Atmosphere and views are outstanding. Can not say enough great things about the food and service. Their made in house pasta program is out of this world. I have not experienced this at any other restaurant in Santa Barbara. read more

We were excited to try the new Marisella's at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara, where we celebrate our anniversary each year. The oceanfront setting, breezy terrace, and modern coastal décor were beautiful. The food was delicious...especially the homemade focaccia with tomato dip and the handmade pastas. The only disappointment was the management. Several managers were making rounds, but some tables received noticeably more attention than others. Even our daughters quietly picked up on it, which felt out of place for this establishment. With more consistent hospitality, this restaurant has the potential to become a true dining destination within the resort. read more

We were really looking forward to trying Marisela, but the experience just didn't deliver. Even with a reservation, we weren't seated until 25 minutes later. It took another 15 minutes just to get water, and another 10 before our server came by to explain the menu. Our main dishes didn't come out for an hour and a half--and when they finally did, the pasta was way too salty. A couple of the other dishes were okay, but nothing stood out. Overall, it felt pretty average. Not sure if our server was just overwhelmed, but we noticed other staff in the same uniform standing around at the bar, chatting with the bartender for a good 10 minutes while we were still waiting on basic service. Marisela needs a lot of work. If you're looking for a solid dinner spot, you're better off going somewhere else. No reason to pay premium prices for slow service and forgettable food. read more

Had dinner last night and was so disappointed Plenty of seats but were sat 1/2 late anyway. Food was too salty, the dip in pot oily. The pasta rubbery did not taste fresh at all. And small portion. The patronage is what really killed it and I fear this restaurant can't escape what will be its downfall. It is located on Bacara but this hotel is a Marriott which means many of its guests are there solely due to their points (5 star hotel catering to 2 star clientele)- alas what you have is drunk cruise ship vibes with loud drunk sloppily dressed people who have forgotten to use their inside voices. Will skip this disaster upon our next visit to Santa Barbara read more

Amazing experience start to finish. I think I tried a little bit of almost everything, and each bite was spectacular. The Dip in the Pot was fun and a delight, the Oysters were perfect, the filet was rich and juicy, and the surprise treat was Chef Danny Grant's "Beans & Greens" of gigante beans, rapini, sofrito, and lemon that are, hands down, the best beans I can remember. For dessert, the Baba au Rhum was sublime, but the topper was the homemade, slightly boozy vanilla ice cream. Ask for chocolate shavings on top. Great service at the bar from Marshall and Rich, great attention and menu advice from Christina. read more

Marisella - The house Old Fashioned with laser-cut cubes is... delicious. - Italian Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Fantastic menu, food was absolutely delicious, and the staff were so friendly and helpful! Looking forward to visiting again! read more

Marisella has a lovely layout and great views. The waiter brought us a complementary small appetizer of fresh cherry tomatoes and an herbed salt for them, which was delicious. We ordered two appetizers for our party of four: tuna crudo, and a carpaccio, both of which were delicious. Then things stopped going right. The waiter had keyed in the wrong entree for one of our party. We discovered this when they served us. I would have expected the waiter to do whatever he could to correct the error. Instead, he just said while passing our table: "that was on me", meaning he acknowledged his mistake. It took another 20 minutes to get the correct order to us, and he did not seem at alll to be involved in correcting his mistake. My wife had ordered their rack of lamb, which was three mutton, not lamb chops. Worse yet, each one of them was almost entirely fat only, hardly any meat at all, less than a forkful on each chop. I wouldn't have accepted such poor chops from a butcher, and neither should they have. We then asked for the manager and showed her the chops, which she acknowledged had almost no meat, just fat. She did apologize. When we got the bill, we were pleased that we were not charged for the chops. We ordered one dessert, the panna cotta, to share, and the manager also gave us a complimentary extra dessert of pistachio ice cream, both of which were very good. Maybe they were just having a bad night, but no self respecting restaurant would even have purchased those horrible mutton chops much less served them. They seem to be missing quality control throughout their entire process from purchasing to serving. We live in Santa Barbara. Our friends were visitors. I have to say this is the worst restaurant experience I have ever encountered in Santa Barbara, Montecito, or Goleta. Marisella really needs to improve. read more

My wife and I eat a TON of beef both at home and at restaurants, so we know good beef. We ordered both the filet and the NY Strip (both medium rare) and without a doubt, they both were some of the best cuts/cooks we have ever had. They were that good. However, what kept us coming back (we went 3 nights in a row), was the outstanding service and conversation with the bar staff, especially Richie and Mitchell. A bar can live or die with the bar staff and if they keep it up, they will certainly thrive. If you visit, tell them the couple that ordered a Fortaleza neat and a Grey Goose rocks says "hello and thank you" read more

Wow! Marisella, meaning star of the sea, is truly a testament to it's name. I dined here during opening week and was so in awe by the hospitality, flavors, and scenery. I am a vegetarian and that didn't hinder my experience at all. I ate on the patio overlooking the ocean which was romantic and peaceful. After dinner, I got a drink and dessert at the bar. The after dinner cocktails pair perfectly with any dessert option they have on their menu. I am so excited for the future of this restaurant... with the backing of the Ritz and the already strong start, I have a really great feeling about this place! read more

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We had a very disappointing experience last night at this restaurant. The food was not hot. The service was terrible and overall, we were very disappointed. read more

We are staying at Bacara RC for my wife's birthday. We had 2 friends with us. We have dined at Angel Oak many times and enjoyed it. It was not without its problems as well. Marisella is a new restaurant at Bacara. Opened a few months ago. The table was fine. The server was young and not very experienced. We brought wine. Corkage we found out is $75/btl. Just don't allow people to bring wine at that price! We ordered several items. Fritto Misto was average, salty. Squash blossoms were good. I've had better. The pasta dishes were very small. Not enough for a meal. We had the clams and the rigatoni ala vodka. Good nothing special. The main course was the whole branzino in salt crust. Almost inedible. Way over salted and too much olive oil. The mushrooms were excellent but again too small. No dessert. Overall, I would not really consider this a true Italian restaurant. Way too many meat dishes. No chicken and only 2 fish entrees, one being a family style Branzino that was pretty small after filleted! This is a typical over priced high end hotel restaurant. Danny Grant did not earn 2 Michelin stars serving this kind of food! Go to lucky's for a great steak and seafood! Trelune for Italian food! read more

We have been here 3 times now and have not had anything we didn't like. The Pastas are so good. The focaccia with whipped ricotta is incredible. The ambiance is great. They really warmed the place up with greenery and low lighting. We sat at the bar one of our visits and our bartender David made some off menu cocktails that were so good! Highly recommend! read more

We have been coming to this location since it opened as Miro and then Angel Oak and now Marisella. Last night, we came in for a birthday celebration and we were overly impressed, not only with the Somm (Eric) and our waiter (Richard) but also with the food and presentation! With Miro and Angel Oak, we never walked away and said "wow" or woke up the next morning still saying "wow" and happy to know we have leftovers in the fridge! The service was impeccable from start to finish. And the Somm was a delight to talk to and the wine list extensive. We are locals and we will definitely be coming back soon even without a celebration! read more

very good not amazing food all in all so nice ambience fab esp during sunset they luv salt the truffle appy zero truffle austin the server loves saying no worries annoying didnt ask if we wanted coffee or tea just read the response from Ashley the business manager we did the Server every step of the way, but thanks :) read more

The focaccia was very unique and delicious. Eggplant Parmesan was superb. The fillet was very tender. Overall an excellent meal. The location was fantastic with a great view of the ocean. We got to eat excellent food while watching a beautiful sunset. read more

Celebrated our 12 year wedding anniversary at Marisella and it was a wonderful experience. Staff was extremely nice and attentive, the appetizers and entrees were phenomenal and dessert was amazing. A+ experience. read more

I made a reservation specifically requesting patio seating for a birthday celebration with a party of 7. At no point during booking did anyone inform us that they don't seat parties of this size outside. Upon arrival, the host simply told us we couldn't be seated on the patio--no apology, no effort to accommodate, and no warning in advance. This completely ruined the atmosphere we planned for and left us disappointed on what should have been a special occasion. Poor communication and lack of consideration for guests' requests. read more

When we didn't think Santa Barbara could get better, then Marisella opened at Bacara. The food, service, and view are all amazing. Highlights are the Ursalas Garden cocktail, may have ordered 2 more and the spicy rigatoni.Worth the drive from state street. read more

A great addition to the Ritz and the area. Beautiful dining room in a magical setting. The food is outstanding. The pasta rivals anything in Italy! read more

What an enjoyable meal! Aside from the breathtaking view from the bluffs, this meal was amazing. From the crispy focaccia with a warm tomato sauce dipping pot, the summer cucumber salad, and the exciting entrees to the tomato martini (yes, a tomato martini - try it!!), each course surpassed the previous one. Our server was named Zooey, and I would request her if possible. Her recommendations were spot-on, and her demeanor was warm and friendly. It truly enhanced our evening. Thank you for a wonderful evening! read more

We're fortunate to be able to come and stay at the Ritz and I personally never was a fan of the previous restaurant, so when they closed for renovations I was super curious about what was replacing the gorgeous space. Holy cow!! I cannot express enough how amazing the new restaurant is! The service is top notch. The wine list is pages and pages long. They bring you beautiful food you never knew you could love so much and I'm only talking about simply locally grown tomatoes, basil, olive oil and a spice mix that will blow your tastebuds away! And that was before we ordered any appetizers. I could go on and on, but I'll spare you the time. Also wanted to add that my husband has severe celiac disease so I always ask about gluten free options if the menu isn't specified or labeled and to our surprise, almost everything is or they can make it so. Make a reservation, you won't regret it. It's pricey so I think it's a fabulous spot to celebrate something special and it's well worth it!! Enjoy!! read more

This is my first ever review, as I don't normally dive into dining that deep. But tonight marsiella went above and beyond my expectations. To start the service at the door was friendly and the Restaurant had a beautiful ambiance. All though I had to wait 15 mins after my reservation time, the hostess was very apologetic along with my server Emily! Emily then guided us through not only the drink menu but the food as well. Food was brought out in courses timely. Lamb pasta and wagyu meatballs are the way to go! Grab a focaccia to start while you're at it. Overall great experience and would recommend to anyone who wants a beautiful view and fine dining experience :) read more

What an amazing dining experience! From the moment we walked through the door, enjoyed the amazing views and savored each bite...extraordinary!! While this might be considered a special occasion kind of restaurant, we are putting it on the list for any time we truly want to feel spoiled while dining out. Excellent food & service!! read more

Great food and experience! I would highly recommend this spot and will be craving it daily!

Dinner at Marisella was amazing. Great view, friendly servers, and amazing food!! Definitely would recommend and be back. This restaurant has only been open for a short time, but still it was amazing. read more

We went here with high expectations but left profoundly disappointed. The restaurant is in a great position, with wonderful views. The food that we did have was good to very good but the service was poor. The somm brought our bottle of champagne and placed it in a bucket in few tables away and assured us he would be around to continually fill our glasses. We never saw him again. When our glasses ran dry, we had to beg another table's waiter to fill our glasses. Our waiter was largely MIA as well. We finally threw in the towel when our waiter informed us that there was a miscommunication and our entree would be delayed even longer. This place opened only in June, so I'm sure they are working out the kinks. I would avoid until they get their act together. There are way too many excellent options in downtown Santa Barbara to justify making the hike out to Marisella. read more

We tried the newly opened Italian restaurant here in the Ritz Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara. It used to be called Angel Oak. The location is stunning, the staff and service was amazing, the sommelier was super knowledgeable, but alas, the food was not good. My wife is an omnivore and I am a vegan. For an small included appetizer they served us a small plate with a few cherry tomatoes and some basil leaves, along with a small dish of olive oil and a small cup of spice (seemed to be garlic salt). This is the most uninspired arrangement one can imagine as it took zero effort in preparation. We weren't quite sure what to do with this, dip a basil leaf in olive oil and put salt on it? There were like only 5 or 6 tomatoes anyway which were good but that set up left us puzzled as to the point of that. We asked for bread, which disappointingly is a separate menu item. We had a Focaccia bread with a red-sauce for dipping. Of course bread is vegan and the Focaccia was very nice but the red sauce was very basic with only some onion pieces and I think some more basil leaves. The 3 bread choices were all a-la-carte, priced options which seemed a little odd, not to get included bread at a restaurant. The bread dish cost almost as much as a main course. Honestly I don't like that trend in restaurants. As to the menu, there were many standard Italian options including pasta, meat and fish. None of the mains came with any sides meaning if you expected to have vegetables or anything those are a-la-carte. There was no vegan friendly main at all. I asked about different pasta sauces, and the other possible dishes, but they could not make any of them vegan friendly for some reason I still dont understand. Of the 4 vegetable sides, they did not have the mushroom dish, and the eggplant was cooked in creme, the broccolini had a cream sauce, so those wouldn't work for me. They did have simple steamed green beans, and a simple salad they could "not put cheese in" which they told me were my only menu choices. Mind you this was after we ordered a several hundred dollar bottle of Champagne I was hoping they might try a little harder. So I asked to speak more about this and after consulting with the staff and looking through the whole menu again they assured me they would be able to make a terrific meal off-menu for me as there really wasn't any substantial vegan option. I told them I did like those vegetables maybe they could prepare them for me along with some pasta and some other creative sides, and I was confident they could make a nice meal out of all that. The wife ordered Lamb and asked for medium. The Sommelier came over and had some specific recommendations as to what wine would pair best with the "mystery meal" they were preparing for me and suggested a really interesting, well aged and obscure Riesling. Which was delicious and I had great expectations. The mains then came. Her Lamb looked wonderful and there was plenty of it. However, it was mostly very tough and it was very undercooked. It onle had a very small amount of sauce on it. She ended up using the bread dip to accent the meat. She said some of it was nice but about half of it she could not chew. For me I was anticipating that they were cooking me something special and they delivered a disappointing, small dish of pasta - also undercooked, there were a few very thin slices of zucchini in it. And there was so SO much pepper in the dish it was completely inedible. When the manager came by to check on us I explained the two outcomes, I showed him our mostly un-eaten plates and he offered to make it right somehow. We declined additional meals but he said he would bring us comp deserts. Wife declined desert but I was interested, I told him to show us some creativity in the kitchen and said I'd be disappointed with the usual vegan desert of sorbet with some fruit so please don't bring me that. So they delivered a huge chocolate cake desert to me which I knew was not vegan (it wasn't) and they said oops! this was for my wife (sure). Shortly after that they delivered to me - sorbet and fruit and said "its not just sorbet and fruit we put some edible flower garnish and a gold flake on it". While that was good it was a super let down as I told them that was the one thing I didn't want. I must emphasize that we had a great time with the Wine list. The staff was very friendly and attentive. And the ambience and the Bar Scene there were both quite the sight. However the food itself was a huge disappointment both in lack of inspiration and also lets face it you dont usually encounter that both meals were actually inedible. But I would expect a lot more from the fancy restaurant at the Ritz and the old Angel Oak in that location before was really really good and was very Vegan friendly for a steak house. Overall the rest of the Ritz - we have stayed here a dozen times - is fantastic. I'd say go to the Bar at Marisela, the view is terrific, have dinner elsewhere. read more

Food is delicious! The seafood tower is to die for. The ambiance is unmatched (the restaurant is on the ocean). The workers were very kind and respectful. Highly recommend. read more

To celebrate our 63 year old friendship, my girlfriend, Lynda, and I made reservations on a rainy Friday, November 15, at Marisella, a newly opened coastal Italian restaurant. Upon entering Marisella, you experience a dimly lit, warm and cozy environment with oversized booths and tables...almost all having an ocean view, even though it was dark and rainy evening! Once seated, we were greeted by Milo, who was the best server we've ever had! He made sure we had an unforgettable evening! Milo even helped us decide on a perfect Cabernet from their extensive wine list! You must try Marisella's house-made warm, heavenly focaccia bread with whipped ricotta, truffle, honey, and black pepper! It's to die for! Also, their crispy squash blossoms are mouthwatering! Both were insanely srumptious! My friend had the roasted california lamb chops...chef's kiss! The crispy eggplant parmigiana was also delish! Unfortunately, we were too full for dessert. Milo asked if we were locals and I said I was. He informed us that they treat everyone special, but especially locals, so if you live in Santa Barbara County, you need to make reservations at Marisella ASAP and ask for Milo! You won't regret it!!! read more