Via Maestra 42 Santa Barbara.com

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Via Maestra 42 3343 State St, Santa Barbara Phone: (805) 569-6522 Category: Deli, Italian Hours: Mon-Sat 8:30am-9pm, Sun 11am-5pm Price: $10 - $20 Serving: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner Reservations: No Map Write a review of this location!

Reviews by the General Public

Fast Food Italian, 3/5/2013
Reviewer: John from Santa Barbara, CA
I work very close to this restaurant, in a pinch it's fast decent food. As much as I would like it to be authentic Italian it's more fast food Italian. I suspect many of the sauces are direct from can however their Tiramisu is very good.

5 Star Restaurant?, 10/24/2012
Reviewer: John from Santa Barbara, CA
5 star restaurant? Definitely not. The food is very average and at times a little expensive. The pasta sauces are okay, not bad but not great either. They taste like the kind you'd make at home - when you're in a hurry, not the kind when take your time and use and best and fresh stuff from scratch. The meat dishes are, well, a rip off. 4 lamb ribs for $26 with a few potatoes. The ice cream is very good, and the rest of the desserts look great as well. Perhaps just go there for dessert until they step it up? The place has a certain charm to it and even feels like you've walked into a eatery in Italy. They do have Italian wines, real Gelato, Italian accents, etc. But this is where the comparisons stop. Do not go expecting a 5 star meal. Real Italians would be complaining about a meal here, not complimenting it. I can see that many locals nearby like the place becasue they do seem to have a following. I don't mean to offend anyone who likes the joint. It's a fun place and not without it's charms, but I can't personally can't let this cloud my view of the food. I want to like it, but until the food improves, I would not go very often.

mamma mia!, 10/14/2012
Reviewer: Pier Giorgio from Torino, Italy
i'm just come back in Italy (Torino) after one month in CA. Only Via Maestra is still in my heart (and my mouth). I have found the first REAL italian restaurant in USA, with the (best) wine of my Region and courses like "ossobuco" as only my mam know how to do. If somebody will ask me a tip for a trip in USA, i'll recommend to go in Via Maestra... and bring my Thanks and my greeting to Renato!! Pier Giorgio da Torino

A very Italian restaurant, 9/25/2012
Reviewer: Valeria from Santa Barbara, CA
A very Italian restaurant, Via Maestra 42 looks like a little piece of Italy. I have been in other Italian restaurants before, but Via Maestra 42 is the only place were I ate the real "Spaghetti alla Carbonara", like those of my Italian grandmother. Wine is excellent too, a good selection of best Italian wines. Good service and nice people. I have been there for lunch and I would like to return for dinner A very Italian restaurant, I love this place!!!

Crowded and Over-priced., 8/21/2012
Reviewer: Pamela from Visalia, CA
Not worth the time an money!This was our first time at the restaurant, which I informed the waitress at the time we were seated. Because there was only 2 of us, we were told we had a choice of 3 small tables. The tables barely had room for our plates. There appeared to be only one waitress, a helper who served and a busboy. The room was extremely crowded for a Monday at 6:00pm. I ordered a special - Osso Bucco - and got a plate that was very oily. The meat was okay, the risotto was very dense, not creamy as I would expect. Most disturbing was the bill, about $51 for the two of us and we did not have wine or alcohol. My mom only ordered the Carpaccio salad which I believe was $8.95, not too bad for Santa Barbara. However, my special was $31.95. Quite a shock. Not only was it did I think it was greasy, they didn't even serve a salad, soup or vegetable with the meal. The price was completely unexpected, I would think the server would let you know if the meal was priced significantly higher than anyting on the regular menu. The highest price item I remember on the menu was Filet Mignon for $21.95. Not only will we never go back, but I would never recommend this restaurant.

Amazing and Authentic Italian!, 6/18/2012
Reviewer: Francesca from Santa Barbara, CA
Thanks to Renato at Via Maestra and his amazing staff, our wedding was more incredible than we could have ever imagined! After a tasting with the owner, Renato, we decided we wanted him to cater our wedding. He was so kind and warm, and we felt like he would take good care of us. We were getting married at my dad's house, so we needed to rent tables, umbrellas, tableware, etc... Renato took care of all of that... This is a huge plus for me, as I really can't stand party planning or managing details! He and his staff arrived a few hours before our wedding and set up everything... They even placed our centerpieces on the tables and made it all look nice. The food was beyond delicious! The servers walked around with appetizers before the ceremony began. There was a bartender to serve drinks as well. Once we were married, everyone sat down and Renato and his staff served the most incredible meal. This is what we ate: Appetizers: Sopressata Salame with Fresh Figs Marscapone, Gorgonzola and Walnuts Frittatine Zucchini Grilled Eggplant, Goat Cheese, Sundried Tomato Antipasto: Bundles of Burrata and Speck Tomato Bruschetta and Bread Italian Grilled Artichoke Halves Baby Rucola and Lemon Parmisan Dinner: Homemade Meat Lasagna Pumpkin Ravioli with Sage and Butter Salmone ai Ferri Dessert: A Gelato Bar! All the food was impeccable. The meat lasagna and ravioli got rave reviews from our guests. The gelato bar was a huge hit and a fun alternative to cake. We are so pleased with what an amazing event our wedding turned out to be. It felt like a big dinner party in Italy. We would highly recommend Via Maestra 42 for any catering needs!

So good!
Reviewer: Becca Okaneko from Santa Barbara, CA
I finally decided to try Via Maestra today after years of hearing about how amazing it is. Everyone was right...the food and service were both fantastic! I ordered spinach ravioli in a cream sauce. My mom ordered veggie lasagna. Both were so delicious! I can't wait to go back and try something else :)

from a paesana regular
Reviewer: Claudia Sole from Santa Barbara, CA
I'm Italian (the real thing by birth and life) and I eat here as long as lunch friends give me a choice and I am known to twist a few arms to make it my destination. Renato is not just charming and on top of things but a valued community member as well for all the good works he champions and contributes to. Bravissimo!

unbelievably delish and like being in italy again
Reviewer: Sophia Wisdoma from Santa Barbara, CA
Reasonably priced top star Italian food just like it's made in Italy, some dishes perhaps even better! The sage butter pumpkin pasta is to die and go to heaven for! The lemon pastry and fresh whipped cream almost as good. Families have been going for years here and it's still their favorite restaurant in SB. It's hard to be disappointed by it! Bravo! Food is number one here. Service is very friendly, attentive and helpful. The atmosphere is comfy.

Excellent food and service for an Italian bistro
Reviewer: Frederick from Santa Barbara, CA
Surprisingly good food and fiendly service for an unpretentious, yet warm and friendly atmosphere bistro. It has few dishes but all are very good indeed, many not to be found elsewhere in town. I go there often and enjoy it every time. The grilled panini are outstandiong, the home-style Italian dishes and the wine selections way beyond expectations. My San Francisco visitors, supposedly connoisseuers, were stunned at the quality when eating at Via Maestra. It tells it all.

First stop whenever I am in California...
Reviewer: Kevin from Johannesburg
It was only last year I discovered the appealing ambience, the service oriented staff and most importantly the fantastic food of Maestra 42, and once discovered nothing else compared! Now my most fave Italian restaurant and will always be my first stop when I visit California from South Africa. Do please continue in the same vein and already licking my lips for my visit on June 4 or thereabouts!

Excellent!
Reviewer: Emmalee from Chico, CA
This place was amazing! I tried it the first night I visited Santa Barbara and ate there the next two days for lunch or dinner. It was that good! The ravioli was excellent; every type of soup I tried was amazing, as was the risotto. The staff is very friendly as well. It is a little out of the way if you are staying near the water, but well worth the trip. You won't be disappointed.

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