Best Casual Restaurants in Montecito

24 restaurants available nearby

A photo of Clark's Oyster Bar - Montecito restaurant

1. Clark's Oyster Bar - Montecito

new

4.4

Awesome(47)

Price: Expensive

• Seafood • Montecito

Booked 43 times today

Clark’s Montecito is a stylish all-day restaurant celebrating coastal American classics spanning from New England to California. In addition to its flagship menu of oysters and raw bar, a signature burger, daily catch specials, lobster rolls, chowder and refreshing crudo, this California location features seasonal bounty from the Pacific Ocean. The wine list highlights California classics alongside French whites and reds primarily from Burgundy and the Loire. Clark’s signature martinis and cocktails are always available. A collaboration between Lambert McGuire Design and Santa Barbara-based architect Jeff Shelton, the space offers a seamless indoor-outdoor dining experience that marries Clark’s classic coastal design features with the more whimsical ceramic tile traditions of Portugal and Mexico and a Mediterranean-inspired design that pays homage to its coastal setting and historic Spanish Colonial Revival architecture.

2. Lilac Montecito

4.7

Exceptional(152)

Price: Expensive

• Contemporary European • Montecito

Booked 20 times today

Welcome to Lilac Montecito. We offer an elevated bistro dining experience featuring some of our favorite foods that nourish the body and soul in a full-service dining ambiance. Our menu is inspired by European and Californian cuisine as well as locally-sourced ingredients for a fresh, delicious take on some classic entrees. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner

3. Tre Lune

4.8

Exceptional(2015)

Price: Expensive

• Italian • Montecito

Booked 45 times today

"Upbeat and comfortable, serving real-deal pastas and pizzas that make you feel like you're in Italy again." - ZAGAT 2010 Fresh fish, veal scaloppini, osso buco, prime steaks, Kobe-beef burgers, organic salads, and house-made desserts. Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner-Cocktails. Award Winner of Italian wines list.Please call to make reservations.

4. Barbareño

4.8

Exceptional(1896)

Price: Expensive

• Californian • Santa Barbara

Booked 33 times today

At Barbareño we seek to help further shape and define Central Coast cuisine. We take our inspiration from traditions and specialties of our area, delicacies unique to our region, and the many outstanding purveyors with whom we are so fortunate to work. In all of our efforts, we hope to capture the essence of a particular place or local flavor, embracing the nuances that make our food and drink unique to our home.

5. Convivo

4.7

Exceptional(2143)

Price: Expensive

• Italian • Santa Barbara

Booked 31 times today

Convivo is a Santa Barbara restaurant and bar with an Italian soul. Chef-Owner Peter McNee's food is best described as ‘Nomad Italian’. It strays from the standard or traditional Italian, sourcing inspiration from many other cultures’ cooking but its soul is thoroughly Italian. The ever-changing menu includes small plates, housemade pasta, wood-fired pizza, rotisserie chicken, fresh seafood and steaks served family-style. McNee’s all-star supplier network provides the freshest produce and local seafood the region is famous for. Inspired by the bounty of the sea, the lush farms and abundant vineyards nearby and the cooking methods of Italy, Convivo is a festive gathering place for locals and visitors alike inside the newly-restored Santa Barbara Inn.

6. Secret Bao

4.8

Exceptional(678)

Price: Expensive

• Asian • Santa Barbara

Booked 7 times today

Modern 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, Paelo, Friendly, Dog Friendly, Outdoor Patio, Heaters, Warm, Inviting, Hospitable, Modern Design

7. Blackbird

3.8

Excellent(171)

Price: Expensive

• Californian • Santa Barbara

Booked 10 times today

A mainstay of the Funk Zone, Blackbird offers a beverage-forward atmosphere featuring inventive cocktails by legendary mixologist Devon Espinosa alongside a thoughtfully curated menu that pays homage to the culinary bounty of the Central Coast. Enjoy an extensive list of local wine and craft beer that highlights the terroir of the region and pairs seamlessly with our iconoclastic take on local, sustainable cuisine. With its striking brass fixtures and black box-like aesthetic, Blackbird upends the conventional upscale dining experience in Santa Barbara and offers a subtle nod to Alfred Hitchcock’s haunting, yet timeless thrillers. Here guests are offered a pulse on contemporary Santa Barbara.

A photo of Holdren's Santa Barbara restaurant

8. Holdren's Santa Barbara

4.5

Awesome(997)

Price: Expensive

• Steakhouse • Santa Barbara

Booked 31 times today

Holdren’s Steaks & Seafood, located on State Street, serves up a delicious and diverse menu of seafood and steaks, where the portions are always generous and the prices always reasonable. Our surf and turf menu, including our favorite bacon wrapped stuffed shrimp or our USDA prime steaks that are charbroiled over a mesquite grill, is complimented by an extensive wine list, a healthy assortment of premium spirits, and a selection of signature drinks. Daily meals can be enjoyed in our cozy, and dark saloon-inspired dining room, or on our outdoor patio. The indoor dining room is adorned with brown leather booths, dark wood paneling, and funky artwork lining the exposed brick walls. Holdren’s has been voted as the best steakhouse multiple times by the Santa Barbara Independent’s Reader’s Poll and by the Santa Barbara News Press’ Reader’s Choice Awards.

A photo of The Harbor Restaurant restaurant

9. The Harbor Restaurant

3.6

Very Good(33)

Price: Expensive

• Seafood • Santa Barbara

Booked 7 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.

10. Finch & Fork

4.5

Awesome(1781)

Price: Expensive

• American • Santa Barbara

Booked 15 times today

Here at Finch & Fork, we are inspired by the bounty of Santa Barbara's lush farms and rugged coastline. Our attitude is relentlessly local, influenced by the diverse culinary techniques of our neighbors, the subdued, natural colors of our fog-swept cliffs, and the glow of afternoon sunlight on our grapevines. Begin your day with a nourishing brunch or savor an evening of eclectic wines, ingredient-driven cooking, and good company. Finch & Fork is conveniently located on the corner of Carrillo and Chapala streets in the heart of Santa Barbara’s vibrant downtown. Complimentary valet parking for diners upon availability.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

C
CynthiaVIP
Las Vegas •11 reviews
5.0
Dined today
We sat outside which was nice and warm with the outdoor heaters. Our server was attentive and made great suggestions. Every meal was excellent. We started with the margherita pizza and mushroom pizza; both were excellent. We also ordered the gnocchi, risotto, Alfredo, vodka cream pasta and spicy sausage red sauce pasta. Every dish was delicious. We did not order dessert tonight but usually do. We love Tre Lune and are always grateful when we can get a table.
More info
Tre LunePrice: Expensive• Italian• Montecito
•
4.8
D
DebbieVIP
California Central Coast •4 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
Wonderful service, we sat outside on a nice day. It was lovely
More info
Clark's Oyster Bar - MontecitoPrice: Expensive• Seafood• Montecito
•
4.4
A
AlbertVIP
Las Vegas •34 reviews
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
Sat outside and enjoyed the special vermillion fish. Very memorable meal with good service.
More info
ConvivoPrice: Expensive• Italian• Santa Barbara
•
4.7
J
Judy
Cincinnati / Dayton •5 reviews
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
We had a great dinner at Barbareno. Fresh and creative ingredients, good wine, and great service in a cute cozy atmosphere! Both indoor and outdoor seating. Great for a date night or dinner with friends.
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BarbareñoPrice: Expensive• Californian• Santa Barbara
•
4.8
W
Wendy
California Central Coast •1 review
5.0
Dined 6 days ago
I've enjoyed their lunch and brunch offerings several times - the food is delicious, especially for those of us who need to avoid gluten and, frankly, most diners would never notice that their baked goods are all gluten free! Friendly service and clean, appealing dining room. Highly recommended.
More info
Lilac MontecitoPrice: Expensive• Contemporary European• Montecito
•
4.7

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Montecito

Best Casual Restaurants in Montecito

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24 restaurants available nearby

1. Clark's Oyster Bar - Montecito

2. Lilac Montecito

3. Tre Lune

4. Barbareño

5. Convivo

6. Secret Bao

7. Blackbird

8. Holdren's Santa Barbara

9. The Harbor Restaurant

10. Finch & Fork

See what locals rave about

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