Best Casual Restaurants in Santa Barbara

Price

$$
$$$
$$$$

Cuisine

AmericanItalianSeafoodMexicanPizzeriaTapas / Small Plates

Regions

Santa Barbara

Neighborhoods

GoletaMontecitoSanta Barbara

Top Rated

CharmingGood for business mealsGood for groupsGood for special occasionsGreat for fine winesGreat for outdoor dining

Dining Options

All dining options

Delivery only

Takeout only

Seating Options

BarStandardHigh TopOutdoor

Award-winning

MICHELIN

Accessibility

Gender-neutral restroomWheelchair access

20 restaurants available nearby

1. Roy

3.8

Excellent(439)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Contemporary American • Santa Barbara

Booked 1 time today

In business for more than 30 years, Roy is a bistro-style, Americana restaurant with a frequently changing, handwritten menu. We strive to serve unpretentious cuisine of the highest quality. We use mostly certified organic produce from the local Santa Barbara Farmers Market, free range chicken and Harris Ranch hormone free beef. We bake our own bread, hand roll our pastas and make all of our desserts in house. Our ambiance is retro moderne California casual, and we have rotating art shows that run for a month and a half at a time. Live music once in a while. Full bar all the time.

2. Secret Bao

4.9

Exceptional(700)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Asian • Santa Barbara

Booked 37 times today

Contemporary Asian American Restaurant from Chefs Peter Lee & Felicia Medina. "Consider the bao. Chinese in origin, it’s most easily described as a steamed bun filled with something savory. Yet, like the American concept of a sandwich, the bao exploded into a flexible format of untold bounds — served at any meal, filled with you-name-it, completely closed or wide open, with endless regional variants from across Asia and far beyond." - Matt Kettmann (SB Independent)1 Block From State Street, Easy Parking, Public Lot Nearby, Free 75 Minute Parking, Walking Distance, El Pueblo Viejo Landmark District, Superior Court, Spanish Colonial Revival Courthouse, Santa Barbara Museum Of Art, Courthouse Gardens, Bell Tower, Bao, Food, Restaurant, Asian, American, New, Modern, Fried, Chicken, Octopus, Vegan, Vegetarian, Paleo, Friendly, Dog Friendly, Outdoor Patio, Heaters, Warm, Inviting, Hospitable, Modern Design

A photo of Ca' Dario Ristorante restaurant

3. Ca' Dario Ristorante

4.7

Exceptional(1824)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Italian • Santa Barbara

Booked 23 times today

"Anything grilled is divine, and the rest of the menu is delectable at this charming Italian restaurant in Santa Barbara known for its excellent execution of simple pasta, meats and other classics. A fantastic wine list with many available by the glass; its a local favorite, so reservations are a must."

4. Arnoldi's Cafe

4.7

Exceptional(777)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Italian • Santa Barbara

Booked 15 times today

Oldest Italian restaurant in Santa Barbara! We have two bocce courts on our patio with outdoor dining. Lots of pasta, appetizers, salads, chicken dishes and homemade desserts...Italian wine and local wine on our wine list...indoor or outdoor seating. We are a true local's secret and kid friendly. Open for dinner 7 days a week! We also host rehearsal dinners, wedding receptions, and large birthday parties.

5. Blackbird

3.9

Excellent(178)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Californian • Santa Barbara

Booked 11 times today

Blackbird offers an inventive take on dishes, highlighting hyper-local and hyper-seasonal offerings. Leaning into the locality and freshness of the fare continues to be a focus of the restaurant’s story. In 2025, we will focus on redefining and developing the personality of Blackbird, including highlighting the talent to create the semblance of a relationship for locals looking for somewhere to go. A revamped cocktail menu will aim to drive additional local interest and traffic into the spaces. We continue to strive to position Blackbird as a favorite in town, and to that end are finding new ways to activate the venues each night and draw both locals and hotel guests in. Complimentary hotel valet parking with validation.

A photo of The Harbor Restaurant restaurant

6. The Harbor Restaurant

3.4

Very Good(39)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Seafood • Santa Barbara

Booked 11 times today

International Coastal Cuisine with Local Ingredients. Located on Santa Barbara's famous Stearns Wharf, the Harbor Restaurant is a 12,850-square-foot establishment on two floors that can seat 500 guests. Valet parking is available during dinner service. The restaurant features upstairs casual dining with an outdoor ocean view patio while the downstairs features a proper bar with craft cocktails, an exceptional dining room with international dishes featuring local ingredients, and two private event spaces including an 80+ person room and a private dining room for 20 guests.

A photo of RH Firehouse Grill at RH Montecito restaurant

7. RH Firehouse Grill at RH Montecito

4.6

Exceptional(91)

$$$$Price: Very Expensive

• American • Montecito

Booked 48 times today

The RH Firehouse Grill is an indoor-outdoor restaurant located at RH Montecito, The Gallery at the Old Firehouse. Enjoy a menu of signature salads and classics from our hearth in our courtyard restaurant, which seamlessly extends into a beautifully landscaped garden. Dine beneath the warm glow of handwoven pendants amid heritage olive trees, birds of paradise, a grand fireplace and cascading limestone fountains.

A photo of Goat Tree Restaurant restaurant

8. Goat Tree Restaurant

3.8

Excellent(456)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Contemporary American • Santa Barbara

Located at the front door of the Funk Zone and one block from the beach, Goat Tree at Hotel Californian is a gourmet café with al fresco seating offering fresh, local fare, including superb pastries and baked goods made in house daily by our Pastry Chef Ron Viloria. Our all-day brunch menu features Lemon Ricotta Pancakes, Shakshuka, Baby Kale Caesar and our famed GT Smashburger. Sip on cold-pressed juices from Pressed Juicery, lattes and coffee by Caffe Luxxe or organic hot teas by Rishi. Curating seasonal picnic baskets for a day at the beach or wine tasting as well as dine in, take out or delivery for brunch and dinner, Goat Tree pleases everyone's palate. Join us on our spacious patio into the evening for a glass of wine or a cocktail and a bite. Our dinner menu includes Rigatoni Pasta, New York Steak Frites and Faroe Island Salmon among other delectable dishes. Don't let the day end without some Rori's Ice Cream or a seasonal dessert from Chef Ron.

9. Corazon Comedor

4.2

Awesome(195)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Mexican • Santa Barbara

Booked 7 times today

Corazon Comedor emerged from the longing of nostalgic food from the streets, markets, and homes of Mexico. We look forward to bringing this experience in each dish.

10. Olio Pizzeria

4.4

Awesome(1512)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Pizzeria • Santa Barbara

Booked 15 times today

Olio Pizzeria is an upscale-casual pizzeria with salumi bar/wine bar/full bar which was inspired by the myriad neighborhood pizzerie and enoteche found around the corner from just about every piazza in Italy. This idea began to take shape before Alberto and Elaine Morello even opened Olio e Limone Ristorante, their fine dining Italian restaurant next door. Wine bars serving boutique salumi and formaggi are ubiquitous in Italy, as is a regionalism which the Morellos are excited to share with you. Sicily is an emerging powerhouse, and touches of Sicilian food and wine delight their guests. You’ll also find exciting tastes from Campania and other emerging regions on their menus, wine and beer lists. Takeout available. Buon appetito!

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

G
GarthVIP
California Central Coast •11 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
Excellent food and service. We’re locals, and will be back.
More info
BlackbirdPrice: Expensive• Californian• Santa Barbara
•
3.9
CG
CaliforniaGirl
California Central Coast •2 reviews
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
We had the best time last night at Arnoldi’s! It’s been literally 50 years since I was here last! We arrived early- 5:30pm- and it was nice and quiet. By the time we left- 7:30- the restaurant was full and a bit noisy. The food was amazing and our waiter, Silavano, was so sweet and accommodating. We couldn’t have had a better experience.
More info
Arnoldi's CafePrice: Expensive• Italian• Santa Barbara
•
4.7
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco Bay Area •2 reviews
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
Need more creative delicious restaurants like this in Santa Barbara.
More info
Secret BaoPrice: Expensive• Asian• Santa Barbara
•
4.9
M
Martin
Los Angeles •422 reviews
5.0
Dined on Mar 4, 2025
A truly charming place. This cozy Italian restaurant has the feel of a neighborhood, vintage gem. The extensive menu includes lots of salads and antipasto, a great selection of pastas and inviting main courses featuring steak, chicken and fish dishes. Our entrees were perfectly prepared and presented with rich and pleasing flavors. Service is very attentive and friendly. We very much enjoyed our experience there.
More info
Ca' Dario RistorantePrice: Expensive• Italian• Santa Barbara
•
4.7
J
Jon
Los Angeles •2 reviews
5.0
Dined on Mar 1, 2025
Went with another couple to have dinner and hear a friends band, everything was awesome! Good food, music and drinks!
More info
RoyPrice: Moderate• Contemporary American• Santa Barbara
•
3.8

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