super nice. The only downside was that they limit your time at the table to 1hr45 minutes which is a bit annoying especially when spending so much money on dinner. They tell you people are waiting for the table. read more

If you like good food this is a must stop. We ordered several things from the menu and everything was absolutely delicious! The services was also fantastic-- very attentive, friendly and helpful. read more

This is a great new bistro in Santa Barbara. Although the menu is limited, it is fantastic...a real taste of Italy! Definitely go! I really loved the place, my food and will go back read more