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Aldo's Italian Restaurant
1031 State St, Santa Barbara
Phone: (805) 963-6687
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Reviews by the General Public
Couldn't Be Happier, 12/26/2012
Reviewer: Mike
from North Hollywood,CA
We were so impressed with the service from the very kind hostess to the attentive waiter, to everyone that works at Aldo's. One of tastiest pasta dishes I've ever had. My girlfriend loved her Chicken Picatta. The best she ever had. A great choice for Christmas night.
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We Love Aldo's, 12/19/2012
Reviewer: Timothy
from Santa Barbara, CA
We were so surprised to see the woman's chef review and had to add our 2 cents!! The food is pretty good and we can't imagine that if they thought it was so terrible and being a chef that she didn't try to order something more to her liking!! We get that you didn't like it and that chefs tend to be more critical but we feel it's not fair to post such a poor review of a place without researching more or taking with someone there instead of ranting publically. We are two guys that have been going to Aldo's for many years and have seen it through many changes... just dissapointing to ses such a careless review. And knowing these people, I highly doubt they charged you for any of the food. Anyway, we love Aldos'. Thank you.
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Nice looking restaurant and terrible food, 12/2/2012
Reviewer: Michelle
from Reseda, CA
I remembered this place as a child. I went there Saturday night and was excited to share this time with my family. From the moment we sat down the experience started to head down hill. It took forever to get a waitress, but when she arrived she was awesome, and that was about the only thing positive that came out of this restaurant. The bruscetta was god awful. It tasted like something was rancid in it. Over powered by the garlic and pine nuts I sent it back. Then my sister ordered the Pasta Primivara, it was like a frozen vegetable medley with noodles and watery marinara. Then I ordered the Chicken Marsala which had no color to it and left a film of flour in my mouth as if it was dredged in the flour and then put in a cold saute pan, and was served with the same vegetable medley that my sister had. Not a traditional Chicken Marsala that I get from Italian Restaurants. So disappointed we wanted to leave and just paid for the one pasta dish that my daughter ordered, which was the plain marinara and angel hair pasta, our drinks and half of the so called bruscetta. I will never go back there again, and that makes me sad because it has so much potential to be an amazing restaurant. Maybe with a better Chef/leader, it will be able to turn around. And if it ever does I would like to give it another swing. I am a Chef and I was extremely disappointed. I had high hopes for this place for the food and the atmosphere. Please look into the how the kitchen is being run and the food that is being put out, it was very low standard and I am sure that is not what you want your restaurant to be known for. Thanks.
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Good stuff...if you know what to order, 11/18/2012
Reviewer: Charlotte
from Goleta
Went to Aldo's last night and it was a nice dining experience all around. Our waiter was knowledgable and attentive as were the bus boys. My kids and I had the Wild Salmon Picatta, and the Wild Salmon w/Cilantro pesto with Fetticini Alfredo with nice crunchy, fresh, sautéed veggies...we cleaned out plates! Nice bread and garlic infused olive oil offered on the table. My husband and I shared the wild greens with pear, Gorgonzola, walnuts with a sweet and sour Balsamic vinaigrette, which was fabulous. My husband had the Pumpkin Ravioli w/ Sage Brown Butter....it was sublime, really. However in the past we've ordered the lasagna, spaghetti Bolognese and Osso Bucco.... Not recommended. Does not taste Italian at all unfortunately. Better off making these dishes yourself at home.
to sum it up....we had a very nice dinner.
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Food & Service: Average. Ambiance: Very Nice, 8/15/2012
Reviewer: Guthrie
from Santa Barbara, CA
We ate here thinking because of their slightly pricey menu & primo location right on State St. In downtown Santa Barbara but it didn't deliver. The best thing about this place is the quaint ambiance with it's street cafe but I ordered the most basic of Italian dishes: spaghetti w/ meat sauce & it wasn't very good. I called ahead to ask their exact cross street (location) but the woman couldn't tell me where they were located & had to ask someone else! Plus, when I asked if they were open past 10PM (it was 9:30 & I was concerned if the restaurant would still be serving by the time I arrived) she said, "I think we are open right now.". What?!
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Getting better all the time, 8/12/2012
Reviewer: Kaye
from Santa Barbara, CA
Since the change in ownership, I've had several meals at Aldo's - all wonderful. The menu has interesting options and the food is well prepared. The wait staff are welcoming and attentive, and seem to like working together. The food and atmosphere are such an improvement over the previous ownership, and the restaurant seems to be getting continually better.
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Very yummy
Reviewer: Amanda
from Santa Barbara, CA
I have never been to Aldo's despite living here for nearly 15 years. I think I always sort of passed it up thinking I'd rather have Palazzio or Pascucci, but I went here a few months ago for the first time for dinner and had the Pork Chop with whipped mashed potatoes, veggies, and a cherry glaze sauce. My boyfriend had the pumpkin ravioli. We were both really surprised at how tasty it was. We've been back twice since, both having different menu items every time and were never let down. The owner seems like a very nice guy too, and two of the times we have been there he has been in the dining room greeting customers. Now we have decided to make Aldo's our go to italian place instead of the other ones in town! (also, they have the BEST olive oil I have ever had!)
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Big Disappointment!!
Reviewer: Jim Young
from Santa Barbara, CA
Some of the menu Items are bland, I ordered the osso buco, very bland, no salt, the veggies taste like they were from several days. I got very confuse I didn’t know who my server was, one of them make us seat, other order the drinks, other comes for the orders, and another comes to get the check. No organization….Big Disappointment!!
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Hugely Disappointed
Reviewer: Tracy
from Santa Barbara, CA
I have lived in SB for 20 years and never tried Aldo's. I decided to try it because there was a 2 for 1 entree with the SB Access Card. 4 of us went there on a Friday night. We had a reservation, but it was not busy. We ordered water and iced tea for the table, yet the server continually asked us if we wanted wine throughout the whole meal. That was annoying. We had crab cakes and a caprese salad to start. Caprese salad was lackluster; small balls of mozzarella cheese and too few tomatoes, with arugula. The crab cake was OK, needed more flavor. 2 of us tried the pizza. The dough was more like pita bread and the sauce tasted like it was canned. However it was a good size. The lasagna was bland and heavy, and the seafood pasta dish (scallops and shrimp w/linguini) was just OK too.
Because we used the access card, they automatically add gratuity which I did not appreciate. Overall, with no alcohol and a free entree we ended up paying $90, which is far too expensive for the quality of food we received.
I will not be returning.
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Great experience!
Reviewer: JS
from Santa Barbara, CA
My husband and I ate here on Saturday night and were very pleased. We sat on the patio and Laura our server was attentive, engaging and knowledgeable. We loved the purple kale salad and the entrees were very good... It seems like the new ownership is doing something right. We will be back!
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Average food, random service
Reviewer: Frank
from Santa Barbara, CA
My wife and I visited this restaurant for lunch with my three kids (11, 9, 7 y/o). The server was attending tables randomly, and we could place our order only 30 min after the seating. A table came after us finished their meal and got their bill before we even got our food. But that can happen, and we were not in a hurry, so we just waited. We had Fettuchini Carbonara, Chicken Parmigiani, Spaghetti Marinara, and Fries. We did order a pork dish, which never came. Fries were good. The rest were OK but not nearly as good as the ones that I had in other restaurants of comprable price in Santa Barbara. The bill was interesting. The restaurant charged 18% service fee on the ground that we were a party of five. But the menu says that 18% service charge applies to the party of 6 or more. I asked about this. The server says that they just changed their policy. Now this is interesting point. By law, restaurants cannot charge mandatory service charge, unless they presented it e.g. in e menu before ordering. Clearly, they didn't. It seems that they are quick on charging more from their customers but are not so quick on improving their services or in learning what is required by law to protect the customers' right.
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Good Food and Service
Reviewer: Glenn
from Buellton
The food was really good here, the service was pretty good also. Its a nice romantic spot on the outside patio even though the floor is a bit slanted for the tables. Nice they have heaters for you. Everything I tried was good.
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We just LOVE eating at Aldo's!!
Reviewer: Paul Cook
from Santa Barbara, CA
I'm telling you, the food has improved 1000% since the new owner took over. Our office is very close by and we eat lunch out often, we chose to eat at Aldo's most of the time. We have many choices in this neighborhood but more often than not we chose Aldo's. Even after all these years I once again look forward to my next meal at Aldo's. We also LOVE to eat on the outdoor patio because we enjoy the ambiance and the street scene. What a wonderful place!
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Not What it use to be
Reviewer: Helen
from Santa Barbara, CA
Aldo's has always been the spot that I have brought my relatives from New York to Dinner when ever they visit. New ownership has taken over and I must say that I was very disappointed. I had the Chicken Piccata and it was tough,my Aunt kept asking me is your chicken tough and my brother said the Veal Parmigiana was tough too. I could always count on the food at Aldo's being melt in your mouth but I have to say it's not what it use to be. The service was good but the product has definitely changed. I will not go back until I have heard they have made improvements.
I must say that I am very SAD!!!
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One of my favorite Santa Barbara restaurants!
Reviewer: Judy
from Santa Barbara, CA
My husband & I are very impressed with Aldo's under its new owner! The food is always superb and the service is great. The last 2 times we went were on a Sunday night so we enjoyed the harpist while we sat watching the beautiful twinkling lights along State Street. The owner is very personable and there is a nice cooperative feeling among the servers.
I used to eat here as a child when it was the Copper Coffee Pot so it brings back good memories, too.
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If I could give more than 5 stars...
Reviewer: Arlene
from Santa Barbara, CA
Ate here on a chilly monday nite- they cranked the heaters up so we could sit outside; we never felt neglected even though it was busy inside. The food was as wonderful as the service. We used to come here often, but haven't been in the last few years. I thank the new owner for brining one of my favorite places back!
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Great Service Specially for the circumstances!
Reviewer: Victoria
from Santa Barbara, CA
I went to this restaurant because a friend advised me that they had the best italian food in Santa Barbara. I went with my husband and sat in the dinning room because it was raining outside and the restaurant had an cozy feel to it. Upon arriving I was great by a friendly hostess, and from what I can tell, the owner. We had a about a fifteen minute wait to be seated, which was fine. When we got seated we were greeted by a our server right away. She apologized for the wait and took our drink orders IMMEDIATELY. While waiting for our drinks we were amazed at how the whole staff was all helping each other. After a few moments we received our drinks and we asked for her to recommend some dishes that she liked on the menu. After taking her advice we ordered the ravioli with chicken and pesto, and the porkchop. AMAZING. We loved the food , our waitress and our service. For how busy it was on a friday night, and for how quick our service was.... WE WILL DEFINITELY BE RETURNING. !!
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Rumpled service/ Lazy Chef!
Reviewer: Charlotte
from Goleta
We have been going to Aldo's for years and it's always been good, if you know what and what not to order AND hope you get a good server. You'd think that ALL the servers were equally good, nope! Our server looked like she just rolled out of bed, fine! As long as she does her job well. She served me warm Chardonney TWICE! Charged us $5.00 to split a piece of lasagne for my kids! A 20.00 piece of lasagne for 2 kids! Really? And it was terrible ( of course the waitress said it was the BEST she had ever had.... It was up there with Stouffer's!). I make a really great lasagne, so we know the difference! This $20.00 piece of nonsense was packaged pasta, ricotta, cheese, and a can of tomato sauce dumped on top and tossed in the microwave! My husband and I both had the ravioli with the Cilanto pesto and the Rossa, which were good BUT why do they use frozen ravioli???!!! Make your own! It is so easy and makes a HUGE difference! The Chef needs to get off his buscuit and cook mindfully......Nothing worse than a LAZY CHEF!!!!!
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Big Dissappoinment!!
Reviewer: Dr.Guzman
from Camarillo,Ca
Celebrating our Wedding Anniversary on 09/04/11. First to start off: the service was super slow, the waiter only showed up to take our order, the busboy who was the only one working all the tables did provide us w great service kept bringing us the bread not only to us but also the other tables around us. Waiter showed up again to give us the bill. Second, the food: my wife ordered the Chicken Piccata, a single thinly sliced piece of chicken breast, for the price the portion of meat was way too small. I ordered the Linguini Seafood, & it was cold!! The plate came w/ four small pieces of calamari, 2 single scallops, 3 small shrimps, OH and 3 baby octopuss w their heads still on. Now i ain't a chef, but the seafood looked like it came from those cheap prepackaged seafood pouches you buy at Albertson's. Not gonna eat there ever again. Dr.Guzman
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Local Santa Barbarian
Reviewer: Jenny
from Santa Barbara, CA
Since the new owner took over the food has DRAMATICALLY improved and the new waitstaff is excellent. The food is fairly priced for the portion sizes and how good the food is. I am definitely going again and I love that it has become more of a locals place. Always see friends of mine there!
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Dissapointed
Reviewer: Savannah
from Santa Barbara, CA
I've been to Aldos many times in the past and had good experiences, always having sat inside. Went for lunch recently and sat on the patio. Chair cushions were stained and patio clearly had not been hosed down for some time. Food was good, had the special pasta and started with a salad (which no longer comes with a lunch entree as in the past). Croutons (all three of them) were the size of a thumbtack and the cheescake was nothing to write home about. Service.....below average. Waited 5 minutes to be approached at the table, had to ask for water and salt/pepper. Finished salad plate sat on the table long into eating my main dish, empty wine glass as well. Staff not very presentable, hostess was chewing gum. For a new owner who claims to be on top of things, open your eyes.
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Good Value
Reviewer: bart
from Santa Barbara, CA
Not amazing, but solid. Service timely and polite, atmosphere pleasant. Salmon Piccata cooked quite well, as was the Mahi. Pasta sides were excellent.
appropriately priced, would go again
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Tourist place
Reviewer: Bill
from Santa Barbara, CA
If you don't know what Italian food is, this might be a good place for you. If you are a tourist, and the weather is nice, this might be a good place for you. But if you are a discerning eater, you will recognize Aldo's only as a tourist place. The new owner is trying hard, and is a very nice guy, but in the end, it's got to be the food. As soon as we tasted the olive oil, we knew.
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