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Three baseball sized gnocchi with cheese inside, the tomato sauce was quite good, the bruschetta tomatoes were completely without flavor and cold. The drink was very refreshing and the service was superb. Love the cluttered Italian vibe, they try very hard I like this place.
Still such a delicious place for breakfast or lunch. Sitting outside on their patio, sunshine and a slight breeze all around us. Server Marco keeping a close eye on us and making sure we have everything we need. Glass of Italian Rosé, and then onto a tasty Barbera to accompany our Pasta alla Puttanesca. I do love this little slice of heaven.
This is my favorite Italian restaurant in town. The owner is awesome, I've heard he also owns Milk and Honey, another one of my favorite places, fun fact, they now have a Sangiovese available by the glass at Milk and Honey, but back to Via Maestra, the food is amazing. I highly recommend the pumpkin ravioli. Service is stellar, and their outdoor patio can't be beat for upper State Street- perfect ambiance for a date night. You're missing out if you don't come here for dinner.
Love at first sight. And when it's busy on a Tuesday night you know the food is good. And their staff takes such good care of you. Bread and waters brought right away as you look through the menu wanting a little bit of everything. Started with a simple salad. How does something so simple taste so good?! And moved onto the penne alla bolognese. I may have cleared my plate while scraping it with the complementary bread (thanks for the refill). Before my food coma began finished off with a cappuccino, which I think I inhaled. If you like hole in the wall, bodega kitschy vibes you will love it here.
Italian was on the menu tonight and Yelp brought us here. Via Maestro 42 has a small interior mostly made up of two top tables, and then an outside covered area within the parking lot. On this fine March evening, we opted to sit outdoors. I was concerned with how much lighting there would be once the sun set but they didn't really have any four tops available inside for us. (In the end, the interior lights from the neighboring business helped illuminate our table that was directly in front of the restaurant, and not necessarily under the outside covered area.) After we put in our order and received the complimentary bread (with the provided olive oil), we were questioning whether we had ordered too much food. We attempted to ask the waiter if it was too much and he didn't really answer our question. And since there was only one table next to us and he was dining solo, it was hard to gauge the portion sizes. We ordered: * Antipasto Sampler Platter $19.95 - A generous selection from their deli case, perfect for sharing. The butter bean with tuna salad was a first for me and has me thinking of how to incorporate more butter beans in my diet. Other items included grilled zucchini, grilled eggplant, mixed olives, farro salad, green beans, salami, tomato and mozzarella. * Bucatini all'Amatriciana $22.95 - We opted for this as it was a described as a traditional dish from he Lazio region. It was enjoyed by all. * Linguine con Vongole $26.95 - Next to arrive was the linguine, which was the absolute favorite for us all. It was light, filled with clams, and just had a great taste overall. * Farfalle al Pesto $19.95 - The Little Gal wanted pesto, but this version was so heavy. It was exhausting to eat and probably our least favorite. * Polenta Del Montanaro $21.95 - The mushrooms and polenta sounded amazing, but again this was very heavy for us. There were also a few hard bits of polenta mixed in. It was just overwhelming in not the best way. Overall, the portions are HUGE and just perfect for sharing. We would have dreaded being stuck with one dish on our own as it's just too much. We were also concerned about the $3.95 split charge fee that may apply, hence why we went with four entrees. You can easily get your fill with a few items here without breaking the bank. I can definitely see why they have such great ratings. The restroom is located in the back, so you do need to walk outside to access the restroom. I guess this avoids having you walk through the kitchen to get there. Service was fine. We did have one primary waiter but the other staff stepped in when necessary. It was pretty busy for a weekday evening, at least for all the outside tables. Since it's a bit away from the touristy area, you do get a sense there are more locals enjoying this spot.
Amazing food! We had the spinach ravioli in the lemon cream sauce, lasagna bolognese, eggplant Parmesan, tiramisu and pistachio ricotta cake. Everything was fresh and delicious. So happy to have found this gem that we will keep visiting for years to come. Very attentive service and cozy atmosphere. No pics of the food except the cake because we devoured it too quickly.
Holy moly, this is a great little Italian place that is authentic and delicious. I ordered the bolognese lasagna and it just melts in your mouth and fills your belly. the staff helped me identify all the desserts, and man the torta con pere was fire, crusty and creamy. I'm definitely returning if I'm ever in the area again.
One of my absolute favorite restaurants of all time!! I used to come here a bunch when I was a student at UCSB, and I missed it so dearly ever since I graduated. Live in SF now and nothing can compare, not even in North Beach. Spent my birthday weekend in SB and had to stop here. Got my favorite dish, the farfalle allegria, which was amazing and just how I remembered it. Service is always so wonderful. Our server, Tasha, was so kind and sweet. You can't go wrong with any of the dishes here. Must get the tiramisu! Hope to be back soon!
My friend and I were in town to run a half marathon, so of course we were in carb loading mode, which generally means pasta. I wanted to go to an Italian place, and he had been to Via Maestra 42 before and suggested we go there for dinner. We got there about 6:15 and were able to get seated right away on the patio, without a reservation. We were greeted by our friendly server, Laura, and she took our drink orders. Upon bringing the drinks she answered questions we had on the menu. We ended up ordering penne alla bolognese, farfalle Allegria and a side salad. The food came out pretty quickly and smelled delicious. It tasted as good as it smelled too! The salmon in the Allegria was great, and the creamy vodka sauce was perfect! The bread they provided for the table was delicious as well. In the end we were fully carb loaded and ready to race the next morning. This place was a hidden gem and I highly recommend it. If I ever make it back to Santa Barbara, this place will definitely be on my list!
Food - 4.5/5, service 5/5, ambiance 4/5. Quality of the food - excellent for Italian trattoria style food; I ordered the Tagliolini Al Nero Di Seppia Con Polipetti (squid in pasta with sautéed octopus in a red sauce); it was a generous serving of pasta cooked to order with very tender octopus. It's clear that management is Italian and the cooks did a great job with this classic seafood dish. My partner ordered the lasagna which was pretty good and a hefty portion. She didn't like that the menu says no changes but I thought that it had an interesting variety of Italian dishes and would be back to try the Val D'osta chicken which is similar to a cordon bleu. They serve lunch until 4:30 and lunch items come with a salad. We had to ask for bread but it was at no additional cost. There's indoor and outdoor seating, but the tables for two are quite low and par with my knees (I'm 5'9.) The outdoor seating is much nicer, and inside it has more of a deli counter feel. The bathroom is shared with the kitchen. It's a bit inland from the beach but we stopped in on our way back to Santa Barbara from Goleta.
Did you know that Via serves breakfast? Such a treat! Fun frittatas, specialty coffee drinks and ricotta pancakes. All breakfasts come with fresh toasted bread, the most delicious Italian fig jam and these little sweet ricotta bites that are crave worthy. Sit on the patio and enjoy another beautiful day in Santa Barbara!
Took a late night drive and stopped by Via Maestra 42. Everything was great. Food, wine, and service. Definitely coming back.
What a cool little place off the beaten path. This very authentic place has a little gelato stand and an italian deli & bakery filled with yummy stuff! It took a minute to figure out the seating situation, it once we got that dialed in, we enjoyed a delicious early dinner with their mortadella & prosciutto board with burrata on a bed of rocket. Each meal comes with a side salad, which was tossed in a delicious Italian dressing. My hubs enjoyed a lasagna. I could decide between the pumpkin & ricotta raviolis or the mushroom risotto, so I got both! Needless to say, we were not disappointed by any of the dishes. The ravioli's were topped with a sprinkle of cinnamon and sitting in a brown butter sauce that gave them a sweet note which perfectly hit the pumpkin. The risotto had some truffle oil, but not so much that it was overwhelming. I also enjoyed their limoncello spritzer (YUM!!). We ended with some gelato - dark cherry and a pistachio. Both were fabulous, but the dark cherry was off the charts good. And the prices were ridiculously fair. Great little place!
4 months ago
My visit to Via Maestra 42 came way with mixed feelings. There were definitely aspects of the experience that I enjoyed, but a few issues with the food prevented the meal from living up to its potential. For my entree, I ordered the Costolette d'Angello alla Griglia, the grilled lamb chops served with vegetables and mashed potatoes. The lamb was okay, but it arrived more warm than hot and the accompanying mashed potatoes were a disappointment. They arrived noticeably cold in the center, giving the impression that they had been reheated rather than freshly prepared. Unfortunately, those temperature inconsistencies distracted from the dish and even made me question whether everything had been plated and served at its best. The lamb chops were okay overall, but the execution left something to be desired. I also tried the Linguine con Vongole (clam pasta). The flavors were fine and the dish was enjoyable enough, but diners should be aware that there were some broken shell fragments and bits of sand mixed in with the clams. While that can occasionally happen with shellfish dishes, it was noticeable enough that I found myself eating a little more cautiously than I would have liked. One aspect of the restaurant that stood out was the atmosphere. The environment has a distinctive character and personality that makes it feel different from many of the other dining options in SB. It certainly adds to the overall experience. The service was somewhat slow during my visit, though the staff remained friendly and courteous throughout the evening. Overall, this place offered an interesting atmosphere and friendly service, but the food execution felt inconsistent. Between the warm lamb, cold mashed potatoes, and shell fragments in the linguine, the meal didn't quite meet expectations. There's potential here, but a little more attention to detail in the kitchen would go a long way. read more
2 days ago
Three baseball sized gnocchi with cheese inside, the tomato sauce was quite good, the bruschetta tomatoes were completely without flavor and cold. The drink was very refreshing and the service was superb. Love the cluttered Italian vibe, they try very hard I like this place. read more
Still such a delicious place for breakfast or lunch. Sitting outside on their patio, sunshine and a slight breeze all around us. Server Marco keeping a close eye on us and making sure we have everything we need. Glass of Italian Rosé, and then onto a tasty Barbera to accompany our Pasta alla Puttanesca. I do love this little slice of heaven. read more
4 months ago
This is my favorite Italian restaurant in town. The owner is awesome, I've heard he also owns Milk and Honey, another one of my favorite places, fun fact, they now have a Sangiovese available by the glass at Milk and Honey, but back to Via Maestra, the food is amazing. I highly recommend the pumpkin ravioli. Service is stellar, and their outdoor patio can't be beat for upper State Street- perfect ambiance for a date night. You're missing out if you don't come here for dinner. read more
10 months ago
Love at first sight. And when it's busy on a Tuesday night you know the food is good. And their staff takes such good care of you. Bread and waters brought right away as you look through the menu wanting a little bit of everything. Started with a simple salad. How does something so simple taste so good?! And moved onto the penne alla bolognese. I may have cleared my plate while scraping it with the complementary bread (thanks for the refill). Before my food coma began finished off with a cappuccino, which I think I inhaled. If you like hole in the wall, bodega kitschy vibes you will love it here. read more
Italian was on the menu tonight and Yelp brought us here. Via Maestro 42 has a small interior mostly made up of two top tables, and then an outside covered area within the parking lot. On this fine March evening, we opted to sit outdoors. I was concerned with how much lighting there would be once the sun set but they didn't really have any four tops available inside for us. (In the end, the interior lights from the neighboring business helped illuminate our table that was directly in front of the restaurant, and not necessarily under the outside covered area.) After we put in our order and received the complimentary bread (with the provided olive oil), we were questioning whether we had ordered too much food. We attempted to ask the waiter if it was too much and he didn't really answer our question. And since there was only one table next to us and he was dining solo, it was hard to gauge the portion sizes. We ordered: * Antipasto Sampler Platter $19.95 - A generous selection from their deli case, perfect for sharing. The butter bean with tuna salad was a first for me and has me thinking of how to incorporate more butter beans in my diet. Other items included grilled zucchini, grilled eggplant, mixed olives, farro salad, green beans, salami, tomato and mozzarella. * Bucatini all'Amatriciana $22.95 - We opted for this as it was a described as a traditional dish from he Lazio region. It was enjoyed by all. * Linguine con Vongole $26.95 - Next to arrive was the linguine, which was the absolute favorite for us all. It was light, filled with clams, and just had a great taste overall. * Farfalle al Pesto $19.95 - The Little Gal wanted pesto, but this version was so heavy. It was exhausting to eat and probably our least favorite. * Polenta Del Montanaro $21.95 - The mushrooms and polenta sounded amazing, but again this was very heavy for us. There were also a few hard bits of polenta mixed in. It was just overwhelming in not the best way. Overall, the portions are HUGE and just perfect for sharing. We would have dreaded being stuck with one dish on our own as it's just too much. We were also concerned about the $3.95 split charge fee that may apply, hence why we went with four entrees. You can easily get your fill with a few items here without breaking the bank. I can definitely see why they have such great ratings. The restroom is located in the back, so you do need to walk outside to access the restroom. I guess this avoids having you walk through the kitchen to get there. Service was fine. We did have one primary waiter but the other staff stepped in when necessary. It was pretty busy for a weekday evening, at least for all the outside tables. Since it's a bit away from the touristy area, you do get a sense there are more locals enjoying this spot. read more
10 months ago
Amazing food! We had the spinach ravioli in the lemon cream sauce, lasagna bolognese, eggplant Parmesan, tiramisu and pistachio ricotta cake. Everything was fresh and delicious. So happy to have found this gem that we will keep visiting for years to come. Very attentive service and cozy atmosphere. No pics of the food except the cake because we devoured it too quickly. read more
2 months ago
Holy moly, this is a great little Italian place that is authentic and delicious. I ordered the bolognese lasagna and it just melts in your mouth and fills your belly. the staff helped me identify all the desserts, and man the torta con pere was fire, crusty and creamy. I'm definitely returning if I'm ever in the area again. read more
7 months ago
One of my absolute favorite restaurants of all time!! I used to come here a bunch when I was a student at UCSB, and I missed it so dearly ever since I graduated. Live in SF now and nothing can compare, not even in North Beach. Spent my birthday weekend in SB and had to stop here. Got my favorite dish, the farfalle allegria, which was amazing and just how I remembered it. Service is always so wonderful. Our server, Tasha, was so kind and sweet. You can't go wrong with any of the dishes here. Must get the tiramisu! Hope to be back soon! read more
My friend and I were in town to run a half marathon, so of course we were in carb loading mode, which generally means pasta. I wanted to go to an Italian place, and he had been to Via Maestra 42 before and suggested we go there for dinner. We got there about 6:15 and were able to get seated right away on the patio, without a reservation. We were greeted by our friendly server, Laura, and she took our drink orders. Upon bringing the drinks she answered questions we had on the menu. We ended up ordering penne alla bolognese, farfalle Allegria and a side salad. The food came out pretty quickly and smelled delicious. It tasted as good as it smelled too! The salmon in the Allegria was great, and the creamy vodka sauce was perfect! The bread they provided for the table was delicious as well. In the end we were fully carb loaded and ready to race the next morning. This place was a hidden gem and I highly recommend it. If I ever make it back to Santa Barbara, this place will definitely be on my list! read more
Food - 4.5/5, service 5/5, ambiance 4/5. Quality of the food - excellent for Italian trattoria style food; I ordered the Tagliolini Al Nero Di Seppia Con Polipetti (squid in pasta with sautéed octopus in a red sauce); it was a generous serving of pasta cooked to order with very tender octopus. It's clear that management is Italian and the cooks did a great job with this classic seafood dish. My partner ordered the lasagna which was pretty good and a hefty portion. She didn't like that the menu says no changes but I thought that it had an interesting variety of Italian dishes and would be back to try the Val D'osta chicken which is similar to a cordon bleu. They serve lunch until 4:30 and lunch items come with a salad. We had to ask for bread but it was at no additional cost. There's indoor and outdoor seating, but the tables for two are quite low and par with my knees (I'm 5'9.) The outdoor seating is much nicer, and inside it has more of a deli counter feel. The bathroom is shared with the kitchen. It's a bit inland from the beach but we stopped in on our way back to Santa Barbara from Goleta. read more
1 month ago
Did you know that Via serves breakfast? Such a treat! Fun frittatas, specialty coffee drinks and ricotta pancakes. All breakfasts come with fresh toasted bread, the most delicious Italian fig jam and these little sweet ricotta bites that are crave worthy. Sit on the patio and enjoy another beautiful day in Santa Barbara! read more
17 days ago
2 months ago
2 months ago
11 months ago
What a cool little place off the beaten path. This very authentic place has a little gelato stand and an italian deli & bakery filled with yummy stuff! It took a minute to figure out the seating situation, it once we got that dialed in, we enjoyed a delicious early dinner with their mortadella & prosciutto board with burrata on a bed of rocket. Each meal comes with a side salad, which was tossed in a delicious Italian dressing. My hubs enjoyed a lasagna. I could decide between the pumpkin & ricotta raviolis or the mushroom risotto, so I got both! Needless to say, we were not disappointed by any of the dishes. The ravioli's were topped with a sprinkle of cinnamon and sitting in a brown butter sauce that gave them a sweet note which perfectly hit the pumpkin. The risotto had some truffle oil, but not so much that it was overwhelming. I also enjoyed their limoncello spritzer (YUM!!). We ended with some gelato - dark cherry and a pistachio. Both were fabulous, but the dark cherry was off the charts good. And the prices were ridiculously fair. Great little place! read more
2 years ago
Every time I think about this place it makes my mouth water. The quality of ingredients is so fresh, cohesive menu that translates into a perfect plate of indulgence. My earlier yelping years review needed an update. Indoor or outdoor seating available. A deli atmosphere setting you up for some good eats. Go in, order, pay then food will be brought out to you. Excellent service, the team here works as one, attentive to customers needs. The pasta!.. one hard to beat. It's so fresh, so simple, so delicious! Every bite we must've been mmming like, "I'll have what she's having," cuz good lawd it's that good. Espresso is also available if you need an afternoon buzz. Haven't had a bad experience here. The outside doesn't look like much but definitely worth a try if you're ever in the area. read more
3 months ago
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4 months ago
So good! I come here often with my family and everyone always loves what they get. My personal favorite is the Ravioli Zuccotto, which is pumpkin ravioli filled with ricotta cheese in a browned butter and sage sauce. The Lasagna alla Bolognese is also really good and definitely a decent size. Highly recommend! read more
8 months ago
4 months ago
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5 months ago
This actually wasn't a recommendation as we were looking for a place for dinner. Just happened to find it ourselves while browsing Italian food. It's in a trip mall, there was plenty of parking which was nice. It's not that big so seating can be limited. There's indoor and outdoor white heat lamps. We didn't have a reservation but were able to have a table outside. Menu wise, they do have a vast variety of dishes. As there was couple of us, we all got a dish to try. Started off with the antipasto plate and steamed mussels for starters. Antipasto plate was great, veggies were a good choice. Mussels, broth was quite great. Main, a couple of pasta dishes. The shrimp and linguine, linguine and clams, the tortellini and penne with sausage I believe. Pasta dish was quite nice. They were cooked well. We actually still have some room for dessert, the tiramisu and cheesecake. Tiramisu was quite great, cheesecake could have been a miss. Overall, food was good. Portion wise is either a hit or miss for people. Service was nice. Friendly staff which is a plus. Downfall, restroom is literally about the back of restaurant. Then it's through the kitchen. If you in line, you're literally standing in part of the kitchen. read more
1 year ago
The bruschetta was AMAZING!! So fresh and tasty!! I had the lasagna bolognese and it was also good!! Highly recommend this place. read more
1 year ago
Bruschetta is great Ravioli tarruffo is a huge rip off. Literally 7 ravioli in the box for 25 dollars. That's 358per ravioli plus tax and tip... Get a grip folks read more
4 months ago
1 year ago
Honestly, this was the BEST Italian food I have ever had the pleasure of trying. The service was amazing as well, the waitress we had was so knowledgeable and kind when answering our questions. The Gnocchi was pillowy soft and topped with just enough cheese it made me look forward to every. Single. Bite. The sauce left me absolutely speechless, even recounting it, I know I will 100% be back to try other items on the menu. I was personally very satisfied after the meal itself but considering the quality we decided to go for desert as well. Not pictured but we also tried their chocolate cake with whipped cream and ice cream which was IMPECCABLE. read more
I am so happy my cousin suggested Via Maestra 42 as an option to dine at for my birthday. It's been way too long since I've dined here, and it made me appreciate it even more so after my experience. It was a beautiful warm summer evening, and dining al fresco in the parklet made for a perfect setting. We started with the Insalata Verde (green salad). This is the perfect salad for two, but it tastes so good that you may want to order your own! The fresh organic greens are tossed with house balsamic dressing, topped with shaved Grana Padang cheese and tomatoes. For my main entrée, I decided on the Penne alla Boscaiola. Ingredients included are Italian sausage, portobello mushrooms and walnuts in a creamy tomato sauce. I never had pasta with walnuts in it, but somehow it worked in this meal. My cousin ordered the Lasagna alla Bolognese, which consists of the traditional beef and pork meat included in the sauce. This is a traditional family recipe and a customer favorite! She really enjoyed it, and managed to finish it all. Now that says a lot if anyone can finish lasagna and not have any left-overs. My son ordered the Ravioli Zuccotto. This is one of my favorite's here! It's a pumpkin ravioli filled with ricotta cheese, cooked in a browned butter and sage sauce. I'd say it's a little on the rich side due to the buttery sauce, but in a good way. I'd recommend ordering this, and sharing it as an appetizer amongst friends or family. We were too full to order dessert, but they do offer a nice variety, such as cream puffs, gelato, cannoli, ricotta cheesecake, and pastries. They also offer pre-made Italian sandwiches and sweet treats to go. Overall, the customer service was attentive, friendly and the prices were pretty reasonable here. I look forward to my next visit! read more
My friends stopped by this restaurant while we were visiting santa barbara. There are both indoor and outdoor seating so we were able to be seated pretty quickly. We ordered the penne alla bolognese which was alright; the pasta texture wasn't my favorite. Farfalle allegria was my favorite pasta dish! It was so flavorful and delicious. We also got the squid ink pasta and I really enjoyed that dish as well. We ended the night with their tiramisu, and it was perfect. Not too sweet. I would definitely come back to try their other dishes read more
4 months ago
Business owner information
Georges B.
Dear nurseluv,…
Some of the best Italian style cuisine with a seafood base. Tried a variety of their dishes from their branzino, squid ink pasta, and two other rich dishes! The service is great! Quick and attentive and responsive. Friend and I ordered quite a bit that we had a second table brought to us to make room. The space itself is inside an Italian deli/storefront, offering both indoor and outdoor seating options. read more
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More info about Via Maestra 42
3343 State St
Santa Barbara, CA 93105
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(805) 569-6522
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https://www.viamaestra42.com
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Ask the Community - Via Maestra 42
Is there a kids menu?
We don’t have a kids menu but the staff can prepare pasta for your child or guide you to other things. Please tell them you spoke to Giorgio.
Are there gluten free noodle options?
Yes. They have some salads and grilled fish entrees
Anyone have pictures of their recent dinner menus?
Hi, Thank you for your request. I will be happy to send you a copy of our dinner menu, please…
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
60 reviews that are not currently recommended
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