Arnoldi's Cafe

We had a great time at Arnoldi’s! I went with the lasagna, and it was everything you want in comfort food—rich, hearty, and the sauce is such a highlight. My girlfriend tried the chicken parmesan, and it was spot on, with a crispy crust and just the right amount of sauce and cheese. The cozy, old-school vibe made the meal even better, taking us back to what feels like a slice of Santa Barbara history. The staff was friendly and made sure we were well taken care of. So glad this place is back—can’t wait to visit again!

Arnoldi’s is back and it was great. From our seat inside, the patio looked beautiful with all the white lights and very relaxing. Our server, Ruben, was very friendly and very good. Our food was excellent, with large portions, so come hungry, as we had enough leftovers to home for another meal. We started with Calamari Fritti, with a very good spicy tomato sauce. Scaloppine Al Marsala (veal), Ravioli Di Carne in a Bolognese sauce, Penne Al Pomodoro, and Fettuccini Alfredo with chicken. We had Tiramisu Al Caffe for desert. This is excellent Italian food. If you are in Santa Barbara and want excellent Italian, Arnoldi’s is the place to go.

We had our wedding rehearsal dinner at Arnoldi's and it was amazing! They had been closed for a few months, so our event was the first night that they were going to be opening back up. Sara was on site to ensure that everything ran smoothly, and Guillermo (our designated server) was so kind and so on top of everything. They had a big name chef in town who was helping refine the menu and the food was so good! We ordered Bruschetta, Fried calamari, Spring salad, Penne Pomodoro, Gnocchi with pesto and the Tuscan Chicken which was a big hit! I'm dairy free so I stuck with a Penne Pomodoro and it was so yummy and so smooth - I even took some to go. Overall, it was a great dinner, great service, and great night! I would highly recommend having your private dinner or event here. They supply the chairs and tables so all we had to bring was decor. We had 35 people in our group and everyone was very pleased with Arnoldi's.

A photograph of the tri-color gnocci, juxtaposing the the past with the present, offers a story more eloquent than words ever could. In the grand tapestry of dining experiences, there are certain moments that irrevocably alter our perception of a beloved establishment. The ethereal magic that once enveloped Arnoldi's—much like the innocence of childhood or the fleeting exuberance of graduation day—seems to have dimmed, leaving in its wake a somber shadow of its former self. Let's start with the good. The character of Arnoldi's remains unchanged. I returned with a small group of people some of whom have never been here before. The open backyard and bocce court, the lights, the music drew us in...like moths to a flame. For a fleeting moment, I allowed myself to believe that Arnoldi's was back. But that thought quickly disappeared leaving me to wonder whether I will ever come back here again. The ordeal that followed was a study in patience—albeit one I did not volunteer for. In total we waited 1 hour 47 minutes for our food. 40 minutes was us sitting in an anticipatory limbo waiting for our server to arrive. 1 hour and 7 minutes was lost waiting for entrees. We got our cocktails pretty quickly, and our server brought our appetizer 35 minutes into the wait, but he brought it to the wrong table--a mistake that went unaddressed for another 25 minutes. Despite the long wait, I had a hope at the back of my mind that the food will redeem itself. As the plates arrived, so too did the realization that Arnoldi’s culinary magic had all but vanished. The new cacio e pepe was super diluted. The remaining dishes, though passable, were marred by a sense of melancholy, as if they, too, mourned the loss of their previous glory. To add insult to injury, prices went up 20% across the board while the food quantity shrunk by half--a discrepancy that was as disheartening as it was perplexing. It is only fair to commend the staff, who, despite the chaos, were unfailingly courteous and apologetic. They confided that the new owner had rushed the reopening, despite being woefully under prepared in terms of staffing. One can only hope that these concerns are heeded.

When the door of this restaurant open, anyone can feel the hearts of many generations sharing their culinary heritage with their passion by reading their restaurant menu and the dishes well crafted and delicious prepared. Walking through find many photos with memories from the past in the walls that represent the beautiful friendship over the years of their life, also discover in the back a beautiful patio under the sky. Very grateful to be able to experience this amazing restaurant and their cuisine. Thank you to everyone.

What a hidden gem! The food here is perfect! They get 5 stars just for the smell alone! This is one of the best Italian restaurants I have had and I travel a lot! The portions are huge! Don't skip the garlic bread! The service was also fantastic! I placed a takeout order, and the young woman working had everything ready! She even called me by name when I walked in!

One of the best Italian meals I have had in my life! The Fettuccine Alfredo was magnificent and my Fiancé's Gnocchi Tricolore was to die for. Attentive staff, good bread, great wine, and a dynamite lemon tiramisu put a perfect topper on what turned out for us to be a perfect meal, highly recommended!

Arnoldi’s is back and it’s just as great as ever! This classic spot just reopened after a few months and we had an awesome time. The back patio is super cute, with white lights and a beautiful garden—perfect for a relaxing evening. The chicken Parmesan was amazing, and the gin martini hit the spot. Our server, Selvanno, was so accommodating and friendly. He made us feel right at home and went above and beyond to make us feel amazing. Our group of 6 had a blast. You can either come here on a date night, with your family, or with a big party. Definitely recommend checking it out if you’re in Santa Barbara!

We had a great time at Arnoldi’s! I went with the lasagna, and it was everything you want in comfort food—rich, hearty, and the sauce is such a highlight. My girlfriend tried the chicken parmesan, and it was spot on, with a crispy crust and just the right amount of sauce and cheese. The cozy, old-school vibe made the meal even better, taking us back to what feels like a slice of Santa Barbara history. The staff was friendly and made sure we were well taken care of. So glad this place is back—can’t wait to visit again!

Arnoldi’s is back and it was great. From our seat inside, the patio looked beautiful with all the white lights and very relaxing. Our server, Ruben, was very friendly and very good. Our food was excellent, with large portions, so come hungry, as we had enough leftovers to home for another meal. We started with Calamari Fritti, with a very good spicy tomato sauce. Scaloppine Al Marsala (veal), Ravioli Di Carne in a Bolognese sauce, Penne Al Pomodoro, and Fettuccini Alfredo with chicken. We had Tiramisu Al Caffe for desert. This is excellent Italian food. If you are in Santa Barbara and want excellent Italian, Arnoldi’s is the place to go.

We had our wedding rehearsal dinner at Arnoldi's and it was amazing! They had been closed for a few months, so our event was the first night that they were going to be opening back up. Sara was on site to ensure that everything ran smoothly, and Guillermo (our designated server) was so kind and so on top of everything. They had a big name chef in town who was helping refine the menu and the food was so good! We ordered Bruschetta, Fried calamari, Spring salad, Penne Pomodoro, Gnocchi with pesto and the Tuscan Chicken which was a big hit! I'm dairy free so I stuck with a Penne Pomodoro and it was so yummy and so smooth - I even took some to go. Overall, it was a great dinner, great service, and great night! I would highly recommend having your private dinner or event here. They supply the chairs and tables so all we had to bring was decor. We had 35 people in our group and everyone was very pleased with Arnoldi's.

A photograph of the tri-color gnocci, juxtaposing the the past with the present, offers a story more eloquent than words ever could. In the grand tapestry of dining experiences, there are certain moments that irrevocably alter our perception of a beloved establishment. The ethereal magic that once enveloped Arnoldi's—much like the innocence of childhood or the fleeting exuberance of graduation day—seems to have dimmed, leaving in its wake a somber shadow of its former self. Let's start with the good. The character of Arnoldi's remains unchanged. I returned with a small group of people some of whom have never been here before. The open backyard and bocce court, the lights, the music drew us in...like moths to a flame. For a fleeting moment, I allowed myself to believe that Arnoldi's was back. But that thought quickly disappeared leaving me to wonder whether I will ever come back here again. The ordeal that followed was a study in patience—albeit one I did not volunteer for. In total we waited 1 hour 47 minutes for our food. 40 minutes was us sitting in an anticipatory limbo waiting for our server to arrive. 1 hour and 7 minutes was lost waiting for entrees. We got our cocktails pretty quickly, and our server brought our appetizer 35 minutes into the wait, but he brought it to the wrong table--a mistake that went unaddressed for another 25 minutes. Despite the long wait, I had a hope at the back of my mind that the food will redeem itself. As the plates arrived, so too did the realization that Arnoldi’s culinary magic had all but vanished. The new cacio e pepe was super diluted. The remaining dishes, though passable, were marred by a sense of melancholy, as if they, too, mourned the loss of their previous glory. To add insult to injury, prices went up 20% across the board while the food quantity shrunk by half--a discrepancy that was as disheartening as it was perplexing. It is only fair to commend the staff, who, despite the chaos, were unfailingly courteous and apologetic. They confided that the new owner had rushed the reopening, despite being woefully under prepared in terms of staffing. One can only hope that these concerns are heeded.

When the door of this restaurant open, anyone can feel the hearts of many generations sharing their culinary heritage with their passion by reading their restaurant menu and the dishes well crafted and delicious prepared. Walking through find many photos with memories from the past in the walls that represent the beautiful friendship over the years of their life, also discover in the back a beautiful patio under the sky. Very grateful to be able to experience this amazing restaurant and their cuisine. Thank you to everyone.

What a hidden gem! The food here is perfect! They get 5 stars just for the smell alone! This is one of the best Italian restaurants I have had and I travel a lot! The portions are huge! Don't skip the garlic bread! The service was also fantastic! I placed a takeout order, and the young woman working had everything ready! She even called me by name when I walked in!

One of the best Italian meals I have had in my life! The Fettuccine Alfredo was magnificent and my Fiancé's Gnocchi Tricolore was to die for. Attentive staff, good bread, great wine, and a dynamite lemon tiramisu put a perfect topper on what turned out for us to be a perfect meal, highly recommended!

Arnoldi’s is back and it’s just as great as ever! This classic spot just reopened after a few months and we had an awesome time. The back patio is super cute, with white lights and a beautiful garden—perfect for a relaxing evening. The chicken Parmesan was amazing, and the gin martini hit the spot. Our server, Selvanno, was so accommodating and friendly. He made us feel right at home and went above and beyond to make us feel amazing. Our group of 6 had a blast. You can either come here on a date night, with your family, or with a big party. Definitely recommend checking it out if you’re in Santa Barbara!

Yes, it was definitely your bathroom, but I am very pleased to hear that they are spruced up.

Arnoldi's is an amazing restaurant and event venue! It was the ideal spot for our wedding rehearsal dinner and welcome reception. Booking the patio and bocce courts for a private event was incredibly easy, and we had a great experience working with Sara. She was extremely helpful, addressing all our questions and ensuring everything was taken care of smoothly. Initially, we had some concerns when the restaurant briefly closed after we booked, following the passing of one of the long-time owners. However, Sara stepped up and has been running everything without a hitch. Highlights: Ambiance: The atmosphere and location are superb. The restaurant is nestled in a charming, classic Santa Barbara building, and the patio feels like an Italian backyard. The bocce courts add an extra element of fun! Décor: The newly updated chairs and decorations are lovely and complement the space perfectly. Food: The food is phenomenal--authentic Italian at its finest! From the bread and salads to the pasta and sauces, everything was delicious. My personal favorites were the chicken parm and Tuscan chicken. For the reception, we went with heavy appetizers and desserts, and both the cannoli and tiramisu were exceptional. Drinks: Sara's wine recommendations were a big hit, and for a fun touch, don't miss out on a classic Hamm's after enjoying a Negroni. Lastly, the staff (especially Guillermo!) was fantastic--super attentive, helpful, and on top of everything the entire evening. We can't recommend Arnoldi's enough! If you can't host your event here, do yourself a favor and at least come for dinner. You won't regret it!

The good: Service was outstanding. The not so good: The chicken part of my chicken Marsala was tender and ok but the salt laden sauce took over the chicken so much that it never had a chance to be great. The side pasta in white sauce was under boiled and was also taken over with more salt. The really not so good: The prices do not justify the food quality.

Arnoldi's is back and it's just as great as ever! This classic spot just reopened after a few months and we had an awesome time. The back patio is super cute, with white lights and a beautiful garden--perfect for a relaxing evening. The chicken Parmesan was amazing, and the gin martini hit the spot. Our server, Selvanno, was so accommodating and friendly. He made us feel right at home and went above and beyond to make us feel amazing. Our group of 6 had a blast. You can either come here on a date night, with your family, or with a big party. Definitely recommend checking it out if you're in Santa Barbara!

After being stuck in traffic for a while, my wife and I were starving and this is one of the first food spots that popped up on my feed. I love Italian food so we came here. Cute lil shop. The server provided us with some yummy bread and butter and it was good. We ordered chicken Alfredo and tri colored gnocchi. Both meals were so good but we were stuffed so we took the rest to go. We had also ordered two drinks (one each) and they were so strong..I couldn't even finish mine. Our bill was a little steep for what we ordered. Maybe we will be back and try other food.

Arrived for dinner about 745 and was seated quickly in a window booth. As you come in you could smell there was seafood. Outside area was also nice. Wife had wanted pasta and they had great choices. Complimentary bread was served. She had angel hair pasta with pomodoro sauce and I had the eggplant parmesan with spaghetti and pomodoro sauce as well. I pomodoro sauce was outstanding. I should have thought about requesting the gorgonzola sauce. Both of us really like our dishes and they serve quite large portions. Portions could be shared and we ended taken food home. We will definitely return here on our next visit. Looks like they have new management and their extensive menu reflects that.

What a wonderful homecoming to Santa Barbara with Arnoldi's re-opening this week! This landmark is dear to my heart, the food was delicious as always, the outdoor seating warm & inviting- such a Classic! Thank you Sara for keeping this Santa Barbara gem alive! Good to see all the family's friendly faces!

Stopped in last night to sample the food and prep for our rehearsal dinner later this month. Management was extremely attentive and we couldn't be happier. What a great spot for an outdoor celebration, great food and a family style atmosphere!!!

This restaurant has reopened and an absolute disappointment. Don't waste your time nor money. - Menu is the same as the other fifty Italian restaurants in Santa Barbara. - Service was poor and 90% of the time had to ask wait staff for service. - Chardonnay list was poor and limited. - The Caprese cheese was below average quality and sliced tomato simply sucked. - Bread was cold and below average. - Both entrees brought to table and no silverware to eat. I stopped the staff walking by and informed them we need silverware to eat. Notice picture of entrees and no silverware to eat. Come on staff! Five minutes later silverware was brought to table. It takes 3 minutes for food to go cold when sitting outside. - Chicken Parmesan with spaghetti was good. - Lasagna was good. Outdoor seating included looking at extensive power-lines. Come on owners. Grow a hedge and make the outdoor seating area attractive. - Parking is on street and the neighbor is consider the undesirable area of Santa Barbara with high crime. No pride of ownership with the mediocre Italian restaurant. Save your hard earned money and go to a different restaurant. Why reopen a restaurant to have patrons not want to return?! I paid $180 for two people to eat and left knowing why the restaurant had NEVER been recommended by locals. NEVER recommended..... There are multiple 1 Star reviews since opening two days ago.

We took a day trip to Santa Barbara to check out a few colleges. We stopped by Arnoldis restaurant and OH MY GOSH!! Arnoldi's did not disappoint! The food, drinks and atmosphere was top notch! A touch of elegance mixed with charm. Price was on point! Service was 10 out of 10! Such a wonderful way to wind down our day! Thank you for such a great experience! We definitely will be back!

Really delicious spot, so glad it's reopened! Tried the chicken parm and short rib ravioli and they were both delicious! And the bathroom is clean and fine.

We had our wedding rehearsal dinner at Arnoldi's and it was amazing! They had been closed for a few months, so our event was the first night that they were going to be opening back up. Sara was on site to ensure that everything ran smoothly, and Guillermo (our designated server) was so kind and so on top of everything. They had a big name chef in town who was helping refine the menu and the food was so good! We ordered Bruschetta, Fried calamari, Spring salad, Penne Pomodoro, Gnocchi with pesto and the Tuscan Chicken which was a big hit! I'm dairy free so I stuck with a Penne Pomodoro and it was so yummy and so smooth - I even took some to go. Overall, it was a great dinner, great service, and great night! I would highly recommend having your private dinner or event here. They supply the chairs and tables so all we had to bring was decor. We had 35 people in our group and everyone was very pleased with Arnoldi's.

Such a hidden gem for Italian food!! The portions are generous and delicious. You will not leave hungry. From the moment you come in the service is top notch and attentive. Their cheese and meats platter can feed a small village. They have an extensive wine list but do serve basic cocktails as well. The lasagna and the meatballs were delicious with an explosion of flavor. The outside has ample space for groups and cozy feeling away from the busy main drag. Perfect for a date or big groups to enjoy an Italian meal.

After the reopening of Arnold's Cafe we were hopeful to have a solid alternative for Italien Food in SB. Boy oh boy what a disappointment. Quality and selection of food is average at best, probably below average. Prices on the other hand are very rich. Frankly, our favorite Italien place in Downtown SB on Victoria has same price point but much better selection and quality. In fact, we had Italien food at one of the best (!) Italien restaurants in Newport Beach and even there we did not pay more than at Arnold's Cafe. A little side note: Waiters were very pushy. At one pint we were thinking they'd say "you have to order more to eat here". Anyways, if you want to spend top dollars on great food, go somewhere else. If you are looking for average Italian food, buy a lasagna from your grocery store.

Arnoldi's has returned and they have not missed a step. The food is amazing. The service is great. The new staff is polished. Can't wait to return.

This is a must when in Santa Barbara! First of all, the vibe is so old school Italiano! There's a great bar that was calling my name. We ended up w a table on the covered patio. The food was spectacular! I had the bolognese with meatballs. Hands down best sauce ever. My companion had the eggplant parmigiana with pesto pasta on the side and mannnnnnn! That was the best eggplant parmigiana I've ever had! I can't say enough about this place. It's classic, delicious and perfect service!

Arnoldi's was great! Immediately upon sitting down, we were served bread and butter, with olive oil and balsamic vinegar on the side. Despite the busy night, we were attended to expeditiously and professionally, and were able to order our food in a timely manner. Service was great. Meanwhile, we chatted and enjoyed the beautiful ambiance; we were seated outside, where there was an elegant terrace and (optional) heaters. I ordered the tricolor gnocchi with vegetables (you can pick meat or veggies to be incorporated into the dish). It was really good!! I could only eat a small portion, though, since it was such a dense, rich, hearty meal. I liked the red sauce the best, as the pesto was good but a bit overpowering, and the white sauce was just slightly underwhelming. I packed the leftovers to go and it was a great lunch the next day.

We were part of a party of ten people tonight, which can be challenging for some restaurants, but the service here was excellent! No waiting or having to remind servers about anything. The food itself was wonderful! We ordered a variety of dishes: penne arrabiata, eggplant parmesan, chicken piccata, spaghetti carbonara, spaghetti bolognese, etc. According to everyone, it was all delicious! We were seated outside and got to watch a bocci ball game. We were celebrating birthdays and the staff told us to take our time, we didn't feel rushed at all, as some places make you feel. It was a great evening! We'll definitely be back soon.

Everything was wonderful. We were here for a wedding reception. The food was outstanding. It's a wonderful place and our experience was first class. Can't go wrong eating here.

Long time customer, came back to see the business after it changed hands and happy to report that all of the old magic is still present! Same delicious food, beautiful ambience, fun family bocce ball, and absolutely amazing service by Simon, Jorge, and Imani. This restaurant is a local treasure that continues to shine!

It's been a while since I've eaten here and I'm glad I came back! I love that the table was set with the dinner bread the moment we were seated. We ordered the arugula salad for our appetizer and that was a good amount of salad for 3. My friends ordered the veggie linguini and gorgonzola gnocchi (not pictured, but was yummy!). I got the lasagna bolognese because it was made with house made pasta and sauce. My lasagna was super tasty and the portion was really generous! The sauce was really good. The staff is really nice and attentive. This is a great italian restaurant for families. They even have bocce ball! Will be back for sure!

My partner and I used to love coming here, but were really disappointing coming back for the first time since ownership changed. The quality of the food was way worse than before. Our entrees were absolutely covered in sauce that tasted metallic like it was from a can and not a jar, and like spaghetti-o's sauce, honestly. My meatballs weren't fully cooked either. Service was odd. I couldn't find spaghetti and meatballs on the menu? I asked our server almost joking if they had spaghetti and meatballs and he had to look over the menu himself for a minute and couldn't find it. This is an Italian restaurant... We also didn't get our food until 8:45 for a 7:45 reservation. I understand it was a Saturday night but taking an hour to get fo feels like poor management. The price and quality of the food was definitely not worth the wait. We had finished our wine by the time we got our food. Bummer because my partner and I were celebrating our engagement just hours prior. Sad to see our favorite Italian restaurant in town become this

Fabulous food. Excellent service. Valet parking is worth it as parking is not easy. Portions are plentiful. I'll definitely return.

First time and I'm impressed with the eggplant parmigiana. As someone who is particular with eggplant parm I rate theirs 10/10. They slice it thin and it's just the right amount of crispy and the sauce is in fact flavorful. It looks as good as it tastes. For the pasta on the side I requested the gorgonzola sauce instead of marinara sauce. It tasted like Alfredo sauce, still good, but was expecting that punch of flavor that gorgonzola brings. Great meal. Loved it. Will be back!

I am a local Santa Barbara in and have went to this restaurant for years in the past I just drop by today. $86 between me and my daughter two drinks and bruschetta.. My recommendation keep it moving. There was nothing special about the bruschetta or the two glasses of wine that I drunk tonight. The only difference was the $15 a glass of wine, which was outrageous not even full I could've bought a bottle and it would've been cheaper or not go here again not

Thrilled to see Arnoldi's back open for business. Food might be even more delicious than before. Tuscan Chicken and Chicken Parmigiana were highlights for us. Don't miss the tiramisu for dessert. Staff was new but very upfront about working out the opening weekend hiccups. They did a great job! Will definitely be back soon.

The food is delicious! The bread basket they give you to start is homemade daily by a local baker. Some highlights of the meal for me: the bruschetta del casa (comes with goat cheese), the tiramisu de limone, and the Tuscan chicken with Alfredo sauce. The only lowlight: the service was a little slow (long gaps between being checked on by the waiter, and a long wait for food). But the food was delish!! I would definitely recommend Arnoldi's for authentic and delicious Italian food in the Santa Barbara area. It's a sit-down restaurant that is not overly fancy. I felt like I fit in wearing my jeans and tennis shoes.

HIGHLY recommend! The food is amazing, service is incredible, wonderful atmosphere and great for groups, dates or families.

A Santa Barbara local favorite. Good food and drink. Great vibe. Bocce courts. All make this a family favorite. Somehow Manager Sara keeps things moving with a smile and kind word to customers. Recommended.

They're back and... better! Did not think it was possible to improve upon my favorite old school Italian restaurant, but we came in for an early Sunday dinner and they knocked it out of the park. They got my kid's butter noodles out immediately. My Chicken Parmesan was perfection. Everyone I was with really enjoyed their food and we shared a great bottle of wine. The wait staff was upfront about working out some kinks as they had just reopened, but our experience was top notch. Will be back and so so glad to have this special place back.

We're so glad to have found and dined here in New Years Eve! My husband and I planned our NY trip to Santa Barbara last minute, so we were worried that the restaurants were fully booked. Luckily, we saw Arnoldi's still had a few tables left, so we decided to give it a shot, and they did not disappoint. The most important thing, the food, was delicious! Filet Mignon Arnoldi's was on point. The steak was juicy and side dishes were palatable. We also ordered the special salad, which from what I can remember consisted of butter lettuce, beet, and blue cheese. It was to die for. I even intend to re-create it at home. Service was also great, and we enjoyed the family-friendly ambience. Will definitely come back!

My wife and I had the unfortunate experience of attempting to dine here last night. The ambiance is converted diner. The service is non-existent. Even Europeans would be left wandering, "where's the wait staff?" Little did we know, that was a blessing. Once we received our "food," we immediately regretted it. The lasagna was inedible. The gnocchi tasted canned. The pesto was reminiscent of a vat cured batch from Fresno. The wine had turned. And even the bread was epically bad. To top it off, wait staff tried to add another glass of wine to the bill! We weren't even able to choke down the first glass having only drank it to wash the food taste away. In short, it's bad. Really. Bad.

Very cute ambiance and massive proportions. I got the spaghetti al vongole with the white wine sauce. The white wine sauce was amazing and so were the clams except there was a lot of little bits of shell in the pasta and I felt like i was going to crack my teeth. The pasta was a little too plain for me and didn't pick up the sauce well. But the ambiance and tables are super cute and give an old Italian vibe. I might have to try something else on their menu.

This place was amazing!!! Great ambiance, staff as really friendly, food and wine was delicious! So good we may even come back before we leave town.

Calamari and lasagna were delicious, service was friendly, and the ambiance of a stone building and courtyard w bocce ball is lovely.

Great food and good service ! Definitely worth a try!!!!!!!!! Yummy in my tummy !!!!!!!!!!!

We have been coming to Arnoldi's for years and so happy to see it reopened. The food is delicious and the ambiance is amazing. It feels like you are in Italy and it's like no other place in town. I highly recommend Arnoldi's for any occasion-from the perfect date night to the best spot for a large family celebration.

Unfortunately I wanted to like this place because friends say it was good before they closed. We had a reservation at 7:15 and we got seated. However no one was asking if they could take our order for over 30 minutes and just kept serving us bread like we were peasants. I finally had to call someone over to take our food order. As a waiter you should be asking once in a while if we are ready to orders. I'm pretty sure they gave our appetizer to the table next to us, and they also got seated after us and got served quicker than we did. We waited over 1 hour for our food and it was NOT crowded at all when we went. If I was a diabetic I would have d1ed from hypoglycemia. My friend was so hungry he started to eat the butter stick. When we finally got our food, it was not that good, the cacio e pepe was very watered down and the lasagna was nothing special. It was comparable to frozen stouffers meals. My suggestion: train your new employees BEFORE opening. DONT REOPEN if you're not ready and well prepared.

Amazing service, the most amazing food. The restaurant was decorated super cute! The new menu was great and I've tried most of the items and they were amazing.

Held a surprise birthday party for my Mom over the weekend with 25 of her closest friends and family. The management was communicative and provided a perfect set up and wait staff to take really good care of us throughout the evening. Everyone enjoyed the Italian appetizers, wine and entrees, which were plentiful! It was a wonderful night she will remember for years to come!

I don't know why it took me so long to visit Arnoldi's Cafe but I am sure glad I have. The food was delicious with the carbonara being my absolute favorite. The ambiance is also something to behold if you are seated in their outside courtyard during the sunset hours. The painted sky and the food makes for a great combination.

The food didn't necessarily wow us, but we are happy we went. It has such a cute outdoor atmosphere. It somehow felt veyr homey and cozy, but also somewhat upscale. We appreciated our waiter walking us through the menu and letting us know what could be mixed and matched. They brought out complimentary bread, oils, and butter, which was perfect. Food came out fast even though they were pretty busy. They had a lot of workers (at least 20?) who were sitting around by the kitchen just chatting, which seemed odd for how busy they were, but our service didn't falter as a result. The pasta was fine, but not sure it was any better than something someone could make out home. That said, the atmosphere, the drinks, and the service made us happy with our experience.

Celebrated a birthday, family and grad. Location is great, history is interesting, drink selection is good, food was ok and service was fair. I am being generous with my 4 stars because I would try it again and of the party of 8, half was pleased.

We love to go to locally owned restaurants. Arnoldis used to be a great Italiian Restaurant. Having gone about 5 times since the sale years ago, I am disappointed to give this cool place a negative review. The food is simply not good as it used to be. The flavor is flat. The clam Spaghetti is full of sand. The pasta sauces, except the basic red sauce, are unimpressive. The good is great jazz music and an old school vibe. But the food ... well.. not good.

Their outdoor seating is great. Indoor is good but can feel a bit stuffy. The food is great and so is the service.

The food and service were excellent, but they need to reopen soon--I had a crush on one of the bussers

Arnoldi's has been on Olive Street in Santa Barbara for decades serving delicious Italian food. This is a very unique place with a vintage inside seating are including a bar and a couple wooden booths. The outdoor patio area is lovely and includes a bocci ball court. The food is consistently good and fir the price point, the servings are generous. Arnoldi's serves classics dishes with an "old-school" feeling. The tri-color gnocchi has been one of favorites, as well as the incredible chicken Parmesan.

This is a delightful establishment off the beaten track. At the risk of being ostracized by my fellow locals I have to share that the long time local gem serves some of the best Italian cuisine available is served here. The consensus among my very discerning friend is they serve the best lasagna available, period and the service is peerless. The ambience is old school Italian and there's even a Bocce Ball court in the patio. Definitely 5 stars.

I worked from my husband's office in Santa Barbara for the day, and we were headed out to eat at another restaurant, but passed by Arnoldi's and decided to stop there. I'd been wanting to go there for easily 10 years, he'd been well before that, but we changed plans and went to have dinner there instead. First off - it's a classic old-school Italian restaurant - checkered tablecloths, long wooden bar, and truly only locals there. It seemed like the folks inside were all regulars - greeted by the bartenders, waiters and the other patrons. Really cool. The decor inside is everything you expect - vintage Hamm's beer signs, taxidermy deer heads on the wall - the works. We sat at a high top table in the bar, but next time we go, I'm dying to sit in one of their classic wooden booths - super private. The "backyard" has lots more tables plus two full bocce courts under string lights. Amazing! We've been looking for a long time for a quiet restaurant - one where you can actually talk to each other / not shout ... and this is the place! Unbelievably quiet inside - so refreshing. We both ordered a glass of Syrah and split a very generously-sized shrimp cocktail to start. Fresh shrimp, great flavors in the cocktail sauce. For entrees, he got the linguini pesto and I got the gnocchi Gorgonzola. My gnocchi was hand made, creamy and delicious. He was equally happy with his linguini. Very generous portion sizes and you could just tell that that the chefs cared about the food they sent out of the kitchen. This place was a lot of fun - good service / great food / classic Santa Barbara restaurant that's been around for a long long time.