Giannfranco's Trattoria

Paige Orgel

We love this place! Authentic Tuscan food - some of the best sauce that I have ever had! Be ready for a calm, relaxing meal that you can savor. The owners and wait staff are absolutely wonderful!

Joe Nugent

Visited Giannfranco’s for dinner before heading to Channel Island for the weekend as a treat and couldn’t have had a better experience. All the food was delicious and service was prompt. The chicken parm is a must have and the sacchetti while smaller in portion makes up the difference in flavor.

Sara Gharibian

Nestled in the heart of Carpenteria, Giannfranco's Trattoria is a true gem!! This family-owned restaurant offers a unique blend of warmth, quality, and a personal touch! From the moment you step inside, you are greeted with friendly faces and inviting atmosphere.. the food was a symphony of flavors, deliciousness’s, presentation and much more…. Can’t say enough….. must visit !

M Callon

Visiting Santa Barbara and on our adventure we shared our table with a couple at a taco place. His name is Kevin. We already ate at Convivo and he recommended trying this Italian restaurant he hosts at for his friends. So we parted ways and later that day drove 10mins to Carpenteria. We almost drove past because it's such a small place on the outside. Kevin was there and led us to the bustling back patio. We were greeted by the owners who also took our orders. Their son is the chef. I was absolutely blown away. Bite after bite, it was the best Italian food I've ever had. Everything is made from scratch. Everything is made with that care you would take for a very special meal. Highly recommend for the tourist and locals alike. Not one boring bite! Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful diamond in the rough with us!!

Sherry

Loved this place! The atmosphere the food and our waiter Arnold was very attentive and cheery. Nice guy! Everyone was friendly and welcoming, were happy their very covid complaint. The patio is very nice and romantic. Now on to the food. Absolutely outstanding! The wine was very delicious too! We had the appetizer meatballs they were amazing. Our meal choices were Chicken Parmigian and Penne ala Norma. We loved our choices and overall definitely pleased. Thank you to this fine Italian restaurant. And we know great Italian food!

Ruben Garcia

Visiting with friends and we came across this amazing restaurant. Came in for lunch not knowing we would be totally amazed by the food. Every bite was sensational! The staff was very warm and inviting attending to us like how your grandmother would at a family gathering. If the lunch service was this impressive I can't wait to come back here for dinner.

joe childs

Great authentic family owned restaurant. Top quality food. Absolutely Devine caramel cheesecake! Definitely a must go to restaurant.

Kitty Finn

Wonderful service and delicious food! We even went there twice. Everyone had masks and there's plenty of social distancing.

Judy Semingson

Beautiful courtyard, lovely hosts, wonderful food. Our best meal of the week 😊 We look forward to enjoying this restaurant again soon.

lala bubu

Food atmospheres everything beautiful. Great place for our anniversary!! Will recommend to all my passengers at Delta Airlines!!!

For quite a few years now this is hands down our favorite Italian restaurant. The food is authentic and so tasty. We're in love with the marinara sauce (a family secret). My husband I drive from Thousand Oaks at least once a month to meet here with some family from Santa Barbara. The owners at Giannfranco are like family to us. You'll never find better service and tastier cuisine than at this trattoria....It's our happy place to go to!

Incredible family owned and operated restaurant where everything is made in house to order. Everyone we had was made with fresh ingredients and the attention to detail was amazing. The standout of the evening was the Bolognese and the Sacchetti. Both were well executed and perfectly seasoned, to the point where we cleaned our plates to get every last bit of the scratch made sauces. The desserts and coffee were the perfect end to an already perfect evening. One of the best restaurant coffees we've found and the tiramisu was light and elegant. We will be back!

My friends and I dined at this lovely little restaurant and could not have been more impressed! The service was friendly and felt like family. They were so kind and made our time there very pleasurable. The food was unbelievably delicious! We shared a salad that was fabulous and enjoyed the pasta with olive oil and tomatoes. Simple yet so delicious! We ate every last bite. The atmosphere feels cozy and Italian at its best. I cannot say enough about the quality and the experience of our visit! When in Carpinteria wether you crave Italian or not, you should not miss this spot.

Let's start with this question: would I go out of my way to come back to eat here? The answer is a resounding YES; and that makes it 5 stars for me. Really good authentic Italian food (not run of the mill). You could walk right by this place and not know it is there. Reasonable prices. Superb patio (reservations for dinner on the patio HIGHLY recommended). Friendly and helpful staff. Try the Ciao Bella; it is my favorite here.

Everything was amazing! Food was excellent, Ann was the sweetest, and the atmosphere was very welcoming

Walk through their door, you are treated like family. The owners, Frank and Anna were the most gracious individuals anyone could ever meet. The lobster ravioles were fabulous! Topped off the meal with fresh cheesecake topped with fresh fruit. I loved the meal and atmosphere. I will definitely return when I drive through the area.

This place deserves a 5-star rating on all aspects. We had lunch there on a Saturday. The food was fantastic. My daughter had Chicken Picata and the chicken piece was of perfect tenderness and taste. I had another Pasta dish called 'Franco' with Italian sausage added and it tasted superb. I assume that it was the owner himself who served our table. He was very attentive and kind. They offer both indoor and patio seating in the back (with table umbrellas.) We chose the latter and felt very relaxed and comfy. Will come back.

Jack Goldberg

Let's start with this question: would I go out of my way to come back to eat here? The answer is a resounding YES; and that makes it 5 stars for me. Really good authentic Italian food (not run of the mill). You could walk right by this place and not know it is there. Reasonable prices. Superb patio (reservations for dinner on the patio HIGHLY recommended). Friendly and helpful staff. Try the Ciao Bella; it is my favorite here.

B. Ananratt

This place deserves a 5-star rating on all aspects. We had lunch there on a Saturday. The food was fantastic. My daughter had Chicken Picata and the chicken piece was of perfect tenderness and taste. I had another Pasta dish called 'Franco' with Italian sausage added and it tasted superb. I assume that it was the owner himself who served our table. He was very attentive and kind. They offer both indoor and patio seating in the back (with table umbrellas.) We chose the latter and felt very relaxed and comfy. Will come back.

Paul Falcone

Delicious menu, outstanding family service, and just a half block from the beach. A staple of Carpinteria that I couldn't recommend more highly for a great dining experience or special occasion.

Kraig Hamady

Incredible family owned and operated restaurant where everything is made in house to order. Everyone we had was made with fresh ingredients and the attention to detail was amazing. The standout of the evening was the Bolognese and the Sacchetti. Both were well executed and perfectly seasoned, to the point where we cleaned our plates to get every last bit of the scratch made sauces. The desserts and coffee were the perfect end to an already perfect evening. One of the best restaurant coffees we've found and the tiramisu was light and elegant. We will be back!

Sharon Orfalea

For quite a few years now this is hands down our favorite Italian restaurant. The food is authentic and so tasty. We're in love with the marinara sauce (a family secret). My husband I drive from Thousand Oaks at least once a month to meet here with some family from Santa Barbara. The owners at Giannfranco are like family to us. You'll never find better service and tastier cuisine than at this trattoria....It's our happy place to go to!

Christine Nadel

My friends and I dined at this lovely little restaurant and could not have been more impressed! The service was friendly and felt like family. They were so kind and made our time there very pleasurable. The food was unbelievably delicious! We shared a salad that was fabulous and enjoyed the pasta with olive oil and tomatoes. Simple yet so delicious! We ate every last bite. The atmosphere feels cozy and Italian at its best. I cannot say enough about the quality and the experience of our visit! When in Carpinteria wether you crave Italian or not, you should not miss this spot.

Hubs and I dropped into Giannfranco's Trattoria about a hour before closing time on a weeknight. The front dining area was empty except for a table of four. The owner advised us that we can sit in the front dining area but kitchen and wait service might be slow due to the back patio being full of customers. I appreciated that she told us and we decided to stay. She had a lighthearted sense of humor as well. Luv her wit and authenticity. We told the waiter it was our first time here. Hubs ordered a drink and the meatball appetizer (meatballs with crostini) but asked to be brought out for dinner with my spaghetti and palette (meatballs). The waiter asked if we wanted bread. We said yes. He didn't suggest this as an added appetizer. He just asked if we wanted bread knowing it was our first time here. But we found out later when the bill came that it cost $15, priced more than the meatball appetizer. So for first timers, if you are asked if you would like some bread, it's $15. The meatball appetizer crostini looked similar to the bread in the other appetizer, and I believe the same marinara. My dish was tasty. The marina had a subtle flavor along with the meatballs and spaghetti. Housemade authentic flavors. The menu centers on authentic Tuscan Italian cuisine. Simple fresh ingredients. I'm totally apt to come back and try other menu items. They are located on Linden Avenue in downtown Carpinteria, a few blocks from the beach. The parking is free street parking.

Ordered the penne pasta with seafood and lemon sauce. We also tried the Insalata di Amalfi and the Carpinteria Caprese. Food wise, I highly recommend this place! Some of the best Italian food in the area. There is outdoor seating in the back with a tranquil atmosphere. Even when the restaurant isn’t busy the wait times are pretty long. The serving sizes are a bit small. However everything is made from scratch. The staff are really friendly. Overall had a great experience.

Lillian

Hubs and I dropped into Giannfranco's Trattoria about a hour before closing time on a weeknight. The front dining area was empty except for a table of four. The owner advised us that we can sit in the front dining area but kitchen and wait service might be slow due to the back patio being full of customers. I appreciated that she told us and we decided to stay. She had a lighthearted sense of humor as well. Luv her wit and authenticity. We told the waiter it was our first time here. Hubs ordered a drink and the meatball appetizer (meatballs with crostini) but asked to be brought out for dinner with my spaghetti and palette (meatballs). The waiter asked if we wanted bread. We said yes. He didn't suggest this as an added appetizer. He just asked if we wanted bread knowing it was our first time here. But we found out later when the bill came that it cost $15, priced more than the meatball appetizer. So for first timers, if you are asked if you would like some bread, it's $15. The meatball appetizer crostini looked similar to the bread in the other appetizer, and I believe the same marinara. My dish was tasty. The marina had a subtle flavor along with the meatballs and spaghetti. Housemade authentic flavors. The menu centers on authentic Tuscan Italian cuisine. Simple fresh ingredients. I'm totally apt to come back and try other menu items. They are located on Linden Avenue in downtown Carpinteria, a few blocks from the beach. The parking is free street parking.

Kelp Salad

Ordered the penne pasta with seafood and lemon sauce. We also tried the Insalata di Amalfi and the Carpinteria Caprese. Food wise, I highly recommend this place! Some of the best Italian food in the area. There is outdoor seating in the back with a tranquil atmosphere. Even when the restaurant isn’t busy the wait times are pretty long. The serving sizes are a bit small. However everything is made from scratch. The staff are really friendly. Overall had a great experience.

Went here for my birthday. Ordered a medium ribeye and it was very rare. I ate a few bites and just went home very sad. And with 80 less dollars. Felt sick didn't even eat dessert

Annmarie Parker

Went here for my birthday. Ordered a medium ribeye and it was very rare. I ate a few bites and just went home very sad. And with 80 less dollars. Felt sick didn't even eat dessert

Jonathan Luna

Do not go to this place without a reservation! If you do not have one the hostess/owner will make you feel like trash. I understand if you are busy but good lord you don’t gotta make us feel unwanted. (We got there at 520 and it was just us and another family) They were out of a few ingredients as well and we ordered a special! As for the seats well if you don’t have a reservation they place you in the back of the bus where the seats and decor are from 1999. Oh and one of the neighbors in the back area there smokes weed so you get every now and again that stench like you’re at a dead and company concert. All in all great memory as I will always know to never go there ever again!