Arnoldi's Cafe

4.7

757 Reviews

$31 to $50

Italian

Make a reservation

2 people

Nov 27, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 21 times today

Neighborhood gem
Charming
Great for outdoor dining

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.

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Italian, Californian, reserved
Hours of operation
Lunch Sun 11:00 am–4:30 pm Dinner Daily 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
Phone number
(805) 962-5394
Website
http://www.arnoldis.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Private party facilities
We have a room that fits up to 45 people. People walk through to get outside, but it is often used for private birthday parties, holiday parties and rehearsal dinners.
We also have a patio that fits up to 100 people and can be reserved privately with a food and beverage minimum

Location
600 Olive St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Neighborhood
Santa Barbara
Cross street
Cota Street
Parking details
Street Parking
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cafe, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wine

Featured in

68 Monterey Area Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

Popular dishes

Zuppa Del Giorno$9.00
Soup of the day ask server
Zuppa Del Giorno$11.00
Soup of the day ask server
Salumeria Platter$29.00
Freshly made local burrata warmed in garlic and EVOO, prosciutto, spicy salami, herbed salami, olives and ciabatta
Pane Aglio$14.00
Garlic bread served with our arrabiata dipping sauce
Caprese$20.00
Fresh sliced tomatoes, mozzarella, basil and Kalamata olives drizzled with olive oil
Calamari Fritti$22.00
Fried calamari served with a spicy tomato sauce
Shrimp Gambieri$24.00
Sauteed shrimp served in a spicy garlic white wine tomato sauce
Bruschetta$14.00
Ciabatta bread topped with tomatoes, garlic, basil and EVOO

Insalate

Insalata Genovese$22.00
Chopped romaine, Italian fried chicken strips pesto-ranch dressing, gorgonzola crumbles and red onion
Insalata Rucola$16.00
Arugula salad, cherry tomatoes, walnuts, drizzled with fresh lemon juice and EVOO
Insalata Cesare$16.00
Classic Caesar salad with shaved parmesan
Insalata Arnoldis$16.00
Fresh spring mix, bruschetta tomatoes with garlic and basil, in a balsamic vinaigrette topped with parmesan cheese

Entrees

Chicken Marsala$35.00
Sauteed chicken with a marsala mushroom sauce, served with linguine alfredo
Chicken Parmesan$32.00
Breaded chicken breast topped with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese, served with spaghetti pomodoro
Chicken Piccata$31.00
Sauteed chicken in lemon caper sauce, served with linguine alfredo (Try Sara’s style with pink gnocchi $35)
Fettucine Alfredo$25.00
Fettucine in a traditional creamy cheese sauce
- Chicken$29.00
Fettucine Alla Bolognese$32.00
Slow cooked in a meat ragu sauce with meatballs
Gnocchi
Traditional house made potato dumplings in choice of the following sauces:
- Gorgonzola$29.00
- Pesto$28.00
- Pomodoro$28.00
Gnocchi Tricolore$32.00
Italian Flag Combination of Pomodoro, Gorgonzola and Pesto
Linguine Al Pesto$26.00
Linguine pasta in a freshly made basil and pine nut pesto sauce
Lasagne Alla Bolognese$30.00
House made meat lasagna in a pomodoro sauce

Pasta

LINGUINE PRIMAVERA$25.00
Linguine with fresh seasonal veggies, garlic, EVOO, and fresh herb
MILANESE DE NORTE
Northern Italian dish of thinly pounded meat, breaded, sautéed, then finished with a drizzle of lemon juice, served with linguine pomodoro or fettucine alfredo
- Di Pollo: Chicken breast$35.00
- Di Maile: Pork chop$37.00
- Di Vitello: Veal$43.00
PASTA POMODORO$24.00
Your choice of noodle in our famous pomodoro sauce
SALSICCIA E PEPPERONI$34.00
Italian sausage, onions and peppers sauteed served with our midnight spaghetti
SCALLOPINE AL MARSALA$43.00
Sauteed veal in a marsala mushroom sauce served with linguine alfredo
MELANZANE ALLA PARMIGIANA$29.00
Layered breaded eggplant with pomodoro sauce and mozzarella cheese served with spaghetti pomodoro
PENNE ALLA SALMONE$30.00
Pasta with smoked salmon, peas, in a pink tomato cream sauce
PENNE ARRABIATA$24.00
Penne pasta in a spicy tomato sauce
ROTOLO DI RICOTTA$29.00
Fresh pasta rolled and stuffed with spinach and ricotta cheese topped with mozzarella served in a spinach pesto sauce
RAVIOLI DI CARNE$25.00
Short rib ravioli in a gorgonzola cream
PENNE FILANTI QUATTRO FORMAGGI$29.00
Quill shaped pasta in a cream sauce with Parmesan, Mozzarella and Pecorino cheese, prosciutto cotto and walnuts
SPAGHETTI AI FRUTTI DI MARE$34.00
Spaghetti with fresh assorted seafood in a light spicy tomato sauce
SPAGHETTI ALLE VONGOLE$32.00
Spaghetti with fresh clams in a choice of white wine or our tomato sauce
SPAGHETTI CARBONARA$28.00
Spaghetti with an egg, cream, Pancetta and cheese
TUSCAN CHICKEN$32.00
Grilled chicken breast topped with sundried tomato alfredo sauce, served with spaghetti in your choice of pomodoro sauce or alfredo sauce
SCALLOPINE PICATTA$40.00
Sauteed veal in a lemon caper white wine sauce served with linguine alfredo
SALMONE ALLA GRIGLIA$42.00
Fresh Salmon filet marinated in herbs and olive oil, served with our midnight spaghetti and spinach
LASAGNE VERDI$29.00
Housemade fresh veggie lasagne
RAVIOLI AI QUATTRO FORMAGGI$24.00
Four cheese ravioli in a pink cream tomato sauce
COSTATA DI MANZO$51.00
12 oz Certified Angus Ribeye steak with chianti wine sauce, café potatoes, sauteed spinach and grilled artichoke

What 757 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.4Food
4.6Service
4.7Ambience
4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

California Central Coast
Neighborhood gem
Santa Barbara
Kid-friendly
Santa Barbara
Good for groups
Santa Barbara
Hot spot
Santa Barbara
Neighborhood gem
Santa Barbara
Great for outdoor dining
Santa Barbara
Italian

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Arnoldi's Cafe offers a charming and welcoming atmosphere with "amazing food" and "consistently welcoming service." Guests rave about the delicious Italian cuisine, especially the lasagna and spaghetti sauce. The outdoor dining experience is highlighted for its ambiance. While some service issues were noted, patrons appreciate the improvements since reopening.

757 Reviews

J
Jason
Central Coast
25 reviews
5.0
25 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Really enjoyed a family dinner, the food was great but the service was a little slow with some forgotten orders.
Is this helpful?
N
Nida
Los Angeles
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great food and ambiance… staff friendly and professional.
Is this helpful?
O
Orlando
Central Coast
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 16, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Nice cozy place for either a romantic dinner or a social gathering of friends. I would highly recommend, and the food is excellent! They have added valet parking!
Is this helpful?
K
Karen
Houston
11 reviews
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on November 12, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Lovely local restaurant. Relaxed atmosphere. Fabulous Italian food! Growing up in Philadelphia I’m very picky about Italian dishes. This restaurant exceeded My expectations. Friendly service
Is this helpful?
J
Jan
Central Coast
16 reviews
5.0
16 reviews
Dined on November 4, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
I'm very pleased to see Arnoldi's back in the mix. The welcoming, comfortable east-side atmosphere is just as it always has been in the more than 50 years we've been eating there, and the traditional Italian menu has been expanded and improved. The kitchen is on top of everything, and service is stellar. Hoping the arancini appetizer is a regular!
Is this helpful?
J
Jason
Central Coast
25 reviews
5.0
25 reviews
Dined on October 20, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We enjoyed the improvements to the restaurant since it has reopened. The staff was friendly and the food was top notch!
Is this helpful?
J
Jill
Los Angeles
2 reviews
2.0
2 reviews
Dined on October 20, 2024
1. Overall 2
2. Food 3
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 4
I made an Open Table reservation for 6:45 pm. It was my birthday, and I added that to the reservation. There were several large tables outside just getting food. It took 2 hours for 2 of us to have dinner. The waiter brought the check without even asking if we'd like coffee or dessert, let alone bring a birthday candle. We understand, having worked in the industry, but it felt like the waiter had far too many people for his age. We ordered a bottle of wine, they didn't have 2 of the bottles, and we didn't get water or a glass of anything for almost an hour. Food came out hot and delicious. Just really a disappointment. The manager could have stopped by, offered a cocktail for our wait. We mentioned the birthday to the waiter and he just apologized. We had already paid the bill by the time he came back to our table. We complained, and he said they shouldn't have sat another table. Love the place, just now we know better than to select it for a special occasion.
Is this helpful?
B
Benjamin
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 20, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Always hits. Make sure you're hungry and craving delicious pasta
Is this helpful?
h
holly
Orange County
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on October 20, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Best Italian food in town, the staff is amazing and super helpful. I really love this place, seems like they have a lot of regulars and that everyone knows each other. Real family and friend's style. I would definitely recommend this to anyone and everyone.
Is this helpful?
A
Andrew
Seattle
10 reviews
1.0
10 reviews
Dined on October 19, 2024
1. Overall 1
2. Food 1
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 2
Let me start with a positive note. They make a great caprese salad. The tomatoes were fresh, and that really made the plate sing. Unfortunately, that's about the only nice thing I can say. My wife's Manhattan had way too much bitters in it (we like bitters, but this had to have been a quarter ounce - it was all you could taste). The calamari were rubbery and flavorless. The sauce on my wife's pasta tasted like a can of Spaghetti-os. My chicken piccata wasn't dredged in flour before being sautéed, and the sauce was bland. We opted to get out as quickly as we could.
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FAQs

Arnoldi's Cafe offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (805) 962-5394.

Arnoldi's Cafe is rated 4.7 stars by 757 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Nov 27, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 21 times today

Order delivery or takeout

600 Olive St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Additional information

Cross street
Cota Street
Neighborhood
Santa Barbara
Hours of operation
Lunch Sun 11:00 am–4:30 pm Dinner Daily 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Italian, Californian, reserved
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Street Parking
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cafe, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wine

Website
http://www.arnoldis.com/
Phone number
(805) 962-5394
Private party facilities
We have a room that fits up to 45 people. People walk through to get outside, but it is often used for private birthday parties, holiday parties and rehearsal dinners.
We also have a patio that fits up to 100 people and can be reserved privately with a food and beverage minimum

Featured in

68 Monterey Area Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

Arnoldi's Cafe

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

68 Monterey Area Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

Spaghetti Alla Bolognese

Chicken Marsala

Chicken Piccata

Antipasti

Zuppa Del Giorno$9.00

Zuppa Del Giorno$11.00

Salumeria Platter$29.00

Pane Aglio$14.00

Caprese$20.00

Calamari Fritti$22.00

Shrimp Gambieri$24.00

Bruschetta$14.00

Insalate

Insalata Genovese$22.00

Insalata Rucola$16.00

Insalata Cesare$16.00

Insalata Arnoldis$16.00

Entrees

Chicken Marsala$35.00

Chicken Parmesan$32.00

Chicken Piccata$31.00

Fettucine Alfredo$25.00

Fettucine Alla Bolognese$32.00

Gnocchi

Gnocchi Tricolore$32.00

Linguine Al Pesto$26.00

Lasagne Alla Bolognese$30.00

Pasta

LINGUINE PRIMAVERA$25.00

MILANESE DE NORTE

PASTA POMODORO$24.00

SALSICCIA E PEPPERONI$34.00

SCALLOPINE AL MARSALA$43.00

MELANZANE ALLA PARMIGIANA$29.00

PENNE ALLA SALMONE$30.00

PENNE ARRABIATA$24.00

ROTOLO DI RICOTTA$29.00

RAVIOLI DI CARNE$25.00

PENNE FILANTI QUATTRO FORMAGGI$29.00

SPAGHETTI AI FRUTTI DI MARE$34.00

SPAGHETTI ALLE VONGOLE$32.00

SPAGHETTI CARBONARA$28.00

TUSCAN CHICKEN$32.00

SCALLOPINE PICATTA$40.00

SALMONE ALLA GRIGLIA$42.00

LASAGNE VERDI$29.00

RAVIOLI AI QUATTRO FORMAGGI$24.00

COSTATA DI MANZO$51.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

Does Arnoldi's Cafe offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Arnoldi's Cafe restaurant rated?

Is Arnoldi's Cafe currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Featured in

68 Monterey Area Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day