So a decade or two ago, I had a business meeting in Santa Barbara that included a dinner here. A year later, my wife and I were visiting socially and stopped by, and she fell in love, too. Can a top-notch restaurant, still open, still match how we perceived them that long ago? Yup. FOOD & DRINK - A large list of Italian favorites, many of them with the chef's spin on them. Everyone at the table in our party of five enjoyed what they had. The cocktails were also good. The wine list was short, but I could find what we wanted to have from it. SERVICE: Our waiter was friendly, funny, read the table well, and always showed up just when we wanted him. Dinner was served in a timely fashion -- almost too timely, as we'd ordered cocktails first, and were still working on them by the time entrees arrive, alongside the bottle of wine we'd ordered. AMBIANCE: The interior is upscale, of a slightly older vintage, but quite "white tablecloth" nice. NET-NET: OeL is a pricey pick, but a very nice upscale dinner. Everything went smoothly. I plan on visiting again in another 15 years. read more

My wife and I came here for the first time and we really enjoyed our dinner. We shared the calamari Leo-Leo appetizer, which was excellent. My meal Spaghetti alla Bottarga di Trapani is about as Sicilian of a dish you can get anywhere and this was prepared perfectly. Our waiter was very courteous and pleasant answering our questions. Great location on the edge of downtown. read more

Olio E Limone Ristorante - Cannoli - Italian Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

See all

Salmon was dry and inedible. Other items were okay, but far from a 4 or 5 rating. One vegetarian item was not vegan. Most things were fine, but not delicious. I'm read more

Such a delicious and romantic spot for dinner right near the heart of downtown Santa Barbara! With excellent service and delicious food, you will not be disappointed coming here for a date night or special celebration. I especially recommend the Carpaccio di Pere Bella Elena, the thinly sliced pears and overall salad was so fresh and the perfect start to a meal of rich and tasty Italian food. read more

See all

Still absolutely loving Olio e Limone Ristorante. On another beautiful Santa Barbara night we had a table on their parklet. Server Omar was so very helpful in making sure we had the absolute best service, and his food and wine recommendations were spot-on. To get things started we enjoyed glasses of the tasty Brut de Noir Rose and the Prosecco. And then paired with dinner the Margerum M5. Everything was perfect. You can certainly tell each dish is made with love, and so we started with the Brussel Sprouts and the Carpaccio di Bue con Rugulo e Parmiggiano. Then on to the recommended Special Short Ribs, and Pappardelle al Sugo di Quaglie e Funghi. And then the desserts were over-the-top. Both the Crostata di Pere al Carmello and the Bauletto di Cioccolato e Banana were recommended and delicious. Thanks again to Omar and his support staff for making it another special evening. read more

Where do I begin??? Olió E Limone is more than italian dining... it's un ESPERIENZA!! Beautiful dining room and decor. Perfect for an intimate dinner or celebratory gathering. It was such a beautiful evening we chose to dine al fresco. We started with the tuna tartare. It was so fresh and flavorful, it really kicked things off perfectly. And the eggplant soufflé with that goat cheese center???? ( Timballo di Melanzane con Purea di Pomodoro ) Absolutely unforgettable. For our entrees, we chose one of the specials, the sea bass ravioli. It was delicate and just melted in my mouth. The tortelloni di spinach al burro e salvia was rich and very satisfying. Just when we thought the meal couldn't possibly be any better, the Panna Cotta and the Bauletto di Cioccolato e Banana sent our tastebuds to new heights. The staff's dedication to their craft is truly inspiring, from the hostess to the server to the busboys/support staff. They all contributed to making our dinner such a memorable dining experience. It is obvious the chef has a great passion for food because it really shines through in every bite. We are still thinking about how delicious everything was and looking for our next "excuse" to dine here again. read more

See all

pasta and drinks are great every time. Calamari so fresh and the panna cota was on point. Bread basket was the big let down, save some calories there read more

Went for my birthday dinner, food was amazing, great selection of wines, our server guided us through the specials, and the menu and was very polite. I would definitely stop by again. read more

Our group of five adults and two toddlers dined outside, which was definitely more appropriate for us. The interior dining room is nice and better suited for groups without little ones. Our server was super attentive and friendly and the food was all times really well. I was pleasantly surprised by the food here, starting with their bread, which was very traditional to Southern Italy. We shared the caprese appetizer and the eggplant timbalo. The littles devoured the spaghetti with tomato sauce, which was very good and perfectly al dente! Other in our group ordered the pasta special (arrabiata with seafood), the gnocchi, and I ordered the tenderloin with arugula. We ordered a Sicilian vermentino to drink, which I loved! Dinner was easy and well prepared. I'd return to this establishment. read more

This is my favorite Italian restaurant in SB. The staff always feels like family to me. This is not your typical red sauce joint. The owner incorporates a lot of his Sicilian background in his food and to be honest, I love it. After coming back from Sicily last year, I can easily say his is some of the best. My favorite pastas are the linguine allo scoglio and a simple cappellini. Their pork tenderloin and roast chicken are always some of my favorite go to. Whenever they have the fried squash blossoms as the special appetizers, it's like music to my ears. The service is best in town! read more

See all

What a find! Great ambiance, good service, expansive menu and very authentic tastes. Wish I could have ordered more but too filling as it was. Cant beleive this place wasn't busier; cost was above the norm but it was worth it. Good date night to impress. read more

From the start, the service felt cold and unwelcoming. Our server never smiled once and honestly seemed unhappy to be there. There was no warmth, no check-ins beyond the basics, and very little sense that he wanted us to enjoy our evening. It set an off tone right away. Our first course arrived quickly, which we appreciated, but after that the pacing completely unraveled. Main courses and dessert took a very long time, and we eventually found out our dessert ticket had been lost. The server did bring two complimentary dessert wines as an apology, but I had mentioned at the beginning of the meal that I was looking for non-alcoholic options, so that gesture missed the mark. When dessert finally came out, we were told they had sold out of what we originally ordered and that the server picked something else for us, without any discussion. I was surprised we were still charged for that. To add to the frustration, one of the chairs at our table had a broken piece that snagged and damaged my sweater, an avoidable issue that shouldn't happen at a restaurant at this price point. I understand that mistakes happen, but the combination of an unwelcoming demeanor, disorganized pacing, and lack of attention to detail made the evening feel disappointing rather than special. read more

January 24 2026 We went early on a saturday night - didn't have a reservation. They were so accommodating! Our server Omar was very attentive- our food was simply delicious. We had pasta with beef ragu- and veal scallopini. great pairing with sangiovese- We'll be back whenever we return to Santa Barbara. read more

DONT EVER COME HERE. We had a reservation here for weeks and with 6 hours before our table is ready -- on Christmas Eve no less -- they called and cancelled on us due to weather. No apology. No offer to make it right. This used to be one of our special places. Taking my money as a longtime local elsewhere where I am appreciated. You should too. read more

this incredible Italian establishment has been around for a while, and we have visited before and make it every time we're in town. Dying outside or in inside dining room with beautiful decor. That's some great salads, including with prawns and melon. The other are not to miss the baked Parmesan. And a variety of pastas and other entrées, but it's hard to find a place that has squid in pasta with shellfish done well and this is the get it. Just fabulous and end with the tasty read more

Olio E Limone Ristorante - Italian Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

See all

One of my absolute favorite restaurants in Santa Barbara. Have been going for years as the menu is always superb, always consistent with excellent service, excellent flavors and just a wonderful atmosphere. read more

See all

Took my boyfriend here for his birthday. We are from out-of-town so we were unsure of where to go and we definitely made the right choice! The service was great. I got the bolognese and it was delicious. I also tried the carbonara and loved it. We got the chocolate and banana bread lava cake for dessert. It was such an interesting dish that we really enjoyed. The atmosphere was perfect for a date night. read more

Went in there because I wanted a pasta meal. And it was after 3:00PM. Actually it was ONLY after 3:00 PM. The waitress told me they don't have pasta. WHAT ITALIAN RESTAURANT DON'T SERVE PASTA? But their menu showed bunch of pasta dishes. The waitress said the one next door serve pasta, but they were closed. So I ordered a salad instead and she asked if i want add any protein. i ordered chicken to added to the salads. I also had ordered an Ice Tea. Now the Ice Tea came in a brandy style glass. She didn't ask for a refill. The salads came in a dinner salad bowl, less than 12 inches, the plain chicken came in cutlet cube pieces. That whole meal cost over $33.00 without tips yet. I don't think a small bowl of salad and piece of chicken is worth $33.00. She didn't even come back to ask if I wanted a refill. Definitely will not be a place to revisit again when I come back to Santa Barbara again. read more

See all

Olio is an elegant restaurant that feels comfortable. The staff is always attentive and I've had a pleasant experience with service all 4 times I've dined here. The food is on the better end of the Italian restaurants around the city. I enjoyed the pasta, which was softer than Al dente, but that perfectly suits my American palate. Fish tastes fresh and is cooked to perfection every time. I would recommend this restaurant for its consistent experience and food! read more

I have been coming here for at least 15 years. It's one of my favorite places in Santa Barbara for special occasions, celebrations or romantic dinners. The wine selection is amazing with a beautifully displayed wine cellar. I love their duck ravioli, olive oil and fresh bread. I have bought many bottles of their olive oil for myself and gifts. This time I tried the special risotto of the day. It had shrimp, asparagus and parmesan. Perfectly cooked and seasoned. I shared the creme brûlée and panna cotta. They both had a nice silky texture and were creamy. I liked how many desserts they had and they are all made in house, daily. The service is phenomenal. They are on top of refills, checking on you and picking up plates. Our server was friendly, attentive and explained all the daily special very well. read more

See all

This place was great. My daughter and I came in for her 21st birthday dinner. We did try to call ahead because we new we would arrive right around closing, but they didn't answer. Gladly, even though we arrived 15 minutes before closing, they still accepted us. We were prepared and mostly knew what we wanted to order already. They were very quick and accommodating to both our alterations due to allergies. Thank you for the great dinner. The spinach gnocchi were pillows of perfection (and gluten free) that I will crave forever now. read more

We arrived without reservations. There was a party of 4, also without reservations and were seated. My husband and I arrived, then another couple came after us, also without reservations. Clearly the hostess personally knew the couple who came after us, as they exchanged a hug. She ignored us and accommodated them with a table. After waiting longer, she finally said that they dońt have any tables without reservations and we were turned away. Call it descrimination, favoritism, or simply RUDE AND UNPROFESSIONAL! After that service, even the best food would taste bad. I will never return! read more

Perfect, romantic night! We came for our honeymoon... the food was amazing! We had the carbonara and beef. read more

Olio E Limone Ristorante - Busiate Carbonara - Italian Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

We booked here recently for a birthday/special occasion (I even had that noted in my reservation) and were seated past 7:45, about 7:50 pm for a 7:30 dinner reservation... We also got there ahead of a party or parties who were sat before us despite us arriving before them. And again for a special occasion like a birthday this was a real bummer, on top of the host lying to us that the other parties had an earlier reservation time but we heard them all check in after us and had the same or later than our reservation period, yet again still were seated ahead of us... real unfortunate experience for a finer dining restaurant and establishment. When I called all that out back to the host, he stopped responding and walked away... The waiter also never came to our table, instead he tried to sit another party in front of us. Then the host just took over our table for the night since the appointed waiter he said would come to our table - never did. The host had said the waiter would come to read the special's then after he took over reading them - he still never came to our table once. The waiter seemed frustrated that we were going to sit at a table despite waiting for it longer than we should have - that he/the waiter promised to another group he knew... but the host interrupted him since I had spoke up about the situation prior (luckily). There is also no where to wait, so we stood at the front of the restaurant door with approximately 3-5 groups at a time in the way and shuffling for workers and other people entering and leaving... it was something you would not expect at a "higher rated" business. It was such a cold/frigid night as well so no one wanted to wait outside and we instead just overflowed onto the restaurant's dining floor - for all those reasons combined, would not return. read more

This is a gem; wait staff is on it, offering water & taking drink orders. When trying a new wine they have by the glass they offered a taste first, for which we then bought a bottle. The waiter made a really nice suggestion of taking an entry & making it into an appetizer - best pumpkin ravioli ever! There was salmon to be had & salads; all were delicious. Oh & don't forget the desserts; there was crème brûlée & a lemon slice of cake or something, scrumptious & the cappuccino. The place is upscale, can dress up or casual. There's a private dinning area as well, so this would be a great spot for the surprise birthday party or anniversary. read more

See all

Stumbled upon this restaurant by chance, we are still talking about how good the food was two weeks later! Teo of us had fish, a osso Buco and a spaghetti dish! All four were amazing! Lovely basket of bread with butter never hurt anyone! The desserts were outstanding! Pricy but well worth every cent! Waiter was attentive! Just an absolute treat! Well done! read more

See all

I called the restaurant and spoke with the Manager (John) six hours before our group of eight's reservation time. I advised that I had a Capsaicin allergy and was very severely allergic to black/white/red/green/ yellow & all types of peppers, even including Paprika, Cayenne, and Chili powder. He ended up telling me that they would make me a "Safe" dinner plate with angel hair pasta, cooked tomato chunks, and uncoated/unseasoned chicken strips. Our group arrived and I informed the young waitress that I had called in & spoken with John earlier that day, and they would be making a dish to accommodate my severe allergy to peppers. A little while later the waitress brought out a plate and said it was my special "Safe" meal. Not everyone was served yet, so I didn't begin eating. My husband did reach over and try a bite, as he usually does, making sure he can't detect anything that will sicken me. He made a strange face, took another small bite and was just about to tell me not to eat the food, when the waitress came back with another plate of food and advised that the "Safe" plate she had previously delivered was another person in our party's food. Luckily, they didn't mind that my husband had eaten two bites from it, even though we aren't close friends and the food had then become only slightly warm. That incorrect plate of food had been in front of me for about 5-7 minutes at that point. If I had consumed any of it I would have had to utilize the EpiPen in my purse, it would have been an upsetting and embarrassing scene, as my husband would have had to call 911 for my transport to the hospital! I did end up eating just a few bites of the actual "Safe" plate of food and it was truly the worst "safe" food that I've ever had at any restaurant. The food was dry and absolutely unappetizingly bland. We took it home, my husband added tomato sauce and parmesan cheese to it the next evening and he consumed it. Neither of us were impressed by this visit, we definitely plan to never return to Olio e Limone! read more

We had the private room for our wedding dinner and it was nothing short than excellent. From start to finish it was one of the best dining experiences I've ever had. Of course I'm biased since we just got married but the stakes are even higher because how can you top marrying your best friend! Well I'll tell you this dinner was a highlight of the whole day! Vera was so helpful with coordinating this event and the staff were amazing. I can't even express how delicious the food was and it was so difficult choosing which item to order! The room was perfect for our party of 20 and the ambiance was romantic and moody. I can't wait to go back and try more! I would highly recommend the back room for any larger party events. Thank you so much for the beautiful experience! read more

See all

We were seated at 6:20pm and were completely ignored until 6:40. I had told them we were going to a 7:30 concert. Mediocre food arrived about 7:10. We rushed through our meal and waiter told us it was our fault because we arrived late!!! Never going back. read more

Went here for our anniversary dinner and it was lovely! The service was great and the food was delicious. The duck ravioli was heavenly.

We went here to celebrate my husband's birthday and didn't have a very good experience. The food was not impressive and the waiters were not very attentive. We are not going back for sure. read more

Went here because my italian friend recommended it. I'm telling y, u it's amazing!!! This restaurant has such an amazing vi, e and the waiters are super nice and helpful. I ordered the bruchetti, seafood pasta, duck ravioli, and something else I don't rememb, r but they were all so amazing. The seafood pasta is a little salty for , e though bur overall really go, d and they all have great presentation. It was my sister's birthday too so they gave her a little cake and gelato and they were bomb dot com as well. Literally, so recommend!!! read more

Olio E Limone Ristorante - Bruchetti - Italian Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

See all

The food here is quite good, but the waitstaff really seem as if they either do not like their job or they have no personality at all (this seems harsh, but it is my summation of their attitude). It kind of ruined our whole experience; especially after spending a week in San Diego, where the waiters are so dynamic and fun! My partner and I enjoyed the eggplant souffle; such a modern and elegant take on an eggplant parmesan; I would definitely order this appetizer again. We also ordered the carpaccio, which was fine, but very little beef and quite a lot of acidity. The star of the night was the special ravioli with scallops and sea bass! This dish was wonderful!! We also loved the banana bread pudding! read more

Worst meal in SB. It's New Years and we dined here for the first time and regretted it. Zappa de Arigosta (lobster soup) seemed to be thickened by potato (grainy) vs cream. No mouth feel, no flavor, but I did notice the fish roe seemingly added to try to impart a seafood flavor and color to what was potato soup. She had what a salad with artichoke. We confirmed the artichoke was fresh (not pickled) yet the white wine sauce still had a hint of vinegar. Hmm Linguini Arabiatta with dungeous crab... I now realize may have been a copy of a crab dish from Secret Bao. The original is far superior. Unrecognizable crab pieces and one piece of shrimp. Most places would Include a crab shell to show its fresh.. nope. Lobster Risotto. Lobster and Risotto was undercooked (not al dente). Chocolate Banana bread pudding was... a mini chocolate lava cake with a few slices of banana on top. WTF. I'd be pissed at 1/2 of what I paid. Will not be back read more

This has been our favorite restaurant in SB for going on 15 years now. Anytime they have ossobucco, get it! Great food, great service and still reasonably priced for a nice dinner. read more

Olio E Limone Ristorante - Ossobucco - Italian Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Lovely Italian restaurant mid-town Santa Barbara. Good wine list. Good menu. Outdoor seating available. Covid precautions observed. Service was acceptable but needs improvement. Definitely nice dinner. read more

Olio E Limone Ristorante - Delicious Pumpkin ravioli! - Italian Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

See all

Dinner spot in downturn SB on Victoria and state street First time here Delicious!!! Amazing!!! In a nut shell Made reservations online Parking is available on the street or public parking Indoor and outdoor seating available Dog friendly location Service was top notch Explained all the special answers questions about how menu items were prepared Very personable and friendly Food was delicious, fresh, filling, soothing, flavorful, not heavy, comforting Order the Italian style crab cake Crunchy exterior Delicate soft fresh fried cake compliment mix greens and sauces - very light and could easily be shared as well a meal in itself Special short rib Tender falling off while cutting served over creamy risotto and mix vegetables House made duck ravioli - 6 served - very light filling with duck and served with a porcini mushroom cream sauce - not heavy but major just right potion to leave room for other eats Dessert tiramisu and pear tart Tiramisu served like a sundae with a piece of biscotti Pear tart - pear warm the tart room temperature and with vanilla bean and warm caramel sauce Overall love the ambiance service food was fresh there was not a rush to go through the meals very friendly service everyone checked in on the table numerous times Definitely a place to revisit that is tucked away read more

See all

Such a perfect dinner last night! Beet salad with Burrata cheese and prosciutto was divine. Scallops and shrimp heart shaped ravioli in a soft lobster sauce. Delicious dense bread with their signature olive oil. And OMG the desserts . We had 3 Crème Brûlée, Pear Tartin and Chocolate banana bread pudding . Cozy and romantic and attentive nice wait staff. read more

Italian food is my favorite! I was in heaven when I went to Italy. The food there was nothing like I've had in the Bay Area. In my opinion, this is probably the best Italian food I've ever had outside Italy. We ordered the eggplant souffle appetizer, duck ravioli and the osso buco (specials menu) for our entrees, chocolate banana bread pudding for dessert. I don't even have words to say how excellent everything was. I mean I'm drooling just thinking about the food we had! Oh, one thing I have to say, the osso buco came with a bone marrow. That was a pleasant surprise! I've never had veal bone marrow! We almost missed it too cuz there was a sprig of rosemary in the bone. read more

See all

Food was absolutely excellent! Loved our server Gustavo! The vibe was very mellow! Will come back! Thank you!