Via Maestra 42

Living in Santa Barbara - Katinka Goertz

This very unassuming restaurant on Upper State Street is so authentic Italian, in my opinion. It almost has a grandma’s dining room feel to it, and the food is finger-licking good. Also, the desert list is a mile long and wonderful. They have Italian gelato and some other goods. Love it! 😍 🇮🇹

Tim Kubichek

The ricotta salad, bowtie salmon w/ vodka sauce, gnocchi, and desserts were ALLLL amazing. A+ Service by Laura was also A+. Us on Instagram: @organized_adventurer (139,000 adventurers)

Fonne SP

Food was good and wasn’t pricey. Service was okay. They were busy though and still handled the guests waiting well. There is only one restroom located in a mysterious spot and you would see cooks in the kitchen every time you go. Everybody we saw today walked past it into the dark scary alleyway.

Gilbert Balderrama

This is a fine Italian restaurant nestled here on State street, Santa Barbara. I enjoyed a nice, peaceful breakfast here with my wife. I had the Americano which consisted of, 2 eggs, sausage,bacon, potatoes and toasted bread with delicious fig jam. She had the grilled eggpant with scrambled eggs and thinly sliced ham. Both plates were delicious along with a cup of LaVazza coffee...perfect. This is our second visit here. We will return next time we are in town. What a treasure for the Santa Barbara community.

Something Else

Their food is amazing. The ambiance outdoors is actually lovely. I had ordered raviolis without reading the menu because I was so hungry and knew what I wanted. I had pretty great service here my first time except for when the waitress who brought my incredible raviolis made an incredibly rude comment as she served my plate. I had remarked, “Oh, I thought these would be with marinara?” They looked amazing, presentation was beautiful, I wasn’t upset I was just surprised. She grabbed the menu, handed it to me and said, “That’s why we gave you a menu, so you can read it.” She said it with the most sarcastic smile on her face, I honestly didn’t even have a response for her. I was so stunned. Then when I had asked for more olive oil she continued with her dramatic act and brought me literally an entire boat of olive oil what. A huge waste for my two pieces of bread… it was such a performance for what? I came to the restaurant in great spirits and very impressed and this waitress totally ruined the whole experience. However, everyone else is incredibly kind and attentive and the food is sooooooo fresh and so good. Way better than Ca’Dario, if you’re trying to decide, the food at Via Maestro 42 is way better quality.

I had a wonderful time at this restaurant. The service was absolutely amazing. I want to thank Simon who was our waiter. He was awesome and offered to give us a complimentary dish since my husband did not like his dish. He felt very genuine and caring. I am grateful he was our waiter tonight. I also wanted to give a shout out to Robert who was doing an amazing job! I could see how hard and honest he was working. Via maestro is so lucky to have someone like Robert and Simon! They both inspired me to write this review. Thank you for a wonderful date night.

Our entire party enjoyed an authentic Italian dinner here at Via Maestra 42😋🥰👌👍👍 There's such an amazing variety of Italian cuisine to choose from that we'll definitely be back many times to try each one😋😉👍 This is now our new favorite Italian Restaurant here in Santa Barbara 😋🥰🥳🎉👌👍👍 The atmosphere inside reminded us of our travels across Europe and there is also outside dining as well. Our Servers were very friendly and looked after everyone including the baby 👶 🥰👌👍👍 We're so glad that a friend recommended that we try Via Maestra 42 as it's hard to find great authentic Italian food nowadays 😋🥳🎉🥰👌👍👍

K.C. Bealo

Our entire party enjoyed an authentic Italian dinner here at Via Maestra 42😋🥰👌👍👍 There's such an amazing variety of Italian cuisine to choose from that we'll definitely be back many times to try each one😋😉👍 This is now our new favorite Italian Restaurant here in Santa Barbara 😋🥰🥳🎉👌👍👍 The atmosphere inside reminded us of our travels across Europe and there is also outside dining as well. Our Servers were very friendly and looked after everyone including the baby 👶 🥰👌👍👍 We're so glad that a friend recommended that we try Via Maestra 42 as it's hard to find great authentic Italian food nowadays 😋🥳🎉🥰👌👍👍

Daniela C

I had a wonderful time at this restaurant. The service was absolutely amazing. I want to thank Simon who was our waiter. He was awesome and offered to give us a complimentary dish since my husband did not like his dish. He felt very genuine and caring. I am grateful he was our waiter tonight. I also wanted to give a shout out to Robert who was doing an amazing job! I could see how hard and honest he was working. Via maestro is so lucky to have someone like Robert and Simon! They both inspired me to write this review. Thank you for a wonderful date night.

MJ

Occasionally over the past 10+ years, I’ve found myself dining here. This evening, I brought my son and my father, and we enjoyed a fine meal paired with great conversation. The Antipasto Sampler featured an amazing farro salad. My son and I both ordered the Penne alla Bolognese which was spiced perfectly, and the Insalata Verde greens were fresh, flavorful, and topped with a delicious cheese my father especially enjoyed. He also ordered the Veggie Lasagna, which he finished entirely! My son loved his gelato, and the biscotti at the end of the meal made it the perfect finale.

Went with a group of 6 people, we all loved it. I had very good pumpkin ravioli in sage butter, and a really delicious piece of Tiramisu.

A L

Went with a group of 6 people, we all loved it. I had very good pumpkin ravioli in sage butter, and a really delicious piece of Tiramisu.

Good service. But the food was disappointing. The paste is not aldente. The salad is a lot of arugula and very little tomato in the salad. The lasagna is not tasty, the sauce is very sour. The place is atmospheric, expected delicious Italian food, but food is not tasty. Aperol spritz was with LEMON!

Elena L

Good service. But the food was disappointing. The paste is not aldente. The salad is a lot of arugula and very little tomato in the salad. The lasagna is not tasty, the sauce is very sour. The place is atmospheric, expected delicious Italian food, but food is not tasty. Aperol spritz was with LEMON!

Food was a bit plane. I ordered the mushroom ravioli and it was thinned sauce that barely blended with the ravioli. The ravioli itself was good but cold. My husband ordered shrimp pasta that was just warm, not fresh. His dish was watered down and tasted more like plain pasta. Both of us finished food still hungry, totally unexpected at al Italian restaurant. We also waited 20 minutes for a refill of bread. When I wandered to the bathroom I saw most the chefs using the microwave, very disappointing.

Eanna McAdon

Food was a bit plane. I ordered the mushroom ravioli and it was thinned sauce that barely blended with the ravioli. The ravioli itself was good but cold. My husband ordered shrimp pasta that was just warm, not fresh. His dish was watered down and tasted more like plain pasta. Both of us finished food still hungry, totally unexpected at al Italian restaurant. We also waited 20 minutes for a refill of bread. When I wandered to the bathroom I saw most the chefs using the microwave, very disappointing.

I bought the lasagna family meal a few months ago and put it in the freezer for a later date. I served it last night and what a disappointment!! When I opened the foil I learned that they only put HALF of the amount of lasagne I paid for. Further, the food was not good. Barely edible. Definitely will not be getting food from this place again.

Sadly, I had a ridiculously sweet pear pie piece.to go. Almost no pear to be found. The almond paste was a good addition, but the cake was so absurdly sweet, I wondered if the recipe had gone wrong. I had to toss it in the trash which says a lot for someone who likes sweets. Disappointed after I had good pastry from them in the past.

We stopped here on our way home from a trip. It was a busy evening. Sat at a table in a little cubby hole. Took forever to get waited on. Finally ordered. When we got our food it was very underwhelming. Seven spinach raviolis with sauce for $21! Nothing else. Husband’s Penne wasn’t anything special either The worst part was the bathroom. Had to go outside to the back of the restaurant and through the kitchen. Ran into the cooks on the way out. Customers shouldn’t be allowed back there. $57 for a mediocre dinner. Tiramisu was good. Very expensive dinner for two people

Jamie Kaner

I bought the lasagna family meal a few months ago and put it in the freezer for a later date. I served it last night and what a disappointment!! When I opened the foil I learned that they only put HALF of the amount of lasagne I paid for. Further, the food was not good. Barely edible. Definitely will not be getting food from this place again.

Maggie Maggie

Sadly, I had a ridiculously sweet pear pie piece.to go. Almost no pear to be found. The almond paste was a good addition, but the cake was so absurdly sweet, I wondered if the recipe had gone wrong. I had to toss it in the trash which says a lot for someone who likes sweets. Disappointed after I had good pastry from them in the past.

Linda Fults

We stopped here on our way home from a trip. It was a busy evening. Sat at a table in a little cubby hole. Took forever to get waited on. Finally ordered. When we got our food it was very underwhelming. Seven spinach raviolis with sauce for $21! Nothing else. Husband’s Penne wasn’t anything special either The worst part was the bathroom. Had to go outside to the back of the restaurant and through the kitchen. Ran into the cooks on the way out. Customers shouldn’t be allowed back there. $57 for a mediocre dinner. Tiramisu was good. Very expensive dinner for two people

I ordered grilled chicken on a bed of spinach with tomato. Grilled chicken means hot chicken, but instead it was old (not fresh cooked or even cooked that day) soggy, wet chicken soaked in balsamic vinegar, with a handful of raw spinach (with no balsamic on it) and mealy, mushy, tasteless tomatoes that no self-respecting Italian would serve. After one bite, I immediately told the waiter about the old, soggy, cold chicken and lousy food, but all I received was an apology. What good is an apology when Im stuck with inedible meal, while everyone around me is enjoying their food. No bread plates, no offer of cracked pepper or freshly grated cheese--how is that a 4.5 star restaurant? The lack of concern by the waitress staff was even more disheartening than the old chicken, raw spinach and mealy tomatoes.

Stop for a quick lunch, add the 20% tip on the paper, and they bill 28% instead few days alter expecting people not to verify I guess If you stop there, be careful of your card I guess.... Potato gnocchi were also not potatoes.. I can not come back to get reimbursed, I was on holiday I called and was told I would get reimbursed and my credit card was not fixed yet, I will have to ask my bank to fix it which is not ok

Do not confuse this with its former self — it used to be one of the fine Italian restaurants in town.It is no longer run by the former owner 10-20 years ago. (A bad In-and-Out burger and fries is much better for 1/5 the cost). We spent $50+ for tasteless spinach ravioli and tortellini, and dry bread brought to the table. The servers were nice, The pasta was not fully cooked. DISAPPOINTED

Friendly staff, cute little place. But unfortunately some of the worse Italian food I’ve had. I got the penne bolognese and my partner got the risotto. We took two bites and had to ask for a box because we didn’t want to send it back to just leave the plates full. No flavor in the food. The bread was not good. The soup has no flavor. Not sure why so many locals like it. The food was not good.

Bruce Hanna

Do not confuse this with its former self — it used to be one of the fine Italian restaurants in town.It is no longer run by the former owner 10-20 years ago. (A bad In-and-Out burger and fries is much better for 1/5 the cost). We spent $50+ for tasteless spinach ravioli and tortellini, and dry bread brought to the table. The servers were nice, The pasta was not fully cooked. DISAPPOINTED

Fiora

Stop for a quick lunch, add the 20% tip on the paper, and they bill 28% instead few days alter expecting people not to verify I guess If you stop there, be careful of your card I guess.... Potato gnocchi were also not potatoes.. I can not come back to get reimbursed, I was on holiday I called and was told I would get reimbursed and my credit card was not fixed yet, I will have to ask my bank to fix it which is not ok

Jermaine Wiggins

Friendly staff, cute little place. But unfortunately some of the worse Italian food I’ve had. I got the penne bolognese and my partner got the risotto. We took two bites and had to ask for a box because we didn’t want to send it back to just leave the plates full. No flavor in the food. The bread was not good. The soup has no flavor. Not sure why so many locals like it. The food was not good.

H-D F

I ordered grilled chicken on a bed of spinach with tomato. Grilled chicken means hot chicken, but instead it was old (not fresh cooked or even cooked that day) soggy, wet chicken soaked in balsamic vinegar, with a handful of raw spinach (with no balsamic on it) and mealy, mushy, tasteless tomatoes that no self-respecting Italian would serve. After one bite, I immediately told the waiter about the old, soggy, cold chicken and lousy food, but all I received was an apology. What good is an apology when Im stuck with inedible meal, while everyone around me is enjoying their food. No bread plates, no offer of cracked pepper or freshly grated cheese--how is that a 4.5 star restaurant? The lack of concern by the waitress staff was even more disheartening than the old chicken, raw spinach and mealy tomatoes.