Delightful family dinner (in town for a funeral) at a nice new find in Santa Barbara. FOOD & DRINK - Food -- from salads to pasta to meats to desserts -- was all high grade and enjoyed by everyone there. The cocktail menu had some clever mixes, and the wine menu offered plenty (maybe even too many) suggestions. SERVICE - Overall service was attentive and effective. The staff worked with our needs and handled a couple of unexpected situations (a couple in our party unexpectedly showing up with their kids in tow) with aplomb. AMBIANCE - While you can't really see much of the ocean, the front windows face it from across the closest street, and the sense of it being there (especially with the windows open) counts for a lot. The house itself is upscale decorated and set. VALUE - Upscale and food and service matches the upscale prices, but it felt like we got worth for what what paid. We paid a bit over $100 a person -- but that included cocktails and wine (and the two kids, who got plates of their own). NET-NET - We're not locals, but Toma is definitely going on our list for any future visits we make to Santa Barbara. read more

Solid Italian spot with a great location, but a few things to know before you go. The food was genuinely good. That part didn't disappoint. Service, though, was pretty meh. We mentioned it was our anniversary in the reservation notes and... nothing. Not even a quick "congrats." A small touch that would've gone a long way. The place is clearly popular. It was packed when we were there, so definitely book ahead if you don't want to wait. Parking nearby is tough too, so give yourself extra time to find a spot. Overall: good food, prime location, just don't expect much personal attention from them. read more

OMG when we come in from Jackson hole, we love eating here, we take the kids and we all go. It's one of the best environments. The food is delicious. So glad there's quality food still in town. Coming from LA the food capital of the world, this place is so good. read more

We had dinner at Toma last night and it was very enjoyable. I think my husband and I have different views of the quality of our food. I ordered the lasagna and I thought it was just OK. He ordered the lamb chops and thought they were amazing. We did get the phyllo Berry dessert and that was amazing. Service was decent, but not excellent. read more

Toma Restaurant & Bar - Phyllo Crisp - Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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First time visiting, nice ambiance, friendly service, good food, house-made pasta with lots of gluten free options. We enjoyed the arugula salad (wish it had more balsamic glaze to balance the bitterness of arugula), rigatoni (delicious, everyone's favorite), gluten free pasta di mare (too al dente but good flavor) , broccolini (a little salty) & garlic fries (perfect amount of garlic, not overpowering). They got my order wrong, I asked for no clams or chili flakes & they had to remake my dish. My family was done eating when my food came out. They were nice enough to gift us a dessert for the mix up. We really enjoyed the warm chocolate torte. It was light & fluffy, not overly sweet. They also gifted us a strawberry mousse for our anniversary. Overall we had a good time. Make sure you make reservations, the restaurant was packed on a Sunday night. read more

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Excellent quality food! Our favorites were the braised beef short rib and gnocchi pasta. Great service and ambiance for a date night or smaller get together with family or friends. Right on the main st by the beach so easy access location! read more

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*Rating this experience with a child & grandparent* We were out-of-towners, looking for a walkable restaurant that had a kid-friendly menu, and we decided on Toma. Reservations are highly recommended, the restaurant was packed on a Thursday night. We got a lovely corner table by the window so we could see the boats and part of the ocean. This is what we ordered: - tuna cones: sounded like it was a must-try so we did, and we really enjoyed them! My mother said she's never tried anything like it before, and really enjoyed them. It was her highlight of the meal. - kids meal, chicken tenders ($20) - for a kids meal, this was on the pricier end, but my picky eater really enjoyed them. They were crispy and very soft. He said it was the best tenders he's ever had. It also came with a sundae with chocolate fudge and whipped cream. So that's a win! - squid ink black spaghetti - good flavors, good amount of mussels, and I enjoyed the al dente of the noodles. My mother thinks they could've been even more al dente, but I thought they were fine. I enjoyed dipping my bread in the sauce :) - risotto with jumbo shrimp and scallops ($49) - for the price, the scallops were very, VERY small. For that price and size, they should've given us at least 5 scallops, not 3. The shrimp was also ok in favors and also not considered "jumbo" at all. Risotto was very tasty. - phyllo crisp with raspberry mousse - interesting, I really enjoyed the mousse with the fruit, but was so-so with the crisp. It wasn't overly sweet, which I enjoyed. Service was attentive, despite how crowded it was. At one point, my kid knocked over his root beer all over our table, and the staff quickly came to help clean it up. I appreciated that they didn't make it a big deal and were quick. I would come back and try other dishes, but not order the risotto scallop/shrimp because of the small seafood portion. read more

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Stopped in for a drink and appetizer. Wish I had stayed for dinner. Presentation was amazing as were the flavors. I was craving stuffed squash blossoms and saw they had them on their menu. I was expecting lightly fried squash blossoms, but these were stuffed with ricotta cheese and grilled and the sauce was interesting. The standout was the daily special, Hamachi Crudo in a citrus/coconut sauce. Beautiful presentation, fresh, and so flavorful!! Will definitely be back for that and dinner next time. Lovely, intimate dining room across the street from the beach with French music playing in the background. read more

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Absolutely charming romantic venue across from the pier and boat docks /beach. Everything including service impeccable! Loved our swordfish and Seafood Pasta. Dessert is deliciously stunning! love love love Full house usually so make a reservation or go early and sit at the small bar read more

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Started with the Caesar salad and garlic bread. Both were outstanding. Ordered pasta with Italian sausage and also the bucatini al pesto. We both loved our dishes. Finished with the filo cup with raspberry mousse and fresh strawberries. One of the best desserts we've ever had! Waitstaff was pleasant. We'll definitely visit again whenever in Santa Barbara. read more

When you find someplace that is very memorable, you make sure to alway return. Well this restaurant is just that place. I've been a few times already and each and every visit was amazing. Right from the start. We didn't make a reservation as it was mid week which we assumed that it would be ok. Which it was as it was still early. From the start, walking in and checking with the host. Who I beleive maybe the manger but not sure. He's such a sweetheart. I love how they remember people which is always a good thing. We were able to have open table which there was a few. But within 15 to 20 minutes, the place did filled up. So I would recommend reservations. The service is always amazing with each and everyone working there. Like mentioned, love that the staff remembers their customers. Not only the host, the bartender, as well as one of the other waiters who waved to say hi. Menu wise, everything is excellent. After a few days of wine, we kind of gave it a miss...lol... but I did have the espresso martini which is a big hit and a favorite so far here. The fried olives with blue cheese to start is always a treat. Started off with the fritto misto, a mix of seafood and veggies lightly fried and served with a chipotle aioli sauce and marinara. It's a must for us. And also the house baked garlic bread with Parmesan and marinara sauce. Simple yet so good. Entrees, my favorite. The pasta de mare, with the housemade lemon trenette pasta, a mix of scallops calms and shrimp in a white wine garlic sauce with chili flakes and crispy leeks. It's always a must for me. There was also the pesto bucatini both with and without chicken. And the rigatoni with sausage. The sauce alone was excellent. Service was always amazing. Walter took care of us this experience. Very sweet and friendly. There was a gentlemen that was dining behind me who was enjoying some wine and gracious enough to offer me a taste. That was so sweet which I found out later that he loves his wine and always shares with the staff. An amazing regular. Food is alway amazing, the ambiance and service is great. Love the friendly staff which makes returning so welcoming read more

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Atmosphere =charming and warm. Service was amazing! Food = mouth watering, highly recommend!!! One of my favorite Italian places now, absolutely wonderful!! read more

Toma Restaurant & Bar - Braised Beef Short Rib and Grilled Pork Chop - Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

My husband and I had a wonderful dinner at Toma. It's a beautiful restaurant with very nice place settings. The service was good, not especially friendly but efficient. We had a squash blossom starter but it was the only dish we didn't enjoy. I ordered the Ravioli Pomodoro and my husband ordered the Lasagna. We both loved these dishes as well as the complimentary bread for the table. The desserts were incredible! My husband had the Warm Chocolate Torte and I had the Crème Brûlée, both gorgeous and delicious. I'm glad we visited and I recommend it to anyone looking for a great meal. read more

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This is an outstanding restaurant on all levels. It's very popular, so make a reservation! The food is delicious and the portions are very ample. The side dishes such as the mixed seasonal vegetables are worthy as an entree. The wait staff are very professional and inviting. The service is prompt. The host is exceptionally anxious to please guests. The restaurant is beautifully appointed with fresh flowers at each table. Tables are dressed in white cloths and the flatware and glassware are exceptional. the space is sparkling clean. The full bar is also an inviting place to sit and the cocktails are clearly prepared by a mixologist. ENJOY! read more

Came here for dinner on a Monday night while visiting Santa Barbara. Making a reservation was pretty easy on open table. First thing you notice is that the restaurant definitely has an upscale feel to it. My wife and I love Italian food so we were pretty excited to try this spot. We ordered a good number of items, including garlic bread, Truffle Gnocchi, Crudo, and their Black Spaghetti, along with a Tuscan pear cocktail. The Tuscan pear was really good! It was sweet and had great flavor. The garlic bread was pretty good as well, but we noticed that they also had complementary bread which was available upon request. Wish we would've known about it before we ordered, but it is what it is. In terms of their dishes, they were great, but the standout was the Truffle Gnocchi. The gnocchi melts in your mouth and the sauce was delicious with a good amount of truffle flavor. The black spaghetti was great, and came with a lot of clams, which was nice as well. The crudo was good, although I wish they had less things going on in the dish. I found that there was too many flavors and it took away from the taste of the crudo. Overall I had a good experience here, the dishes were really good and the portions are generous. Service was good as well. This was more of Italian with a bit of a seafood twist rather than a classic restaurant but I found their dishes to be a refreshing take on Italian. I will say that while everything was good, it felt like it was missing a wow factor that you would expect for the premium price, but maybe that's just me preferring more classic Italian flavors. Still a good option for dining in Santa Barbara! read more

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The tuna cones are the best thing about the menu! Must order. Staff is great and nice ambience.

The Food Generally underwhelming. The garlic bread was decent, but the black ink pasta was surprisingly bland and lacked flavor. Most frustratingly, our table was never offered bread, despite every other table around us receiving it. Ambiance The highlight of the night. The restaurant has a beautiful, upscale atmosphere and a great vibe--it's a shame the food didn't match the setting. Service Decent service overall, but dishes took a while to come out and our server took a while to come from time to time. For the price point, the attention to detail simply wasn't there. Bottom Line: Great for the view and a drink, but the dining experience fell short. read more

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We were so looking forward to our dinner at Toma to celebrate my birthday The restaurant is very cute and atmosphere is nice. It took over 10 minutes to receive water and another 10 for our drink order. I'm fine with drawn out service but we weren't even offered drinks before our entree (and this wasn't due to the entrees coming quickly) our drinks had been empty for some time by the time our entrees arrived. Things didn't get better with the entrees, my truffle gnocchi was mushy and bland and my husbands short ribs tasted like they were sitting under a heating lamp for too long. Overall a very disappointing experience. read more

Toma Restaurant & Bar - Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Had a great dinner here. The seafood dishes were fresh and flavorful, especially the perfectly cooked sea bass and the pasta with clams. Everything was beautifully presented. The desserts were just as impressive--the warm chocolate cake with ice cream was a favorite. Great atmosphere, attentive service, and a memorable dining experience. read more

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Yummy food , great ambience and service. What more can you ask for? The fritto misto (mixed fried seafood) has a variety of different items including shrimps, scallops, bring onion, red pepper, etc. they are crispy and juicy and with diff textures. Consider considering different ingredients require different frying time this dish requires more effort and it showed in the taste. Tuna cones are both sweet , crunchy and flavorful. And it's beautiful. It comes in four cones. The seafood risotto is super delicious. The grilled shrimp and scallop are grilled to perfection and very flavorful. Tiramisu is yummy. Will be back. If I can snatch a reservation next time. :-) read more

Amazing experience in every way! We arrived late at Santa Barbara Harbor and asked a stranger for restaurant recommendations near the harbor. They didn't hesitate and recommended Toma - and I am glad they did. As we arrived about an hour before closing, the place was still packed... Always a good sign. The inside is charming and quaint - so cute. Our waiter Milo was incredibly helpful. Every recommendation he made was spot on... From the appetizer, to the entrée, to the beer and wine recommendations. You could tell everything was made with high-quality ingredients and an attention to detail. The watermelon feta salad was perfect for a warm evening. The swordfish special served on polenta was perfectly prepared. And my shrimp and scallop pasta dish was delicious. They even altered it a bit for me since I can't eat garlic. It also has an extensive wine list which made me want to try something I hadn't tried before. After I explained my exhaustive list of likes and dislikes when it comes to red wine, Milo brought me small tastings of several wines that I could choose from. They were all delicious so it was hard to choose. Milo really listened and made the perfect suggestion. Next time we sail into Santa Barbara Harbor this is going to be our go to dinner spot. Thank you, Toma restaurant and staff for a great experience. read more

I heavily suggest making a reservation beforehand to ensure you will have a table as Toma gets quite busy. Luckily, my friends and I were able to adjust our reservation the day of to accommodate our larger party when we stopped in Santa Barbara. As soon as we entered, we were seated and then quickly greeted by our server. We placed our wine, appetizers, and entree orders quickly and only waited a few minutes for our wine to come out. The appetizers came out fairly quickly as well. Before we even had time to finish our apps, our entrees were being placed on the table. Overall, their service time was fantastic. Unfortunately we did have one app wrong, someone received the wrong wine from what they ordered, and I received shrimp in my meal instead of chicken. Luckily, as soon as the waiter named my entree as he was putting it before me, I quickly mentioned I did not order shrimp, but chicken. They were nice about the correction and took my plate back right away to replace the shrimp with chicken. I enjoyed all our appetizers, but my personal favorite was the arugula salad as it had a delicious, lemon dressing. I did have the pesto bucatini with chicken (eventually) and I did love it. The pesto was very fresh and coated the bucatini noodles well. I loved that the dish was topped with carrots and zucchini too! My husband liked his swordfish, which was the catch of the day, but it was quite dry for him. I thought the savory flavor was there but did agree that it was dry overall. You never know what you will get with a meal that changes regularly due to it being whatever the catch of the day is! We ended our meal with their creme brûlée. My husband and I absolutely love creme brûlée and we would rate theirs at about 8/10. The flamed sugar top was rather soft along the edges and brunt in the middle, but the strawberries did make up for it as they were quite fresh and sweet. Still a good dessert choice! While we did like our service overall and the food in general, we received the bill that did not correct the mistakes from our meal. We were charged for the wrong wine, the wrong app, and the shrimp instead of chicken on my meal. We were able to get it fixed, but it did take some time and effort. read more

Toma Restaurant & Bar - Cocktail menu - Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Soooo soooo delicious. I got the rigatoni and I want to come back here already to eat it again. Our food came out really fast and the ambience was great too. Our server Christian was super nice and friendly and had great service! 1000/10 would definitely definitely come back! Editing to say they even gave a complimentary raspberry mousse read more

Toma Restaurant & Bar - Rigatoni and pesto - Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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The best food I've ever had. Everything had so much flavor and everything was perfectly presented. The service was amazing and the vibes were great. Definitely coming back whenever I'm in the area. read more

Toma Restaurant & Bar - Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Sat at the bar while waiting for our table and decided to eat there. The bartender provided excellent service, and our food was delicious. Can't wait to go again! read more

Amazing food and service. Unless you are not allergic to dogs, consider finding a more enjoyable dining experience

I was in the Santa Barbara area for a few days and stopped by Toma as it was within walking distance from my hotel. I took a seat at the bar and was immediately acknowledged by the bartender. I ordered a half bottle of Chardonnay and the lasagna. I must say that both were just outstanding. The service from the bartender was excellent and everyone was just super friendly and helpful. If you are ever in the area, check them out! read more

Toma Restaurant & Bar - An evening at Toma!! - Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

What a classy restaurant! Comfortable and cozy with a more formal ambiance. Great, attentive service and plenty of servers working hard to get great food to each table in a timely fashion. A well staffed well managed place. That makes a difference. The food was exceptional! Layers of flavor and combo of texture. Lovely plated presentation. Fresh ingredients and unique delicious dish creations made the menu interesting and our meal enjoyable. We started with the fresh baked bread with a lovely herb butter and a chimichurri dip. We shared a classic Caesar salad. I had a lemon pasta with seafood and crunchy leeks on top. Loved it! My husband enjoyed the short ribs. We got dessert and went away so satisfied with the full experience, and yet so full ourselves! I also enjoyed a cup of perfectly chamomile tea. I recommend this place. read more

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This is one of the best restaurants we've had the pleasure to dine in. Our second visit was a spectacular one, with the restaurant knocking it out of the park for its food, wine and service. We ordered: --Ahi Tuna Cones, for an appetizer. Very different, fun and tasty. Had a slight ginger flavor which I liked. --Black Spaghetti. This is a must order for seafood lovers and those who love Linguine with Clam Sauce. A squid ink spaghetti-like noodle with clams and spicy pancetta in a rich clam broth. We can't stop talking about how good it is. -- New Zealand Rack of Lamb. An incredible dish with six small rib bones, creamy polenta, basalmic tomatoes, black olives, zucchini and squash in a rich delicious sauce. Absolutely outstanding. --Sourdough Bread with Chimichurri and Garlic Butter. So good. I actually preferred the Chimichurri over the butter, but we dipped the bread in the clam broth and lamb sauce, too. --Bottle of the Cordon Pinot Noir. Very flavorful and fruity. --Two Limoncellos for dessert. Fresh lemon taste. Not too cloying or syrupy. Just right. The service was impeccable. Our waiter was outstanding, and wine and water glasses were promptly filled, dirty plates cleared. After the appetizer, our waiter suggested that we share the spaghetti first, then the lamb, which was a great suggestion, as we wanted to split everything. Toma is a must visit while in Santa Barbara. Dress code is Santa Barbara casual. Make reservations well in advance as this small restaurant fills up fast. read more

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This is some of the best Italian food I've ever had. We loved the atmosphere and the wait staff were very attentive. This will be our "go to" place whenever we are in SB. read more

I usually take hotel restaurant recommendations with a grain of salt since it always feels inauthentic, however, this recommendation DID NOT miss the mark. Signed in and left our name on the list and was told it was going to be about 45 mins - 1 hr for a table. My girlfriend and I went on a walk and received our check in text less than 30 minutes later. We love that. Came in and got seated at the bar where Kevin helped us. Started off with a house margarita that was absolutely killer. Followed that up by ordering Cesar Salad, Steamed Mussels, and a Linguini Pasta to share. It's been a week since my visit and I still think about those steamed mussels. I would strongly recommend this dish. The Cesar salad can't do no wrong either. The linguini was fantastic and all of the seafood was well worth the cost. All in all, 3 dishes, 3 drinks, ran me short of $180 after tax and tip. read more

Toma Restaurant & Bar - Steamed Mussels - Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Come here just about every year since they opened for anniversary dinner. Kevin our waiter was great. Arugula salad with fresh parm was great . My wife got meat lasagna I had salmon. Both perfectly cooked. See you next Nov ! read more

Toma Restaurant & Bar - Arugula salad - Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

My husband and I stopped by for dinner yesterday as walk-ins since it was last minute. We completely understood if there was a wait, but we felt overlooked by the staff. Guests who arrived after us without reservations were seated quickly, while we were left waiting and eventually decided to leave. read more

Located right across the ocean and gives you peek of the harbor. Great place for a date or family dinner The restaurant usually requires reservations but we came early enough and had a chance for walk-in on a Friday evening. The food was spectacular on another level and cooked really well. For a moment I was wondering why my food took so long but that chicken requires time to cook. Even its skin was cooked well, all the way to the bone. The sea bass was also good and it was a featured item. They have different featured items that aren't seen on menu. Our server jay was terrific. All the other staff members were accommodating. Only drawback would be the lack of parking. read more

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We were in town for our 20th anniversary and wanted to have a delicious dinner. My wife found Toma on Yelp and we made a last minute reservation. OMG. We were thrilled! The whole experience was fantastic! The decor, the ambiance, the drinks, the food.....the fooooodddd. Everything we ate was delicious. My wife is an amazing cook so we often are disappointed when eating out because we know she could make better food at home. Not here. The flavors were so complex and well thought out. We have never had mussels before so we tried them......amazing!! The cocktails were delicious too. Our server was wonderful, attentive and very friendly. All around 10/10 stars and we will most definitely be back! read more

Every single bite was perfect! A first try of octopus tonight. Chewy and delicious at the same time. Black Cod was buttery and light. Great service and calm setting made for a good dinner. read more

Toma Restaurant & Bar - Octopus appetizer! So tasty!! - Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

This Italian restaurant is such a gem, and the location alone makes it worth a visit--right across the street from the beach and incredibly convenient whether you're taking a walking break or planning a full night out. The vibe inside is old-school Italian in the best way: warm lighting, classic décor, and that cozy, timeless atmosphere that makes you want to linger. The food and wine selection were excellent. Every dish we ordered tasted thoughtfully prepared and full of flavor, and the wine list had plenty of great options without being overwhelming. And yes... we ordered all the desserts. Zero regrets. Every single one was delicious and worth the extra calories. Service was friendly and attentive without ever feeling rushed. You can tell the staff take pride in what they do. They're only open for dinner, so I'd strongly recommend making a reservation--this place fills up fast, and for good reason read more

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Xmas eve tradition. This year it was Toma. Great indoor ambiance & service. The food was beyond expectations too. Drinks, dinner & dessert. So good! read more

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Went here for our 1 year anniversary and it was amazing! They only took reservations on the weekend we went so we got there right when they opened. Very classy, and small authentic "hole in the wall" feel. Their bread is amazing. I ordered the lasagna and it was sooooo delicious. Definitely a memorable dinner. It was light and fluffy and had a good amount of meat which is something I was hoping. My husband got the rigatoni and the sauce was really yummy. We also ordered the calamari appetizer and it really hit ! The only thing that wasn't perfect was the noodles for my husband's pasta weren't as soft as he would have liked them- but this dish was still really delicious! I definitely recommend! read more

Just left dinner and ran here to do a review. Firstly, shoutout to our server Kevin. You made our first time here an experience to remember. You were awesome. For the resturant itself, from the service, to the ambiance, to the drinks, to the food and then dessert... everything was perfection. A must go! read more

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